Fantastic server who must also be a bartender given her extensive knowledge of the drinks available and their ingredients. She helped me choose no sugar added drinks and they were divine! One was spicy and gingery, another smoky from mezcal with fruity flavors as well. You choose based on your mood and one or two flavors from a wheel on the menu and the bartender does the rest. No food here, but you're welcome to bring in outside food. read more

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One of my favorite cocktail bars in tremont! Been here a few times and each time, had a great experience with the drinks and the vibes. During the summer, theres a twin palms bar in the outdoor space, which has a smaller different menu than the inside bar. I havent tried it out yet, but all of the cocktails sound incredible. For the inside spotted owl portion, its a dark, intimate, cozy space. They have a cocktail menu or you can spin the wheel. I recommend spinning the wheel - you choose from 4 moods than can pick 1-2 flavors and let the bartender make a drink based on those things. Definitely a fun way to order especially if you indecisive or just wanting to try something new. You can also order inside and then take your drink to the outdoor area to sit. read more

Such a fun spot with great ambiance. Great place to come with friends! My friends and I had to wait for a bit to get seated, and the wait times are variable since they cannot predict when other patrons decide to leave. The cool thing about the Spotted Owl is that you can "make" your own drinks based on your mood and the flavor profile you're hoping for. The bartender takes your criteria and makes you a custom drink. Super cool! If you don't like what they make you, you can send it back and they'll make you a new one. The server also tells you the name of the drink when they give it to you, so if you love it you can order it again in the future. Our server was super friendly and helpful. We had a great experience and will definitely be back! read more

I love a great cocktail and this place delivers! I love the spotted owl for so many reasons: It was under my loft building for starters! They make cocktails according to the mood your in The bartenders make cocktails like art and they are so friendly! The place is small and quaint but the perfect speakeasy feel! This is one of my top bars in America, t read more

The Spotted Owl - Love this place.....The Wheel Experience..... Potent and Fruity ;) - Bars Near Me

As the mid-50 year old next to me quipped, "This is kinda like a Harry Potter sorta place." If by that, he means it's magical, he's right. (Though later he explained it's because it's in a basement..., which is technically true, but a less salient point). Back to her magic. Spotted Owl wafts out mystery from first site. The glowing orb sign is a Siren call, low lit and sexy. Enter through the gate and you're in the bottom floor of a church/house cum apartment building. The menu currently is set up as a French style restaurant menu, where the ingredient forward cocktails represent menu items. Choose from this menu or spin the wheel by describing the type of cocktail you want and letting the bartender make you something in that vein. You can also munch on snacks made by Good Company, which come with cocktail pairing suggestions. My most recent selection was the carrot and the peanut, both complex and delicious. I've been here thrice so far and thrice have been delighted by my cocktails. Head out to try some yourself. read more

The Twin Palms concept for this summer is a must try! After watching all the cute videos online, I finally made my way. The patio is very spacious and beautiful. The tables are properly distanced. The menu manages to be self serve user friendly, yet not flat. I was very pleased with the selection and even more so with the ease of assembly. It's really foolproof. They even provide aromatic sprays for your drinks. My one tip would be that they rename all of the bluetooth speaks at the tables. They are all the same model and when pairing there is nothing to differentiate one from the other. A party at another table paired to mine by mistake and vice versa. Other than that the experience was spotless! read more

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I love a craft cocktail and I love a cool hidden gem of a place to relax. This place provides both! Tucked inside the old Press building where the Nuns made the hymnals, you get a good vibe when you walked up the elevation and push open the ancient iron gate. Not knowing what to expect, I expected nothing but took in the dark, cavernous feel with the original stained glass windows. We were not greeted when we walked in, but I didn't mind that lack of warmth. I liked the little sofa and chairs, encouraging comfort near the entrance. Several two seaters flank tiny little triangle high tops and I wondered why such small areas... because at $15 a drink, there won't be many at the table and with absolutely nothing to order to eat, there is room for exactly what two people will have...two drinks. I love the neat "menu" where you select how you feel and what flavors are of interest...brilliant idea, but too many ingredients for a short pour martini. The jury is still out on this place, sorry guys (oh, and the music was way too loud) read more

