🍸 A Cocktail Adventure in Slovenia’s Capital 🍸

It’s very possible you’ve never heard of the country of Slovenia. It’s only been a sovereign nation since 1991 – formerly part of Yugoslavia. But more Americans are discovering it because of its history, natural beauty, and wonderful culture. So we’re going to take you to the capital city of Ljubljana to share our #tipsypicks for fantastic cocktails and wine.

First, the city is very walkable, with most of the spots we’ll mention all within walking distance of each other … which is a good thing since most of the historic city center is pedestrian-only! Second, most Slovenians speak English as a second language, especially in major cities. We had no trouble getting around and ordering what we wanted!

Local bartenders in Ljubljana will admit there are only a few “true” cocktail bars in the city. Silk and Fizz is one of them and probably the one that is most like something we find in New York or Miami. They have an upscale vibe and some of the most creative cocktails around, including one that’s a tribute to Elvis (think PB and Banana) with a banana-flavored garnish that completes the package. Their classic cocktails are also delicious. We visited three times during our stay! It’s our #tipsypick!

The other true classic cocktail bar is Kolibri, an intimate spot down a side street from the riverfront with lovely patio seating outside and warm retro spaces inside. We enjoyed both. They have an apothecary-style counter that fits with their creative cocktail ingredients. But they can also do classic cocktails on request!

Slovenia has a vibrant “patio culture” with sidewalk seating at most places. But we found one spot that takes it to another level. Normally we wouldn’t recommend drinking under a bridge … unless it’s at Klub Recnih Kapitanov (KRK). That’s right, this bar is actually under a bridge, with seating right along the Ljubljanica River and plenty of shade because … it’s under a bridge! They have great beer selections and some perfect patio cocktails like spritzes. Definitely worth the stroll along the river to get here!

On the way back toward the city center from our bridge adventure we wandered into a lovely corner bistro bar that turned out to be a wonderful discovery. Ferdinand is very much a locals spot but close enough to the tourist spots with a great food menu, cocktails and wine/beer selection as well as a lively patio space. It’s a very relaxing #tipsypick!

Have you ever been to a bar or restaurant that makes you feel like you’re somewhere else?  That’s the vibe we got at Captain’s Cabin. It’s a basement bar with a pirate/nautical theme straight out of the Caribbean … or maybe our favorite Pirate Tavern back home!  We especially enjoyed the 2-for-1 cocktail special, meaning we had to order two per person, although that could be dangerous in the wrong hands! Great spot for a drink (or two) or a fun night out with friends!

Speaking of places where you feel like you’re somewhere else … Ljubljana does indeed have a medieval castle overlooking the city! How about drinking wine at sunset with such a view? Grajska Vinoteka is a winery, cellar, and wine bar within the walls of the Ljubljana Castle. They host sunset parties with a view straight out of a fairytale! You can choose from glasses or bottles with nibbles and wander the grounds of the castle as well.

You can also ride the funicular cable car to the castle and back for some extra views. After your visit (or on the way up) you can stop at the base of the funicular for a drink at several spots. We chose Daktari after our sunset wine experience. They have a fantastic selection of cocktails, including a solid Old Fashioned, that you can enjoy on the patio or inside. The indoor space reminded us of a library speakeasy with some “old world” charm.

Ljubljana also seems to be a college town, with lots of students out on the streets and squares both day and night. One of four favorite spots we found close to the main university was Tozd. It was a delightful mix of coffee bar and drink stop, perfect for relaxing and/or pulling out your laptop. We really enjoyed the vibe, the service, and an opportunity to try one of the local brews.

There are lots of great restaurants in Ljubljana … in fact a surprising number!  Here are a few we enjoyed: Tabar – tapas and drinks along the river; Julija – a modern dining experience with expansive patio on a busy street; and Pop’s Aperitivo, which was probably the most crowded one we visited, but they had great food and drinks in a lovely courtyard setting. All of these options had great cocktails and natural wines.

Overall, we think Ljubljana and all of Slovenia is worth a look for your next European adventure!

🍷 Best Bars in Barcelona (and the world) 🍷

If Barcelona, Spain isn’t on your list, it should be! The coastal city in the Catalonia region is much bigger and more beautiful than we expected. And did we mention that there are no less than four of the top 50 best bars in the world here?  Yes, we visited them all! The city is so big and so diverse that we could never reflect everything in one post. So we’ll focus on the coolest and most historic bars we visited, most of which are centered in the Born district and Gothic Quarter, two of the most historic neighborhoods in the city.

First, the cocktail bar voted #1 in the world according to World’s Best Bars in 2023 and #3 in 2024 – Sips. This is a classic cocktail bar with lots of wood and leather and intimate lighting with one exception – the bar is in the middle of the room instead of along the wall. The mixologists create their award-winning cocktails from every angle of the bar space. And the payoff is a full menu of tasty and creative drinks! We enjoyed one that included a side of bubbles – yes, the kind you blow with a wand.

Now, we can’t go any further without digging into our favorite cocktail place on the entire trip and deserving of a spot on the 2024 World’s Best Bars. Paradiso has it all in our opinion. From the time we walked in the door, (behind an unassuming sandwich shop) the staff was welcoming and friendly and clearly enjoy their jobs. We scored two seats at the bar and marveled at the acrobatics of the bartenders as they created cocktails that were incredibly presented and tasted just as good. Make sure you ask about their back-room speakeasy but be prepared for a cheeky answer as they keep the mystery. Hint – it’s a restroom… or is it? This is our #tipsypick for sure!

