It would be a mistake to overlook the sophisticated bar scene in Orlando. There are endless artful, incredibly detailed yet leisurely bars in the area. Some are just a little bit harder to seek out, if you know what I mean. Even though the time of prohibition has come and went, these Orlando hotspots are the closest we’ll get to true speakeasies!
Hanson’s Shoe Repair
Get a little lost in this secretive dim-lit cocktail bar. Themed like a vintage shoe repair shop..or so it looks that way.. Hanson’s is curious and it seems the further in you go the more mysterious it seems. The vintage shoes, repairation machinery and art, the craft cocktails, the hush hush leading up to your arrival..it makes you question, “Am I allowed to be in here?”
It is believed to be located in the oldest standing building in Orlando. Hanson’s once held the city’s first electric sign, pointing it’s patrons to top notch shoe repair service and has found new life serving up mixes and potions like the Death Rattle, a dark, aromatic Jamaican rum with hints of chocolate and licorice. Just like this bar, it’s intense and alluring!
Go break a rule or two at Hanson’s and don’t forget the password.
Mathers Social Gathering
Live out your full prohibition-era fantasy at Mathers. This hideaway is serving drinks, charcuterie and Great Gatsby realness. Enter through a door that is sneakily disguised as a bookcase and find yourself completely submerged in exactly what a bar in the 1930’s should feel like, hidden!
The open floor, timely music and extensive cocktail menu create an immersive and unforgettable experience! Old books, antique figurines, signs and even a swing fills the bar and truly make it a sight to be seen!
Sophisticated and lively, Mathers always has your back when it comes to crowd pleaser cocktails and live entertainment like burlesque shows and live music. Set the scene with the milk and cookies, definitely different..2 warm chocolate chip cookies, a glass of milk and a shot of whiskey! Indulge in happy hour from 4-7pm every week!
Tori Tori
Those who have brought you the Japanese inspired dishes of Domu in East End Market, have now brought you a traditional social bar Tori Tori. Even though it’s easier to find than the others I mentioned, the function overall is a match! The prices are amazing and the variety is there as well, which is getting harder to find now! No matter the current diet, Tori Tori has both meat, seafood, and vegetarian options. There’s no dining room, per say, it’s an open floor plan where any food ordered will be brought to you! The portions are smaller due to it being more of a bar than a restaurant with sake and other signature drinks more in demand here!
Yet another take on Asian Fusion, this bar is a step into paradise. Order a hilariously named “Go cry in the Walk-in”, tip your bartender and catch up with everyone! This is a must go in Orlando for effervescent drinks and bar bites.
Posted by The Orlando Real on
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