Martini BarsHere is a list of reviews from around the Country CaliforniaLos AngelesHooray for Hollywood!! Skybar Musso & Frank San Francisco
Heaven in an Alley... A little hard to find, even for our experienced local limo driver, but worth the adventure! A little piece of heaven in an alley...And that Andrew must be an angel...what a bartender. I forgot to ask him the meaning of life, but after that martini I think I know the answer. I couldn't have made it better myself. Belvedere, mist of vermouth, 2 olives. Mmmmm 4 stars, 5 martinis. FANTASTIC. Don't miss this place if you're in the hood. Thanks, Martini Mic & Martiniworld.com. And then some...
Everything I'd hoped for. What a refreshing experience! It was everything I'd hoped! The staff was friendly, courteous & just down to earth guys! The martini was puuuurrfect. We really enjoyed stopping on our honeymoon. They even bought us a mystery drink to celebrate. 4 stars, 4 martinis, fantastic! Thanks from Martini Mic & Martiniworld.com. And then some... Top of the Mark Closed moments before we arrived because the Mayor wore them out! Looked nice & had friendly staff. I would have loved a martini... :(
Great Potato Chips... As far as great martinis go...this isn't one of them! Eeeease up on the vermouth. Ugh, I almost died. And what kind of vodka was that? Nice wait staff. Great cosmo. Lobster sold out, great Ahi sandwich though. If I owned potatochip.com they'd get a 5 chip rating, but I own martiniworld.com and they get a 2 martini rating out of 4. Martini Mic & Martiniworld.com. Pied Piper Great Painting Great painting...that's all. What I want to know is who peed in the bartender's cheerios? What a horrible person he was. I was wearing my best suit with a bulging money clip and was ever so polite. The martini sucked so bad I didn't even drink it. I have no idea what he put in it besides the bottle of vermouth. I will never go back again. I DID however leave a nice tip and heard him down the hall yell "thanks" after I was gone. And then some... LouisianaNew Orleans
The crown jewel of New Orleans Martini bars! Conveniently located in the heart of the French Quarter. I was absolutely thrilled to have made the time for Belli Baci. Belli Baci is Italian for "beautiful kiss"...and this place kissed me all over...something like that. I know there's a complimentary joke in there somewhere. Owner and Chef Duke LoCicero opened Cafe Giovanni years ago, but only recently renovated the lounge. I couldn't have time this better evidently. It reminded me of my bedroom meets my lounge. Deep red walls, black leather, sophisticated and comfortable all around, and very romantic. Let's back up the beginning of my adventure at Belli Baci. It appeared packed when I arrived, but the friendly doorman assured me there was seating and the majority was waiting for tables in the restaurant. Si. Busy as the bar area was...Jennifer the Bar Manager served me right away. She was great! She is also the catering director, and Office Manager incidentally. They are working on a Martini menu, but have lots of recipes in their heads for now. They offer a 3 course "Martini Flight" that should definitely have you flying. I made it through take off, but had to stop at two! Remember, Frank Sinatra said "Martinis are like breasts...3 is too many and 1 is not enough". The prices were very good and the drinks were perfect. All the freshest ingredients and TLC go into every cocktail. Back to the staff...everyone was just wonderful. Jennifer, Brandy-bartender on next shift, and Duke were very nice. Chef Duke came out to meet you and treated me to some of his fine cuisine. This was the best food I had my whole trip! Spicy Grits and Shrimp. Fried grit cake with shrimp and a spicy Creole cream sauce. Oysters Giovanni...Multi award winning appetizer of lightly friend Louisiana oysters. Served with five special sauces in a beautiful presentation. Hmmm...what were the sauces? This is a test. This was some of the most heavenly food I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. I will visit every time I'm in town for sure. I highly recommend you do too! Ciao.
