Packwoods was our first stop for happy hour, and I'd definitely come back. The cocktail menu has a…read morenice variety, so there's something for almost everyone. I ordered the Lemon Drop, which was an easy 9/10. It was smooth, refreshing, and well balanced. The Mucho Gusto also earned a 9/10 and was another drink I'd happily order again. The Emerald just wasn't my favorite, but that's the fun of trying something new. I also sampled a few drinks my friends ordered, and there were several that I'd love to come back and order for myself. The atmosphere made it easy to relax and enjoy the evening. If you're looking for a cocktail spot inside Maitland Social, this one is definitely worth a visit.

Packwoods is a great spot if you're looking to grab a few drinks in Maitland. We stopped in after…read moredinner since it's conveniently located right across from Wave Sushi, and it was the perfect place to continue the evening with a couple of cocktails. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, making it easy to sit back and enjoy our drinks. While they don't serve food, it's an ideal stop before or after a meal at one of the nearby restaurants. If you're in the area and looking for a place to unwind with a good cocktail, Packwoods is definitely worth checking out.

I introduced another friend to this unique restaurant and bar. We arrived a little after 6 PM and…read morewere seated promptly by Mel. We chose a little corner table against the wall. We looked over the happy hour menu (good all day on Monday nights and Tuesday through Friday 5-7pm). We ask Mel about the "Bartender's Choice" selection under happy hour drinks. She said the bartender will mix a drink of their preference. The customer cannot choose the alcohol or any mixers as the bartender makes the decisions all by him or herself. Mel asked if we had any allergies or any other issues that might affect the drinks the bartender would like to make. We said we did not and we decided to take on this "choice" experience. Serena was the bartender of the evening and she did an amazing job. She mixed up various concoctions for us throughout the night (we ordered a second round after the first one) and we enjoyed every drink she prepared. The presentation of the drinks were also well done. Serena's cocktails consisted of bourbon, rum, and various ingredients which could include bitters, lemon, agave or other cocktail mixers. She was the bartender extraordinaire of the evening. For food, we ordered the half dozen chicken wings (2 orders since they were so good) and the pizza empanadas to start. The two empanadas had mozzarella cheese stuffed inside and were served with a warm marinara. From the main menu, we ordered the Faroe Island Salmon, which was served on a bad of risotto and tomato butter, with capers. The portion of the salmon was somewhat small for the price of $28, but it and the risotto were cooked perfectly. We ended the night with their signature drink, "Death in the Afternoon" which contains absinthe and is one of my favorite drinks here in Orlando. It was another five star experience and my friend found a new restaurant she now loves. All in all, a great night thanks to the attentiveness and easy-going attitude of Mel, our server, and the exceptional cocktails from the bartender, Serena. Thank you both for a job very well done!

Went to Death in the Afternoon for Happy Hour and it was sooo worth it…read more Got the Raspberry Tom Collin's And a mystery Bar tenders choice! I will definitely come back to try other options on the menu! Great service and gives speakeasy vibes.

Chase and Julia (gosh I hope i got the names right) were fabulous hosts, guides, bartenders! Step…read moreinside the dimly lit tasting room and craft cocktail bar and relax! I've been trying to stop into this distillery for years, but my timing was always off. Either they were closed that day i was there or not opening before I left. But today, the starts aligned. If you know, John and I love going to small craft/ small batch distilleries & we have the bar to back that up. Years of learning what we love and what we (I really) don't. I was all interested in the bourbon! And they delivered! Every batch is a one and done, with every new batch trying to be better and more refined than the last. Reminds me of myself, I'm always moving forward & trying to do better! Loved the bourbon. The Winter Park Arts Festival blend was phenomenal! Then... I tried the Gincident and that was an easy yes, let's take that bottle home. Meanwhile, Chase was bragging about their Best Espresso Martini.... hmmm, prove it. Made with bourbon, omg yes please. Proprietary blend of coffee, vodka made in house and yes, it was one of my to three I've ever had! And now I want to start trying various bourbons to make one at home! And I heard they do a Halloween Yelp Event!!! Whhhaaaatttt! Please please, I must go this coming fall! I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!

