🍷 Florence – Wine Windows and More 🍷

 

Have you ever heard of a wine window?  It’s exactly what it sounds like … and we visited one in Florence, Italy.

First, a few overall impressions of the cocktail scene in Florence:

• Florence is fairly compact and definitely walkable, which makes for a safe and easy cocktail tour
• Art is everywhere! No boring scenery here.
• Surprisingly, after a night of cocktails there aren’t many places to grab a late-night bite to sober up

No more suspense… let’s talk about wine windows – or “buchetta del vino” in Italian! These are small windows that were invented in the Middle Ages to allow people to pass wine and other items from inside establishments to people in the streets without direct contact (you know, that whole Black Plague thing) and as a way for thirsty patrons to avoid paying taxes to fill their personal bottles. Fast forward to 2020 and our own pandemic – some of these windows in Florence began operating again! We visited one at a bar called Babae in a neighborhood across the river from the tourist area. It was pretty simple – ring the bell, order the wine, wine gets passed and we drank in the street. Definitely one of the most unique experiences of our trip. The wine was excellent too!

Just like in Verona, Florence has a beautiful mountaintop park called Piazzale Michelangelo where you can enjoy wine or a cocktail and see the sunset. It’s a bit of a hike if you choose to walk (which we did) but totally worth it! Many people bring their own libations to the park and there are several vendors to grab some. But we chose the terrace at a lovely restaurant called La Loggia to enjoy our sunset cocktails. It’s hard to take a bad photo in Italy, but this evening was particularly spectacular. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, this view is definitely a #tipsypick.

One of the most unique cocktail bars we’ve maybe ever visited is here in Florence. The Arts Inn started as an art gallery, but the owner needed income to allow artists to have space at low or no cost – so The Arts Inn was born! The space is intimate and filled with little cozy spaces for some excellent cocktails and wine! The bartender took the time to talk to us about the concept and if you ask nicely you can climb the staircase to see the artist studio upstairs. We highly recommend this as a #tipsypick for Florence!

We enjoy tracking the World’s Top 50 Bars list and have been able to visit some in places like New York and Miami. We were pleasantly surprised to find a cocktail bar in Florence on the list this year! So you know we had to visit Locale Firenze! The décor is upscale modern and the cocktail menu was fairly extensive. They found out we were celebrating our wedding anniversary (well, we told them) and they offered us some complimentary nibbles – with a sparkler - and shots as well. The signature cocktails and wine were excellent!

We love a good speakeasy, and Rasputin did not disappoint us! As you might expect for a bar named for a mad Russian monk, the décor is moody and classic (right down to the animal skull and candles) … and we were led down a dark staircase to the underground space. They had jazz music playing softly (always a winner in our book) and we enjoyed the craft cocktails. This is definitely a date night place and a #tipsypick.

We think Florence is an excellent place for “home base” for further adventures into the Tuscan countryside, so we’ll definitely be back!  Up next, Venice!

🍷 One Night in Verona – a Surprising Cocktail Adventure 🍷

For the first time since the pandemic lockdown, we had the opportunity recently to travel internationally for 10 days in Italy. We’ll save our thoughts on Venice, Florence and Cinque Terre for upcoming posts. But we’ll start with one of the most surprising stops on our #tipsytrek … Verona!

First, a couple of overall observations on drinking in Italy – 

1. Almost everyone we met speaks English

2. Aperitivo hour is definitely a thing, as it should be!  

3. Lots of great local wines, but bourbon selections can be hard to come by

We had booked one night in Verona for our wedding anniversary for the romance and we did all the tourist things – Juliet’s balcony and the Arena (which in itself is very cool) but then at night we ventured out to find what turned out to be one of the best cocktail scenes of our entire visit!

We began with a trip across the river and up the mountainside to the Castel San Pietro. We rode up and back on the funicular – a cable car that provides great views of downtown Verona both ways. While the castle itself was closed, we had a glass of wine and enjoyed the sunset at La Funicolare cafe.  We highly recommend making this part of your itinerary for Verona!