Very nice Martini Bistro indeed. I arrived around 7 pm to The Bombay Club Restaurant and Martini Bistro. I was about an hour too early for the piano player. Very cool, upscale atmosphere, quiet and relaxing. Reminded me of clubhouse at country clubs. They had a huge Martini menu on hand at the bar. They boast over 115 different Martinis! Also, an extensive scotch menu that varied in price from $6-$12 per selection. Gina, the Beverage Manager, was fast and friendly. I ordered my usual...dirty Ketel, extra dry. It was big and delicious with two olives on a pick. OH! The olive juice came on the side in a little carafe! I thought it was very cool and sophisticated. Average Martini price appears to be $10. I sort of wanted to try the Calamari, but there appeared to be some sort of party on the other side of the bar that monopolized the service at the time. I chatted with some tourists that were sipping some delicious looking flavored martinis. They agreed they were indeed delicious. Dress code...jacket preferred on gentleman. Overall I enjoyed my visit and would probably stop there every day after work if I were a local. Muriel's Jackson Square This was one of my first stops in New Orleans. Muriel's overlooks Jackson Square, off the middle of Bourbon St. My destination was the Séance Bar, with it's haunted history I had read about. Everyone's so friendly in New Orleans! I hung out with some locals and the bartender was soon buying us shots of Green Chartreuse... mistake! I recall, after much prodding, that the bartender said "ghosts are for tourists". He watched my seat, when I headed for the restroom, by placing some Muriel's matches on my smokes... nice touch. It was a very cool looking place, but I saw no spirits other those I imbibed. I was served an excellent Martini that was huge and inexpensive at $7. I had a great time and will always have fond, yet fuzzy, memories of Muriel's Jackson Square and the Séance Lounge.
Woohoo! I stayed at Hotel Monteleone this trip, and good thing too. This was my last stop on my first day. Very cool place with their revolving bar that looks like...Yes! You guessed it...a carousel. I believe the bartender was named Marvin. I was so tipsy at this point that I probably asked him 5 times. Matter of fact, I was so tipsy I didn't know the bar was revolving at first! I can hardly read my notes, and am surprised I didn't fall off the bar. They had good snacks and even better Martinis. I may or may not have had two Martinis. After extra "dirty" they met my filthy standards. They were a little busy and could have been more attentive to my needs. I'll be back as I loved this hotel so much in general. I'll give them a 3 out of 5 martini rating today. Cheers! New MexicoAlbuquerque
Monte Vista Fire Station THE perfect-in-between for these reviews...If I had to choose to start in the afternoon and stay into the night, this is the place! The upstairs opens at 3 to quench that mid-afternoon thirst. Monte Vista Fire Station is a historic building that was, guess, a fire station in 1936. Located in Nob Hill district on historic Route 66, it is a great location for people watching. Elegant decor punctuates your cozy bar trek. Step outside to the upstairs patio at sunset for some fresh air and nightly appetizer specials. Winter? There is an outdoor fireplace and overhead heating system, if your cocktail is no keeping you warm enough. And, to my delight, they have begun making the patio a Tiki Bar on Tuesday night! Tiki Fridays are coming soon as well I am told. On to the staff...Andrew the bartender...GREAT! What a nice guy, and excellent bartender. It's like getting together with old friends for a drink! The entire wait staff has always been friendly and efficient. Lori is a sweetheart who can also whip up some interesting "experimental" drinks. Ask her for a "Purple-Saurus Rex"! Copper Lounge Ahhh...my perfect idea of a joint to hang out in on a weekday afternoon when playing hooky from work or school. Cushy leather booths, Sinatra, very dim lights, very cool drinks. Monty the bartender is very personable and skilled in his profession. With many of your favorite Vodkas & Gins on hand, there is something for everyone here.
