My friends been asking me to go with her to a speakeasy for months and so knowing we'd both be in Rochester for the weekend i immediately thought of bitter and pour. We walked down the staircase and were greeted with a bookcase... gotta love a mystery door! Upon entering there's an intimate bar area with the perfect dimly lit room to indulge in an elevated cocktail. They have an impressive menu of delicious combinations and if you want a combination of two drinks or a custom creation the bartender definitely knows what their doing and was more than happy to meet the request with their interpretation of a drink. I had you had me at hello. Whiskey and cherry liquor paired lovely together and apricot, lemon plus being milkwashed delivered a perfect sweet but not overpowering clean, smooth drink. My friends loved this place it was the first time for all three of them! Cant wait to come back again. The staff was super friendly and helpful too! read more

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Super cute speakeasy with true speakeasy vibes as you had to solve a riddle to discover the entrance. I love a good egg white drink so I got the I think it's called Freddilicous or Fergelious... it was yum and the drink had the spiting image of our waiter which is whom the drink is named after. Really great guy and solid service btw. read more

Bitter and Pour - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

As far as cocktails go these might be the best in Rochester! Getting into the bar proved to be more of a challenge than we were expecting and I would recommend not being ashamed to use the flashlight on your phone. It would've saved us a lot of time! The host was very kind and I think was close to just letting us in as they can see you trying to figure it out on a television behind the host stand. The server provided great recommendations and the atmosphere was nice! Not too loud even when it was busy. If you are a larger party would recommend coming on the earlier side to get a seat together. Will be back! read more

Bitter and Pour - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

All my friends love this spot for fun, inventive cocktails. It's a vibe and they now have a rooftop location. Service was decent enough for the crowd on a Saturday night. Super friendly host staff which was a nice treat! read more

We stopped in at Bitter and Pour after dinner nearby. We walked downstairs and had a little fun figuring out the "secret" entrance. We walked in and the place was buzzing as it was a Saturday night. We found a comfortable table for four next to the bar. The bar has low lighting, stone walls and wood floors. I liked the cozy atmosphere. There are a couple of other rooms with plenty of seating for both couples and larger parties. We were quickly greeted by a server. I will say she was not extremely friendly and seemed a bit impatient as we looked through the drink menu. Perhaps she was having a bad night. We wanted to try drinks off the menu to see what was interesting and different. The drinks arrived quickly and were good but felt they were expensive for the small serving. I wish I would have taken pictures of all the drinks. I think it is a cool concept. I liked the atmosphere. We may give it another try next time we are in town. read more

Bitter and Pour - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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Service was amazing. The ambience is great. Drinks were spectacular. Love the rooftop. What a beautiful view In Rochester.

Very fun location- a great speak easy execution. Great menu, comfortable seating and great service. read more

Bitter and Pour - View of the bar - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Nice ambiance, but overrated overall. It's a very comfortable and stylish spot, but the drink experience was underwhelming. Our waitress was noticeably pushy with drink orders, and when the drinks arrived, they were a letdown. I had a $30 cocktail that barely offered 4-5 sips, and the gin and tonic was extremely weak. It feels like the place has built such a strong brand and loyal following that they don't feel the need to deliver on quality anymore--especially when it comes to the drinks. Sadly, not worth the hype. read more

Bitter and Pour - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Great speakeasy off the busy street. Sarah makes the best modified old fashions. Great selection of drinks and fantastic service!! read more

It was popular and dark. Very loud, due to volume of people. Seated between two groups of five people (each) so it was very hard to hear one another as it was just 2 of us. We would have had to yell over the two groups on each side of us, to hear one another so we text for the first 20 min. Ordered and had our ONE drink and left. While we "enjoyed" our drink the female group on one side discussed "going down on another" girl on a "hot hook up" and the other group on the other side were sharing a story about "old man penis in my face so I had to suck him off".... It was NOT what we expected. Not shocked, but it was t pleasant, nor classy, by any means. The beverages were served quickly (drinks were a 4 star)--so that was a plus (because we were able to leave swiftly as well). Drinks are $15-30 each. read more

Bitter and Pour - Brandy and Jimlet drink. - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Really cool speakeasy! Awesome ambiance and great service. The drink options are unique and well-executed (with one exception being the spicy drink we got which was WAY too spicy that it overpowered the drink so we won't risk spicy drinks here again). Overall, definitely one of our favorite places for drinks! read more

Bitter & Pour might have been the coolest speakeasy/cocktail lounge experience I have ever experienced. It was so fun locating the riddle to get the clue, and then gaining access. Once inside, you are definitely transported to a different time and a complete vibe. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable about spirits and cocktails, they were accommodating for my wheelchair, and they are exceptionally talented when it comes to making these drinks. They were unique, but familiar cocktails and with as many options as they had, there is certainly something for everyone. It definitely seems like this is a place that would get really busy, so there might be a wait or you might have to try to come back. No matter the case, it is well worth it if you enjoy a great experience and a delicious drink. read more

