Absolutely loved our experience at SidebarGR -- hands down the best speakeasy in Grand Rapids! From…read morethe moment you step in, you're transported to a cozy, classy hideaway that feels both exclusive and inviting. What really stood out was the bartending -- not just the skill, but the passion. After hearing the bartender's take on the Old Fashioned, I let him make it his way -- and it might be one of the best I've had. Balanced, bold, and beautifully smooth. Two of my friends described what they were in the mood for, and the bartender crafted custom cocktails for each of them -- both drinks were spot on and had them raving the rest of the night. If you're in Grand Rapids and want a cocktail experience that goes beyond the ordinary, SidebarGR is a must. Expert mixology, great atmosphere, and personalized service that makes you feel like a regular -- even on your first visit.

I've known about this bar for a while but finally went for the first time recently and it wasn't…read morefull! To find the entrance, go down the stairs towards Big O's Pizza and instead of turning right, take a left and you will see Sidebar's subtle entrance. It's dim lit and quite cozy in there. Limited seating and some spots at the bar were open and we took a seat up there. We did notice to the right of the bar there is a small additional area with more seating but still not a lot. I really enjoyed the espresso martini from here. The drink was so smooth and had the perfect balance of flavors. Highly recommend. We only stayed for one drink but I would definitely come back for another sometime. The bartenders were also really kind and having a good time with everyone in there! Really loved the atmosphere and our experience while we were there.

Such a cool cocktail bar with a fun vibe! It's in the perfect location on bridge street right next…read moreto so many other good restaurants and bars. I like coming here for post dinner drinks because the cocktails are truly an experience here! The service has always been great and they're very patient whenever me or my friends ask what certain things ar ein a cocktail.

The most unique selection of cocktails I've encountered on a menu! My husband had the cornbread old…read morefashioned & loved it. I'm partial to coconut but wanted something different so I ordered the Ethiopian Colada. WOW! Such a unique blend of flavors. I felt like I was drinking a delicious sweet curry. Waitstaff was incredible on the snowy night before Thanksgiving- three different servers kept our water topped off and drinks coming. A great place to chill out while we waited for our dinner reservation across the street. So cozy- much preferable to a loud, crowded bar. This is a place to cozy up in a corner with old friends or a date and savor the cocktails. Get the chips and onion dip if you are munch!

Great place with an amazing staff and some of the best creative concoctions in Grand Rapids. You…read morewon't find a better atmosphere. Surrounded by artwork that stands alone, a staff that is second to none and drinks that deserve attention equal to the artwork-- inspired by local award winning mixologist! Words do not do justice to all the Nightwatch has to offer! Give it a try! You will be back!

Tried out Nightwatch Lounge for the first time!…read more The interior of this place was gorgeous and dim lit! I loved how cozy and nice the seating area was. We were the first ones there on a Thursday night and the host was very kind and so were both bartenders. Looked through the menu and ordered their espresso martini and also the old fashioned. Both drinks were on the pricier side but well worth it. My espresso martini went down easy. I would definitely come back for a drink or two with friends or a good spot for a date :)

I Don't Care is a speakeasy tucked inside the Amway that leans hard into the hidden-bar concept…read more There are no signs and you need to put a code on the key pad outside to get in, and the only way to get that code is by signing up for their mailing list. That said, it is pretty painless. You can sign up on the spot and the email with the code comes through within minutes, so it does not slow things down too much. They offer outdoor seating even in the winter, and while it is technically heated, you will still need a coat. It was cold enough that we chose to sit inside instead, but the interior was also chilly. Every time the door to the patio opened, a draft of cold air rushed in, which made the space feel colder than expected. The drinks are on the expensive side, but the quality mostly backs up the price. I ordered the Donna's Kiss and it was absolutely worth it, very well made and delicious. My friend had a Moscato that was sweet and easy to drink. We also ended up getting two free shots of tequila because they liked our vibes , which was a nice and unexpected bonus! Definitely a great move on their behalf because it just goes to show that the staff there were super welcoming and that makes me want to come back (probably when it's warmer!!).

It's okay. Fun place. But we were sitting in the bar already and were told if we didn't leave by 8…read moreour tab would include a cover charge for a DJ. I'm sorry but if we are already there, adding a cover charge to our bill is a bit much.

Love love love. A super fun place to go inside the amway. Their espresso martini was pretty high up…read moreon our list. We made some new friends and the bar tenders were so fun! We will definitely be back here!

loved this place! The bartender was amazing we probably could have sat and talked with him all…read morenight lol. The drinks were super good and the vibe of this place is just so cool. Highly recommend!

Absolutely amazing multi-course dinner and drinks at Allora. Hands down one of the most creative,…read morefreshest and best meal we've had in a long time. Every course was beautifully/ thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious! We can't wait to go back, perfect for an unforgettable date night. The quality was truly superb. Special shoutout to our incredible server Brendon - he made the whole evening feel so special, fun and created an amazing dining experience! Also can't stop dreaming about the desserts!

