I’m from a sleepy little town in Upstate New York. I’ve spent most of my life in Glens Falls, even though I currently live just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. But in late January I went upstate to deal with some family stuff, and I found myself without plans one night. I ran downtown because I really wanted to try a juice bar that a friend recommended. I realized then that having a healthy beverage was a great way to start a cute little personal Bar Crawl.
I started at the Juicin’ Jar. There I grabbed a Lean + Green juice. It was full of tasty veggies, and it tasted green. If you’ve ever had a fancy juice, you know what I mean. I believe spinach and apple were key ingredients. I don’t see it on their online menu, but it was recommended by the woman working, and I loved it. My drink was around $10, and drinking it probably made the rest of my night a bit more smooth. The only issue I had was that my drink was served with a straw. I bring a straw everywhere with me and will have to remember to ask for no plastic or paper straw. I’ll also probably ask if they can pour directly into my own jar, as I almost always have a jar with me. And if I can skip some single use plastic, I will!
Afterwards, I walked over to a bar/restaurant called Craft on 9. It was new to me; they weren’t in that location when I last visited downtown Glens Falls. Inside was beautiful—lots of hard wood and metal, with comfy leather chairs and a fireplace. I ended up enjoying my drink in one of those leather chairs, and I think this would be a great spot to visit with friends. I loved my drink; it was perfect for a New York January: muddled blueberries and marmalade with triple sec, bourbon, and a touch of club soda for bubbles.
The next spot I hit was the Downtown Social. Thee is more of a “new school” vibe here, with a full menu, full bar, and a bourbon room with a speakeasy feel in the back. I ordered their take on a Moscow Mule, called a Spring Brook Mule. It was absolutely amazing; mules are my favorite drinks, and this twist was exactly what I was looking for. I also had an order of Bavarian Pretzels, which were delicious. Downtown Social is owned by folks who also own Downtown City Tavern, where I’ve spent a lot more time.
Downtown City Tavern has more of a casual sports bar atmosphere, but it also has a full kitchen. I’ve had appetizers and pizza there, and of course, drinks. Most recently, I had some margaritas (I asked the bartender what type of mixed drink he was up for making, and he said margaritas). They were tasty and served in a pint glass, so I was very down.
I closed out my night at Mean Max. I’ve been to Mean Max many times because it’s just so rad. While in NY this past trip, I drank Hard Cider, The Ginger, Maximilian’s Dark Mexican Lager, and the 2019 ‘Twas the Night Before. All of them were delicious and recommended by the various bartenders. Mean Max is a favorite of mine because you can bring in outside food because they don’t have a kitchen.
While I headed home after Mean Max, there are a couple other rad spots in Glens Falls that I need to recommend to you! Davidson Brothers is a local bar and brewery that I enjoy. I think it’s worth a stop, if you’re in town.
My preferred place for hot cocoa is Spektor Coffee Roasters. They’ll make it with almond milk, so lactose intolerant folks like me can still order!
If you’re in Glens Falls and looking for a place to eat outside of downtown, I recommend Cooper’s Cave Ale Company. They make killer burgers (including a house black bean patty that can be subbed in for a real patty). They brew their own beer, make their own soda , and even have their own ice cream. Like I mentioned, they aren’t in the downtown area, everything in GF is walking distance. I think it’s a great spot to walk to in the summer for dinner and ice cream.
When I was living in Glens Falls, I was frustrated with how little there was to do. Now that I’m older, I’m finding a lot to do downtown. Next time in the area, I’ll be sure to update y’all with any new spots!
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