When the snow starts to fall, I get into my own version of hibernation mode, which in this case means finding a bar or a pub where I know I can go snuggle up in and enjoy some good drinks and nice atmosphere. And Dirty Dog Cocktail and Culinary Bar at Vinohradská 102 is almost that…
The bar, opened just months ago by expats (former English teachers) Adam Sweet and Isaac Starobin, is so close to my ideal bar that I’m sure I’ll be back. A lot. Basically, the cocktail menu is really long and lots of fun, but some of the drinks didn’t quite hit the mark for me, especially for the cost. And the atmosphere is really, really friendly with nice music – but the set up is kind of awkward and not the most comfortable.
It’s got this amazing cocktail menu that has over 60 drinks on it, many of them signature cocktails created (somehow fittingly) by Sweet, who explained that he just messed around with a bunch of traditional and favorite cocktails to make his own unique spin on them.
I went for the front page featured signature cocktails and took my chances with the Double-D Cup, which is described as whatever is left over behind the bar – Starobin, who was super nice and customer service oriented, explained the drink to me. Basically, he yells back to the bartender to make a Double-D, and the bartender makes whatever he feels like making. Which in my case was this tasty (but really sweet) fruity concoction with (I think) had grapefruit, orange, pineapple and maybe some banana?
My friend went for the Jolly Rancher, which is Sour Apple Schnapps, Whiskey, grenadine and Sprite – and the best part – gummy bears. Just lined up along the rim of the glass. Pretty adorable. This drink was tasty as well – but I do have to say both of us had a pretty hard time of finishing them just because of how 
intensely sweet they were, and kind of leave you with that funky sugar high feeling you get after eating an entire bag of artificially flavored sour gummies. I guess at the worst I could say they really did not taste sophisticated - but they were fun drinks, and hers was a cocktail named after an uber-sugary candy, and mine was a mystery drink – so it’s not like they’re being tricky or anything…
Another friend who’s just more of a bad-ass stuck with harder, traditional drinks – all of which she said were very well made. She started with a Golden Nail (a variation on a rusty nail), which is Soco and Johnnie Walker. And some ice. And that’s it. And then went on to a Martini, which she was really excited about – not being a martini drinker myself, I do know that a good martini is considered a great way to judge a bar. She said they made it extra dirty (lots of olive juice) and that the Bombay gin they used was really nice.
The prices were pretty high on the cocktails, but normal for more standard drinks. The Double-D and the Jolly Rancher were 149 Kč (their website says 129 Kč)… and the Golden Nail was 109 Kč.
The atmosphere of the bar is also very close to ideal to me, but has a few drawbacks. The service is just above and 
beyond anything I’ve had at a bar in a long time, and it’s personally doled out by both Starobin and Sweet – who was there and as approachable as ever, even on his day off. They basically told me that they stay open until people leave, and I believe them. No stink-eyes here when 3 AM rolls around. And your glass will never be left empty for more than five minutes with these guys. The music was also nice – sort of a mix of American music from all sorts of decades, but nothing obnoxious, and it wasn’t too loud. Right now the bar is also featuring the work of artist Lukos Hey, which adds a really nice touch to the bar.
But, both me and my friends agreed that the table set up is sort of uncomfortable and awkward – all of the tables are raised, and if you have more than two or three friends with you, it would be virtually impossible to comfortably manage to create a space where everyone fit perched up on these stool/ chairs.
All in all, like I said, this bar is a winner in a lot of ways, and it’s going into my file of “reliables.” I really did enjoy my visit there, and I think it will probably only get better as these guys go forward. Good things take time…
your going back?