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.

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BEST BAR

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Winner: Capital Bar and Grill

Runners-up: White Water Tavern, Sticky Fingerz Rock ‘N’ Roll Chicken Shack, The Afterthought

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Around Arkansas

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Winner: Maxine’s, Hot Springs

Runners-up: George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville; Theo’s, Fayetteville

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BEST BARTENDER

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Winner: Spencer Jansen (Capital Bar and Grill)

Runners-up: Josh Johnson (The Afterthought), Mac Watts (Sticky Fingerz), Lee Edwards (Salut Bistro)

 

BEST LIQUOR

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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

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