Let’s start with the upstairs bar prior to the downstairs “Cellar Bar” opening at 5. Down to the cellar! Downstairs is more the lounge area. Upstairs is the main restaurant. I so love a good dark cellar & some cocktails. Very hip settings for the hip crowd. Stacy & Abraham served me a “Square One Classic”, dirty. Last of the stash… ever. Fantastic drink. I want more. For the ladies? Caramel Appletini. Very Caramel Appley… what can I say? Next, we were joined by friends and so we moved to some tables. Our waitress Jessica served us up good times, good food, and good drinks. “Grape Lemonade Martini” was grapey & delicious. This drink could get you in a trouble on a hot summer afternoon. “French 75” was Gin & Lemonade shaken cold and served with a Champagne float. Not my usual taste but sounded good & it was delicious. We also tried a “Madras” which consists of Vodka, Cran & OJ. I not only go here for the Martinis but the Cellar Happy Hour Food Specials. Seared Ahi, Crispy Duck Confit Egg rolls, homemade potato chips with homemade onion dip, and more will have you as hooked as the drinks. Still hungry? Head upstairs for dinner. Also, Monday is “Martini Night” with a list of $5 (all night) specialty martinis. I have grown quite fond of you Zinc. Don’t ever leave me.
Elegant, sophisticated, unique...there's a start. I would think that anyone with common sense could tell the difference between this lounge and the floor lounge (Tlur P'a) which features live entertainment. This is an oasis from the madness of the gaming floor. When you enter Bien Shur, which incidentally used to be their upscale restaurant, you know you are in the right place. I felt like an Aztec God circa 2005...being server my magic elixir of luck. Stone work and very high ceilings, candlelight, a Kiva fireplace, leather, pretty soundproof doors...a true palace. So, let's talk about the impeccable service...served up by a very friendly and informative staff. Denny, the Friday night bartender, puts a lot of other bartenders (in other bars) to shame. What a great bartender! Denny is always friendly, fast, well mannered, knowledgeable, and makes a perfect drink every time. The wait staff will never leave you hanging either. They do have food, despite this not being a "restaurant" anymore. The food I have had has always been wonderful. I am always partial to Calamari, and they did not let me down. There are huge bowls of a great snack mix if you're just making a quick pit stop. Drinks, drinks, drinks! Prices are below average. $7.50-$8.50 for the fancier Martinis. Martini menu is split into two categories....hot and cold. Cold includes such things as "Michelle and Victoria's Secret", "The exquisite Blend", "Original Sin", and a "Vanilla Martini", and five other delicious martinis. The warm section is Dessert Martinis such as "Toffee Time", and "Jungle Kiss". I really couldn't decide on a favorite! I will just have to keep going back, and I urge you to visit often as well. Matter of fact, I am so in love with Bien Shur that I am interested in having them co-sponsor a MartiniWorld! Cocktail Party..."call me". Thanks Sandia, Bien Shur, and Denny! Santa Fe
NevadaLas Vegas
I am happy to replace our last “non-review” of Ghostbar from years ago! Like a magical adventure to sophisticated Loungeworld I was whisked away first in daydreams and then in reality. We were served fantastically by Lindsey and Shannon in their hot space chick outfits. Well… white, with boots and all…no helmets. Lindsey knew to ask if we wanted Tuaca chilled or warmed! I was building up to martinis. Their signature drink, The Ghostini, arrived like an event I had tickets for. The Ghostini features a plastic glow-in-the-dark ghost on the rim. Absolut, Midori, and sour make up this delicious concoction. The mood? The beautiful people… guests and staff were happy to be here. The music wasn’t annoyingly loud. There were flat screens around with seductive imagery. Outdoors there was room (early) to move around & speak with staff and guests. There were benches and little tables to hang out at, no charge. I’m gonna have to give this a 5 martini rating and take my hat off to The Maloofs. I would definitely hang out here again. Next time I will stay much longer. And finally, thank you to Michael Bedrick, Attila Pal, and Julie Cane at The N9NE Group for their gracious hospitality. See you again soon!  