What Makes a Great Bar?

Terrific scene and a great line.

 

Less than a two-minute wait for a beer/drink.

A bartender who, when I ask for a whisky on the rocks, does not fill the fucking glass with ice.

Noise below 65 decibels.

 

Just couldn't pull the trigger.

 

There are a few things that will immediately disqualify a bar from being "great."
- live music esp. karaoke
- current video games - stuff from the 80s like Pac Man, Galaga or Operation Wolf? Bonus points.
- A name that doesn't mean anything. If your place is called Angus McGillacuddy's - there better be an Angus McGillacuddy somewhere in the bar's current or past. Named after a deceased patron? Bonus points.
- uniforms or polos on the staff.

 

"Is that clear? Or do I have to slip you my left as a convincer?"

Add to the list: a bartender like Nick...who overly uses words like "dames", "broads" and asks guys, "What are you? A fluff?" when someone orders anything other than a snifter of liquor.

 

--Bartenders who know wacky mixed drinks.
--At least a couple TVs.
--Microbrews, and not just the more common ones.
--Eclectic clientele

 

Espresso, of course!

 

Does live music kill it?

See, I like a little acoustic guitar. My favorite bar in Tampa had live music, but it was usually just one dude on guitar.

 

Anyone interested in reading a good book on "bar-bars" check out The View From Nowhere by Jim Atkinson.
http://www.amazon.com/View-Nowhere-Only-Guide-Youll/dp/0060960582

 

Reasonably priced drinks, that is more than beer and wine, with a good selection of all types of alcohol.
Bartenders who know how to mix drinks.
Bar games: Pool, darts, shuffle board and video games.
Reasonably well lit: Not too dark, not too light.
TV with sports.
Juke box music and/or a live band. No DJs and no dance floor.
Continuing from that, music can't be so loud you can't have a conversation.
Have some semblance that cleaning is at least is a word the employees are aware of.

 

A modem so you can send your story.

 

Ehh - just pull an ice cold bottle of beer out of a tub of ice, screw off the top and hand it to me. The pour wastes valuable drinking time.