My wife and I stopped by with our three friends about 8pm on Saturday night. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised by the nice ambiance and decor with what looked like a copper top ceiling, a main bar, a few raised tables and 2 cozy leather chairs that made me think of enjoying a nice after dinner bourbon in the study of an late 19th to early 20th century study of a business tycoon or politician from that time period.. The bar tender, Noah, was impressive and friendly in that he knew his liquor stock very well, and could explain the flavor intricacies of the various types of bourbon, vodka, and gins. They also offer some non,-alcoholic beverages for the "designated driver" of the group too. We watched Noah make everything from regular and "dirty martinis" with fresh ingredients, as well as one drink where he used a butane lighter and some tiny cedar chips in a straining tool above the drink to give it a fresh, authentic smoky look and flavor. Noah knows his stuff!!!!! The patrons were friendly, diverse, and easy to socialize with if you chose to do so. The establishment is pet friendly for "socialized pets" with a water bowl outside the establishment and some free Milkbone treats inside. Keep in mind that this establishment is a "tasting room" with the majority of products from the New Scotland Distillery, but there are other options. Just don't expect to get a Bud Light Draft or food here. The only downside is that parking in the Lark Steet and State Street location is difficult to obtain without some effort, but we managed to park our vehicles 2 blocks away. This is not a direct criticism of the establishment because the experience is well worth this minor potential inconvenience. We would definitely go back there again, especially for the specialty drinks or the flights and half flights of their bourbon and vodka products. Thank you once again, Noah, for a pleasant and educational evening!!!

Greeted by lush greenery, and gently splashing fountain at the door- a few steps down into a wood…read moreand leather light filled cozy retreat. The greenery continues inside with plants adorning a large picture window. Every surface gleams and the place smells fresh and clean... The bathroom is impeccably spotless. Classy attention to detail is the order of the day at New Scotland spirits tasting room. Our bartender, Noah, was welcoming and knowledgeable and our drinks were delicious. We will definitely be back.

In from ATL on business, I've found myself at Da Joint twice in the past week. They have a nice…read moresetup with couches and comfy chairs to sit in. A handful of flat screens spread out around the place, and numerous tables are available if you are trying to use a laptop. Lots of variety in terms of hookah flavors and the service was very friendly.

They play fire Punjabi/desi music (even the new r&b releases)!…read moreThe person who works here was super chill - made us his special chai, gave us a board game, and kept us in the loop~ Never a bad idea to end the night with a laid back hookah lounge :)

It's closed. Permanently. It's showing as open on maps. It's not. It's gutted. Permanently closed.read more

With limited info on the website, it was tricky to figure out how this place "works" so I'll share…read morefor all here. The cigar lounge has a small but quality selection of cigars for purchase. Perdomo, Fuente (chateau line), Padron 1926 and 1964, etc. Average cigars go for $25, and mid- to top-tier go up from there. Currently in April '23 there's no other charge, but they do have lockers that you can rent through membership which allows you to bring your own cigars and stash a small bottle or two. There is no alcohol or other service, it's just a lounge. It's large, spread across three floors with a restroom on each level. Lots of comfy seating, large TVs available, and would be great for a group to hang out and converse. Very quiet on a Friday night. Had the second floor to ourselves, and a group had the upper floor. Can definitely recommend - it's great to have a spot like this in Albany.

This is a review of only the cocktail lounge. Friends from out of town were staying in the…read morecarriage house behind the hotel and we agreed to gather in the lounge for a drink or two. The building itself is impressive, although maybe not quite as impressive as the castle-looking building next door. Our party of seven settled in at the bar as there otherwise did not seem to be a large enough table for all of us to gather around in either the main lounge area or a small room off to the side. The dark wood paneled walls, large fireplace, assortment of easy chairs, couches, and high desktop table gave off a feeling of warmth and welcoming. The friendly bartender introduced herself (sorry I've forgotten her name) and informed us that spirit-wise, the bar was capable of preparing the standard, traditional drinks like Manhattans, martinis, etc. All beers were poured from cans, and at my request, she recited the names of about six that were available. I don't believe anyone in our party inquired about the wines that were available. The building simply calls out for an explanation of its history. Upon our request, the bartender offered to provide either the "brief" or "full" option. We requested the full history. She was obviously well up to the task. You would be amazed at the variety of things you could learn here. Just to touch on a few key topics that were mentioned, consider Alexander Hamilton's wife, puffed rice, Bab-o cleanser (cue up the jingle), Bishop Gibbons, and an orthopedic surgeon. I don't know what the normal food arrangements are in the Lounge. I'm guessing that our out-of-town hosts requested some snacks for us as a few bowls appeared with mixed nuts, crackers and cheese, fresh grapes, humus, and warm pretzel/croissant rolls, and a plate of prosciutto wrapped cream cheese. Overall, the atmosphere here is simply friendly and inviting. I think it will become an occasional gathering place for our local friends when looking for a place that is quiet and relaxing.

