Single Barrel
A zesty orange refreshment, The Lion Tamer.
An evening trip to
was my first foray into the world of Speakeasy bars, modeled after underground bars of the Prohibition era. Like Speakeasies of yesteryear, Single Barrel seems more like a secret hideout than the popular Yelp-worthy bar it is. With no flashy signs or neon lights to flag down your attention on the street, it's easy to miss. There is aptly just a single barrel hanging over the sidewalk awning-- sort of like a secret code!
A lot of other Yelp reviewers rightly mention the line outside. They only let people in as other patrons leave. Make sure your group is six or less. They're pretty strict about this. They want to keep the atmosphere classy and the noise level conducive to conversation. They also want to make sure everyone has a place to sit.
Be excited once you get to the head of the line because that is the only line you'll have to wait in all evening! None of the usual bar lines to get a drink, find a table, etc. The doorman may look like a 1920s gangster, but he's very friendly and never breaks character. He will give you a rundown of the rules:
1. No groups over six
2. Keep the noise level down
3. No gum
4. No smoking
5. Put cell phones on silent
He will ask if you've ever been to Single Barrel before and he will radio your party information to his colleagues downstairs to make sure the bartender is ready for you. Once you get the go-ahead signal, follow a red carpeted passageway to the basement. Once there, it'll seem like you stepped back in time or maybe onto the set of
. With the dark, leathery decor and the bartenders clad in ties, suspenders and newsboy caps, I half expected Robert Redford or Paul Newman to hop the counter. There were exactly six in our group so our bartender asked us our drink preferences one by one. She custom made cocktails for all of us. I said I liked fruity, refreshing drinks in which I can't really taste the alcohol. She fired up a tasty orange treat called the Lion Tamer ($11).
All in all, this is a great place to go if you want to get away from the typical bar experience. So head on over to Single Barrel, and remember...speak easy!