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The Spotted Owl is a real gem! As another review mentioned, the bar was the perfect balance between divey and classy. We came expecting a nice menu of craft cocktails, but we were pleasantly surprised with their cocktail flavor wheel menu instead! All the craft cocktails cost $15 and are made to order based on your flavor profile. First, you pick your mood - Reflect, Rejoice, Relax, or Restore. I picked Relax - "For nights when you feel like kicking back and keeping the mood mellow" and my boyfriend picked Rejoice - "For nights when there's something to celebrate, even if it's just leaving work." Next, you pick flavors from their wheel! They have all kinds of options - potent, dark, smoky, umami, verdant, fruity, citrus, bubbles, tropical, floral, low-proof, punch, classic, bitter, coffee, and ginger. Some flavors work together and others don't, but they'll be able to tell you if they have a cocktail in mind for you. Then, sit back and prepare to be surprised! I picked floral, fruity, and low-proof, and ended up getting their Rosewater Julep cocktail which had rose tea syrup, gin, grenadine, cayenne, and lime juice. My boyfriend picked pretty much the exact opposite - potent, dark, and smoky, and ended up getting their Brown Brink Eastward cocktail which had tequila, a Spanish liqueur, an Italian liqueur, a Scotch whiskey, bitters, and a dehydrated orange. They also have regular shots, beers, wine, and punches that you can order off the menu if you didn't feel like playing cocktail roulette. We LOVED the concept of the place! The drinks came out as such a great surprise and if I didn't have such low tolerance, I would've gotten another to see what they spun up next time! read more

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This seemed like a very nonassuming bar from the outside, but inside was such a cool ambience that feel like you are going into a dark cave. My favorite part about this bar was the drink wheel that gives your bartender the freedom to make you a drink based on your preferences. Our bartender took the time to discuss our experiences with various drinks and even offered us advice on which notes go well with each other. I really liked my Relaxed-Floral-Fruity drink and can't wait to try my next surprise here! read more

Cozy and Crafty this funky lil space was actually holding a small twin peaks shrine upon entering. Being a fan it was so great to actually see. The textures and decor were well balanced and well curated and the drinks matched that. Thank you SOwl! We will definitely be back read more

The new outdoor patio, build-your-own Twin Palms concept is a breath of fresh air after missing The Spotted Owl for so long. Presentation was spotless, service was fantastic and super friendly as usual, and the outdoor seating was comfortable. We arrived in time for sunset and got to enjoy a lovely atmosphere that faded into a fantastic evening with soft glowing umbrella lighting and wonderful drinks (strong and delicious - two knocked me off my feet). We got to taste almost every cocktail they have to offer and each had their charm, with a distinctive flavor profile and color. The rosewater julep was my favorite. As a warning note though, the Pineapple Daiquiri is STRONG! A great time! read more

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Ambiance, service and amazing drinks- The Spotted Owl has it all! We came here on a whim after receiving a recommendation for this place and we're so glad we checked it out! The drink menu is so unique, as you have the option to either choose from a curated list of classic drinks, or you could "spin the wheel" and choose a drink based on your choice of mood and flavors. We decided to go with the latter and we're so impressed with the drinks we received! Highly recommend both if you check this place out- we know we'll be coming back~ read more

The Spotted Owl - El Diablo (left) and Rose Water Julep (right) - Bars Near Me

I really wanted to be obsessed with the Spotted Owl but I just thought it was good. I did the wheel & choose dark & citrus. The drink was essentially blood orange & bourbon. It was really good! My husband did citrus & tropical & he got a mai tai. Mine was better but thats personal preference. Also I know they say if you pick the same options as the rest of the table all the drinks will be different - that was definitely not true because 3 of us got the exact same drink but it was great either way. The service was just okay but it was super busy. I would highly suggest sitting at the bar. Theres not really any cell service but I like that. The vibe is also really cool & relaxed. read more