Bitter and Pour - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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Bitter and Pour is the most hip, most artisanal mixology location in Rochester or the surrounding areas not including the Cities. It is in a very fun basement area that has had other bars that were also cool because of the speakeasy feel, but this iteration has vastly superior mixologists than we see here generally. If you are looking for a relaxed, not too raucous but superior place to enjoy unique creations - again there is nothing in Rochester that really compares to this establishment. This isn't where you go to get drunk - it's where you go to experience artist creations of mixology. read more

The new roof top on 7th floor (above Terza) is a calm wonderful venue with good views for a "city bar". Drink selection is a little smaller, easier to choose, and the layout of the space is way better than "Levetta" was back then. Service and drinks are great. Call "Safe Ride" for a secure ride home if needed. read more

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Neat place! Old style speakeasy, complete with secret entrance. Look for the riddle outside the door, and complete the task to gain entry. Lively place, though mot much for private seating or to bring a large group. Friendly wait staff and bartenders, knowledgeable about the menu. Lots of creative cocktails on the menu. The "First World Problem Solver" is my favorite. Reminiscent of a good Old Fashioned. read more

Bitter and Pour - "First World Problem Solver" - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Another bar with great drinks, been there done that. Wait, it's in a hidden basement with a hidden door?! I'm so in! Love the vibe of this place and the hidden entrance. But I also love that the drinks are so amazing. I got the Rich Uncle cocktail. It's pricey because of the Whistle Pig 15 year but it was worth it. A definite go to when we are in Rochester! read more

Bitter and Pour - people sitting at tables in a restaurant - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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My mom and I were just wandering aimlessly when random passerby's encouraged us to check out this speakeasy. They were even kind enough to instruct us on pushing the cash register in to open the door. It's a cool effect, but when the book shelf swings open you find that it's a metal fire door on the other side. Look, I like having a clearly marked exit in the case of an emergency just as much as the next gal, but this initial tarnish on the veneer of Bitter & Pour foreshadowed our experience with the place. We walked in and thought, yeah, the ambiance is pretty cool. Dark wood paneling and diffused lighting. It feels upscale and secluded. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by a friendly bartender. I asked her if she had a favorite cocktail she was slinging and she suggested the Lightning Joose. She described it as citrusy but not too sweet. I was like, okay! When the drink came in a shade of neon green I immediately regretted my decision. A couple sips in and I could not drink anymore. It was sickly sweet with an aftertaste akin to cough syrup. Luckily, the bartender was cool and didn't charge me for it when I said I couldn't drink it. I then opted for the Avion de Papel. My husband and I make these at home and I was intrigued that their's uses mezcal. Well, it was very watery and the ingredients weren't mixed together very well. It just was not a well made cocktail. I dunno, maybe 8 PM on a Wednesday isn't the prime time to come here. I'd be up to give it another chance. It just looked great on the surface and then was a bit of a letdown. read more

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Elizabeth is the best. She is our favorite waiter on sea level or up in the air on the roof top. I've lived here for 27 years and i've never had a better waitress. She is the absolute best. She's adorable and deserves a raise. Best experience in Rochester !! Highly recommend read more

I have to say they do a pretty darn good job with their drinks. They have a couple different old fashions. Both are fabulous. Cute fun little place to grab a nightcap or meet up a friends or even a date. it's a very intimate unique place. when you walk down the stairs, no you're not in the Wrong place, read the riddle and do what it states its super easy and the door will open. Kinda like an abracadabra. read more

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Came here after my fiancés birthday dinner. Found this place on Yelp last minute and was only a few minutes away but it was the icing on top of the cake for the night! We haven't been able to find a true speak easy in so long and boy did this place hit the mark!! It was super busy but all the employees did excellent at being tentative and social. Loving this place as a new place for date nights ! read more

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This place is amazing!(A recent article had it at 13th best speakeasy in the U.S.). It's a smaller space, not too dark. We sat at the bar as it was fairly busy for early evening(5ish) and there was a larger party(birthday?) occupying most of the tables. Round 1 after being greeted at the bar and surveying the menu I settled on the Yeah Buddy! because of the jalapeño(could have had more spice). It was delicious, I would have ordered another, but we had limited time and stomach space. My wife ordered the Brienne of Tarth. It was light, lemony and refreshing...hard to beat on a warm summer day. Round 2 brought me a glass of Clase Azul tequila and my wife the Low Expectation((lemongrass/lime, lavender or blackberry G&T) she chose blackberry). For those who don't like tequila, this was offered to me on the rocks or neat and with salt and lime...it needed nothing. It is some of the best plain alcohol I've tasted, so smooth and light it's hard to imagine it in a cocktail. I'm so glad we splurged on it. My wife's gin and tonic was one of the best if not the best we've had, a house made tonic just made it perfect. While we chatted with each other and the staff we noticed the house made cordials in front of us and asked if we could try one that caught our eye. We were obliged with a small sample of the habañero cordial...it was awesome. The barkeeper even explained how it was made...now we have a new fun thing to try at home. We highly recommend you visit and visit again as we are going to do so! read more

