Barcelona’s Tipsy History

Barcelona has quite an interesting history – including an ongoing desire to become a separate country from the rest of Spain! So it should be no surprise that there are bars and restaurants with history and stories of their own, especially in the Gothic Quarter and El Born neighborhood.

For example, 4 Gats (or Els Quatre Gats in Catalan) opened in 1897 and was a magnet for artists and writers including Picasso, who held his first exhibition here. After being closed for a few years, it reopened in 1989 and still looks like something out of 1920s Spain. The food and drinks are authentic and tasty. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Picasso was also a patron of Boadas, an upscale cocktail bar that’s been around since 1933. It’s an easy walk to the north end of La Rambla. 

Not historic enough for you?  How about a bar that’s been around since 1820? Bar Marsella is one of the oldest in the city and was frequented not only by Picasso, but also Hemingway, Dali, and Gaudi were said to enjoy a pour or two here – particularly the absinthe! We were able to enjoy a nice Manhattan, but not without asking more than once. They prefer to keep it simple and with cash if you have it. Again, worth the walk through the Gothic Quarter to Raval.

Writers and artists also spent time over the years at Bar del Pi, known to be one of the oldest remaining tapas bars in the city, founded in 1927. We enjoyed a visit on the upstairs terrace with some excellent food and drinks, including a mug of the local brew. They also have a lovely patio space on the square, which is common in Barcelona.

Speaking of historic squares, the Placa Reial (or Royal Place) is a lovely outdoor space just off La Rambla with a variety of bars and restaurants. We found it to be just as busy and vibrant at night as during the day. It’s also a bit #offthetipsypath, but well worth seeking out!

One of our favorite spots on the Placa Reial is Ocana. We wandered up one evening and the gentleman in drag (yes, and he looked fabulous!!!) escorted us to an outdoor table. The drinks and paella were so good, we missed the live jazz inside! Ocana is actually three very distinct spaces including a separate cocktail bar – Apotheke – downstairs. We highly recommend taking time to explore them all!

Rei de Copes is also a great spot on the square to soak up the sights over a cocktail on the patio. And we heard great things about Pipa Club, but they weren’t open the night we were on the square.

Our experience at Ocana isn’t unique – Barcelona is an extremely walkable city where sometimes you can just wander into some amazing cocktails!

Case in point – Especiarium. We probably walked past this intimate spot a dozen times on our way through Born before we stopped in. And we are so glad we dropped by! The mixologists here are as creative as any we found on the “best of” list. Our cocktails were served with wooden boxes on the side and we were encouraged to open the box and inhale the contents after taking each sip to get the most of the flavors in the drink. What a creative way to enhance the experience!

Just down the street from there is yet another example of what we’ll call “fortunate drinking.” We found our way into Dux to meet a friend and wound up having some amazing cocktails. Dux labels itself as a gin joint, but don’t sleep on the bourbon and wine!

Barcelona is full of lively squares and outdoor patio spaces. We found Ina as we were walking through a square and decided to stop for some wine and tapas. Same goes for Travel Bar, which was recommended as a good stop for tourists. We enjoyed espresso martinis in their outdoor space as the bar inside was busy with a cocktail class.

And finally, there are quite a few breweries or brewpubs in Barcelona, some with outdoor spaces. We enjoyed an afternoon at Black Lab Brewhouse & Kitchen on their patio. It’s an American-style brewery founded by two Americans from Chicago. Check them out if you are down near the Barceloneta beach!

We hope we’ve said enough to get you excited to visit Barcelona for yourself. Let us know what you think!

Cape Fear Cocktails Part 2 – Favorites on Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach is just down the Cape Fear coast from the Port City of Wilmington, North Carolina and has seen its popularity boom in recent years. It’s called “Pleasure Island” for a reason (or maybe many reasons)! Thankfully, the growth comes with some new places for great cocktails! 

Like Wilmington, don’t miss the classic bars along the Boardwalk. Most of them stay open late and offer cheap food and drink options, as well as live music, karaoke, and other entertainment. Ocean Grill and Sea Witch are local favorites… but those aren’t exactly #offthetipsypath.

