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    Simmer Down

    3.5 (15 reviews)
    PriceySpeakeasies
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    Rachel O.

    Simmer Down, a speakeasy located beneath The Quoin, simmers (of course) with the luxury that I associate with a bygone era. It's sophisticated, inviting, comfortable, & colorful without being garish. The bartender, Harrison, was truly spectacular. My first cocktail, the Sensitive Scotsman, was a simple yet elegant drink that paired excellently with my book. When I requested a mezcal margarita with a ****ton of salt for my next drink, he delivered exactly that. A barback stepped in to lend a hand near the end of my stay, but for the majority of the time I was there, Harrison was on his own. He served the entire speakeasy with charisma, professionalism, & efficiency. The other patrons at Simmer Down added to the ambience. There were many folks who seemed to be very important. Whether they actually were or not is another question entirely. I could admire the seriousness in which these tailored suits took themselves, & they added a theatrical glimmer to the experience. They were as much a part of the setting as the carefully curated interior. I thoroughly enjoyed my cocktails (& the entertainment that was the customer base) at Simmer Down & will certainly return the next time I'm in Wilmington.

    Jack Rose & Martinez
    Gina A.

    Cute little gem of place below The Quion Hotel & Restaurant. It is in the heart of Wilmington. Driving there was a little shady but once you are on Market Street you can sense you are in a commercial area. The building itself is unique on the outside and they do have valet parking if you are not able to find a parking spot. Once you enter, go left to the stairs and walk down and the speakeasy is to the left. There is an elevator as well. The restrooms are on the same level and well appointed/clean. The decor is very Victorian and lots of great murals on the wall. Seating was intimate and there was comfortable chairs/seats along with smaller tables for your drinks. There is a bar that seats around 8 people and the rest is lounge areas. We were able to get a reservation, but couldn't make a dinner reservation for The Quion as the online form would cancel the Simmer Down reservation each time we tried to book a reservation at both. We were greeted quickly. They do have craft cocktails and they are reasonably priced (don't forget you're also paying for the ambiance). We ordered a Martinez and the Jack Rose. Both were excellent. They even have spirit free drinks. The service and drinks were great. Didn't stay for a second drink as they don't have any food options and we wanted to eat so headed upstairs to the restaurant. Would have stayed for another round had they had a charcuterie board or another snack option. This is a great place to visit before/after visiting the restaurant above or any other establishment along Market Street. It's also worth a trip to go just there as well. They also have a boutique hotel that is part of the speakeasy/restaurant complex as well. Fun find.

    Hotel Nacional & the Yellow Jacket
    Brennan C.

    This is the best cocktail lounge Wilmington has to offer. My girlfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed our Valentine's Day experience. I would highly recommend the Hotel Nacional and their Cosmo is fantastic. We both loved the vibe and the service was great too.

    Bar area, check out the neat brick ceiling and wall mural.

    Great cocktail (Widow's Kiss), lovely ambiance. Great lighting and nicely decorated space. Only negative - the music that played was horrible. Not fitting what a dark and moody speakeasy should have.

    Drinks
    Marcus C.

    Awesome speakeasy underneath the Quoins restaurant. Great ambience with a fire place to boot, and the bartenders made excellent drinks!

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    1 year ago

    Went there today. Not open on Sundays. Signs posted outside and hours not correctly updated online.

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    Review Highlights - Simmer Down

    Simmer Down, a speakeasy located beneath The Quoin, simmers (of course) with the luxury that I associate with a bygone era.

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    A Light in the Attic - Focaccia Bread

    A Light in the Attic

    4.1(39 reviews)
    46.2 mi

    Tucked above my longtime favorite The Barley Mow sits the hidden gem Light in the Attic and during…read moreRestaurant Week, it absolutely delivered. Finding your way upstairs adds to the speakeasy-style charm. The reception area alone sets the vibe: playful, stylish, and full of photo-worthy moments before you even sit down. It feels like you've discovered something not everyone knows about. We went with the small plate prix fixe menu (three courses), and each dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and -- most importantly -- delicious. Every course left us wanting just a little more, which is exactly how a tasting-style experience should feel. Nothing felt rushed, and the pacing of the food was on point. Cocktails were also excellent, creative, well-balanced, and fitting for the ambiance. The only hiccup of the night was drink service being a bit slow. Not a dealbreaker by any means, but noticeable. Overall, a great Restaurant Week experience in a space that feels both intimate and fun. I'll absolutely be back to explore the full menu soon.

    On 7/10/2026 we decided to have a date night so I decided to make reservations a few days before…read more. Also, The restaurant was highly recommended. The atmosphere was absolutely stunning and classy. Our server Ashley was top notch, extremely attentive and knowledgeable about all aspects of the restaurant and menu. The appetizer of the Focaccia Bread with different spreads and cheese was amazing. The meal itself was overly satisfying and was fit for the food network . We highly recommend " A Light in the Attic" and we wish this establishment a long and prosperous existence. Jeff and Sharon

    Photos
    A Light in the Attic - Osso bucco in foreground, carrots app in back.

    Osso bucco in foreground, carrots app in back.

    A Light in the Attic
    A Light in the Attic - Fun and moody loo.

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    Fun and moody loo.

    The Elk Room - Vieux Carré and a pour of a bourbon pick.

