Better Bars - A Series

All Locations are linked to their corresponding Instagram post.

#001 -  Rosewood Mansion Turtle Creek - Dallas, TX

Classic Dallas where solid drinks meet a moody atmosphere with overheard discussions of oil prices, Texas & Oklahoma football and 2nd & 3rd husbands.

#002 - Balboa Cafe - San Franciso, CA

Classic brass & boards joint where bartenders in white coats serve classic cocktails to the toney, younger meets old guard crowd. Plan on the place being filled and cleared early as much of the clientele works NY Wall Street hours.

#003 - Dewberry Hotel - Charleston, SC

Mid-Century done good. While modern, the space is warm and their drinks interesting. Does Christmas right.

#004 - Hotel Jerome - Aspen, CO

Exactly the atmosphere we want when we ski. Fire, leather, Navajo rugs, American flags, taxidermy and matching cocktails creations. You just have to get over everyone dropping they have their own “PJ”. Perfect for our Chandler Stag DOF.

#005 - J.G. Melon - New York City

A holiday week calls for a boozie lunch and no better place than J.G. Mellon on the Upper East Side. Not a dive bar and not fine dining either, it’s a cultural center that’s been pumping out burgers, cottage fries, bloodies and martinis since 1972. To weed out the not committed, they are cash only. It’s a holiday week, folks. Find your J.G. Melon and have your boozie lunch.

#006 - Jack Frys - Louisville, KY

Oh so classic Kentucky. Talks of bourbon and horses while a piano player plays. Bourbon is flowing but the martinis are notable.

#007 - Joe T's - Fort Worth, TX

Joe T’s, the iconic Fort Worth joint where serves include beer, tequila, fajitas and enchiladas...period. An enormous place with hour+ waits mingled with rowdy TCU kids and mighty Fort Worthians. If you don’t think all this sounds appealing, then get the hell out of the way for the faithful.

#008 - JCT Kitchen & Bar - Atlanta, GA

The ATL is blessed with many good restaurants and bars. None better than the instant classic by Ford Fry. It’s like a Nancy Meyers film set with quality food and righteous drinks.

#009 - Sylvain - New Orleans, LA

Located in the craziness that is the French Quarter, Sylvain is hidden in plain site. The moody bar + restaurant is filled with taxidermy, vintage flags and good bar accoutrements. Their bio reads “we laugh loudly, shoot whiskey and linger amongst friends old and new”. Enough said.

#010 - The Chatham Squire - Chatham, MA

In anticipation of better weather, we are taking us to Cape Cod, America for this week’s Better Bars...The Chatham Squire. If you are a Capey or someone who Summers at the Cape, you know The Squire as more of a community center for those 9 months old to 90 years. Seafood and grog served in unpretentious form surrounded by folks with good summah color. For those who have not experienced, by all accounts it looks like a dive bar...but careful calling it that as it enlists upheaval in its many worshipers feeling it discounts the institution. And for those asking...we are working to expand our Spring/ Summer collection to include a more nautical/ coastal selections.

#011 - Chateau Marmont - West Hollywood, CA

May seem like an obvious, overplayed choice, but trust us this place has retained what has always made it special. Sexy around every corner, the spaces are intimate with ongoing glances to see who is famous. The glamorous days of old Hollywood.

#012 - Roberts Western World - Nashville, TN

Hidden in the middle of what is the mess of Broadway in Nashville, Roberts is a historic honky tonk gem serving up the best of live Country and Western music for decades. Drinks are served in plastic cups and beer stays in its can/ bottom. Food specialties include fried bologna sandwiches, burgers and Moon Pies. If you know, you know....it’s where the cool kids hang out in the center of touristy cheesy.

#013 - Little Jack's Tavern - Charleston, SC

#014 - Grand Banks - New York City

We love unique and this place is the most unique. Situated on docked sailboat on the Hudson over looking downtown and Jersey City this place is stunning. Yes, the food and cocktails are New York good but the setting is what blows it out of the water..no pun intended. It’s just chic.