Since we don’t like to begin a cocktail crawl on an empty stomach, our next stop was to a bistro and cocktail bar appropriately named Romeo (it is Verona, after all). We really enjoyed the cocktails, and we learned quickly on this trip that you can’t go wrong just ordering a glass of house wine – red, white or sparkling! The board was excellent as well, made up of local meats and cheeses like we found almost every night.

But this is where the evening started getting interesting!  Our waiter invited us to check out the cocktail bar upstairs which didn’t open until later, but he was happy to show off the area behind an unmarked door. The bar area was beautiful, and the rest of the floor was laid out like an intimate speakeasy. He invited us to come back later!  But we were off to our next stop to see where the night would take us.

Our next stop was The White Monkey. Since it was a Monday night, we had the bar almost to ourselves, which allowed us to chat with the bartenders and staff and learn more about the Verona bar scene. We told them we like bourbon drinks, especially a good Old Fashioned, and they served us their own twist on one, along with local prosecco! We had also never had shots of real Italian Amaro before … until then! The guys asked us where we’d been and where we were headed … apparently, we were on the right track.  They even recommended a stop along the way to the next place on our list. White Monkey is definitely a #tipsypick!

On good recommendation, we stopped next at Archivio, which turned out to be an excellent little local cocktail bar. They served a very tasty Manhattan and more local prosecco. They even make their own vermouth, which they sell in limited quantities in the U.S. We will be on the lookout here in the states.

And finally, we made our way to our first real speakeasy in Verona. The Soda Jerk is an inconspicuous door with a buzzer that leads to a dark and intimate space that was pretty crowded for a Monday night – obviously a local favorite! We managed to get a table for two close to the bar where we could watch the activity. We had another excellent Old Fashioned and more local prosecco.

In all, Verona was very warm and welcoming, both day and night. We definitely could have stayed more than one night and found more adventures here. The staff at the bars all seemed to support each other, which made our visit even more special. 

Tipsy picks for Verona: 

• Romeo Bistrot

• White Monkey

• Archivio 

• Soda Jerk

Stay tuned for more of our Italian adventure!

🎉🍻 Oktoberfest – Partying like it’s 1810 🎉🍻

 

Who in their right mind would get up in the middle of the night to drink beer at 6 a.m.? Well, if you know us, then you know the answer. But it’s not just any morning! Every year, Munich, Germany kicks off the annual celebration known as Oktoberfest. The festival begins at noon local time in Germany with a tapping of the kegs.

Knoxville is blessed to have one of the most authentic German breweries around – Schulz Brau. It’s owned by a family from Munich and every year they tap kegs at the same time as Munich. Here, that’s at 6 a.m. And after a two-year pandemic break, Oktoberfest is back, both in Munich and in Knoxville!

Oktoberfest began in 1810 as a royal wedding celebration. It’s not actually a celebration of the month of October. In fact, it usually begins the third Saturday in September and concludes the first weekend of October, or on October 3, which is German Unification Day.

The OG celebration in Munich attracts approximately six million visitors over the three weeks. We were fortunate to be among them in 2018. For the trip, we bought our lederhosen and dirndl and found that we fit in nicely, even among the businesspeople in downtown Munich. Many of them wear their traditional garb to work so they can be ready to enjoy at the fairgrounds later!

The fairgrounds is the green space that houses the gigantic tents for the six main breweries at Oktoberfest, as it has since the original. We visited each one but spent much of our time imbibing at the Hofbrau tent. We paid for a guided tour that included the visit, a liter of beer, and food (an entire half chicken each). That was a great deal and definitely a #tipsypick!  We highly recommend a package like that, especially if it’s your first time.

We mingled with drinkers from all over the world that day, hoisting our liter steins for frequent toasts or “Prost!” and sang everything from traditional tunes to “Sweet Caroline!” Each tent has a theme, color scheme, and holds about 5,000 people at a time. There were three basic beer offerings – light, dark, or Radler – a mix of beer and juice or lemonade. And yes, you drink them by the liter.

