🥂🥃 Hotel Bars - Scruffy City Unexpected Gems 🥂🥃

 

If you have traveled a bit, you may know that in some cities, the hotel bar is a destination and a part of the experience. That’s true in places like Las Vegas, Miami Beach, and as we discovered recently, even in Chattanooga. But Knoxville?  Yes - there are hotel bars here in the Scruffy City that we would recommend for a date night!

Now it’s also true that you can find a spot for a basic drink at many chain hotels these days. But we’ll focus here on the ones downtown that we think elevate the experience in one way or another.

And if we’re talking elevated experience, how about a rooftop at a historic downtown hotel to start with! Five Thirty Lounge is an indoor/outdoor bar and lounge at the top of the Hyatt Place, which used to be the Farragut Hotel back in the day. They have done an excellent job of creating a welcoming space that also features some of the best rooftop views around. And they have fantastic cocktails and small bites! Five Thirty has one of the best Old Fashioned cocktails in town, and a good wine selection. We even brought in 2022 here with their masquerade party. The only downside is the “Liquor By The Drink Tax” they tack on to each drink. That is a bit out of the ordinary since other hotel bars on the list do not charge the tax. But, it’s worth it for the experience!

The other “elevated” hotel bar downtown is across the street at the Embassy Suites. Radius Rooftop Lounge is going for that upscale experience as well … they have fantastic views in a cool space and solid cocktails, but it’s a bit more of a party atmosphere with loud music most of the time. Check it out for a drink and the views! It’s definitely not a typical hotel bar.

 

Speaking of not typical … did you know that Knoxville has an authentic speakeasy? Peter Kern Library is located in the Oliver Hotel just behind Market Square. (We’ll let you figure it out but look for the red light!) You’ll need the passcode to enter, but you can find it on their social media platforms. This has been one of our favorite cocktail spots for years. The space is a tribute to former Knoxville Mayor Peter Kern, as he used to own and operate the bakery in this space. They stay true to the library theme with drinks named after literary characters and books like the “Holly Golightly.” Their bourbon selection is extensive and their classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan are worth the visit alone.

Another hotel bar that’s been here a while before we visited (how did we wait so long?) is The Drawing Room in the Tennessean Hotel. Located next to the Sunsphere, it’s definitely a destination rather than a stop. But it is so worth it!  The Drawing Room occupies a space on the second floor of the luxury hotel and is furnished like (surprise) a parlor or drawing room in a grand mansion. The Smoked Old Fashioned is as good as we had heard and the small bites like the charcuterie board were a nice addition. Make this one a date night destination!

You have to look a little harder for the rest of the hotel bars downtown … maybe even #offthetipsypath 😊.

This next one would get the “best newcomer” award, if there was one. Tussie Mussie is in the lobby of the Cumberland House Hotel, which overlooks World’s Fair Park. The vibe is classic and retro – look for the shelves full of old Singer sewing machines!  And while it is laid out like a normal hotel bar, the cocktails are a step up for sure. Try the “Cold Fashioned,” a take on the classic with coffee-infused bourbon. The small plate bites are excellent as well. We will be back here.

 

We also visited the new lobby bar at the recently opened Marriott hotel downtown. The Maker Exchange is a concept to highlight local artists and vendors. The bar is fairly typical of what you’d expect at a large hotel. The drinks were good, especially the Baked Manhattan, which was a tasty twist on the classic. And it was one of the few places in town we’ve found blanc de blanc champagne. Better than average for a hotel bar. 

And finally, we couldn’t go without making a stop at the much-hyped hotel bar owned by Peyton Manning – Saloon 16. Located just off the strip in the Graduate Knoxville hotel, this is a must for Vol fans and anyone who wants to get a look at some of the Manning memorabilia that surrounds this watering hole. However, be warned that it is definitely a “saloon,” which for us would be great for game days and if you find yourself in the area otherwise. Go Vols!

 

And go get a great cocktail at one of these hotel bars in Knoxville!

