10Best: Taverns where American history's on tap
If you choose the right bar, going out for cocktails can be a cultural experience, literally offering a chance to drink in history. "Every drink has a context. When you mix that drink and you sip it, you're stepping into a moment in time," says Lesley Jacobs Solmonson, co-author with David Solmonson of 12 Bottle Bar (Workman, $14.95), inspired by their popular blog 12bottlebar.com. They share some favorite historic watering holes with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
21 Club
New York
This Prohibition-era speakeasy had an elaborate system of levers to hide the bar shelves and tip incriminating liquor bottles into the sewer in case of a raid. "It was like out of the Keystone Cops," David says. But its fame doesn't stop there. It's also where James Bond lingered over a Stinger (brandy and white crème de menthe) with Tiffany Case in the novel Diamonds are Forever. 212-582-7200; 21club.com
City Tavern
Philadelphia
Talk about celebrity guests. When you step up to the bar at this spot in the landmark building, you're following in the footsteps of John Adams, Paul Revere and George Washington. You can even order a colonial drink, a City Tavern Shrub, a mixture of fruit, sugar, and vinegar, topped with champagne. "Incredibly influential people that we all learned about in school were drinking these things," Lesley says. 215-413-1443; citytavern.com
Bell in Hand
Boston
Town crier Jimmy Wilson took his bar's name from his former profession – he indeed held a bell in hand. He wouldn't serve hard liquor when he opened shop in 1795. Instead patrons stopped by this spot near Faneuil Hall for ale. "That's where Daniel Webster used to drop in to drink," Lesley says. "You feel that history. It's very exciting." 617-227-2098; bellinhand.com
The Horse You Came In On
Baltimore
Dating to 1775, this bar claims to be America's oldest saloon, but its most famous patron didn't stop by until more than a half-century later. It's said that this is where horror novelist Edgar Allan Poe drank his last drink. "There's a haunted history to it. A lot of people insist that there's a ghost called Edgar who walks the halls," Lesley says. 410-327-8111; thehorsebaltimore.com
The Green Mill
Chicago
What better place to throw back a drink than at one of mobster Al Capone's hangouts? The original rum-runner favored this speakeasy, which dates to 1907, because he could sit with a view of the entire bar and quickly escape into a tunnel to elude police. "It's now a music venue, but it has great history. And it still has Capone's favorite booth," Lesley says. 773-878-5552; greenmilljazz.com
Sazerac Bar
New Orleans
It's hard to pick just one historic bar in New Orleans, David says. "As a city, it's really the heart and soul of the American cocktail." But he likes this watering hole at the Roosevelt Hotel, which dates to 1893. Former Louisiana governor and presidential hopeful Huey P. Long often stopped by for a Ramos Gin Fizz. There's even a hole in the wall where one of Long's body guards accidentally discharged his gun. 504-648-1200; therooseveltneworleans.com
Sloppy Joe's
Key West
While it's now a tourist favorite, there's no denying the authenticity of Hemingway's favorite bar, which opened on Dec. 5, 1933, the day Prohibition was repealed. "If you want to have a daiquiri and drink like Papa, that's the place to go," David says. The Pulitzer Prize-winner ordered the rum-based Papa Doble, which is still on the menu. 305-294-5717; sloppyjoes.com
Palace Hotel Saloon
Prescott, Ariz.
This Wild West tavern opened in 1877, and soon attracted regulars like Wyatt and Virgil Earp, as well as Doc Holliday, of O.K. Corral fame. "It's a place you want to come in and slap your hand on the bar and say 'Give me a rye'," David says. "You get that sense of history, the authenticity, the creakiness of the boards, and all that adds to the flavor of the drinks." 928-541-1996; historicpalace.com
Tiki Ti
Los Angeles
Drinkers worldwide can thank California for popularizing the tiki bar, and this 1961 spot is one of the originals. "L.A.'s contribution to cocktail history is the tiki drink," David says. The bar's Zombie is probably the most authentic served anywhere. 323-669-9381; tiki-ti.com
Buena Vista Café
San Francisco
This 1952 bar owes its fame to one drink: Irish coffee. The owner sought to replicate the version he had sampled at Ireland's Shannon Airport, and customers have been flocking in ever since. "You're setting foot where every single Irish ex-pat or any want-to-be Irishman or woman has gone," Lesley says. "On St. Patrick's, it's an absolute mob scene." 415-474-5044; thebuenavista.com