Aside from the tents, the festival grounds look much like a typical fair with rides, games, and food. We rode on the Ferris wheel, which was included in our package. In hindsight, we’re not sure that was the best idea after drinking several liters of beer . . . but it was fun!

There’s also a section of the grounds known as Old Oktoberfest, where you can get your liters in traditional clay steins for an additional fee. They say it’s less of a party atmosphere. We didn’t try it, but we will have it on our list for next time!

We spent some time exploring Munich outside of the festival and found some impressive cocktail bars, including Schumann’s, often named among the top bars in the world. We found a great speakeasy called Jaded Monkey where Christy had her first gin drink and fell in love with the Gin and Tonic! Lots of excellent cocktail bars . . . too many to name. But let us know if you want the full list! There are plenty of beer halls and gardens open all year round for the authentic experience, including a large one at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden that we found on our last day there.

Enough reminiscing . . . back to this year in Knoxville. If you’ve never been, Schulz Brau is as close to an actual German brewery as you can get in the states. The owner’s family is from Munich and the beer garden is populated with authentic tables and chairs from Munich biergartens. The food is excellent German fare, with some wood-fired pizzas for those not so inclined. The beer menu runs the gamut of German styles: Helles, Marzen, Festbier, Hefeweizen, and a Radler. This year, the tickets included either a liter stein or a two-liter boot! (Note, they didn’t have the boots in Germany . . . but it was a fun addition.) And yes, breakfast was included starting at 6 a.m. – very necessary with beer by the liter (or two)! As in Germany, they celebrate every day for the entire period. So there’s plenty of time to enjoy!

More and more breweries in Knoxville are getting in on the fun. The last two years, we ventured out West to Orange Hat for their Oktoberfest and found it to be pretty authentic and definitely fun. Of course, we were dressed for the occasion. And most breweries in town are at least offering a version of fall beers including Marzen or Festbier. No, there’s no pumpkin beer at Oktoberfest!

If you haven’t noticed, we love this time of year! So get out and enjoy . . . and “Prost!”

Up on the Roof in Downtown Knoxville

 

Late Summer into Fall is the perfect weather for cocktails on the patio … but why not take it “up” a few notches literally TO THE ROOF! There are a growing number of rooftop bars in downtown Knoxville that let you enjoy your favorite drinks indoors or outdoors with a view from the top of the town!

We’ll start with the “OG” rooftop in downtown Knoxville – the Moonshine Roof Garden at Preservation Pub. This rooftop space has been around long enough to see Market Square thrive and give patrons a bird’s eye view of what’s going on below. With the arrival of Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens next door, the roof garden is now double the size, and so is the Magic Beer Tree! The drink menu at Preservation Pub itself is extensive and fairly basic, with beer, wine and shine as the showcase. However, the real “gem” (pun intended, as you’ll see in a minute) is the cocktail menu at Bernadette’s!

Bernadette’s is the brainchild of Bernadette West, using hundreds of actual crystals that once were housed in the World Grotto, an earlier bar in the basement of one of the other West buildings on the square. Bernadette’s also has its own outdoor space, actually above and overlooking the roof garden, known as the Citrine Mezzanine. It’s enclosed but with an open-air view of the rooftop. Here is where you’ll find some of the most creative drinks on the square – our personal favorites are the Amethyst and the Moonstone, not to mention the mimosa flights (on special every Wednesday night). The first is a refreshing take on an old fashioned and the second is a coconut drink with cream and quite the presentation. You can get both up on the Mezzanine! And don’t miss out on our favorite bar snack … the Tetris Tots with the rainbow palette of dipping sauces.

 

Yet another rooftop on Market Square is just next door at Scruffy City Hall. This is another venture from Scott and Bernadette West. The first two floors are mainly a performance venue, but the rooftop space is wide open and dedicated to a more laid back atmosphere than its neighbors. It may have the best view of whatever is on the square’s performance stage! The second floor also has an open-air mezzanine with great views.