Tipsy Picks:         Peter Kern Library is the standard for other hotel bars (and cocktail bars) in Knoxville

Five Thirty Lounge is a great spot for a date night

Best drink goes to The Drawing Room for the Smoked Old Fashioned

As always, let us know if we missed anything and where we should go next!

🎉🥃 Nashville - There are great cocktails in the land of Honky Tonks 🎉🥃

 

Yes Virginia, there are some great cocktail bars to be found in the land of Honky Tonks and the “Woo Hoo” crowd (that’s the name given to the endless stream of bachelorette parties on Lower Broadway)  - and in case you haven’t figured out, we’re talking about Nashville, aka “NashVegas!”

We’ve spent a considerable amount of time in the Music City over the last decade and there’s nothing wrong with a night on Lower Broadway. Lots of live music and beer flowing for everyone. But if you’re looking for some great cocktails and a different vibe, here are a few thoughts for you!

First, it is possible to find some great cocktails just a block or two away from the Honky Tonks on lower Broadway! There are so many new cocktail bars popping up in Nashville that we can’t cover them all in one post.

But we’ll start with our consistently favorite spot – the Patterson House. Located in a house on the West End, it’s not exactly hidden, but we did stand outside with a map on our first visit and missed the door entirely!  Luckily, we found our way in and have been coming back ever since. The drinks are some of the best in the city – Scott had his first Black Manhattan and Black Walnut Old Fashioned here. They have small bites for food as well. It is always a stop when we’re in Nashville!

Just a few blocks off Broadway is a red phone booth. It seems out of place, until you realize it’s the entrance to a clever speakeasy and cigar bar called  …  Red Phone Booth. They even have a special secret number you call from the booth to get in (Pro-Hint: Most of the local hotels will have it.) Once inside, you’ll find leather chairs and a bit of cigar smoke. But there are also some great cocktails!

A few blocks from Broadway close to the river is Printers Alley, historically home to some “seedy” establishments. But this festive alley has a number of cool spots that you might not see just walking by. Both Snitch and Dirty Little Secret are accessible from the Alley and have a variety of live entertainment in a “speakeasy” setting. Alley Taps is also located in a former speakeasy basement space.

One place that is well marked and worth the effort to get a table is Skull’s Rainbow Room. A Printers Alley original, this is a restaurant with some amazing prime rib and great drinks. Most evenings they have a cabaret show after 9:30 p.m. if you want some live entertainment! We try to visit when we are in town.

And one block from the Alley is the Black Rabbit, home to some fantastic cocktails and a solid bourbon selection along with an inventive kitchen.

Nashville is a lot like New York City in that there are lots of neighborhoods outside of the city center and each has their own hotspots for great drinks, food and music. For example, SoBro has Bar Sovereign, Edgehill has Old Glory – both are worth checking out for their history and great use of space as well as the cocktails!

One of our favorite areas is East Nashville. Just a decade ago this was a neighborhood “in transition” but we’d say now that it’s well on its way! It’s always been home to some funky spots that are #offthetipsypath. If you look up “best cocktails in Nashville,” there are always at least a few here on the list. Unfortunately, it’s not the most walkable neighborhood between our favorite watering holes. Maybe someone should start a cocktail bus tour 🤔

Anyway, one of our favorite spots in East Nash is a bit #offthetipsypath in that it’s a basement bar behind a building on Gallatin Pike. The Fox Club has some of the best cocktails in the city, including some excellent variations on a Manhattan. Unlike some bars, you can make a reservation here too.

Down the street a bit is Attaboy. This is described as an “outpost” for the famous speakeasy of the same name in NYC. The space is very cool and the drinks are solid, but we think they’re still working on the “tell us what you like and we’ll make something unique” concept that makes the NYC mothership work so well. Would definitely recommend giving it a try!

Also along Gallatin Pike is a cool new wine bar called The Authentique. While it’s located in a strip mall, don’t let the outside fool you. The interior space reminded us of something in Europe. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the wine and the charcuterie is excellent. We’ll be back here!