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Rochester's one and only!!! It all starts with great ambiance. From the low lighting to the soundtrack. The server was very adept at pointing us to the best drinks in our flavor palate...which were created to perfection by the mixologist. My go to place for a celebratory beverage. Will definitely be back. read more

You have to come check out this place if you're interested in sipping and talking in an intimate setting with friends or on a date. You have to solve a puzzle to be able to open the door. Once in, you choose where you want to sit. People who work there are knowledgeable and they help you with your choices. Their specialties are cocktails so you can't go wrong no matter what drink you choose. They make their crystal clear ice, and they cut and brand it. read more

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SPEAKEASY yes, Pleasy!! If you figure out the riddle the door opens and you walk into an underground bar. The lighting sets the mood for this fun bar. There is a purple cove with an L shape couch for about 8 guests that is fun! I call it Erotic City!! The cocktails are a drinkable ART. I always sit at the bar if I can so I can feel the experience. The Mixologist are friendly but focused. They know their bitters like a science. I love the Peacock glass. This bar gets busy on Saturday evening and they are closed sundays. Go check them out!! You will enjoy the atmosphere. We tried the following drinks.. sazerac rye whiskey| cognac| absinthe |bitters|sugar|lemon peel peacock tease ten to one rum | clooster bitter | kiwi | coconut | lime | fresh pineapple the moulin rouge plymouth gin | elderflower | yellow chartreuse | lemon | strawberry read more

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Pretty awesome speak easy. I absolutely love the entrance!!! There's a clue on how to get in, if you don't figure it out, may be you don't belong. The drinks were amazing as well. Actually the $30 old fashioned was worth it. Plenty of seating , we didn't med a reservation, Jim not sure if they even take them. When I'm Rochester, this is going to be a regular stop. read more

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Came on friends' recommendations and were glad that we did. When you first arrive, follow the stairs down to a bookcase and solve the riddle to gain entry. Once inside, the atmosphere is more eclectic than an "old timey" speakeasy feel. The drinks were great and they have many amazing choices to pick from. Both times we went, it was pretty busy but service was great! If you're in Rochester and looking for a place to go to hang out and have a drink, I would definitely recommend Bitter and Pour. read more

Bitter and Pour - Solve the riddle to enter. - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

This place is so much fun! The only negative, which could have been controlled better by staff, was the bachelorette party group we encountered when we reached the bottom of the stairs by the entrance in a downstairs hallway. They'd already checked in, and were sent back out to the hallway to wait for a table. There should be some kind of holding area that can get them out of the way of the entrance and away from newly-arriving patrons. Instead, they were running around taking selfies, blocking the entrance, acting like a bunch of rude 10-year-olds. They completely ruined the experience for us of approaching the bookcase, reading the riddle, and figuring out how to enter. (We stopped on the way out and did this, but it was very anticlimactic at that point.) When we finally made our way around them and started to enter after the bookcase swung open so someone else could exit, the bride-to-be yelled at me not to enter because they were at capacity. I turned and, keeping my temper in check, gave her a stern, mom-type look, reminded her she wasn't the owner, and entered to put our name on the waiting list. After doing that, and we were sent back out to the hallway to wait, we had to endure about another 10 minutes of their "merriment." Once we were called in and seated, though, the rest was an amazing experience. Our server (whose name I can't remember now) was lovely. She seemed to really love working there, and happily engaged with us to answer all our questions about the drinks. (Short blonde hair, fairly petite. If someone form the bar sees this, hopefully you'll know who to thank on our behalf. She was charming!) My husband and I, over the course of several hours, each had four drinks. We each tried three unique drinks, and then re-ordered one again as our fourth. What we tried: Dave Berry (I had two of these) The Rich Uncle (a delicious finish, like burnt marshmallow) Problem Solver Teddy Roosevelt Mai Tai First World Problem (my husband had two of these) Their menu also has a nice selection of wines, both by the glass and bottle, and a very robust specialty liquors selection. But to me, the fun is in trying some of their House Creations, and what they call The Classics, albeit with their own unique twists. If my budget would have allowed, I would have had another Rich Uncle or two - it was truly yummy! All the others were well-crafted, smooth, delicious, and in satisfying portion sizes. We chatted a little with our neighbors at the table next to us. (For anyone wanting social distancing, you won't find it here. The tables are all quite close.) A couple of their drinks were served in really unique glasses, so I've included pictures of those, too. Hers was the Peacock Tease, and I think he said his was the Rum Runner. The Mai Tai was served in a glass that resembled a bamboo shoot. The restrooms were spotless, and interestingly, the stall walls were made of molded plastic, like you'd find in a large cooler chest. I'm wondering if we'll start to see more of those in the future. They were pretty cool! The restroom doors were very fun, too. We'll definitely return next time we're in town, and might even swing over if we're anywhere nearby. It's a fun, unique place with a hip yet chill vibe. One other thing I'll commend our server on -- even though, in our early 60s, we were probably some of the oldest people in there, she made us feel completely at home and welcome. It was a great experience! read more

