It came to us in one of those rare drink-abetted epiphanies that
actually hold up the next morning: Why not create a companion poll to
our established Readers Choice restaurant contest that celebrates that
other culture of consumption? After all, for aiding the mix and the
mingle, for keeping us ? or at least the sinful among us ? up late, for
simple refreshment, there’s not much to rival booze and bars.
So here we are, with the results of our first-ever drinking poll.
Readers voted on ballots printed in the weekly edition and via an
on-line survey. Much like the restaurant poll, we list winners in a
number of categories for Little Rock/North Little Rock alongside those
from elsewhere Around Arkansas.
BEST BAR
Winner: Capital Bar and Grill
Runners-up: White Water Tavern, Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack, The Afterthought
Around Arkansas
Winner: Maxine’s, Hot Springs
Runners-up: George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville; Theo’s, Fayetteville
BEST BARTENDER
Winner: Spencer Jansen (Capital Bar and Grill)
Runners-up: Josh Johnson (The Afterthought), Mac Watts (Sticky Fingerz), Lee Edwards (Salut Bistro)
BEST LIQUOR
STORE
Winner: Colonial Wine & Spirits
Runners-up: Markham Liquor; Popatop, Little Rock; Heights Fine Wine and Spirits
Around Arkansas
Winner: Lake Liquor, Maumelle
Runners-up: Ace Liquor Center, Cabot; Liquor World, Fayetteville
BEST SPORTS BAR
Winner: West End Smokehouse & Tavern
Runners-up: Big Whiskey’s American Bar & Grill, Gusano’s, Fox and Hound
Around Arkansas
Winner: Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Fayetteville
Runners-up: Grub’s Bar & Grille, Fayetteville; Gusano’s, Conway
BEST PICKUP BAR
Winner: Cajun’s Wharf
Runners-up: Midtown Billiards, Ciao Baci, Hillcrest Fountain
Around Arkansas
Winner: On the Rocks, Fayetteville
Runners-up: Theo’s, Fayetteville; the Conway VFW
BEST GAY BAR
Winner: Discovery
Runner-up: Star Bar Lounge, Off Center/Pulse, UBU
Around Arkansas
Winner: Tangerine, Fayetteville
BEST BAR FOR
LIVE MUSIC
Winner: Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack
Runners-up: White Water Tavern, Revolution, The Afterthought
Around Arkansas
Winner: George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville
Runners-up: Maxine’s, Hot Springs; Smoke and Barrel, Fayetteville
BEST DIVE BAR
Winner: Midtown Billiards
Runners-up: White Water Tavern, Pizza D’Action, Town Pump
Around Arkansas
Winner: Maxine’s, Hot Springs
Runners-up: Arlie Muck’s, Fort Smith; Roy’s First & Last Chance, Paragould
BEST HOTEL BAR
Winner: Capital Bar and Grill
Runner-up: The Lobby Bar and Mallards Bar at the Peabody
Around Arkansas
Winner: The Arlington, Hot Springs
Runners-up: The Inn at Carnall Hall, Fayetteville; Basin Park Hotel, Eureka Springs
BEST BAR
FOR POOL
Winner: The Underground Pub
Runners-up: Smokehouse & Tavern, Zack’s Place, Midtown Billiards
Around Arkansas
Winner: Art’s Place, Fayetteville
BEST BAR
FOR FOOD
Winner: Capital Bar and Grill
Runners-up: Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack, Afterthought, Midtown
Around Arkansas
Winner: Grub’s, Fayetteville
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Winner: Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack
Runners-up: The Afterthought, The Flying Saucer, Cajun’s Wharf
Around Arkansas
Winner: Michelangelo’s, Conway
BEST NON-BAR FOR DRINKING
Winner: The House
Runners-up: Vino’s, Loca Luna, Ciao Baci
Around Arkansas
Winner: Brau Haus, Hot Springs
BEST DRINKING BRUNCH
Winner: Vieux Carre
Runners-up: Satellite Cafe, Rumba, Ashley’s
Around Arkansas
Winner: Common Grounds, Fayetteville
BEST PATIO
Winner: Cajun’s Wharf
Runners-up: U.S. Pizza Hillcrest, Rumba, Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack
Around Arkansas
Winner: Michelangelo’s Rooftop Bar, Conway
BEST BEER
SELECTION
Winner: The Flying Saucer
Runners-up: Cregeen’s Irish Pub, The Pantry, Boscos
Around Arkansas
Winner: Brewski’s, Fayetteville
BEST PLACE FOR COLDEST BEER
Winner: Flying Saucer
Runners-up: Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack, the Fountain, Pizza Cafe
Around Arkansas
Winner: Brewski’s, Fayetteville
BEST PLACE FOR A BLOODY MARY
Winner: The Afterthought
Runners-up: Rumba, Capital Bar and Grill, Midtown Billiards
Around Arkansas
Winner: Oaklawn, Hot Springs
BEST PLACE
FOR A MARTINI
Winner: Capital Bar and Grill
Runners-up: Ferneau, Ciao Baci, The Afterthought
Around Arkansas
Winner: Bordino’s, Fayetteville.
BEST PLACE FOR
A MARGARITA
Winner: Senor Tequila, Rodney Parham
Runners-up: El Porton, Casa Manana, Cantina Laredo.
Around Arkansas
Winner: La Huerta, Fayetteville
BEST TEQUILA
SELECTION
Winner: Revolution
Runners-up: Casa Manana, Senor Tequila, Cantina Laredo
Around Arkansas
Winner: La Hacienda, Hot Springs