Now we move just off the square to South Gay Street, where dueling rooftop bars make for an attractive competition for best views! Both Embassy Suites and Hyatt Place opened within the last few years, both debuting some fantastic rooftop spaces, and both with excellent cocktails. We have done weekend “staycations” at both so we can safely say we’ve done the necessary research. Since these are also hotel bars, we covered some of this in a previous post. Here’s our lowdown on each from a rooftop view.

At Embassy Suites, Radius Rooftop Lounge has the distinction of having the highest rooftop view of downtown. We have to admit that we weren’t overly impressed the first time we visited, but that was in the middle of the pandemic. It struck us as a frat party. On our most recent visit, it’s clear that they’ve stepped up their cocktail game, including a whole Old Fashioned list. You know we love that! They also have a rooftop outdoor pool area with cabanas that are great for a small group party. And yes, the views are spectacular!

And last but certainly not least, Five Thirty Lounge is a fantastic space with indoor and outdoor areas on top of the Hyatt Place downtown. Their indoor bar is pure eye candy and the drinks are excellent. Full disclosure – we spent our New Year’s Eve here and watched the Independence Day fireworks from the outdoor patio! They make a wonderful Old Fashioned and have a nice wine list. We aren’t a fan of the extra “hospitality tax” on drinks, but don’t let that stop you. Take advantage of the reservations here to get ahead of the crowd. Definitely a #tipsypick!

With basically five rooftop options to choose from within a few blocks, it is technically possible to do a “rooftop bar crawl” in one day/night!  Let us know if you try it! If we do, we’ll let you know!

Did we miss anything? Hit us up on Instagram at OffTheTipsyPath (@offthetipsypath) • Instagram photos and videos or Facebook at Off The Tipsy Path | Facebook. Finally, you can also drop us a note here. We’d love to hear from you!

🎶 Tipsy Picks in the Bluff City 🎶

 

When you think of Memphis, you likely have images of Graceland, Beale Street, and Barbeque. Rightly so!  But if you look #offthetipsypath … you will also find some great places for creative cocktails.

First, the standard for all upscale cocktail bars in Memphis, and perhaps the south, is the Peabody Lobby Bar. The grand hotel is the home of the world-famous ducks in the fountain, and it’s our must-do cocktail place every time we are in Memphis. The Manhattan is one of the best we’ve had. (They make it with Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel – accept no substitutes!) The wine selection is excellent. And the people watching is superb! This is our #tipsypick for Memphis without a doubt.

That said, there are lots of other great cocktail options in the Bluff City!

For example, you only have to walk across the street from the Peabody and down the alley to find Belle Tavern. They were closed for most of the pandemic, but thankfully have opened back up again with new owners! Belle has a great laid-back atmosphere and some excellent bourbon drinks, along with an impressive bourbon list. Another #tipsypick for sure.

On Beale Street, most of the establishments are geared toward live music and big beers, as they should be!  Especially when you can grab one for take out and stroll along the street with it. But if you’re looking for something a little bit fancy with great cocktails, head #offthetipsypath and up a discreet staircase to Itta Bena! This fine dining restaurant is on the top floor above B.B. King’s Blues Club at the edge of the entertainment district. Their Sazerac is one of the best in the city. The views of Beale from above are worth it too.

If we’re talking about hidden and #offthetipsypath, there are in fact a couple of speakeasy type bars in downtown Memphis. The first is Tailor’s Union. If you’re walking past the storefront here, you’ll see what looks like a typical tailor’s shop complete with mirrors and mannequins. But if you enter and go behind the mirror, you find a swanky bar with seating and excellent cocktails. They even have a private jazz club downstairs (for members only).

The next closest thing to a speakeasy downtown is Blind Bear. It’s an unassuming storefront on Main Street that leads to a bar and restaurant we’d best describe as a tavern with a speakeasy vibe – think lots of dark wood and velvet. Their drinks are solid, including a Manhattan and Old Fashioned, and the food is good too!