I went with a few friends on a Friday night to try out Spotted Owl for the first time and we were surprised to find that it was not busy at all. We were all intrigued by ~the wheel~ concept and all decided to get drinks from it. We chose pretty similar flavors and vibes but managed to get very unique drinks, which was definitely fun (we were told that they have over 500 flavor combinations? so even if everyone in your party chose the same adjectives you would get different drinks!) My friends all liked their drinks, but my first drink was not my favorite. I had chosen "restore," "tropical," and "fruity" and got a spicy cocktail that didn't fit my palate. Luckily, the bartenders check in on you regularly here and when I told him that I wasn't a fan of the flavor combination he immediately offered to make me another one, and we had a bit more of a conversation about why I didn't like the original drink and what other flavors I like. Overall, I had a good experience here and I think it would be fun to come with friends and try a bunch of different cocktails. The bartenders were very nice and accommodating. I think I have enjoyed drinks at other Cleveland establishments more, but Spotted Owl definitely has one of the most interesting vibes and concepts! read more

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Interesting place to grab a cocktail. Just off the main Tremont drag, not far from Professor, but a little tricky to find if you don't know what you're looking for. Their menu is very unique being that you dont order an actual cocktail, but order off of their wheel, and then the bartender makes you a concoction based on the order. This is the thing that I find a good and a bad thing here. It can be a very good thing if you know what flavors you like, and get a beverage that fits, you're going to enjoy it. Personally, I know the cocktails that I am interested in having, and prefer a little more direction in my order. My wife and I came here on a Saturday night. We instantly got a seat at the bar, about 7-8 PM. The staff was friendly and both of our drinks were good. If out in Tremont, likely a place we would return. read more

The Spotted Owl - Menu - Bars Near Me

Spotted owl is located in a historic building1850 that used to be used for production of religious materials. When walking through the Wrought iron gate you are immediately aware that you are about to experience something extraordinary. The space spotted owl occupies is a sliver of the entire complex. The space is decorated with homages to the past while still maintaining the hipster feel you would expect in Tremont. Drink discovery is no different then the space itself, choose your mood, choose your pallet, let the mixologist goto work on your drink. It is a completely freeing experience that will open your pallet to new tastes and liquors you may have written off as "nasty" in the past. Drinks here are amazing, the experience is one of a kind, seating is limited so get there early and enjoy! read more

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Came twice, both times after a concert. Drinks are at what I'd call "coast prices," but even if you're not used to that kind of pricing, it is worth it. Street parking is easy to find, the wait for drinks is actually pretty short, the drinks are amazing, and the menu is on rotation so you bet your butt there are holiday themed drinks during December. The first time was on a Thursday night, jazz was playing softly over the speakers, there were only three other people there, so we really had our pick of seats, and basically hung out with the bartender. The second time was on a Saturday night, and it was POPPIN. Music: poppin. Drinks: poppin. Christmas decorations: poppin. Would highly recommend if you're looking for a fun night with friends. read more

The Spotted Owl - Cinnamon sazerac in the front, marshmallow Collins in the back - Bars Near Me

The Spotted Owl has a unique character with dimly lit, brick lined walls and aged wooden seating and tables that draw a warm, romantic and eclectic energy. As I discovered how the drink ordering went, I was excited for the mystery of what my mood and flavor choice would deliver. My mood I chose was restore and my flavor was coffee. In my drink I first noticed a large square dark ice cube, and my drink was a coffee color, with a sweetness that had me guessing what could be in this deliciousness of a drink. After much guessing we asked the waitress and she described the collection of rums in the drink with the cold brew coffee ice cube. A genius pairing I wouldn't have ever guessed to choose! The drinks are $15 a piece. May seem pricey, but for the atmosphere, experience and expertise of this cocktail lounge it's worth every penny. read more

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I came here for the first time for the Christmas pop up. The venue itself was very cozy and it's like sitting in the basement of a castle. I anticipated a vomit of holiday decor for the pop up, but it was a little lack-luster. There were lights and presents hung up, but it seemed like regular decorations. I was also disappointed that there wasn't any Christmas music playing. I expected it to be EXTRA festive, but it was a mix of Dinosaur Jr. and Blink 182 (still a bop, but not quite the holiday feel). The specialty drink menu was the only thing that really made it seem like a Christmas pop up. The drinks were all made to theme and featured a good mixture of alcohols and flavors to suit all tastes! They were definitely slow sippers, but all incredibly delicious. If you're looking for good holiday drinks without the overplayed holiday music, this is the place to go! read more

The Spotted Owl - Chai'll Be Home For Christmas and Red Nose in the Dark - Bars Near Me

