Okay, this was unique and we absolutely loved it. Both my husband and I love a good speakeasy, and…read morewhile looking through reservations for Kin, I came across Ampersand and immediately found it intriguing. I'm so glad we decided to check it out.
We arrived and were escorted to the top floor, where we were greeted with beautiful, almost awe-inspiring views of the mountains and the city. The space itself is tiny, with just a couple of couches and a few additional seats. In a way, you're almost forced to interact with the other patron but for us, it was fantastic.
We ended up chatting with several people throughout the evening. Some were tourists like us, while others were locals, and it was genuinely fun hearing their stories, learning more about the city, and getting recommendations for things to see and do. We also had some great conversations with the bartender, which made the experience feel especially personal.
The cocktail format is unique as well. There isn't a fixed menu. Instead, you tell the bartender what you like, what you're in the mood for, and how adventurous you want to be, and they create something around your preferences.
I'm a whiskey drinker and was open to experimenting, so I ended up with an Old Fashioned that had a savory element (soy sauce ) I wasn't entirely sure about at first but it turned out to be surprisingly good. My husband, who's a big mezcal fan, got a cocktail featuring Chartreuse, if I remember correctly, and thoroughly enjoyed his.
I believe reservations are limited to 90 minutes, but that was plenty of time for two cocktails each. We left feeling like we'd had a genuinely memorable evening--not just because of the drinks and the views, but because of the conversations and the people we met along the way.Pricing is slightly on the higher side, but that's pretty much what we expected given the setting and the experience and might I add that the alcohol was also top shelf.
Definitely one of those places where the experience is as much about the people and atmosphere as it is about the cocktails.