Memphis has some pretty great hotel bars (you know we like those) aside from the Peabody. If you just want good cocktails in a historic hip space, then Eight and Sand is the place. This is basically the lobby bar for the Central Station hotel, and it is indeed inside the lobby of the old Grand Central train station. Among the updates is an entire wall of vinyl records, which are played by a live DJ most nights. There’s also a “listening room” off the lobby if you want some private time with your tunes. The cocktails are excellent – including one of the best Old Fashioned cocktails in town. If you like haunted dive bars, go next door and check out Earnestine and Hazel’s!

The best hotel newcomer #tipsypick probably goes to Talk Shop, which is the lobby bar inside the new Caption Hotel by Hyatt. Their specialty cocktail is called “Mix it up” – you pick the booze, the flavor and the mixer. They put it all in a cool glass with a metal straw!  Their Manhattan is no slouch either. Next door at the Hyatt Centric, they have a fantastic rooftop bar with a view of the river called Beck & Call. Don’t forget the Clover Club, which is the restaurant and bar at the Hotel Indigo. They have live music in the underground space. And if you head over to Midtown, the Memphian Hotel has a fantastic rooftop bar called the Tiger & Peacock.

Before we leave downtown, have you ever been someplace and felt like you need a reality check to make sure you’re still where you think you are? That’s what it’s like stepping into Loflin Yard. This outdoor oasis on the South Side is unlike anything else in Memphis. They took an old blacksmith shop and stables and turned it into one of the coolest spaces in town. Well, it’s not so “cool” in the Memphis heat, but they do have giant fans running most of the time!  They have excellent cocktails, including an Old Fashioned and Sazerac, and great food. The brisket tacos are life changing. For a similar vibe in midtown, check out Railgarten.

 

We would also be slacking if we didn’t mention a few others on our list. Café Pontotoc is on South Main. They have a cool vibe, great food and excellent cocktails. Barware is on South Front Street. They’re laid back and out of the way, but with great cocktails too. Just down the street is Gray Canary. They’re mainly a restaurant, but all we can say is share a punch bowl for date night. You’ll thank us. And if you’re in midtown, Alchemy is highly rated with solid drinks and food.

 

And finally, it doesn’t get much more #offthetipsypath than a cool cocktail bar tucked away in the middle of a giant complex that used to be a Sears Catalog warehouse. That’s Art Bar in a nutshell. But it’s absolutely worth seeking out if you’re in midtown. Art Bar is part of the Crosstown Arts section of the Crosstown Concourse complex. You can’t get a much cooler space to kick back in than that. The entire space is full of selfies waiting to happen! Grab a drink and settle into a corner.

 

 #tipsypicks for Memphis:

Best all around – Peabody Lobby Bar

Best tavern – Belle Tavern

Best outdoor space – Loflin Yard

Best indoor space – Art Bar

Best newcomer – Talk Shop

Best dive bar – Earnestine & Hazel’s

    

🐭🍾🌎 Drinking Around the World at EPCOT (And Live to Tell About It) 🐭🍾🌎

 

For those of us who spent decades thinking the EPCOT theme park at Disney World was just about culture and ecology with a few rides thrown in… there’s a “whole new world” out there! (See what we did there?) It’s called Drinking Around the World!

This adult game is fairly simple – there are 11 countries at EPCOT World Showcase. There are drinks in each country. The goal is to have at least one drink in each country without giving up, passing out or otherwise failing in some other less pleasant way.

Oh, and did we mention at some times of the year there are special “pavilions” with more drinks themed around the festivals? We’ve been there during the Food & Wine Festival and the International Flower & Garden Festival. The pavilion drinks are worth the extra effort and liver function.

So for those of you counting at home, how do you cram a dozen drinks into one day and remember it all at the end? Well, first – you need to make sure you start as early as you can and let your metabolism do the rest. Second, remember there’s no shame in sharing a drink or two (it still counts…) and make sure to nibble your way around as well. The food options are pretty spectacular too! Oh, and there is probably still time for rides. More on that later.

There are lots of debates on social media and park websites dedicated to the big burning question – Do you start in Canada or Mexico?  The main loop of the World Showcase starts in one of them and ends in the other. Do you start with the tequila flight and/or Avocado Margaritas… or end with them?