#015 - Leons Oyster Shop - Charleston, SC

Leon’s, while fairly new opening in 2014, reset the restaurant scene for Charleston. No longer was eating and drinking in style about formality and the established guard of this great city. Leon’s is familiar in the best sense of the word. A casual place where friends meet with a unique food menu, new spins on classic cocktails and a curated selection of beers. While relaxed and housed in an old body shop, Leon’s is surprisingly sophisticated, chic and different.

#016 - Hueso Restaurante - Guadaljara, Mexico

Today we go south of the border to Hueso in Guadalajara which means “bone” in Spanish. With over 10k bones as decor and an almost all white backdrop, this place glows with candle light at night. Interesting food and cocktails round out the drama. This is not your neighborhood Mexican taco joint.

#017 - The County Club - Lexington, KY

This place is as high low as the name sounds. Effortlessly sophisticated while Kentucky country at the same time. Our type of place. Think cinder block walls juxtaposed to black painted wainscoting. Concrete floors with a vintage ornate brass chandelier. Chalkboards, taxidermy and a pea gravel dining patio. And the food and drink are just as interesting. BBQ, a Mexican thing, ramen, & poutine washed down with mezcal, matcha and bourbon cocktails. It feels like a lively community place. Familiar while also ever-changing. Relaxed but also making their guest astute of what they are presenting. 

#018 - Irish Bank - San Francisco, CA

Everyone has a favorite Irish pub especially on St. Pats. Ours is @irishbank. Nothing refined but a meeting place for those sharing in the Irish spirit. Hidden in an alley in the Financial District, patrons order inside and pour out to the alley to imbibe. Guarantee it is rocking today.

#019 - Inn at Perry Cabin - St. Michaels, MD

You know we love a hotel bar and this time of year ideally it’s on the water. @innatperrycabin does not disappoint. Whether having a drink in front of the fire at The Purser’s Pub or taking it outside to the Adirondack chairs or fire pits to watch the boats. Quality nautical design all around. White paneled walls, ships art, Windsor chairs, leather sofas, et al. Sure you’ve seen it in Wedding Crashers as a wedding venue but it is so much more.

#020 - Bottega - Birmingham, AL

If you don’t know Birmingham is a good place especially for food and drink, then you are missing out. @bottegabham seems to be the clubhouse for the decerning and toney. Wine bar meets trattoria all with an undertone of the American South. Chic with real soul, the Family Stitt does it right. Can’t wait to head back to see the renovations to the port side.

#021 - Ez's Liquor Lounge - Houston, TX

While we can’t claim we’ve been to every great bar, we do say we’re on the journey to get there. Case in point with the newly opened @ezsliquorlounge @morgan_f_weber and team seem to have done it again with a dive bar come honky tonk vibe where cold beer, good cocktails and the best in vintage bar signage is guaranteed. Bet the music is classic country and western too. We can’t wait to get there!

#021 - The Claremont Hotel - Southwest Harbor, ME

Today is New Year’s Eve and there is nothing better than a Bloody Mary lunch at a boutique hotel. None better than the cozy confines of the @claremontmaine Whether it’s the dark and moody Harry’s Bar or the summer favorite Batson River Fish Camp, it’s all quintessential New England. Host to many of our friends like @jmclaughlin, @chappywrap, @pjhavel, @howieguja, @venitaaspen and more, this place will not disappoint.

#022 - Freemans Restaurant - New York City

The idea of the restaurant was to make a rugged clandestine colonial American Tavern in the Bowery of NYC. They nailed it in 2004 and have kept it going ever since. Moody spot was discovery around every corner. Good drinks and food that is simple and rustic.

#023 - State of Grace - Houston, TX

If you don’t think much of Houston, think again. A city reinvented. Food, drink, interesting shops…places with character. One of the anchors to all this is @stateofgracetx. Yes yes, the food is great. An ever changing menu of interest ing fare with an accent on oysters and a very South Texas/ Houston thing of a “cheese enchilada a la Felix” as a side. Drinks are as equally interesting served behind a bar that is a chef’s kiss. Add taxidermy and booths, it’s pretty much perfect. @fordfry and team- you did/ are doing good.