There’s no question about the previous life of our next cocktail spot. Dr. Stravinsky proudly embraces its heritage as a former apothecary space. It’s worth it to grab a cocktail and walk around all three floors. The shelves are lined with their own brand of spirits and other interesting items on display. The menus are just as creative. The “Manhattan Essences” was particularly good. It’s a fat-washed version of the classic Manhattan.

One of the best dinners we had in Barcelona was at a restaurant called Speakeasy. Yes, the name is accurate as the space appears to be a former storage room turned into an upscale dining room. To enter you ring a doorbell at an unmarked door. The wine and cocktails were superb as was the food.

The restaurant is connected to a historic cocktail bar called Dry Martini. This elegant spot has been around for more than four decades, serving the signature dry martini. When it opened, that was all they served. The menu has expanded since then, but the flavor of the space remains unchanged – lots of dark wood, leather chairs and a martini recipe on full display along with servers in white shirts who can guide you along the way. It was the first European bar to make the World’s 50 Best list, and deservedly so. And the martinis are indeed as good as you would expect. They also make an excellent Gimlet. 

Ever been to a bar hidden behind a beverage cooler? That’s Supermercat! This intimate cocktail bar is hidden from the street as a beverage cooler. The only giveaway is the person at the door. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait to get in – there are only about a dozen seats. That means there’s not a bad view in the house to watch the mixologists at work (and to enjoy it!)

All the bars we have mentioned so far are relative newcomers compared to the rest of our list. We look forward to sharing them in our next post. Share your faves below. Merci!

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!

🌎 👣 🍷 Cinque Terre – 5 Towns and So Many Choices 🌎 👣 🍷

 

This is one of those posts that is in no way meant to be all-encompassing or “the best of the best.” But this is the best of the wine, cocktails and cocktail places we found in our marvelous three days in Cinque Terre, a region on the Ligurian coast of Italy that literally means “five towns.” But for the purposes of sharing what we enjoyed we’re adding a sixth town that had a little more nightlife.

Some general thoughts on Cinque Terre:

1.       Local wine is fantastic and very inexpensive – 2 or 3 euros for a glass or about 15 euros for a bottle

2.       If you get the chance, try the cones of fried seafood. You’ll thank us.

3.       Even if you don’t hike between the towns, be ready to walk everywhere

4.       The train is an easy way to get to all five towns in a day

The five towns that make up Cinque Terre are each small and charming in their own way, each has a main square and at least one main street with shops and restaurants, and all but one has a harbor or dock with access to the sea (and lots of fresh seafood!) We would highly recommend a sunset cruise with a local captain – including local wine, of course. All the towns have places to get great local wine! But not all of them have places you can get a cocktail after dark.

That’s why we are including La Spezia. It’s a fairly metropolitan city just outside the Cinque Terre with a respectable cocktail scene!  We’ll start there. La Spezia is a port city with a central train station which makes it a great “home base” to explore the area. It’s also home to one of the largest navy bases in Italy. So there are plenty of places to get a drink (or three).

We first stopped at Doria – a cool little wine bar with a small indoor seating area underground but plenty of tables on the side street, including a window bar space where we enjoyed a couple of very nice charcuterie boards and local wine as well as a cocktail. This was popular with the locals, but less crowded than some of the spots we saw. Definitely a #tipsypick.

Just down the street, J Gatsby is a very metropolitan cocktail bar with an expansive patio area – perfect for enjoying a great cocktail and wine. They even had several inventive bourbon cocktails on their menu, which at the time was themed around Tarantino movies! That definitely caught our attention given the fact that the director is from Knoxville.

You know we are fans of local breweries, so we took a detour #offthetipsypath to find the La Spezia Brewing Company … and we’re very glad we did! It’s a small operation with a lineup of tasty brews that hit the spot for us! Check them out!

And we rounded out our night at Eclettica Cocktail Lab - a cocktail bar that with a vibe that was trying to be a little bit of everything – the drink menus were found inside plastic CD containers!  It was definitely another locals hangout, which makes it all the more appealing. The drinks were excellent. Another #tipsypick if you are in La Spezia!

Bottom line, we definitely could have spent more than one night exploring the scene here.

In Cinque Terre itself, of the five towns within the UNESCO borders, we chose to stay in Riomaggiore. On our first night, we had excellent food at Bar Centrale in the heart of town and cocktails (and local wine) with a great patio view overlooking the town at Old School! They are on one of the streets above the town, so it’s a nice walk!

On our last day, we had one of the best meals of our trip at Rio Bistrot! This upscale spot overlooks the harbor. The food was excellent – mostly local seafood paired with local wines, including some “Vin Santo” – a sweet dessert wine served with sponge cake.

Elsewhere, we did some hiking and took the trains to see all five towns. We had a nice lunch in the middle of Vernazza at Osteria il Baretto that included an excellent Limoncello Spritz and a view of the tiny Chapel of Santa Marta. In Corniglia, we enjoyed some local wines and bites with a view of the sea at La Scuna.

But the #tipsypick for the other towns would have to be watching the sunset at Nessun Dorma in Manarola. This outdoor patio establishment overlooks the town and the harbor facing the west, making for a spectacular sunset experience every evening. They do book up fairly quickly, so plan accordingly, but do plan for it!

Cinque Terre was one of our bucket list destinations, so we are happy to be able to share some of our #tipsypicks!