The district has plenty of spots to enjoy a beverage — hot or cold.  The last several years have seen the arrival of new pubs, taverns, and coffee shops along Magnolia Avenue and throughout the district.  And the long-standing local favorites that have been around longer have only become more popular.  

It’s no longer just a restaurant scene in the Near Southside; watering holes and coffee shops now offer spots to unwind before or after a great meal.

For years the coffee shop drought was unbearable, but that all changed with the opening of Avoca Coffee on Magnolia and Caffe di Angeli on Rosedale.  Avoca also features Dude, Sweet Chocolate’s shop-within-a-shop. BREWED will soon join the coffee shop ranks, but will expand into all brewed beverages, including tea and beer. And speaking of beer, Saturdays and Wednesdays at Rahr & Sons Brewing Company have become a ritual as friends gather to sample award-winning craft brews.  Zio Carlo Magnolia Avenue Brew Pub will soon be brewing its own beers, and in the meantime serves a wide range of craft brews and imports, along with amazing pizza and pasta dishes.

If you want an awesome martini after work or a pint of Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day, or any other time, Finn MacCool’s has it all and has been a premier Near Southside watering hole since 2005. The Usual quickly became a favorite after opening in 2009, serving authentic Prohibition-era cocktails within a beautiful and contemporary non-smoking lounge at 1408 Magnolia. The Chat Room Pub is the neighborhood hangout with an eclectic vibe, a diverse crowd, and a great jukebox, plus they have pinball and pool, great drink specials, and computers wired to the electronic universe. Newcomer the Boiled Owl Tavern just east of Yucatan is a friendly pub with a pool table and other games.  Jack Tanner’s Patio Grill is nearing completion next to Shaw’s Burgers & Shakes, bringing another outdoor space to W. Magnolia, at Washington. The T&P Tavern in the historic dining room of the great T&P Terminal is well worth checking out, offering great specials in a room like none other in town. Jennings Avenue at Pennsylvania has become a popular nightlife destination in the middle of the district, home to the Rainbow Lounge, Club Reflection, and Percussion.

Cheers!