One boardwalk location literally rises above the rest. The Tropical is a three-story restaurant and bar facing the midway and offering some of the best views on the boardwalk from its rooftop bar. The drink menu includes a variety of frozen cocktails that are refreshing and potent! They also have a nice selection of beer on tap, wine, and liquor. Definitely worth a walk up the stairs!

The beach might not make you think “wine bar…” but you should keep an open mind when it comes to The Vault! Like the name implies, it’s a wine bar in the heart of Carolina Beach that used to be a bank. The vault is intact and serves as a bottle room. It’s just as much a locals’ hangout as tourists, so you know we liked it! They even make a good margarita with wine! And by the way, they are also a coffee shop complete with a drive thru. Hard to go wrong here!

Next door, you’ll find an excellent place for cocktails and food at Seaworthy Kitchen & Bar. We found a very tasty Manhattan and Old Fashioned as well as a nice wine list and a seafood charcuterie board! It’s a great date night spot that almost makes up for the loss of the Deck House.

Now, you can get a cold beer in Carolina Beach just about anywhere… it’s the beach! But here are a couple spots that are #tipsypicks for us…

Good Hops Brewing is the only brewery on the island but they do a fantastic job with a variety of styles and a welcoming space, indoor and out! They even have a disc golf course behind the patio that’s very popular. If you can’t decide on a beer, get a flight… or a seltzer if you prefer. They are also proudly women-owned and brewed!

And last but certainly not least, the place that has to be seen to be believed… voted best dive bar in North Carolina… the Fat Pelican. This is one place we visit on every trip to Carolina Beach. The entire place is eye candy – old signs, mismatched furniture, even an old boat in the outdoor space! Drinks are simple – visit the walk-in cooler and pick your favorites or order wine at the bar. This is our #tipsypick for any trip to Carolina Beach!

One side note, we’ve heard good things about Brunches as far as food and cocktails go, so we’ll have to check them out next time!  They opened after our latest visit. 

We hope you find your happy place and if you do, let us know where we should go next!

Take a Walk (or drive, or bike) on the South Side for Great Cocktails

 

Hello Knoxville! It’s been a while since we went #offthetipsypath in our own back yard, so let’s take a trip across the Tennessee River and we’ll show you what’s happening in South Knoxville!

Once upon a time, the area across the river from Downtown Knoxville was popular enough that Island Home had its own trolley stop! Fast forward to today, and the Old Sevier area is bustling once again. With more residents, growth also is bringing more places to eat and drink, especially along the Sevier Avenue corridor and surrounding neighborhoods.

For as long as we can remember, “nightlife” in South Knoxville along the river ended when the restaurants (and more recently the breweries) closed. Now there’s a game changer called Fly By Night. This 70’s themed lounge one of the first true cocktail bars along Sevier Ave, and they’re open late (as in past midnight most nights). They even have a Thursday night dance party til midnight! Oh, and their cocktails are fantastic. Ever tried a Sarsaparilla Old Fashioned? It will change your life, we promise. This one is brought to you by the same folks who have Tern Club on Gay Street downtown. Break out the bell bottoms and check them out!

There’s no shortage of good food options along Sevier Avenue these days. Redbud Kitchen has amazing food and some really creative cocktails (The SoKno Sunset…) and a generous happy hour. The Landing House may look like an old house on Sevier, but it’s serving up some excellent Asian dishes, along with craft cocktails, beer and wine. They also have a great patio with covered seating (in what used to likely be the front yard).

If you’re looking to enjoy a drink outdoors (or in) Southside Garage was originally billed as a food truck park, but now they have resident food trucks. More importantly, they have beer, wine and cocktails to go with it! The cocktails are surprisingly good (since it’s a food truck park) with rotating draft cocktails that include Old Fashioned, Bourbon Punch, and a variety of flavors for a Moscow Mule.

If tequila and Margaritas are your style, SoKno Taco Cantina has been around longer than most places in the “new South” Knoxville. Their patio area is a great place to sip on something iced and enjoy your evening.

Which brings us to the newest attraction in the neighborhood – 71 South. Located in an old Baptist church, this restaurant (which is also just down the street from SoKno Taco) gets the award for most creative use of an old space! They make a great Old Fashioned along with other cocktails. An added bonus… Crafty Bastard Brewery just opened up their South Knox location in the same building!