Came to this place and search of a popular food truck & stayed for the drinks and vibes. We were…read moreunsure really what forward slash was until we arrived. To be honest, we thought we were coming to a brewery and quickly realized it was a distillery. We walked in and noticed a bunch of outdoor seating. It was the perfect night so we looked forward to sitting outside. The atmosphere was busy, but laid back. We entered into the dimly lit establishment at Harry Potter playing on the TV (win!). It was a speakeasy-esque vibe and I loved it. We ordered an old-fashioned and espresso martini which were quickly brought to our table. They indicated that the espresso martini was the best one in town, so naturally I had to try it. I would definitely say it takes top five. We sat outside and had a great evening at this place. We will definitely be back and look forward to it.

This was our second visit to the Monroe and it was enjoyable. This time the service was slightly…read moreslow, we had drinks that we didn't like and it took about 20 minutes for our server to return to the table to get orders for new drinks. We ordered the buffalo chicken egg rolls and the deviled eggs (with no bacon) as appetizers. For our new drinks we got margaritas, I got a regular margarita and my partner got a passion fruit margarita. For entrees, I had the famous fried chicken and my hubby had the meatloaf. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice, relaxed, they keep the shades lowered during the day to reduce that sun intake and it's lovely. It feels nice and relaxed in here no matter the weather outside. Again, we enjoyed the experience but the service was fairly slow. We had to pretty much know what we wanted by the next time we saw our server or flag her down to get her attention. She was waiting about 4 tables on our area. We were party of two.

Delicious food!! My husband made reservations and surprised me for dinner. First time here and we…read moregot LOVED IT!! The vibe was immaculate. The drinks were great and the food was soo good that we still talk about it days later. He loved the bone marrow. Steak was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. The cake was not my favorite at all. It took way too long to come out and it came out very cold. Not much chocolate flavor, too much salt. It was missing something. We will skip dessert next time.

I'd somehow walked through East End Market countless times before realizing there was a bar tucked…read moreupstairs--and now I'm wondering what took me so long! The Neighbors is a cozy little hideaway that's perfect for grabbing a drink after exploring the market. We had already eaten downstairs, so we just stopped in for a couple of cocktails, and it was the perfect way to wind down. The service was warm, friendly, and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. Just a heads-up: seating is pretty limited, so I'd recommend arriving a little earlier if you're visiting during peak hours. Whether you're looking for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap after browsing East End Market, this spot is definitely worth checking out.

Upstairs at East End with a menu that changes from time to time…read more My first visit was in October 2024 and going back I keep finding Great service and great atmosphere. They seem to be doing even more events and promoting them too.

HOW HAVE I NOT REVIEWED THE GUESTHOUSE YET?????…read more Best Tom Collins Cocktail I've ever had! I've celebrated my birthday here, have met up with friends here and more gone when they had a food collab. This place is awesome. They get very busy but the ambiance is fun. Last year, we got a group together to celebrate "The Eve Before the Eve" (12/23) and we had such a blast! Tasty cocktails, chill atmosphere. They do not serve food at this establishment but you can order food or bring food in. It kind of works out because there is so much delicious food on the strip! If you want a good craft cocktail, access to delicious eats nearby or a place to meet up with some friends for a birthday or just because, this is a good place to start! And please, for the love of god try the Tom Collins if that's your kind of drink...it's so good!

I should have known to walk away as soon as I opened the door and the strongest smell of cheap…read morealcohol hit me. I sat at a table with one of my girl friends. we had to switch tables twice because they were so wobbly. The third one was still wobbly, but at least it had a dirty rag someone shoved under it. We went up to the bar to order real quick, and to ask the bar tender about the drinks on the happy hour menu. There weren't that many people at the bar and multiple bar tenders, but it took us so long to flag someone down. One guy at the end of the night even said someone would be with us, then he went and cleared our table even though we were going right back to it. The bar tender we ended up getting didn't speak a single word to us and he disappeared midway through our short stay. We ordered our drinks and after so long of not seeing them we decided to look for them. Turns out they were left with a group of guys at the bar. My friend was so uncomfortable because she's had bad experiences with her drinks being left unattended. We still ended up drinking them after the guys eventually left the bar. They were very bland, weak, and sweet. For $10 happy hour getting a sus drink that tasted like melted ice- big nope. I will never be going back.

