Mixology/Craft Cocktails
This is a high art. (Or some would say a low and disreputable art practiced at the highest level ......take your pick). It is the culinary and social phenomenon of the highly skilled barkeep, or mixologist, creating, right in front of you, an alcoholic confection, a properly balanced trio of spirit, bitter, and sweet, individualized to your specific tastes from quality spirits and fresh adjunct ingredients made in-house and sourced from around the world, and beautifully presented to you, while you sit or stand at the rail and chat with your buddies and with strangers from different walks of life you would not otherwise have met. (I just met the Vice President of the Lancaster Beekeepers Society!!)
This was a uniquely American art form that arose in the 19th century and was stamped out by prohibition. It did not come back with repeal. This lost piece of our heratage was only rediscovered, reclaimed and resurrected in the last 15 years or so, and it is going strong in Lancaster in these 3 places:
This is Lancaster's only dedicated mixology bar. Speak-easy themed (you knock on a locked, unmarked door and wait for a bouncer to let you in). The opulent décor makes you think you should be sampling a fine cigar while sipping cognac. The Chief Mixologist, Ben Hash, is among the best in world.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Conway Social Club
28 E King StThis is Lancaster's only dedicated mixology bar. Speak-easy themed (you knock on a locked, unmarked door and wait for a bouncer to let you in). The opulent décor makes you think you should be sampling a fine cigar while sipping cognac. The Chief Mixologist, Ben Hash, is among the best in world.
The drink situation here is craft cocktail heaven. Extensive and sophisticated offering of both historic and new creations on the printed menu. All of the bar staff are high-level. They will take you off menu and into the wilds if desired.
83 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Horse Inn
540 E Fulton StThe drink situation here is craft cocktail heaven. Extensive and sophisticated offering of both historic and new creations on the printed menu. All of the bar staff are high-level. They will take you off menu and into the wilds if desired.
Amazing drinks. Their emphasis is cocktails based on Italian bitter liqueurs ("potable red bitters", eg Campari), amari, and sweet vermouths (they have the most extensive selection of all three West of the Hudson River), but they have the skills and ingredients to take you any direction you choose.
107 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
LUCA
436 W James StAmazing drinks. Their emphasis is cocktails based on Italian bitter liqueurs ("potable red bitters", eg Campari), amari, and sweet vermouths (they have the most extensive selection of all three West of the Hudson River), but they have the skills and ingredients to take you any direction you choose.
Classy/Elegant Bars
These are my picks for Lancaster bars with great service, quality drinks, impressive decor, and a good vibe.
High-rise rooftop bar with great views of the city and beyond. Open year-round.
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Exchange
25 S Queen StHigh-rise rooftop bar with great views of the city and beyond. Open year-round.
Elegant décor. Lively vibe, but not excessively noisy. Great for people-watching. Gayest of the unofficial gay bars, (which includes pretty much all of Lancaster's nicer bars, apart from the official one of course). Live music upstairs at Crazy Shirley’s some nights. Open til 2 am without fail 364 nights a year.
80 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Belvedere Inn
402 N Queen StElegant décor. Lively vibe, but not excessively noisy. Great for people-watching. Gayest of the unofficial gay bars, (which includes pretty much all of Lancaster's nicer bars, apart from the official one of course). Live music upstairs at Crazy Shirley’s some nights. Open til 2 am without fail 364 nights a year.
This is a fun place for a drink - mostly for the fabulous and fanciful interior design. The bar itself is competent.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Amorette
401 N Prince StThis is a fun place for a drink - mostly for the fabulous and fanciful interior design. The bar itself is competent.
Bistro Barberet & Bakery
26 E King StCheckers Bistro
398 Harrisburg AveSmoking Dive Bars
Smoke-filled neighborhood bar with really cheap beers and shots; good music on the juke box; occasionally rowdy but mostly mellow inviting vibe where you can actually meet and talk to people you don’t know yet; darts; billiards. This is a vanishing sub-species in American bar culture. In 2014 there were only four or five left in Lancaster. Now its just these three:
Brendee's Cafe
449 W Lemon StHildy's
448 W Frederick StShamrock Cafe
312 W Walnut StGay Bars
Tally ho Tavern
201 W Orange StMusic/Dance floor
Close to Home
2 good neighborhood bars, less than 7 min. walk from home.
This place is special because of the Valentino sisters and because it is it is living Lancaster history - run continuously here since the 1930's by four generations of the Valentino family. Bar is open 7am to 2am (wow). Basic, un-fancy cheap drinks. Some older and middle aged folks; a few younger hipsters; not a college hangout. Every Thursday is music night at 8:30. The band could be anything from just one accordion player, on up to three accordions, wash-tub bass, a retired professional trumpeter & electric keyboard. It is mainly drinking songs and singalongs/clap-alongs from the old country, some military medleys, and sprinkle in some Jimmy Buffet. Zero space for dancing, yet dancing will always find a way! How could you not?
Valentino's Cafe
132 Rider AveThis place is special because of the Valentino sisters and because it is it is living Lancaster history - run continuously here since the 1930's by four generations of the Valentino family. Bar is open 7am to 2am (wow). Basic, un-fancy cheap drinks. Some older and middle aged folks; a few younger hipsters; not a college hangout. Every Thursday is music night at 8:30. The band could be anything from just one accordion player, on up to three accordions, wash-tub bass, a retired professional trumpeter & electric keyboard. It is mainly drinking songs and singalongs/clap-alongs from the old country, some military medleys, and sprinkle in some Jimmy Buffet. Zero space for dancing, yet dancing will always find a way! How could you not?
I'm including this because its close by, and it might be right up someone's ally. Very informal. Seems like mostly a beer place. Bartenders and patrons all very young.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
551 West
551 W King StI'm including this because its close by, and it might be right up someone's ally. Very informal. Seems like mostly a beer place. Bartenders and patrons all very young.