#024 - Highlander Mountain House - Highlands, NC

Can you love a place you haven’t visited yet? We think so. @highlandermountainhouse is one of those places for us. A cozy boutique hotel and tavern nested in the toney Highland Mountains with plenty a layered charm done in a modern way. Kilim, taxidermy, roaring fires, tufted leather, good cocktails and tavern food…we’re in! The best part is whenever someone that is following along with us goes, they send pictures saying we have got to get there. We will.

#025 - Liam's Restaurant - Thomasville, GA

If you haven’t been to Thomasville, GA, let us be the first to tell you, you’re missing out. It’s like St. Helena in Napa but take out the wine culture and put in the sporting life. Nestled in the quaint downtown is @liams_restaurant . They fancy themselves a restaurant, lounge and cheese shoppe but they also seem to be the clubhouse for the chic locals of Thomasville. Eclectic menu and good cocktails. And, don’t let the hanging plates and taxidermy fool you, this place is modern in style and contemporary in offerings and service.

#026 - Bemelman Bar - New York City

There’s nothing more sophisticated than a visit to the posh places in NYC. Always classic while somehow seeming modern. No better example is the @bemelmansbar at the @rosewoodthecarlyle on the UES. Established in 1947, the name comes from artist that painted murals that surround the bar, Ludwig Bemelmans,. He was the creator of the classic Madeline children’s book. Have a martini, listen to jazz and take in the what is ‘old New York’ at its finest.

#027 - White Elephant - Fort Worth, TX

Part honky tonk, part dive bar with a dash of kitsch, the @whiteelephantsaloon is a classic. Established in the @fortworthstockyards since the 1970’s but in Fort Worth since the 1890’s, it mixes an electric group of local cowboys, tourists and TCU students alike.Live bands and two-stepping dancing nightly, brings together the group where you’re likely to see old cowboys dancing with sorority girls in a religion of fun. Cowboy hats and white elephant tchotchkes clad the walls and the cocktails are as basic as they come. Not a place to order a martini. If you don’t have fun at the @whiteelephantsaloon then you’re pretty much uptight. Don’t go and save the crowded space for someone that does.

#028 Sullivans Fish Camp - Sullivans Island, SC

We love nauti kitsch this time of year and no better than @sullivansfishcamp in the beachy town of Sullivan’s Island. Fresh seafood, cold beer and fruity cocktails deluxe.With drinks like ‘Smoke on the Water’, ‘Pool Boy’ and ‘Two of by Sea G&T’ how could it not be fun. Throw in a couple of Sully’s Seafood Baskets and you’ve got a good day.

#029 - The Dunlin Hotel - Johns Island, SC

The period between Christmas and New Years for many means either coast or mountain vacations or dreaming about one. The new @dunlinauberge about 20 minutes from downtown Charleston, SC needs to be added to your must visit list. Designed by @amandalindrothdesign the property features a bar off the lobby (ala coffee bar by morning/ cocktail bar by afternoon & evening) and a magnificent wicker pagoda style bar in Linnette’s restaurant upstairs. Top notch food and drinks, welcoming staff and timeless yet fresh design are beyond. Get yourself to a stay soon or at the very least a seat at the bar.

#030 - Marfa Spirits Co - Marfa, TX

The stillness of winter always has us thinking about being at beach, skiing in the mountains or oddly in middle of the desert. Not just any desert but the desert of West Texas. Over the next month, we will share a few of our Better Bar in some of these places. Ah Marfa. Judd found in the 70’s and the creative class have been flocking there ever since. It’s hard to get to, but the travel is so surreal you don’t mind the journey. While small is number, the food and drink scene is lively.@morgan_f_weber and a cast of characters founded @marfaspiritco in 2018. Sotol is their speciality but they’ve also ventured into Rum (made from the molasses from the last sugar cane mill in Texas), gin and citrus liquors. Yes, their bar is a tasting room but go visit and you will find it’s the local watering hole whether you are a local local, San Fransico local, or NYC local. Fun experimental cocktail program too. Easy to find. Off the main drag at the Judd Foundation about parallel to the hardware store that sells taxidermy. Can’t miss it.