A beautiful boutique hotel it just had its grand reopening last week! It's absolutely gorgeous…read more If not for attending an event here last evening I would have missed this slice of architectural heaven! The owners have renovated it with great care. The rooms are furnished with just the right amount of furniture allowing the room to feel light and airy. Each room is designed with the right amount of seating for flow and multiple conversation points without anyone feeling crowded or being interrupted by another conversation. Although the rooms have dark paneling the large windows and French doors allow for an abundance of light. The backyard is lovely and flows into Washington Park! Imagine having a whole park as your backyard!! I would love to come back for a stay!

Came here for drinks after dinner and the vibes were really pleasant - they have a nice outdoor…read morearea and we sat in the seats up the stairs in their little courtyard. We came when it was still relatively empty so there were no issues in getting a table for a large group of us. Drinks were good and reasonably priced - they also came out fast. Overall, I thought this spot was pretty solid. Great spot to chill and just get a drink - thanks, The Night Owl!

Good vibes always. Been coming here for a few years and the staff is the best. It's safe,…read morewelcoming, and so much fun. The food is DELICIOUS! You get a little bit of everything here: dancing, indoor and outdoor bar and lounge seating, food, and even live music many nights. I recommend this to so many people. They always take care of their patrons which can't always be said about a lot of places downtown. Alex, and the rest of the staff. So incredibly friendly and on top of everything. BEST place for rnb, latin music, and best club in downtown Saratoga! Me and my girls are always safe and welcomed here!

Fun place with live music Super supportive local crowd & sweet bar tenders who were equally…read moreenthusiastic & seemed into the fun & revelry the crowd was giving off. A really fun little spot! But those cocktails-wow! Some stuff I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole, but hey! Something for everyone and the names made us laugh out loud! Highly recommend the Gimme S'more! Yum-o!

Cute little cocktail style bar on Caroline St…read more Sometimes there are talented DJs on the weekends. Vibes are chill if you arrive on the earlier side of things. Gets a lot more hopping towards the evening though, as this is Caroline Street, so be aware of that fact. Bartenders are friendly from what I've encountered. Excellent spot to hang for summer "day drinking." Recommend.

After going to The Loft more times than I can count, it's officially my go-to spot when I'm out…read morewith my closest friends. The vibe is always on point, the energy is fun, and it never disappoints. The blonde bartender is hands down one of my favorites -- she's attentive, welcoming, and always makes sure we're taken care of from the first drink to last call. That kind of service makes all the difference. As for the food, I genuinely haven't had a single disappointing meal or appetizer. Everything we've tried has been solid. My favorite drink on the menu is the Espresso Martini, perfect every time. They also have a great variety of drinks, so there's something for everyone. If you're looking for a fun night out with great food, amazing drinks, and a place to actually enjoy time with your friends, this is the place. They also host a ton of events, so definitely check out their Facebook page ahead of time so you can plan your night accordingly.

The service was excellent! We went to try the girl dinner special- the food was excellent, chicken…read morewell seasoned and still moist. The cosmo made me want like ten more so great job on that! It's not exactly a deal as the chicken is a significant up charge. Prices are definitely high everywhere but for the portion sizes I think the prices are a bit higher than average. Price aside I would recommend giving it a try and bring your friends!

We had a reservation Saturday evening before visiting the Egg. The host was super duper friendly…read moreand he immediatelly brought us to a small two top in the back dining area. The wine by the glass list was limited and fifty percent was vegan. I ordered the Mosen German Reisling which is more sweet than I prefer but there were no other options. My guy ordered a brown beer on tap, i'm unsure the name. We started with appetizers crab rangoon dip with crispy delicious wonton chips. And the second mozzarella eggrolls. I would pass on the eggrolls im the future. The motz is advertised smoked but lacked a smoky flavor. The Harissa had the spice level simular to Heinz ketchup. My entree was a Cuban sandwich that did deliver some heat, well pressed with plenty of pickles. We would love to see a wider wine selection and a turn up on the spice and flavor for the appetizers.

