If your ’90s-era youth involved a lot of Weezer and Doc Martens boots, you likely dreamed of drinking in a place like this: retro vinyl couches, servers clad in semi-ironic Goodwill sweaters, baroque chandeliers emitting a moody glow. For all of Sidebar’s proto-hipster sensibilities, cocktails are upscale and feel very contemporary; despite oddball names like the (bourbon-based) Scrindler and the Crescent City Sabotage (a Sazerac variation with gin and ginger liqueur), they’re rooted in classical recipes and always carefully wrought. Back to the 1990s: Most cost just $10. Insider tip: Sop up the spirits with some of the best bar snacks around. We love the Chicago-style dog and grilled-seaweed-sprinkled popcorn. Open Monday through Saturday.









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