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Great environment in the back for a group of 8 friends to gather and catch up! The cocktails were well described in the menu and we liked everything we ordered! read more

Yummy cocktails and a fun atmosphere! Bitter & Pour always surprises with creative drinks that taste amazing. The bartenders make the experience even better with their skill and friendly energy. read more

The little riddle was fun. The people were all amazing. The drinks were delicious and now I need to come back to try more of their other drinks. read more

Fun spot . We had reservations elsewhere and had some time to kill and decide to have some amazing cocktails before dinner . This was the spot . Great atmosphere and ambiance. The service was great and very friendly. I enjoy the house old fashion. Definitely check this place out . read more

Bitter and Pour - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Absolutely the best place for cocktails in Rochester! The mock-tails are just as delicious. The short puzzle to gain entry adds a fun twist to the experience and the environment is both elevated and intimate. While they don't serve food, there are plenty of fantastic dining options nearby, making it the perfect spot for drinks before or after a meal. The service is exceptional; the staff is always polite and knowledgeable. If you try just one thing, go for the Red Eye to Paradise - but honestly, you can't go wrong with any choice here. read more

Bitter and Pour - Red Eye to Paradise - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Ambiance is great! Service was also spectacular, especially when drinks were low we were immediately checked in on. Tried the Paloma and the red eye to paradise, both were really good! read more

Bitter and Pour - 8 ball, Paloma - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

When I think of a place that's semi-formal, full of fun cocktails, and a dim light mood setting night, I think of Bitter and Pour. Bitter and pour has such an intriguing menu with engaging staff and a wonderful place for a date, small groups and a wonderful night! Will be back!! read more

Bitter and Pour - One of their drinks: Peacock Tease - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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Bitter and pour is easily my favorite bar all of time, they serve the best drinks I've ever had, and the ambiance is next level. 10/10 (personal favorite is the Lightning Joose) read more

What a great find this place is! an amazing collection of bourbons as well as a huge selection of custom craft cocktails. Bartenders are super nice and so creative with mixing there beautiful drink. Great ambiance with a speak easy vibe. read more

Bitter and Pour - a bottle of old elk - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Fun to find! Need to solve a riddle to enter. Hopefully there is not other people going in or coming out when you get to the "door" so you can enjoy solving the riddle. Speakeasy atmosphere. Good sound deadening material on the ceiling. I have a hearing deficit but did not struggle to converse with my date. Bartenders are very friendly and interesting, depending on how busy they are, but always cheerful and friendly. Very labor intensive drinks that would be difficult to make at home. But, the reason you are there are the cocktails. All very well balanced. Most have different shades of flavors. For example, my last cocktail started with a bright citrus flavor that faded to a warm caramel flavor. Do not slam these drinks, it is sacrilege. I have had maybe half of their cocktails and all are smooth and balanced. Never burnt, syrupy, harsh, or too boozy. The only drink I would not have again is their gin and tonic. Not because it wasn't good, it was. But, that is probably the one cocktail on their menu I can make at home. With so many interesting cocktails that have a dash of this or a pinch of that, enjoy the drinks that can't be made at home. Bitter & Pour is a must when we visit Rochester. read more

Awesome beverages! I'm glad we sat at the bar as it was impressive watching the bartender do his thing. It was also better lit as the other areas seemed very dark which isn't my jam. But also understand the darkness may be a part of a speakeasy read more

Bitter and Pour - Old Fashioned - Speakeasies Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

A nearly perfect experience. Not to be missed if you are a speakeasy kind of person. Mood, booze, basement, and bartenders who could have served fancy cocktails in 1933 Chicago. All hidden behind a secret door. You want Black Jack on the rocks, don't bother. This place has the good stuff and knows what to do with it. Open yourself to this experience and savor the anachronism it is!!! read more

If you want a fun place with high-end cocktails look no further. The first step is figuring out how to enter this fun establishment...I promise not to give out their secret. My favorite drink is either the Mister Miyagi or the Yeah Buddy! Try them both! read more