There are other places nearby as well that are on our list to check out, but we couldn’t pack in too many and still be able to drive lol.

Like we said, too many Nashville spots to cover in just one entry … we haven’t even started on the breweries! More on all that next time.

As always, if you have thoughts or suggestions … we’d love to hear from you!

A Weekend in Chattanooga is Not Enough

 

As it turns out, this blog is a great excuse for weekend getaways … and to drink. So based on some requests from friends, we spent a recent weekend in Chattanooga to check out the cocktail scene. While Chattanooga is known for its outdoor adventures, we found plenty to do indoors at the many bars and restaurants, including a few speakeasies! And to be fair, we did walk across the pedestrian bridge to the north shore and back … totally worth the walk.

First, if you are staying in a hotel in downtown Chattanooga, you may find some pretty great cocktails in your own hotel bar. Chattanooga has a surprising number of great hotel bars. We stayed at the Moxy downtown on this trip. It’s hard to beat a hotel where you check in AT the bar and get a free cocktail before you ever go to your room. The signature cocktail is definitely the way to go! While the outdoor bar – the Railyard – wasn’t open yet for the season, we did enjoy our time at Bar Moxy including the patio. Unfortunately, the operating hours have been seriously reduced due to pandemic staffing shortages, so get your drink on before 11:30 p.m.

 

Just up the street, the Kinley Hotel has one of our favorite bars in town. Company is a speakeasy behind the bookcase in the lobby. They actually knock before letting you in (no password required.) The atmosphere is classic, with a great selection of food and drinks – including classics like an Old Fashioned and a Flamed Sazerac that was one of Scott’s favorite drinks of the weekend. They had Christy’s favorite champagne - a blanc de blanc. Company is a must for anyone wanting a classy evening or a step back in time!

 Another excellent choice is Whiskey Thief, the rooftop bar at the Edwin Hotel. It’s worth a visit just for the view of the riverfront. The drinks and food are an added bonus. (Fried Green Tomatoes, yes please!) Reservations are accepted and recommended here also.

And as for classic lobby bars, you can’t go wrong with Bar & Billiards at the Read House. Billed as a “speakeasy,” it’s pretty easy to spot off the main lobby. But the vibe is definitely 1920’s with a modern twist, as is the rest of the hotel. Scott had one of the best Manhattans of the trip here, and Christy got her one of her favorite drinks - prosecco.

One of our favorite spots has a new life at the Dwell Hotel. Formerly Matilda Midnight, Night Pearl is a tiki concept in the same dark and jazzy space off the lobby. The signature cocktails are creative and tasty. We also enjoyed some small plates here that you don’t find often – like fish dip and pot stickers.

The Chattanooga Choo Choo seems to have their own eating and drinking experience on one property. Food and great cocktails at Stir, Nic & Normans and Frothy Monkey … their own distillery with a cocktail bar at Gate 11, and a historic train car turned beer bar at American Draft. You could spend all weekend here! We also recommend a tasting experience at Chattanooga Experimental Distillery across the street.

Other worthy choices include the rooftop at the Westin Hotel, where they make a mean Manhattan with some of the best views in the city, and the new rooftop at the Chattanoogan Hotel. They actually replaced the indoor pool with a bar!

Of course, there are other options for great food and drink downtown. Another “speakeasy” bar hiding in plain sight is Wiseguy Lounge. It’s basically the basement section of Goodfellas Pizza, right behind the Moxy. We were expecting a secret door but it’s a staircase behind the bar. This building has some very cool stories. One of the rooms at Wiseguy was actually a secret gambling hall hidden behind a wall. You can now hang out in the same room with some of the same restored gaming tables. Oh, and did we mention that the drinks are excellent? The Old Fashioned made Christy happy, and Scott had a flaming bourbon drink called the Broken Hatchet - perhaps the best drink of the weekend. What is it with drinks and fire on this trip?