Very sad they are closing this amazing bar with high ceiling and great sounds. The best local djs…read moreplayed here. Free parking around! Good drinks..... goodbye

Brought in the new year with a few close friends at a private NYE Soirée gathering at The Oliv bar…read more Having been prior before for another event, I was excited to revisit this cute little local bar but without the overly huge crowd. And as to be expected, the event was amazing. Drinks were good - averagely priced. We also got a welcome shot and a glass of champagne to toast with to bring in the new year! Staff were super friendly and very attentive. I believe the control of the guest capacity aided in that as well because the staff were not overwhelmed and had the ability to attend to all guests in a timely manner. The music (DJ invited to curate the tunes for that evening) was great! Vibes were perfect and again, I put emphasis on the fact that this event was private so we were not crammed into this space. The Oliv Bar is on the quainter side of local bars but it's truly a nice venue. It has tree in the center - which adds a unique twits to the space. The bay windows add another level of uniqueness to the space as well but, pose a capacity challenge since the space is circular in nature. And circular spaces tend to foster areas of non-usable space. Beyond that, it's a unique design experience that isn't necessarily seen in most places. So, I appreciate that as an architectural designer. All in all, I'll definitely recommend this local bar. It's worth going on a regular night as well, as they aren't super packed and you can experience the vibes of the space without being overwhelmed with larger crowds - like you'll see more in the bars in downtown. Great event. Great space. Cannot wait to see what this year brings us all!!

Otto High Dive was our next stop on my Magical Dining tour, and wow, what an experience!…read more My sister and brother-in-law were visiting, so we made reservations (definitely recommend). Parking was easy with free spots in the back and additional street parking. We were a little unsure where the entrance was at first, but a staff member outside noticed and guided us right in small detail, big impact. Once inside, we were greeted warmly and seated immediately. The restaurant was lively and busy in the best way. It's an intimate space, but beautifully styled very much giving South Beach energy. Our waiter, Louis, truly elevated the experience. He introduced himself, explained the menu thoroughly, and made great recommendations. We opted for the Magical Dining $40 three-course menu along with the $30 drink pairing, which included a drink for each course such a great value. My meal: * Appetizer: Fresh ceviche with tuna, avocado, and watermelon light, flavorful, and unique * Drink: Floridian Slip refreshing and perfectly balanced * Entrée: Ropa Vieja - rich, tender, and paired perfectly with rice, beans, and Cuban bread * Drink: Funky - fruity with a nice kick * Dessert: Maduro Bread Pudding - sweet, warm, and indulgent * Drink: Coquito - smooth and the perfect ending Every single course was thoughtfully prepared, and the drink pairings complemented each dish beautifully. Overall, everything from service to ambiance to food was amazing. I'm already planning a return visit to try their happy hour menu!

I'm really glad we tried this place, but probably won't be in a rush to come back anytime soon…read more The parking is a tight shared lot, so you might get lucky and find a spot, or park across the street and walk over like we did. Our reservation was at 7pm and we didn't get seated until almost 7:30pm. The place itself isn't very big, it's cozy, cute and I liked the vibes but when the other couple we were meeting with showed up it did feel a little crowded by the host stand. The host was nice enough to give us a menu to browse while we waited and someone came to ask us what drink we would like to sip on (i really thought they were offering us a free drink for the wait, but later saw we were charged for them, no biggie but would have been nice considering we waited so long) Drinks were all so so good! No complaints there. We started with the smoked fish dip and ceviche which was different than your typical one, but refreshing! I had the skirt steak - it was flavorful but definitely heavy on the salt. I still really enjoyed it as well as the rice & beans. Hubby got the ropa veija which he enjoyed. Our friend got the osso buco which he liked, but said the chicharron was not good at all. We then had some pastelitos for dessert! They added a 18% gratuity to the check, which was fine and I appreciated them telling us as well as circling it. Overall I think it was really good but nothing out of the world, you can find similar food for much less at your other local Cuban spots - what sets the place apart is the drinks and vibes so if you're looking for the whole experience then it's your place.