My sister offered to take me out for my birthday and this is the place I picked. I had recently read awesome reviews on the cool basement atmosphere, mood wheel "menu" and delicious drinks so we had to check it out. We stopped in on a Wednesday evening and sat at the bar for happy hour. With a few questions from the bartender, my mood was Restore and I decided on ginger as my top flavor since I thought it may be a bit late for my runner up flavor of coffee. What I ended up with was an extreme ginger variation of a Bourbon Buck (she told me, I didn't know) and I absolutely loved it!!! My sister's mood was Relax with floral flavors and she got a Rose Julep created with a bit of yogurt. Also very delicious. These were both drinks I had never heard of. I will be back to discover more. read more

The Spotted Owl - With candied ginger on top. - Bars Near Me

The last time we were in Cleveland I wanted to come here but we never made it because it was out of the way and we didn't know what the parking situation would be. I made sure we came here this time. We came on a Tuesday night somewhat early so it wasn't that crowded. They don't have a drink menu, but they have a wheel where you pick the drink category you want. For example Smoky, fruity, floral, bitter, etc. They sometimes ask follow up questions about flavors you like after you select a category. I was a little annoyed that they seemed to ask my husband lots of questions when he ordered a drink but not me. I asked if I could have a drink that's floral or fruity and wanted him to suggest something that's maybe a mix of the 2 or come up with something, but all he said was well which one do you want floral or fruity? I said fruity or citrusy I guess. But when my husband asked if he could mix ginger and Smokey he said yeah that works great. My drink was pretty good though, it was some strawberry cream drink. But it was in a really tiny glass. I then asked if I could have a chocolate coffee flavored drink next. He said he could do coffee but didn't have chocolate. I said ok coffee then is fine. I liked it but not as much as my first drink, I was expecting it to be kinda creamy but it was pretty dark and bitter. My husband asked for a dark drink next and they asked him a couple questions, like how dark he likes and if he liked rye. But again they didn't ask me questions about my drink. I would have liked it they asked me if I liked sweet flavors, bitter, strong etc. for my coffee drink. Maybe the drinks my husband was ordering were in a broader category than mine and needed more narrowing down, I don't know. I ordered a floral drink as my last drink and the one bartender overheard me talking about lavender so he made me a drink with lavender syrup. Good but a little too strong for me. I drank more of my husband's drink and gave him mine. Overall it was still a good night with very good drinks and we had fun. I just wish I got the same attention for my drinks as my husband did. read more

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The Spotted Owl is one of my favorite cocktail bars I've ever visited! Ever! I am so grateful that I found this on Yelp and added it to my collections page. I'm a sucker for stained glass and church stuff. When I saw photos of the stained glass designs online, I just knew I had to check it out! It also helped that my first night in Cleveland, someone at a restaurant suggested we go here. I was super excited as I walked up to the Spotted Owl, from outside, it looks as if you're about to enter a church or castle. When you walk in, it is dark and there is immediately a casual-feeling lounge area and some (weird) seating opposite the bar. Back past the bar, there is an awesome dimly-lit seating area that feels cozy and intimate. Behind the bar are three large, lovely stained glass designs. According to the information in the hallway, these are quite old and were restored. I just love that. They really set an atmosphere! What makes The Spotted Owl so unique (other than the awesome decor of course) is their menu *see photos*. Instead of ordering your cocktail of choice, rather you choose a sort of mood and flavor. The server/bartender then asks you a few questions to select a drink for you. They don't tell you what it is until minutes later when it arrives. The drinks are all A. Beautiful. B. Delicious. C. Strong. D. Thoughtful and intricate flavors. I was excited that I picked the theme of bubbles and I ended up getting a French 75, yummm! My husband picked Umami for his flavor and ended up with a super crazy and really delicious, complex cocktail. Both drinks were gorgeous and gave us a nice buzz. All drinks are $15 I believe which is more than I'm usually willing to spend on a cocktail but it was definitely worth it! 10/10! read more