We love local businesses with great stories. No Hard Feelings is definitely one of those. This bar started out as a popup in Nashville and settled along Broad Street. The name comes from parting words the owner had with a previous employer. Good name for a bar indeed. It’s a great hangout space with a disco ball or two and lots of leather seating. The menu is simple, but the drinks are delicious. This would probably be our hangout space if we lived here.

 

After midnight, the list of available options gets shorter. We’re happy to share that we found an excellent spot for your a.m. needs! Exile off Main is basically a backyard bar just south of Main Street. The indoor bar space is pretty small, but as long as the weather is nice, this is a great spot to hang outside! Lots of chairs, a patio, cold beer and some good cocktails. This was a great way to finish the night.

Main Street has no shortage of great places for food and drink. On past visits, we’ve enjoyed Flying Squirrel’s cocktails and small plates. This time, we tried State of Confusion. Great space, great food and creative Latin / Peruvian food. 

To end the weekend, we enjoyed brunch at Proof, an incubator space that also appears to have a great drink menu. We’ll be back another time for that!

So to summarize our Chattanooga experience / detail our Tipsy Picks:

Favorite Hotel Bar – Company

Favorite Hangout Spot – Wiseguy Lounge OR No Hard Feelings

Favorite Late Night – Exile off Main

We realize that we missed an entirely separate category here – the breweries. We’ll have to save that one for another trip! But feel free to hit us up for ideas in the meantime … we’ve been to most of them.

🥃 🍷 Our favorite Knoxville Bars (so far) 🥃 🍷

 

Our blog is all about finding great cocktails where and when we travel. But we also like great drinks closer to home!  So this entry is all about our favorite places in Knoxville, at least for now. We spend a lot of time on the north side of downtown, so that’s where we’ll start. These are places that, unless we have plans elsewhere, you can usually find us on any given weekend.

Don’t worry, we’ll cover some other areas in future posts! 

Corner Lounge

Let’s start with our favorite spot. Ever wonder what it’s like to go “Where everybody knows your name?” Welcome to Cheers Knoxville, aka the Corner Lounge! This is for sure our favorite watering hole in Knoxville for lots of reasons. It’s the oldest bar in town. Con Hunley got his start here. Cormac McCarthy tossed back a few here. They are a classic bar with great drinks (Scott is hooked on Sheena’s Manhattan and Christy is a sucker for Nat’s Bucket of Mos), great food, live music, and a great bunch of regular patrons. Check them out before they get too popular – they did get a 3.75 on a recent foodie review – pinkies up!

Public House

10 years ago, you didn’t walk around on Magnolia Avenue just north of Depot at night. But Public House was there and they’re still going strong. They have a great selection of wine, beer and cocktails – yes, they have yet another of Scott’s favorite Manhattans in town. The bartenders are excellent (shoutout to Franklin and Javier), and the vibe is laid back. They also have a great patio area.

Frank & George’s

One of the newest of our favorite spots is in an unlikely place – a food hall. Frank and George’s Bar is part of the Marble City Market food hall. The bartenders are veterans from other spots in town and have come up with some great cocktails – the Old Fashioned and Manhattan in particular are very tasty. 

Central Depot

Just down the street from the food hall on Depot you’ll find the appropriately named Central Depot (located on the corner of said streets.) Literally, one of the coolest bars on the corner. The menu includes cocktails mainly made with local products and local beers on tap. It’s a friendly vibe where you can just hang out.

Brother Wolf

Once upon a time, we spent a lot of time at Sapphire on Gay Street. As we wait to see if they reopen, it makes sense that we would love the next business from owners Aaron Thompson and Jessica King. Brother Wolf is an Italian aperitif bar with a great selection of cocktails and small bites. They’ve done a great job with the space in the Old City!

Runner Up: For one of the best cocktail selections in town (including a fantastic Old Fashioned) Kefi is a great option. They have cocktail samplers so you can try three different selections at a time! Opa! (Yes, they have a Greek-inspired menu.)