Spending a weekend away in the Lake George / Berkshires area with the hubby and wanted to find…read moresomewhere to try, stopped in after jumping on Yelp to find somewhere close that was cute with decent food. Decided to give a try. The place is a total vibe, dont let the outside and area fool you! It had been a long day by the time we got here, did the outlets all day long and I was coming down with a cold. Ordered a ton of apps, Crab rangoon dip is GOOOOOODDDD!!!!... Ordered Calamari that apparently I didnt get a pic of, but It was good also. I think we got wings, but I truly cant remember. I got the risotto, I didnt love it but the Shrimp were delish, it had a super strong after taste flavor that I didnt love but couldnt truly put my finger on, Hubby said his pasta was good, but just needed "something". Would def go back just not sure how often we'd be in the area. Drink menu was super extensive and they were great as well. Started to feel not well and literally had to take our food to go, the waitress was soo concerned and caring, it was great, and it was no fault of the food or theirs, I think it was just whatever cold I was coming down with that kicked my ass and I felt like I was going to pass out, sorry TMI... But the response was so nice and accommodating from the staff. Def worth a try, just be patient with parking, it was slightly chaotic, or that night we just happened to encounter all the people in the are who couldnt drive in tight spaces, LOL!

What a gem. What a vibe. WHAT a cocktail menu…read more Tucked away, totally unpretentious, but with a STAGGERING, almost-unbelievable range of martinis and martini-adjacent cocktails in this fall/winter-perfect, cozy, mostly-paneled speakeasy that's also evocative of a semi-secret lobby bar of an old hotel (it's not though!) Even the music selections made it sound like prohibition era jazz standards were drifting in from another room. It manages to be simultaneously totally old school and totally hip, fancy-feeling and swanky, but also with the ease of a local watering hole... no easy feat. From t-shirts to suits, locals to newbies, it has a totally come-as-you-are, everybody's-welcome atmosphere. Even the locals made us feel at home, giving us great insight into several restaurants all less than a block or two away. Wines and beers also available, but mixology is the main act here. We were there over two separate bartender shifts, both times on a quiet Sunday late-afternoon into evening, but both gents have it all down to a science without forsaking the art of crafting a cocktail. They pushed my formerly-favorite Manhattan (at NYC's King Cole Bar, there, as much for the environs as the drink) squarely out of the top spot, and as I told our bartender after I spied a semi-hidden bottle of Chartreuse and he offered to make an off-the-menu Last Word, it was the first time I fully understood that drink. That hard-to-find liquid green-gold is in VERY good hands at 9 Maple! Perfect for date night, but also welcoming to the lone visitor in search of a PERFECTLY crafted, amply -poured cocktail. Eat before you arrive, or pop back after dinner for a nightcap. Although we were there for off-season, an outdoor courtyard hints at higher traffic when the weather's warmer and the horses are racing. And even off-season, Jazz band nights attract a crowd. This place should really be on more national Top Cocktail Bars lists. It's that good.

We had a stellar experience on 1/19. Whoever the bartender was (wish we got his name) was just…read moreperfection! We had a gin martini and a pistachio martini, both were amazing and very fair pricing as well. So happy we found this spot. It's small, but wonderful and intimate. All of the patrons were chatting with each other over drinks at the bar and we really enjoyed every moment. We even made our way back later that night for the perfect espresso martini

The Patatas Bravas were absolutely the best thing I've tasted in a long time, the flavors of the…read moresalsa verde and the aioli along with the lardon were delightful and satisfying. I very much appreciate that they didn't use cheese in this dish. You could tell the whole meal was homemade and full of flavor. Even the greens that came with my sandwich had a delicious vinaigrette with crunchy seeds and pickled red onion tossed in. I can't wait to go back to enjoy another meal!

This place was fine. We didn't realize it was a straight up bar that also serves some food. The…read moreburgers were both pretty good. Price was fine. Atmosphere was a little weird bc as stated it's a full on bar and there were lots of people at the bar and around the tables drinking, etc. Won't go back bc it wasn't our thing.