Speaking of beer, South Knoxville is home to three other amazing breweries, all within walking distance on Sevier Avenue. Alliance Brewing was the first to take up shop here and they are still going strong! Printshop Beer Company is in a cool space – you guessed it, an old print shop! They have a wide variety of brews made right in the old building along the river. Hi-Wire Brewing is a local outpost for the Asheville-based brewery. They have a huge space for fun things like life-size billiards and silent discos and a rooftop patio. Their beer selection is spot on as well, although they may not get as creative as some.

And if you just want to try lots of great local beers (and cocktails) at one place and enjoy a view along the river, Trailhead Beer Market is a cool spot! They have live music and other events on a regular basis, along with a great patio. 

A few footnotes – we’re always looking for recommendations and new spots - Nauti K’s Riverside Bar and Grill opened in August 2023 in the former (and very scenic) Sweet P’s along Maryville Pike. We’re hearing good things, so we’ll have to visit and share what we find!

And RIP to one of the best menus for a variety of Old Fashioneds around – Simpl on Sevier closed in early summer 2023 after a good run. The owners plan to reopen as a breakfast and lunch concept along the river later this year. We’ll be sure to visit them in their new home!

Tipsy Pick: Fly By Night

We’re glad to be back in Knoxville – stay tuned for more: North? West? It’s all #offthetipsypath with us!

Paducah – More than a stop over for Bourbon and Beer

 

If you’re headed up Interstate 24 Westbound from Nashville to some exotic destination like St. Louis or Cairo (Illinois, not Egypt) you should consider a visit to Paducah, Kentucky! Yes, it’s home to the National Quilt Museum and some really cool mural art on their flood walls, but the city also has a growing downtown cocktail scene with some very cool places for craft beer. That’s what we’ll focus on here (sorry quilters, maybe next time…)

While Paducah is quite a way from the actual Kentucky Bourbon Trail, there are some places that are embracing the Kentucky bourbon heritage with some great offerings and reminders that Paducah has a long history with bourbon. 

Located along the historic Paducah riverfront, Barrel and Bond boasts an impressive collection of over 1,600 bourbons to taste. Their owner also founded the Paducah Bourbon Society. It’s fun to just explore the bottles on the shelves, some of which you won’t see very often. Oh, and they have fantastic flights and cocktails like Manhattan and Old Fashioned.

Just up the street, FoxBriar Cocktail Bar also has a nice selection of bourbon, and they make some great classic cocktails! This is a more intimate space, which makes sense since it’s also attached to a boutique hotel upstairs.

If you want a classic bistro feel with some great cocktails The Johnson Bar is a #tipsypick! The evening we were there we had an excellent charcuterie board and a very good Sazerac, among other things.

For a little more upscale dining experience, along with a great selection of bourbon and cocktails, Freight House is located in the historic train depot a few blocks from the main street.

And there’s always room in the historic downtown for a good no-fuss locals bar. Bully Gorilla Bar is just that. 

You can also take a “forgotten spirits” downtown walking tour and find out more details about all the bourbon connections in Paducah that you don’t know about. We haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds fun!

Now let’s talk about breweries for a minute. We love when craft breweries make use of historic buildings that might otherwise sit empty or be torn down. There are two great examples in Paducah! 

Paducah Beer Werks is a brewery and restaurant near the riverfront located in the old Greyhound Bus Station – how cool is that? They’ve managed to blend some of the industrial and art deco aspects of the building into a cozy atmosphere. They also have a nice covered patio area outside. The beer menu is extensive and they have good food. 

Not to be outdone, Dry Ground Brewing Company is located in the old Coca-Cola bottling and distribution center, known simply as “The Coke Plant.” In fact, they were the first tenant when the renovations to the 1939 art deco gem were complete. Dry Ground has a steady offering of staples on the beer menu, and they do some tasty creative limited brews. The patio is a great place to just hang out.

And lastly, if you need more proof that bourbon is still around, there’s Silent Brigade Distillery. They’re located on Broadway within walking distance of all the bars. They focus on flavored moonshine, but we hear the bourbon is worth a try. We’ll let you know when we visit next time!

Paducah may be #offthetipsypath but it’s worth putting on your radar for a weekend.

As always, let us know what you’re thinking … and drinking!