I thought it was really cute how this bar felt a bit like a speakeasy, without a bold entrance and keeping quiet in Tremont in the late evening. I wanted to try this because I thought the menu was a really cute idea and it was neat! Unfortunately, I thought the drinks were just okay. I don't know if mine was as strong as my partner's with mine being a fourth of the size, maybe a couple ounces of a cocktail for the same price as a tall glass. I expected more in the actual cocktails with them being more expensive, but I didn't they they were exactly super strong or complex. We seated ourselves and waited awhile before being greeted and explained about the concept. It felt like the waitress was having a long night and wasn't thrilled to help craft that special cocktail. It's a unique place, but the music is loud as someone noted so it might be hard to hold conversation with a group of friends. It's niche, but the drinks and experience are not what will bring me back. read more

Walked in on a Friday night with a relatively large group but most of the tables were taken. Waited about 15 min when people started leaving. They were somewhat accommodating but the staff just didn't seem too friendly. The drinks were average and I was told the wheel is not worth it since they've served the same drink to two people who chose completely different features read more

The Spotted Owl has been on my bucket list for a while and it was everything it was said to be. The drinks were expertly crafted and the drink wheel is a fun and innovative way to change it up. Feel free to toss them any extra requests like if you hate gin or grapefruit or whatever your pallet would avoid. Bring a group, try a bunch, and then Uber home haha. read more

Tried this place years ago before Cleveland was home. I was impressed with the craft cocktails I would tell people from Ohio about it. Thought it permanently closed but I found out last night, ITS OPEN! Bartenders were both friendly. Went on a Thursday night and is wasn't packed which I totally don't mind! I recommend the 'permanent vacation' super tasty and my idea of a craft cocktail! Ambience is dark, intimate, speakeasy vibes, cozy and the decor is nice! If you're a young professional looking for a true craft cocktail this is your spot! read more

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When I was growing up, my mom had a framed picture of owls in the house that read "I rejoice that there are owls." I find them equal to seagull. I give thanks and praise for all winged creatures. As it was said on Liquid Swords "You better keep your eye on the sparrow." Spotted Owl is a nice place to grab a quiet drink in the dark and not be bothered. Or you can go to Town Hall on a Friday or Saturday night and witness Idiocracy in real-time. "I rejoice that there are owls. Let them do the idiotic and maniacal hooting for men. It is a sound admirably suited to swamps and twilight woods which no day illustrates, suggesting a vast and undeveloped nature which men have not recognized. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all have." -Henry David Thoreau read more

Unfortunately the staff was off putting and not friendly. They have an interesting concept, but when requesting a cocktail per their menu, they created a citrusee sweet concoction when the request was for unsweet and spicy. read more

It's easy to order something familiar at a cocktail bar and The Spotted Owl will absolutely cure you of that. They've eliminated their encyclopedia-sized menu in favor of a more personalized approach: a card of feelings and flavors. They use these to get an idea of how you want to feel after drinking your cocktail, the flavors you like, and your liquor preferences. Their cocktail geniuses leave with this information and bring back a mysterious custom cocktail that's bound to satisfy any craving. Our waitress, Jess, was absolutely fantastic and great at what she does. Being new to Cleveland and having never been to The Spotted Owl, she was very welcoming and helped me find the perfect cocktail. This was one of my favorite hidden gems in Cleveland so far and I can't wait to go back! read more

The Spotted Owl - Bars Near Me

Amazing patio and coolest concept. No food but creative cocktails. They bring you the ingredients and you prepare it yourself. Yes you can have them make it if you don't want to make it yourself. But why. read more

Stopped in for the first time last night and I already know that I will be coming back. This bar feels like home as soon as you walk in when the lovely bartenders all say Hi! The cocktails are well crafted and you are in the best hands with this bar staff. The bar has a concept where you pick a drink based on your intended mood. Last night I chose to "reflect" with a dark drink. I loved the "1000 SPF" cocktail I was handed to aid in my reflection. Check our the photos for this drink and the mood wheel! read more

The Spotted Owl - Mood wheel at The Spotted Owl - Bars Near Me

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Spotted owl is nestled in a cozy basement bar with stain glass relics that bode of a tumultuous legacy. I went on a Saturday night. Seating is very limited and hard to come by. The service is just as limited and hard to come by. I found the uniquely curated cocktails to be way overpriced. That being said, there are a few budget friendly options like beer paired with a shot. I would like to return on a day when they are less busy. If you're looking for a cozy romantic time and you are not in a rush I would highly suggest spotted owl. Beware they don't have food and they close at 12. read more

