🍺 A Wicked Good Time In Boston 🍺

So we spent our fall break in the great city of Boston and as the locals say, we had a “wicked good time!”

We stayed in the heart of the Theater District at the Moxy (and yes, we are fans of that Marriott brand in part because you get a free cocktail for every adult in your room). So along with walking the entire Freedom Trail and back – more than two miles each way – we also walked to some fantastic cocktail bars!

As you might expect for a town steeped in history, Boston has more than its share of historic Irish pubs. Our first stop when we arrived was Bull & Finch Pub on Beacon Hill, now known by a more familiar name – Cheers, as in the pub that inspired the iconic TV show. We had a nice cold mug of Sam Adams and a generous sized flatbread and soaked in the scenery of this basement bar. Apparently there’s a replica of the show set upstairs at the Hampshire House hotel, which was closed for a private function. Definitely worth a stop once, even though they didn’t “know our name”.

For an even more authentic Boston experience, we suggest Bell in Hand Tavern. Considered to be the oldest continuously operating tavern in America, Bell in Hand is full of history. It’s also right next to one of the oldest restaurants in America, Union Oyster House. And they have great drinks beyond a glass of beer found in every tavern. Green Dragon Tavern is another historic tavern right next door. In fact, that entire block is a postcard of old Boston.

And if you want a more modern tavern/bistro vibe, check out Bostonia Public House. You can’t argue with a place that embraces where the name “pub” comes from! They had tasty bourbon drinks and a pumpkin martini that was perfect for Autumn.

One of the great things about Boston is the diversity of the many neighborhoods. We enjoyed exploring some of them – the Theater District, Chinatown, Beacon Hill, and of course the North End, also known as Little Italy. We hear there’s a bit of a cannoli war going on here. But we admit, we chose the one that has an underground bar – Modern Pastry Underground. The cannoli was fantastic, especially when paired with creative cocktails like the Pistachio Martini (and other tasty flavors)! Definitely a great way to enjoy dessert.

Now, you know that we had to find some speakeasies! And there were several within easy walking distance. If you go into Chinatown and down an alley with an idea where to look – namely an unmarked steel door, you’ll find Offsuit. Follow the instructions to call when you get there, and within a few minutes, you’re greeted and escorted inside a small industrial space with antique furnishings. The bartender comes to you and asks what you like and takes your order. Sound familiar? It did to us! It turns out, the owners of Offsuit modeled the concept after Attaboy in New York City. It was worth the wait – the drinks were excellent! This was a #tipsypick for sure.

If you’re walking around the Theater District and see a neon-lit display of various wigs, you’ve found our next speakeasy – the Wig Shop. While the display isn’t an actual storefront like some others we’ve found, the Wig Shop does an excellent job with the theme in its drinks and on the actual menus. They had an excellent take on a Sazerac called Remember the Maine, a rallying cry following the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in 1898. The check even came rolled inside a hair curler. The space is cozy and great for a date night or a drink after work!

Ever heard of Carrie Nation? She was the hardline prohibitionist who used to bust up taverns and liquor barrels with an axe around the turn of the 20th century! The folks here in Boston decided to honor her by naming a BAR after her. The Carrie Nation Cocktail Club is an upscale bar and restaurant with a prohibition-era theme – and yes, it has a speakeasy! It’s more of a back room hidden in plain sight up the stairs and behind a velvet curtain, but still very cool. We had some great drinks, including an excellent Smoked Old Fashioned, and really enjoyed the vibe here. Not sure Carrie would approve!

One other side note, Boston loves beer! Sure, Sam Adams is one of the most recognized breweries in the country, but don’t skip out on all the microbreweries. We tried Democracy Brewing, a local brewpub which was close to our hotel and some of the speakeasies. The beers are mainly named after local events and characters. Great space and awesome food!

There were honestly more great options than we could cover in just a few days. So for the “save it for next time” category, we’ll note that Hecate, Next Door and Yvonne’s are on our list!

So let’s just say, there will definitely be a next time, Boston.

Tipsypicks: Offsuit, Wig Shop, Carrie Nation

Anything else we missed? Let us know – but don’t tell Carrie!

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!