Little Buddha Located at The Palms, Las Vegas, NV 07/28/2007 Visit the website My adventure to Little Buddha began with contacting Shelly Galloway, General Manager. Shelly made sure our trip was perfect. Little Buddha Restaurant and Sushi Bar is exotic, flavorful, totally unique and grand. I want to live here! You know you're in for something special even as you approach the huge wooden doors at the entrance. We were greeted by Shelly and her lovely staff. Then we stepped into Nirvana, the highest happiness. First there is a bar within the restaurant with little rivers through the counter tops! Where one grand statement would do it anywhere else... there was TWO of everything. Giganto Buddha(yes, not so little), chandeliers, etc. And the railings have these chunky wooden beads that turn. The art pieces were magnificent. The French-owned "living area", as owners George V Restauration Group describe it on their website, serves Pacific Rim cuisine along with Chinese, and Sushi. Where to begin? Drinks? Yes, please. Fria, our waitress, started our party of 3 off with Saketinis. Their Saketini consists of Raspberry Sake, Absolut Vodka, Red Bull, and a cucumber garnish.I could have drank these all night. Maybe next time! Next we sampled a Tropical Fusion Martini which is Absolut, Peach Schnapps, Triple Sec, Sweet and Sour, OJ and Papaya juice garnished with fruit wedges. Woo! Sounds like quite a concoction huh? You should try one, it tastes as good as it sounds. Next... "China Girl"... the drink. I don't see this on their online menu, nor do I recall what was in it, so it must have been good! And finally a "Sake Pom"?...yes, not Palm... also mysteriously absent from the online menu, ummm, I think I was losing the ability to write at this point. Aaaaaand food. Although there is an extensive appetizer menu with everything from Lobster Cakes to Potstickers, I needed Sushi fast. My personal faves were both available! Spider Rolls! Not made of spiders, but fried soft shell crab. And Duck Eggrolls, featuring you guessed it... duck. Fabulous, really, I could eat these and drink Saketinis all night here. Main courses consisted of large platters which we could all share. Chinese Orange Chicken, Chicken Chow Mein, and "Shrimp w. Scallops, Glass Noodles, Thai Curry Sauce" knocked us out! This was the best Chinese Orange Chicken I have ever had. The Chow Mein was well above ordinary. The Shrimp/Scallop plate was very unique and delicious, maybe even our favorite. I will have to go back to attempt making a decision. It was all perfectly prepared and served. There was no way we could finish all of it with these generous servings. When the bill came, I didn't have a complete heart attack either. One thing I noticed about Little Buddha was that everybody was happy and smiling! There was no detail left unturned here! Check out the photo gallery and menus on their website, or better yet, check out Little Buddha in person for dinner! Open daily from 5:30 PM , reservations required. Martini World! Approved. 5 Martinis. Cheers! Located at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas, NV 07/28/2007 Visit the website Well, I have been putting this off long enough. Has PURE gotten too big for its britches? That sounds dirty huh? I don't remember it being this insanely crowded, and I mean starting at least an hour before they open there was this unruly mob outside. I would first like to thank Matt Marinucci, Account Coordinator for PURE from the PR firm of Kirvin Doak, for his efforts. He could not have foreseen that there would be absolutely nowhere comfortable to hang in this entire club if you didn't pay $1000 for a table to sit at. Right? Yes, "Saturday is a 2 bottle minimum and tip which equals $1000." I was told by the reservation line after no one replied to my lengthy online reservation form. Better yet hotline guy say's "make some friends and call back", click. I can afford it. I just didn't plan on drinking 2 entire bottles of booze or staying all night. Oh, and people usually seat me to write their review! I know its Saturday night, there are reservations, this is how we keep the peasants out, but I always borrowed a table before! What reeeaaally pissed me off were the still empty tables I spied on my way out just after midnight. If you don't want to be comfortable & are looking to sweat the bad juju out, this is the place. Back to the mob and many more thanks. David the Security Manager, Michael at the ropes, Joe