The Spotted Owl - Bars Near Me

This used to be one of my favorite bars- they have some amazing and talented bartenders and their menus are so creative and well designed. Someone would greet you and get you a glass of water and then go over the menu if you liked. Tonight, around 9:30pm November 24, I came in with a small group and was told that I was only allowed to order drinks off their Christmas-themed menu. I tried to order a Manhattan- not permitted, since it's not on the menu. I tried to order a drink that looked pretty good- but without the sweet potato ingredient and was told that they can't do any changes to the menu. They did, however offer rum and coke or a shot of bourbon. Come on guys, if I wanted that.. I'd be at the Tick Tock right now! It's my own fault that I don't want pie or cinnamon or nutmeg or yams in my cocktail, I get it... but our whole group felt like we entered some alternate reality where The Spotted Owl does not give a shake about its customers... and where a guy can't get a Manhattan on a Saturday night!! read more

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Very cool bar that almost seems hidden. The inside is dark with a mysterious vibe. There is a bar, separate seating and even a couch and some cozy chairs. Like the other reviews stated their menu is based on your mood. So you can pick relax and then pick from there floral, tropical, delicate, highball. It is in a wheel and each flavor profile has additional options inside to pick from. I was between relax delicate and restore desert. And this drink they came up with for me was so so so good. It was sweet like a desert but not too sweet. I have never had a drink like it. It even had a graham cracker in it. I really enjoyed it. I appreciate the creativeness and personalization. Because of this the drinks are pricey at $15 dollars each which may slow you down on how many you are actually willing to get. Worth stopping by for a drink. read more

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whoever said this was a tiki bar either lied or has no clue what a tiki bar or tiki even is. Just a generic craft cocktail bar with an ego. ZERO island vibes. read more

Solid 4.5. Definitely like this place better than velvet tango... much better drinks and more relaxed atmosphere. Server was really awesome. The drink wheel is neat and I'm glad that besides the feel of a drink, you get to choose the type of spirit. I'm sure I could ask next time but would definitely like an option to request flavors or things like that as well. read more

The Spotted Owl - 2 whiskey, one with scotch. All delicious. - Bars Near Me

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Possibly my favorite hangout in Cleveland. It's all craft cocktails, the bar has a nice balance between divey and classy, its not at all pretentious, and the staff is insanely fun and nice. There's no food, but they don't mind if you bring in your own nosh. The menu for last couple years has been a "pick your flavor profile" thing. I do miss being able to read about each cocktail, and then usually trying them all (over a period of time, my liver isn't that bullet proof). But the cocktails are still amazing, they just now come as a surprise. I could also just stare at that cool stained glass window behind the bar forever. read more

We LOVED this bar. We came here on our anniversary while we were bar/restaurant hopping around tremont. This was our second stop of the night so we arrived right when they were opening. It was pretty empty and quiet, which gave us the opportunity to relax and sit on one of the large, comfy couches. The decor in this bar is very dark and I felt like I was walking into an Edgar Allan Poe story. The unique thing about this place is not only do they have a few featured cocktails, but the bartenders have a repertoire of hundreds of cocktails that they can make based off of what you like/ how you are feeling. They start off by giving you a chart that has different feelings and different drink qualities. For example, if you tell them that you are in a celebratory mood and like fruity cocktails they can make you a drink based off of this information! Very cool concept! I got two drinks and my husband got three. We were very impressed with each one and spent well over an hour here just hanging out and talking to another couple we met at the bar. The drinks are $15 a piece, so beware that the price is pretty steep! read more

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Great underground speakeasy in the traditional model - you can have a conversation whilst enjoying a few drinks. Innovative bartender was having lots of fun surprising guests with her exotic concoctions. read more

LOVE this hidden spot in Tremont! If you blink you'll miss it as you drive or walk by but it's such a great bar if you have the chance to visit. The decor is so cool and unique and there's tons of seating. We went during golden hour (happy hour) which is M-F from 5-7 and cocktails are $10. I love the way they craft their cocktails - it's such an art. Everything I've had is delicious and I can't wait to go back! read more

The Spotted Owl - Bars Near Me