"Bar" Does Not Mean "Sports Bar"

by Trey Evans (RSS feed)
Jan 10th 2007 at 7:22PM

The omission of words can be just as powerful as the addition of them. So when I say that I'm going to go enjoy a cocktail at a bar while the college superbowl whatever-it's-called is going on, I mean exactly that. What a perfect time to go out and enjoy a nice glass of scotch and a cigar; the bars won't be crowded because Johnny Sportsfan will be watching some team that isn't UT play some other team. Meanwhile, it's the perfect time for me to sip a glass of Johnnie Blue Label and not be bothered. While it may seem like a superficial semantic argument, it also reflects on our society turning away from classic bars to hybrid drinking establishments - some with their 60" plasma TVs with the ESPN logo burned in to them, and others filled with loud techno music and females who apparently haven't paid for a drink in their life. Though the cocktail was born in either Boston or New Orleans (I'd prefer to think Boston) and was perfected in the time of prohibition, it's hard to find a quality bar in America these days. I can think of two (VBar, Cohiba) in this city, maybe a half dozen in the metropolitan area I'm originally from (the bar at Mac's is a personal favorite), but that doesn't really count for much. Sure, there are plenty of real bars in New York, but The City has plenty of everything. I was in Paris a couple of years ago, and it was hard to not find a nice bar. I just think it's sad that the place where the cocktail was born no longer honors it, and those who truly take pleasure in what they drink are forced to do so with people who drink for sport. So, do any Luxist readers care to share what real bars still exist that they frequent?

Tags: bar, club, lounge, sports bar, SportsBar

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Steve Jan 11th 2007 6:22AM

I know you will think this is blaspheme but here in Wichita, I can think of only one QUIET place to go and have a drink. And it is in a movie theater! I guess no one thinks of it, but it is rarely used, partly because you can be served in the theater itself. Here is a URL that has a photo.
http://www.warrentheaters.com/webalc.asp#

beanspants1 Jan 10th 2007 11:13PM

I haven't been drinking around San Antonio much, but DFW has an entire town that's pretty much just bars, most of which are good.

they have tvs, so i guess a few are technically sports bars, but people don't really go there to watch sports.

i think part of your problem is that no one, except for the guy smoking them, actually likes cigars, so cigar smoking bars filled with cigar smokers are opening. DFW has at least 3 of those as well that i know of.

Max Jan 10th 2007 10:54PM

Amen Brother.

Here is my list in the order of places I've lived since 2000.

Boston - They all died out back in 2002 and I left in 2003 (coincidence?). Used to love Trios and Oscars in the leather district and Cigar Masters on Newbury. You can't even smoke cigars anywhere in Boston these days, can you? I suppose upstairs at Vox Populi is decent as well.

Raleigh - 42nd Street Oyster Bar, Hibernian Pub, Havana's.

London - There so many, But my all time favorite bar in the world is The Holly Bush in Hampstead.

Bangkok - My favorites are the bar at the Eugenia, The Dimplomat in the Conrad Hotel, Vertigo or Sirocco when friends are in town.

Trey Evans Jan 10th 2007 11:19PM

Mr. Beanspants brings up a valid point about cigar smoking, but please be aware that I'm not that lone asshat that lights up a 52 ring gauge CAO in just any bar that allows smoking. There's a cigar bar, the one mentioned in the article, that is a full bar that is cigar friendly. As for DFW, most of the nicer hotels (The Ashton in Fort Worth comes to mind) have very nice bars and usually do a good job keeping out the riff-raff.

It is also of note that even though Lawry's The Prime Rib on Michigan in Chicago is a restaurant, the bar is separate and quite nice. So far we have every metropolitan area covered except LA, Miami, and Houston. Anyone have any suggestions?

Ron Jan 11th 2007 1:02AM

I can think of at least one place in Anchorage, AK that fits what you're looking for. The Corsair is an upscale eating establishment & bar located in the downtown area. You would be hard pressed to find a better selection of wine anywhere and their bar is very well stocked as well. No TV that I am aware of and not too loud either.

Another place that comes to mind is located in the San Jose, CA airport called the Monkey Martini Bar. Nice place that makes some great drinks and plays classic Jazz. Not necessarily quiet but an oasis when traveling through that part of the country.

Yet another place is The Crown & Anchor in Monterey, CA. Potentially a bit busy for your taste, but a true English pub on the west coast! If English pub/ bar fits the bill for you, this is the place. Plenty of Scotch on hand...

Johnny RnR Jan 11th 2007 7:24AM

No offense, but you're in San Antonio. The best bars there always seem to be private or semiprivate clubs, and the cool public ones are kept under wraps to stay as low key as possible.

I bartend a Speakeasy in St Louis, and it's the kind of place you're looking for. We don't have a webpage, the room only seats 30 people, and the directions include "walk around the counter and through the Employees Only door."

James Jan 11th 2007 10:58AM

What's the name of the speakeasy you work at in STL? I visit quite frequently.

Robert Jan 11th 2007 3:20PM

It is odd to think that I enjoy the same establishments that you seek, while looking for those gameday bars on saturday. I don't know what negative experience you had with J. Sportsfan, but realize they usually are the ones keeping establishments in the black. A purist looking for that single glass of scotch and a quiet corner to smoke a cigar, or the guy ordering rounds for his friends, who do you think they'll take? From the tone of your writing, I think you'd much enjoy looking down your nose at others you deem unworthy of your presence.

Johnny RnR Jan 11th 2007 3:37PM

It's Brennan's on Maryland Avenue in the Central West End. Stop by on a weekend and I'll be down there hiding out.

DEJr. Jan 31st 2007 6:33PM

I have to agree with the writer, Mr. Evans. Many of the comments are missing the point of his post; that the purpose of many bars is to enjoy a great drink in quiet solitude while conversing with the bartender or a total stranger or just sitting by yourself lost in your own thoughts. I travel extensively and look for just the bars that Trey talks about, warm inviting and quiet, Boston and NYC top the list of my all time favorites. Another great spot is the bar in the Icelandair Hotel Loftleider in Reykjavik, Iceland; a great atmosphere with interesting people from all over the world, the same can be said for many of the hotel bars around LAX airport...Johnny RnR, thanks for the STL tip, I'll check it out my next trip through.