Whether you're sipping a martini, enjoying some appetizers and a football game, taking in a view or getting loud and rowdy, the elements that make a great bar is a subjective list.
There are universal standards, however: Everyone wants something that's beyond the generic. They want originality, friendly service, consistent quality and the homey feeling of a community.
From craft co*cktails to biker bars and everything in between, Lake County offers a spirited variety of drinking spots throughout its communities and on its lakefronts.
(And, If your favorite isn't here this year, let us know and we'll consider it for next year's list.)
Best co*cktails: Crafted Concoctions Coffee & co*cktail Bar
Details: 115 E. Main St. , Tavares, facebook.com/btwcrafted
Whether you want a classic Old Fashioned or Bloody Mary with succulent slab of bacon, or an artful creation with an icy dome or mist emanating from the top, you can expect excellence at Crafted Concoctions, an intimate Tavares haunt that's one of three venues in an epicurean trifecta owned by the same couple and beloved by downtown patrons.
Bru Tap House and BTW Burgers join Crafted in creating an unholy trinity of indulgent delights, conceived with originality, affection and flair. Crafted Concoctions also features the Miracle pop-up bar during the holidays, which gets you in the spirit with some of the most colorful, fruity and herbaceous spirit combos. "Aperitivo Hour" features specials on food and drinks between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.
If you're not a drinker of alcohol, choose from a wide variety of espresso drinks, flavored coffees, chais and other cupfuls of bliss.
Best waterfront bar: Coco Locos at Lake Eustis Waterfront Marina
Details: 350 Lakeshore Drive, Eustis, 352-602-7446
Coco Locos is an unpretentious, straightforward Floridian bar with a dash of creative contemporary flair. The waterfront tavern and live music venue more than makes up for any lack of bougie appeal in friendly service, a festive ambiance and a breathtaking view of Lake Eustis framed by mossy oaks billowing in the breeze.
Sweet tropical frozen drinks (also available on the ice) are created with a high-quality, all natural fruit juice mixes, Conni says, and they include the Miami Vice, rum runner, hurricane, pina colada and strawberry daiquiri.
Proprieters Conni and Jim Berry got to work on Coco Locos after their flagship restaurant, Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille, wasup and running. With the help of construction-savvy business partner Daniel Di Venanzo, who's also their builder, the Berrys were able to make their vision of the ultimate lakefront hangout a reality.
A favorite restaurant in Jupiter, theSquare Grouper, inspired them to create a north central Florida stop with the same funky-fun feel, and so did a beloved coconut named Loco that has hung in their Mount Dora home since Di Venanzo built it for them around 15 years ago.
Best brew pub: Eden Abbey Craft Beer Community
Details: 115 E. Main St., Tavares, edenabbeybrewing.com
Acushy leather living room set helps diners and drinkers feel at home at Eden Abbey Brewing Community in Mount Dora. You don't have to be a beer drinker to enjoy this welcoming establishment, which is a nod to old European monasteries with different rooms to suit different moods. And the food is as exceptional as its pours.
Non-drinkers and parents can enjoy a lavender lemonade (no alcohol) and take the kids to a screened-porch with a play area for wee ones. Owners Eve and Ben Passmore opened the establishment in 2022, inspired by their experiences creating a nonprofit Christian missionary and pub of sorts in Malta. They love the feeling of community they experienced and wanted to convey their international sensibilities and feeling of belonging they enjoyed while abroad.
When we visited, paintings by Jessica Rupp adorned the walls, conveying a starkly beautiful monastic mood with imaginative textures. (@jessruppart on Instagram). Orchids added to the sophisticated decor. Eden Abbey Brewing Community brewers brew their own beer, stouts and ale. Some of the notable brews include the Toasted Gypsies, a velvety stout. The Wagyu smashburgers are a favorite for hungry customers.
Best new kid on the block: Marmadukes Lodge
Details: 215 W. Main St., Leesburg, btwtavares.com
Paying tribute to a founding family of Leesburg, the Marmadukes, the city's new downtown hotspot is a men's club-like tavern with contemporary flourish, serving elevated sports pub-style food and featuring a separate speakeasy-style lounge where you'd expect to see the ghosts of old gents like Carnegie and Ford wheeling and dealing over Scotch.
Local beers are on tap and their exquisitely designed craft co*cktails are utterly Instagrammable. The multifaceted Leesburg venue also features a long bar, pool table and live music in the main room downstairs, next to the bar’s brew barrels.
Developer Bryan Caracciolo created what he calls a “high-end speakeasy,” Burns Drugstore, inspired by an old apothecary of a century ago, with access via an entrance that resembles a secret tunnel. Burns is open to the public Thursdays-Sunday nights. The room enchants with piped-in jazz from the Prohibition days of the 1920s.
Best biker bar: Dirty South Saloon
Details: 1850 U.S. 441 Leesburg, 352-801-7962
A Leesburg favorite, the the Dirty South likes to have fun. The down-to-earth saloon wears its southern heart on its rolled-up sleeve and offers entertaining activities as far ranging as pudding wrestling and live acoustic singer-songwriters.
The spacious venue also offers multiple screens for watching sports, a dance floor and ample seating areas with woodsy old-fashioned decor and contemporary touches. One standout is a mural of country music legends by artist Spanky Hudas. Customers have called Dirty South "a classy biker bar" and praise its cheerfully lovely servers.
Says one Google reviewer: "They have bomb food trucks outside as well as lots of fun events to go to! Live bands sometimes too! I’ve gone a ton of times and it’s always a good time! Drinks are very reasonable. Def would recommend it to anyone who likes to party, dance or just have a nice drink with a friend."
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: The Top 5 bars in Lake County
