re: What are the characteristics of a good bar?

Of course, good beer is always welcome

And I was at Finn's looking for glassman (even though I didn't find him). Everyone knows he's an old frick.

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And I was at Finn's looking for glassman (even though I didn't find him).

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I was talking to you I am pretty sure. No introduction though.

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Everyone knows he's an old frick.

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46 man and I don't look even close to that age.

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I was talking to you I am pretty sure. No introduction though.

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maybe

For me its a good draft selection (or at least bottles) at a decent price. Not too dark but I don't want to be drinking in a brightly lite room. Nonclub music not too loud (keep out the fist pumpers). Adequate seating at different table options. Attractive bartenders are not necessary but certainly they help as long as they are knowledgeable about what they are serving.

And I really hate smoky bars.

1. Good Selection (this doesnt require the bar to be nice. Le Bon Temps in NOLA is sketchy but they have a GREAT beer selection) and decently priced drinks
2. Knowledgeable, friendly bartenders
3. Good atmosphere
4. Clientele (I want to be around younger, interesting people- not old fogies with stools reserved to themselves or trash looking for a fight)

Ivar's fails 1 and 2 abysmally, and the crowd is a mix of young people and miserable people

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For me its a good draft selection (or at least bottles) at a decent price. Not too dark but I don't want to be drinking in a brightly lite room. Nonclub music not too loud (keep out the fist pumpers). Adequate seating at different table options. Attractive bartenders are not necessary but certainly they help as long as they are knowledgeable about what they are serving.

And I really hate smoky bars.

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This.

Non-smoking is at the top of my list. I was in the main bar at the Cove for about 10 minutes last night, and in the non-smoking front room for over an hour. Get out and I smell like a freaking ashtray.

I'll add to this that I love a nice patio to enjoy good weather.

The Barley Oak in Mandeville satisfies these requirements probably better than anything in Baton Rouge. Bulldog setup in Baton Rouge is perfect, but the smoke just kills it for me. I'll go and sit outside to try to get away from it, but it's even tough then. Londoner and Chimes are the default next best thing. I'd like Londoner more if I lived closer to it.

Really like the Barley Oak in Mandeville.

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I was hanging with your friend yesterday at Finn's.

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I'm assuming you're talking to me, and yea I heard, I'm jealous. Looking forward to throwing back a few dozen with yall

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As frar as the OP goes.. for me:

1) good beer/liquor selection
2) friendly/informed staff
3) TVs
4) smoking allowed
5) outside patio/balcony (a must if the place is non-smoking)

that's about all I NEED. other things that are nice to see are clean bathroom, proper ventilation, attractive bartenders, pool/darts, etc.

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I'm pretty much the same way

I don't need a great beer selection but every now and then I get in the mood to drink beer and that's a priority when choosing a place.

In no particular order....

NO blenders. You can drink it on the rocks.

Beer – Good, thoughtful selection of bottle and tap. Don’t need to go overboard on selection.

Alcohol – Wide and varied selection of good booze.

Well brands should not be swill.

NO Pucker anything.

Smoking – It’s a bar…and a free country. Smoke em if ya got em!

That said, keep the door open. Fresh air, natural light and people watching if you’re in a good location.

Unless it’s 100 degrees or 30 degrees.

Glassware – I want my cocktail in a glass. I want my beer in a pint glass. Not a fricking plastic cup. I’m not at a frat kegger. Am I?

A good jukebox. Volume at a conversational level.

NOT an internet jukebox. A barkeep should have standards for what is played in his establishment. Having some clown play a festering rotation of the Bee Gee’s and Nickelback should not be an available option.

Lighting – Not too light, not too dark. Certainly no fluorescent lights. And none of those crappy-arse corkscrew bulbs either. You didn’t open a saloon to save the fricking planet. Low wattage incandescent bulbs please.

Quality bartenders. NOT hot bartenders (good looking, okay). Very rarely are they both. And, said bartender should not be a “vested, bowler hat wearing hipster with arm garters”.

Owner should be on premises more often than not.

One TV should be sufficient. Two tops. Only sports should be televised.

Building housing the bar – Should be old. A great bar will not reside in new construction.

The Bar – Should be long, with plenty of sturdy barstools and a bar foot rail.

NO video games. NO pinball. What are you, 12?

Pool table and/or dartboard is acceptable, but not required. It should not take up valuable drinking space.

Prices – Should be fair, but not cheap. You have to keep the riff-raff out, after all.

Happy Hour – Okay, but only because it’s expected.

And it draws in the feminina’s.

Patio/Outdoor space – Bonus points.

It should have a random string of christmas lights somewhere