    The Elk Room

    4.2(415 reviews)
    64.2 miInner Harbor
    $$$

    My very 1st time going to a Speakeasy in Baltimore and I am a native Baltimorean. We came here to…read morewrap up a date night for a late night cocktail and conversation. There is a secret black door to enter. You can make reservations however, I was unaware that reservations were needed. We waited for about 20 minutes before a table opened up. Of course, the lights are dimmed inside with a very chill atmosphere. It is also pretty spacious inside for Speakeasy. We enjoy as it was something different to try. I will definitely return

    It's a cool spot. It was a little hidden like most Speakeasy's which I love. When we entered it had…read morea cool dark but calming vibe and they weren't too busy. We had a party of 7 and we pretty much had our pick of where to sit. The waitress was talking really fast and low and we kept having to ask her to repeat herself. She never slowed down OR spoke louder. Once she had our drink orders, they didn't take long to come out. I ordered the "AKA" it was tequila based and was pretty good. Everyone was pretty happy with their drinks. This is when the night turned. 4 of the 7 of us wanted to leave and head elsewhere, the waitress made ALL 7 of us pay even though the others wanted to stay and order more. She would not budge on this and seemed pretty nonchalant about it. .. all in all. Glad we found it but won't be back.

    Photos
    The Elk Room - Lounge

    Lounge

    The Elk Room - Bar area

    Bar area

    The Elk Room - Dining area and dainty dècor.

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    Dining area and dainty dècor.

    Clandestino - Looking towards the bar area

    Clandestino

    4.5(18 reviews)
    62.2 miRosebank

    Clandestino has grown up, literally. What began as a small operation in Frederick has moved into a…read morelarger space, and the expansion suits them well. This is Puerto Rican pitorro, also known as ron cañita, made with care and intention rather than gimmickry. Many local liquor stores now carry the brand, and it is well worth picking up a bottle, but visiting the distillery is an experience in itself. The founder is a fellow Puerto Rican born retired military member, a background I share, and like me, he has put down roots in Maryland. That story is reflected clearly in the brand's own framing, "Puerto Rican born, Maryland made." The space feels grounded and unpretentious, and that sensibility carries through to the hospitality. We arrived late on a Saturday and were still welcomed warmly, never rushed. We were taken care of by the founder's daughter, who was exceptionally kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. She guided us through a flight that included the traditional pitorro, almond, pineapple, coffee, coconut chai, and several seasonal offerings. The flavors were thoughtful and well balanced; even the infused expressions retained a clear rum backbone rather than drifting into novelty. We enjoyed them enough to leave with several bottles. This is artisanal pitorro done right, rooted in Puerto Rican tradition and confidently made in Maryland. Buying it locally is convenient, but going to the distillery is where the people, the story, and the spirit fully come together.

    This local speakeasy has quickly moved its way to the top of my list…read more I love the ease of parking, safe neighborhood, and spacious speakeasy space. Always great service by bar manager Charlie, fantastic food and beverage menu and options. My favs so far are the grilled wings and chicken tortilla soup. The drinks are pretty awesome, and Charlie the Great can alter beverages to your preference if you prefer. This is an overall mezcal bar, but they have other libations as well. My fav is John Updike's Old Fashioned. My son ordered and loved the Strawberry Gin & Tonic. This establishment is a great conversation starter, and I look forward to returning asap.

    Photos
    Clandestino - Write what you want

    Write what you want

    Clandestino - Music posters

    Music posters

    Clandestino - Tequila!!!!

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    Tequila!!!!

    Midlina - Chop (Restaurant week)

    Midlina

    4.1(60 reviews)
    63.6 miCanton

    This is my new favorite place. From the drinks, to the food, to the service, we had so much fun…read morehere oh my goodness. It's so wonderful to come across genuine people who are funny and kind in this world. Our server and the owner were so fun and so funny and so nice. It truly felt like visiting a friends restaurant. The vibes are homey, almost feels like a library but not quite, very cozy very comfy. Food: Tomato Mozarella, this was my two fav things in one. Tomato and burrata/mozarella, and prosciutto and melon. Delicious. 10/10. Prawns: so good, so flavorful, and I typically am not a shrimp/prawn girl. Skirt Steak: this was such a juicy and moist (sorry) steak. I don't like chimmichurri (cannot spell that omg) but it was good! The fries were also a winner. Moroccan Hen: this felt like a cookout bbq to be honest but in the best way. It's super flavorful, very smoky, and SO juicy. Drinks: watermelon marg, orange espresso cocktail, and I cannot remember the blue drinks name but all delicious. I fear this is my fav espresso martini to date. Dessserts: the Poe's nest and the Ruby & Emerald. Delicious. No notes.

    Highlight of my summer restaurant week dinner experiences last month. I went right at 5:00 so…read moreparking was easy and the restaurant was just opening so I was seated right away. The drink menu did not tickle my fancy so I ended up just having water. The restaurant week menu was a good selection of their regular menu items so it was an opportunity to try something that I could get again. I opted for the tuna as an appetizer, the whole branzino as my entree, and the zalabia for dessert. Everything was delicious! I would have liked the tuna to be more chilled; it came out closer to room temp. I have no notes for the bronzino. It was perfectly cooked, I really love the time and orange, the olive tapenade was the right amount of salty and briny, and the accompanying roasted harissa potatoes were fantastic. I guess if I had any critique it would be of the too skinny and woody asparagus. The dessert was something I'd never heard of, something like Mediterranean donuts. I really love the pistachios and the I think pomegranate sauce (it wasn't described on the menu so Im guessing), but the addition of chocolate was completely unnecessary and I'm not just saying that because I don't like chocolate lol. After dinner me and my dining companion went upstairs to the speakeasy for a cocktail. I was hoping they had a different drink menu and they did! This menu was much more interesting to me and I ended up getting a a well-balanced gin cocktail. I just read that they are closing to relocate so I'm hoping that I'll be able to go again soon.

    Photos
    Midlina - Upstairs seating

    Upstairs seating

    Midlina - Morrocan Hen

    Morrocan Hen

    Midlina - Duck ramen. So good.

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    Duck ramen. So good.

    Simmer Down - speakeasies - Updated September 2026

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