To help you celebrate, we've compiled a list of the best places to grab a cocktail in Dayton and beyond. You're guaranteed a great drink to suit your taste at any of these fine establishments.
Pro Tip: When in doubt about what you should order, ask your bartender. It's hard to tell from a cocktail list how a drink will taste, so consult your local experts. They'll be able to make a top-notch recommendation on something that suits you.
Salar
400 E. Fifth St., Dayton
937-203-3999 | salarrestaurant.com
Salar, a world-fusion restaurant with with strong French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean influences, features three Signature Cocktails year round -- and a whole host of others that depend on the season and what's available.
Our faves: The spicy-sweet flavor combo of La Pasion (Bulleit Bourbon, Sandeman's Tawny Port, fresh lime, Demerara, passion fruit, fresh cilantro and chipotle chili powder) is a winner. It's warming yet fresh -- perfectly balanced, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
E. Fifth St., Dayton
937-723-7637 | lilysbistro.com | Facebook
A photo posted by Lily's Bistro (@lilysbistro) on
They've got an award-winning bartender (Amber Brady won 2015's Battle of the Bartenders) and a fantastic drink list that evolves with the seasons. Fresh ingredients and interesting twists and interpretations of classics make for really unique offerings.
Our faves: The Muses, their signature spring and summer drink, is a hit. It's light and refreshing, but beware: the booziness sneaks up on you. It's so tasty that we're okay with that. Made with Junior Johnson Strawberry Moonshine, housemade lemonade, fresh cucumber and white rock soda.
10 S. Jefferson St., Dayton
937-223-3382 | centurybourbon.com | Facebook
It's received national accolades, making such lists at "10 Best Bourbon Bars in America" (Men's Health) and Bourbon Review's "America's Best Bourbon Bars." Bourbon Review even described it as "what could be the most underrated Bourbon bar in the country, the Century Bar takes you back to 1862 with its 150-year-old back bar … It’s the sort of place every Bourbon drinker should visit at least once in his or her life.”
Our faves: Anything classic, like their famous Manhattan, is a win. The bar staff knows their bourbon, and they're schooled in the art of the cocktail. Not sure what to get? Ask a bartender. We've never been steered wrong.
515 Wayne Ave, Dayton
937-496-5268 | wheatpennydayton.com | Facebook
A photo posted by Wheat Penny Oven and Bar (@wheat_penny) on
Maybe you're surprised that a specialty pizza place makes a mean cocktail, but when you hear who's behind it, it all makes sense. Liz Valenti and Elizabeth Wiley, the geniuses behind Meadowlark, have a such great drinks that it's worth going just for that. Made with fresh ingredients and housemade sodas like ginger and lemon and house limeade, there's literally love in each sip.
Our faves: Their Whiskey Sour is quite likely the best in town.
Did we miss your favorite? Tell us about it! Comment on Facebook or drop us a line at contact@dayton.com.
About the Author