As soon as you step into the Social Lounge, you’ll feel like you’ve wandered back in time. Plush leather booths greet you at the entrance, while impressive paintings of men and women from the ’20s loom large on the walls. Keep walking, and you’ll reach the modernized concrete bar, replete with leather bar stools and a wall of alcohol.
Of course, the Social Lounge can’t contain all its awesomeness to one floor. There’s also a rooftop bar that we absolutely love, as it provides great views of the local neighborhood. While there’s just room for a few tables, the atmosphere is chill and inviting, making it perfect for sipping your drinks with a group of friends. Gather at one of the round tables and watch the sunset in the distance.
There’s even yoga on the rooftop every Sunday at 10 a.m., which is a great way to connect with your body. Afterwards, you can then pig out on the weekend brunch specials, which are available both Saturday and Sunday.
If yoga isn’t your style, you might appreciate the live local music every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 p.m. Generally, the bar releases the schedule for the entire month at once, so you can make your plans accordingly.
Other than brunch, the Social Lounge mainly serves up late-night snacks and entrees to accompany their potent libations. This keeps the main focus on their drinks, which is the reason most people stop by.
Some of our favorite cocktails served at the Social Lounge include:
Mule Kick
If you’re a fan of regular Moscow Mules, you’ll love this take on the traditional drink, as it kicks things up a notch. Blanco tequila, ginger, agave, lemon, jalapeno, and Devil’s Foot Ginger Brew combine to create one spicy and aromatic beverage.
Garden of Padua
Who doesn’t love a bit of sparkle in their cocktail? Garden of Padua has plenty of it thanks to the sparkling wine the bartenders add to each glass. In addition, they use lemon, hibiscus peppercorn syrup, gin, and Aperol to craft a cocktail you won’t soon forget.
Ward Eight
Branded as one of the Social Lounge’s classic cocktails, the Ward Eight has a simple premise: lemon, pomegranate reduction, and orange combined with a serving of George Dickel Rye Whisky. The result is a fruity yet potent concoction that’s perfect for sipping.
Erato
The Erato continues with the fruity trend, combining house-infused tangerine vodka with a pomegranate reduction and orange flower water. For an extra kick, the bartender also adds a pinch of cinnamon to round out the full palate of flavors.
Coffee Negroni
Feeling a bit drained? The Coffee Negroni should perk you right up. It’s crafted using house-infused coffee rum, chocolate bitters, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Basically, it’s like your classic sugary coffee drink, but more alcoholic and delicious.
In addition to cocktails, the Social Lounge also serves up a wide range of beer and wine options. They have eight rotating beer taps featuring brews from across the region, as well as a healthy bottle selection.
As for wine, you’ll have the choice of either sparkling, white, rose, red, or fortified variants. No matter what you choose to drink, you’re guaranteed to have a blast chilling at this posh downtown bar.
Insider Tips:
-Keep in mind that the rooftop patio is reservable, so it’s often booked for bachelorette parties. If you’re set on enjoying your drinks in the moonlight, call ahead to make sure the area is available.
-Additionally, you may want to plan your visit based on the bar’s daily deals, which run Sunday through Thursday. For example, Monday is $5 well drinks and Wednesday is $5 glasses of wine.