The girls needed to get together & we decided for a birthday to finally try Allora after months of…read moreanticipation. We got a reservation for 8:30pm, which was one of only a few available. We got there at 8:15 & were told our table was being cleared and it would be a few minutes. We decided to sit at the bar and have a drink, which was a lovely setting. The bartenders were attentive, drinks were delish! By 8:45, we wondered if we had been forgotten. By 8:55, the host stopped to tell us our table was still getting prepared. At 9:10, we finally had a table! They did bring us complimentary prosecco since our table wait was 40 minutes past the reservation time. Our server, Levi, was phenomenal. He gave great recommendations and walked us through the menu & style wonderfully. Our food was also delicious. Nothing disappointed on the menu! All in all, the food was spectacular, the space is gorgeous, and service once seated was amazing. The only star taken away was for the issue of timeliness, which could easily be due to the rush of a Friday night. We hope to return in the future!

This place has some very unique breakfast dishes mostly waffle based. We stopped in here with a…read moresmall group and were seated promptly. Our server was prompt and we ordered a few of the crazy fun dishes. I had the Love me tender dish which was a waffle with peanut butter, caramelized banana, bacon and a maple bourbon syrup. Oh my this was good. The rest of my group had amazing dishes as well and we had a great time. When in Grand Rapids, stop in here for a fun unique breakfast.

The menu here is full of unique waffles and coffees/cocktails. Our sever was great, very personable…read moreand attentive despite being busy. Our food was fresh and flavorful.

One of the best cocktail bars in town in my opinion! I have been there more times than I can count…read moreand I've always had a great experience and great drinks! They have a secret menu where you can get a dice and roll to try all of their drinks and once you try all of them you can name a drink on their menu - cool concept! One of my favorite parts is the unique glasses that they use to display the drinks. It's a swanky cocktail lounge vibe with a nice big patio that is perfect for Michigan summers.

It was a sunny, warm day so we were looking for a patio to enjoy the weather and have a cocktail…read moreand found less traveled. Their outdoor space is great, lots of seating and in a great part of cherry street (ice cream shop right across the street was tempting!). We were seated right away and our server was super helpful with my many questions and gave us some great recommendations and walked us through the menu because there are quite a lot of options and can be kind of intimidating. We had the Midwest old fashioned and a raspberry Tom Collin's, which I believe is a seasonal drink. They do have rotating menus, so it gives you something new to come back for. Good option for a pre-dinner cocktail.

Great ambiance, delicious food, and really good service. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly as…read morewas the potato gratins. Great overall dining experience

Finally got a seat at the bar! This place is always packed. They take reservations but not for one…read moreperson. Bar seating is first come first served so I went right after work and got there about 4:45. There were a ton of seats open at the bar. A friend met me at 5pm. We were seated with Fin, the bartender. He was awesome- very attentive but not overbearing. I could tell when he was coming by to peek in on us but he never interrupted our conversation. He would glance over and check our drinks and pause, and then keep moving. I'm sure if I was alone he would've provided me with some banter, he seems nice enough. He recommended a cocktail - The Last Word. I've had one before and this one did not disappoint. The other drinks I had were the espresso martini and the New York sour- both favorites of mine and done very well by Fin. I love that this bar uses frosty glasses for their cocktails. It's a nice touch. I had to have the Wagyu meatballs. They're mentioned in many reviews and people at work agreed they're a must have. My friend wasn't very hungry so I ate 5 out of the 6 haha. The bread that comes w it is a focaccia that is his divine! I thought it was deep fried but it's just soaked in oil and then heated on the griddle. The meatballs are Wagyu 75/25 so kinda fatty but so smooth. They are served with a marinara sauce and ricotta. So good. Would get this again. The menu looks awesome but we were just there for drinks and snacks. Next time I'll make a reservation (Resy) and have dinner. Parking is typically awful. No valet. Bathrooms are multi sex unistalls, clean. The restaurant is noisy- maybe not a great first date spot. Seemed to be a lot of well to do people in the restaurant, based on the outfits and accessories I saw. Might be a place to meet someone new if it wasn't so loud and incredibly busy. It's hard to get a table during dinner hours especially if the weather is perfect. But try your best to get in. They do take walk ins and it's worth an hour wait.

It's a solid spot to meet up before/after a show or if you're otherwise hanging at the Amway. I've…read morebeen here at least a dozen times. Servers and bartenders have always been friendly--and fast. They know their cocktails and they're remarkably consistent with the mixes. My old fashioneds tasted the same every time I've gone. Very limited menu, but it'll do the trick when you're in a rush (or if the Lumberbaron Bar has already closed its kitchen). I like the pizzas, especially the mushroom. Don't let the name fool you. It also comes covered with savory cubes of bacon and fresh greens. It's good! I also like the wide open layout. You never feel crowded. Great place to spread out for a cocktail and light bite.

What an amazing experience!!! We came here for one of their monthly events. We found out about it…read morethat day and the tickets were no longer available. But we took our chances and the manager was able to get us in! So glad he did. They have these types of tastings every month. December will be a champagne pairing. I definitely plan to come back for that! They did a beautiful presentation. We got to try three different scotches which were paired with delicious small plates of food. Afterwards, we went to the bar area and had a drink. The service here was impeccable. The food was delicious and the signature cocktails were delightful! The hotel itself is gorgeous and I was happy we got to experience it all decked out for Christmas!