Gonzales the GM, Dave Garza my bartender... does this sound like the Academy Awards? All friendly, helpful, hard working guys doing their jobs and bravo I say. Where was the "Director of Operations" I thought was going to answer all my questions? Not important enough, the press. Maybe Criss Angel made him disappear. Where was my tour? Where was the Martini Menu? Where is my signal that the terrace was opening? No one had an answer to any of these questions. They have filled the entire terrace with tables now and there is barely room to squeeze your way to the bar. Do not think you can stand up here to gaze at the view of the strip... they will move you. I never did see the Red Room again either. I sure was thirsty for a 3rd drink at this point, but not up here. Back in to the air conditioning? So let's talk about drinks. I actually had a pretty good drink. I had a Bellini at the direction of our bartender when we first arrived. I stood at a bar because they have purposely removed all the stools to prevent losing $ on unpaid tush parking. A true Bellini is a refreshing drink made with Sparkling Wine and Peach Puree. Our Bellini was "Tyku", a Saki infused liqueur mixed with pineapple. And yes, they had a fine, yet minimal, selection of Vodka; Stoli, Chopin, Grey Goose, Level, Effen, Absolut, and Skyy. But do not ask for water on the side because they "are not permitted to serve tap water". Small bottle of water= $8., 1 Martini and a Miller Light=$24., table with $40 worth of booze=$1000., the look on their faces when they see this review= priceless.
Martini Mike and Voodoo Lounge hit it off immediately. I like Voodoo and I like martinis…so there. Alec Cox is a bartending God… I did not promise him I’d say that! He was spinning and dancing and shaking up these potions when I arrived at the indoor bar. He made me a “Love Spell” with Van Gogh, Pomegranate, and Cointreau. I now love Voodoo Lounge. I hope the other lounges aren’t jealous. That was a fantastic start to my night. I dropped him my card and continued to their multi-level outdoors area. I’ll be back for more as they corral me back towards the exit at closing. Outside, on the edge of the world, there are go-go dancers hovering high above the city on their perches. Sexy and sweet were the girls of Voodoo lounge. Ooh lala. On to the bar! Next bartender up to bat… Chicago’s own Johnny Foster… Chicago the city, not the band. Dirty Ketel, extra dry… hell yes! Perfecto. Johnny later passed my “invent something for me” test for the bored. Citron, Sour, White Cran, and a wedge if I recall. Next I was greeted by Jeff Merlino the manager who welcomed me rather than tossing me over the side. Thanks again Jeff. They treated me well until closing. My steadily more illegible notes indicate he was “cool as hell”. Everybody was so friendly here, having fun, being themselves. It was a really fun place to hang out and just party. Just off the strip and just right …I dig it. 5 martinis and a mojo bag to you!
Just a baby in the Vegas club scene PCD opened a few months agao. It is within PURE nightclub at Caesar's Palace. The club has many celebrity fans and investors' such as Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Celine Dion, and Shaq. Their opening included a whip wielding Eva Longoria I am told. This place can't lose! I was immediately drawn to the club for it's black leather and sexy vixens...it reminded me of home. Our saucy hostess, Lynneve, was no exception. She was also delightful and gave us great service. Matt Minichino you are a lucky man! And thank you for your warm hospitality. Music! I personally loved the eclectic mix of music they played in here. We went from rock such as Green Day or Violent Femmes to 80's dance music. Drinks! My "Dirty Kitty" was puuuuurrrrfect with Level Vodka and blue cheese olives. We also had the ever popular "Pussycat" which consists of Absolut Mandarin, Apple Pucker, Peach Schnapps, fresh sour, splash of Cran and it was awesome. Girls! About 9:30 sexy girls in lingerie mounted swings over the entrance and just sort "hung around". 10:00 the show begins! "Tainted Love", bathtub, swings, stage, singing and dancing...wow!! This was 1 of 7 numbers for the night. Very very cool and sexy, and the lead could really sing! I almost forgot the decor. Very cool. Candlelight and roses, fake Nambe from Pottery Barn. I love PCD. 5 Martinis!
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