We think there’s another option! Both times we’ve gone, we came in at the International Gateway entrance. This last time, we made an immediate right and started IN FRANCE! Why?  Because there’s no better way to start the day than champagne and croissants! Then we circled back and started in Canada, which, if you think about it, seems to be a natural next move from France. And they have cider flights… mimosa flights… and beer. We also recommend taking a stroll toward the back of the pavilion for a quick photo at the mini-Niagara Falls. It’s even better when it’s hot outside, which is most of the year. Canada also has one of the best photo ops with Spaceship Earth as a backdrop. There’s also poutine – French fries with gravy – it’s never too early to start loading on some carbs.

We definitely have to mention the frozen boozy Dole Whip! This was a real treat on a hot day in June. It was at one of the special pavilions near Canada for the flower festival we mentioned earlier.

Moving into the United Kingdom pavilion… more beer! And fish and chips. Then we skipped France and went on into Morocco. Best sangria in the park! And it can be enjoyed in a covered market area to get out of the heat for a bit. That’s also a survival tip – take advantage of shade and indoor areas often!

The Japan Pavilion is also great for photo ops… and a frozen Kirin! That’s a Japanese draft beer topped with a float of frozen foam. Perfect for Florida weather! There is also a cool shopping area – more air conditioning.

While the American Pavilion is technically next around the world, on our most recent trip we skipped ahead to Italy for a high-carb lunch at Via Napoli Pizzeria! Oh, and of course Italian wine and aperitif cocktails. Bellisimo!

Regardless of whether you drink straight through or circle back, the American Pavilion is a great spot to sample beers from around the country. Beer is another great survival strategy – since you’re pretty much renting it, along with a casual buzz.  There’s also some Tennessee moonshine to be found here!

Speaking of beer… Germany Pavilion is next! By this point, it’s never a bad idea to enjoy a cold beer (or flight) here or some tasty German white wine. The pavilion itself is pretty festive (think Oktoberfest).

Another beautiful pavilion is next door – China. The Pagoda is a great spot for a photo along with one of the best values “in the world…” the Plum Wine. It’s potent and inexpensive and worth a try.

If you’re feeling the need to indulge your sweet tooth (why wouldn’t you) then the Norway Pavilion is for you. Also known as the home for the “Frozen” ride, the real treat here is at the Kringla Bakeri – School Bread. This is a sweet roll filled with custard and topped with toasted coconut. It’s as delicious as it sounds! You can wash it down with some Nordic beer or a Viking (alcoholic) Coffee.

If you chose to go the direction around the world that we have the last two visits, you’re ready for your final stop – the Mexico Pavilion. This one is actually more fun than you would think. Step inside the great temple and grab some nachos with fresh-made guacamole. Who doesn’t love drunk nachos? Then have a tequila flight at La Cava del Tequila or pair the guac with a fantastic avocado margarita! You can munch and drink while you stand in line for the Gran Fiesta Tour boat ride – imagine the Small World boat ride with a Mexican theme and Donald Ducks’ nephews! It’s indoors, relaxing and air conditioned.

By this point, it’s very possible you’ve consumed a dozen drinks, lots of great food, and you may have time to jump on a ride or two before the park closes. We did Test Track the first time, which may have been a bit much with a belly full of alcohol. The second time we visited the Living with the Land and The Seas with Nemo attractions. Both times we did the Soarin ride (before alcohol).

Another insider tip – we stayed at the Dolphin Hotel both times, which is on-property but owned by Marriott, as is the neighboring Swan Hotel. So you can use points! The Dolphin/Swan properties are an easy walk to and from Epcot across the Boardwalk area. There are some great bars and restaurants on the Boardwalk. Abracadabar has fantastic cocktails and bourbon. Trattoria al Forno is a fantastic Italian restaurant next to it.

EPCOT, like most of the parks, has something new every time we visit. I’d say we’ll be back to test our livers again in the near future!

As always, let us know what you think and we’ll see you #offthetipsypath!