Like we said in the beginning, there are lots of other places we enjoy just downtown – Tern Club, Double S Wine Bar, Bistro at the Bijou, Bernadette’s, 5:30 Lounge to name a few.  And some we haven’t tried yet like the Tennessean and Lonesome Dove. Stay tuned for more about our local favorites! We may even list our favorite Old Fashioned and Manhattan spots.

You may notice that we didn’t cover any of the growing number of breweries. That’s in another post here.

Think we missed something - Let us know!

🎉📿 Beyond Bourbon Street – New Orleans Cocktails 🎉📿

 

When you think of New Orleans, you probably have images of Mardi Gras revelers on Bourbon Street drinking “Big Ass Beers” and doing creative things to get beads from the balconies. There are lots of places to get a decent hurricane and bourbon milk punch. But for those of us who have been to the city a few times - and are maybe of an age where we prefer quality over quantity, here are some thoughts about our favorite places for a good drink in the Big Easy.

We’ll start by mentioning some of the classics – the places that everyone talks about and should be on your list. A Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s is a rite of passage. Just do it. But also note that the ones you get these days are from a premade mix here. Still, lots of booze and worth knocking it off your list! We took one of the many bar tours during our most recent visit, which we highly recommend if you want a shot of history with your drinks. That’s where we learned that an authentic Hurricane will be made with a shot of high proof (i.e., 151) rum on top!

Get your Vieux Carre (a classic Bourbon cocktail invented here) from the Carousel Bar and hop on for a slow spin around history at the Hotel Monteleone. Go to Napoleon House for the Pimms Cup (invented here) and some fantastic Louisiana fare - the Muffuletta is excellent. Get your Sazerac (one of Scott’s favorites) from the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel and your French 75 from Arnaud’s.

Now, for some options a bit more #offthetipsypath -

With so much consumption out in the open (yes, you can drink on the streets), there aren’t many authentic speakeasies in New Orleans. Of course, we found one! Double Dealer is a relatively new spot underneath the Orpheum Theatre. It used to be their basement ice storage room – literally how they would cool the theater in the warmer months! Today they’re serving fantastic cocktails and live jazz with the atmosphere you’d expect underground.

 

If you’ve been following us, you know we like craft cocktails heavy on the Bourbon. Bar Tonique has all that plus the classic NOLA drinks like Sazerac, Vieux Carre, and French 75 with their own twists on them all. This spot is on the edge of the quarter just across from Louis Armstrong Park, so it’s an easy walk or ride. We highly recommend this one as an escape from the madness.

And just down the street is another unique spot, especially for day drinking or night pizza. Rampart Treehouse looks like you are stepping into a Peter Pan novel. There’s art, booze and pizza! It’s a bit more of a dive bar, but worth visiting if you are already headed to Bar Tonique.

The appropriately named 21^st Amendment bar is another great location we’ve found. We spent a wonderful New Year’s Eve here a few years ago and have never forgotten it. This is a classy stop off of Bourbon Street with a great wine and cocktail list and live jazz most nights.

Laffite’s Blacksmith Shop - The oldest structure in the U.S. that’s currently a bar! It’s a bit far down Bourbon for most people, but worth the stroll! Their purple frozen Voodoo Daiquiri just might change your life … or ruin your night because they’re dangerously good. Pair it with some food from the deli down the street for a late snack.

Pirate’s Alley Café – Located in (gasp) Pirate’s Alley right off Jackson Square, this one is worth just dropping by for a drink. If you’ve ever been curious to try Absinthe, this is the place to do it!   They also have a fantastic Pirate’s Punch - as you might expect. 

We realize that with a city that has a drinking pedigree like New Orleans, new bars are opening all the time and we haven’t begun to cover all the options, especially outside the French Quarter. Places like the Garden District, the Marigny and Frenchmen Street are always on our radar. And we’re always looking for a good spot for live jazz! We’ll just have to keep going back for an update!

We started this blog for people like us who like to travel, like a good cocktail and are at a point in their lives where they can enjoy both. Hope you are enjoying our adventures and find this helpful to you!