3 Cocktails Bars in Downtown Providence
When we think about a night out in Providence, cocktails often come to mind. Whether they are garnished with a sprig of mojito mint, topped with a dried slice of citrus, or layered with coconut cream, we are all about fancy drinks. If you’re planning your next date night or get together with friends, here are three cocktail bars we love in downtown Providence, RI. (Plus: a restaurant that is serving something special this season!)
1. CLEMENTINE COCKTAIL BAR
“Kiss of a Rose” at Clementine (Photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)
We’ll kick off this cocktail bar roundup with the newest kid on the block: Clementine Cocktail Bar! Clementine was opened on Washington Street in October 2022 by owner, Congressman, and former Mayor of Providence David N. Cicilline. With 16 seats total, the tiny bar has been making a big splash on the local food scene ever since. We think the bar is perfect for an elegant date (especially with the chandelier overhead) or a cool, casual catch up with a friend or two.
Each of the cocktails on the menu are stunning and colorful. The house cocktail, called the “Clementine Fizz,” is a gorgeous combination of clementine peel infused tequila, citrus sherbet, egg white, and more. Some of our favorite cocktails include the blushing pink “Kiss of a Rose” (vodka, sake, and rose cordial?? Yes, please) and the show stopping, smoky “21 Light Houses.” Cocktails are prone to rotation, so view the menu here.
2. THE DEAN BAR
“Mango Caipirinha” at The Dean Bar (Photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)
If you’re looking for a romantic, speakeasy-esque setting, then we cannot recommend The Dean Bar more highly. The bar—located within The Dean Hotel on Fountain Street—is dimly lit by lamps and wall sconces, and boasts both fun bar seating and the more expansive couch seating alongside the edge of the room. The Dean Bar feels intimate and transportive- almost as if the world has fallen away and it’s just you and whoever you’re drinking with.
The menu ranges from classics—such as the “Espresso Martini”—to mocktails to originals. We’re especially enchanted with “The Daisy” (since lemon and evoo is a match made in heaven), and the “Mango Caipirinha.” The Mango Caipirinha is a tropical cocktail that transports us to somewhere on the beach through the flavors of rum, mango, lime, and mezcal. Cocktails may change, so view the menu here.
3. THE EDDY BAR
“Gentian Pilot” and the “Chainonara” at The Eddy Bar (Photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)
It would be hard to make a list of our favorite cocktail bars in downtown Providence without including The Eddy Bar! Located—surprise, surprise—on Eddy Street, this bar is a staple for excellent drinks and cozy, classy vibes. Visitors can choose their own adventure (if they arrive early) by sitting at the bar, at tables near the windows, in cozy booths in the back, or standing at high tables along the edge of the room. We love the wood paneling and larger than life paintings on the walls.
When it comes to sipping, you can’t go wrong. We recently tried the “Chainonara” and were swept away by the taste of rum, banana, coconut, and chai spice. The “Gentian Pilot” also flew us to new places- what’s not to like about sherry, amaro, cinnamon and an assortment of fruits? If you want to live on the wild side, the House Punch changes daily (but it is consistently delicious). Because cocktails can be seasonal, we recommend checking the drinks menu here.
BONUS: GRACIE’S
“Linen” at Gracie’s (Photo by Abigail Clarkin for InDowncity)
Since we just caught word that Gracie’s has a brand new spring cocktail menu, we simply had to include them in our roundup! Gracie’s—located on Aborn Street—is a fine dining restaurant known for its five to seven course tasting menus and excellent wine pairings. This season, we’d like to turn your attention to their gorgeous cocktails, too. Often if we’re not feeling quite up to sitting down to a full meal at Gracie’s, we’ll take a seat at the bar instead.
Their new cocktails are creatively inspired by different fabrics, from buffalo check to linen to cashmere. We are especially enamored with the “Linen” cocktail; it’s silky, smooth, and made with rum, angostura, coconut milk, and fruits. Proceed with caution, though: we wanted to wrap ourselves up in the flavors of the “Cashmere” cocktail. The rosemary infused gin! The bergamot liqueur! The egg white! It’s all very elegant.
Whichever cocktail bar or restaurant you end up visiting, we hope you have a magical night out while sipping some of our favorite drinks.
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