Diamond Dogs

Diamond Dogs is the kind of bar where you roll in with friends, a deck of cards and every intention of staying for hours. Whether self-proclaimed or borrowed from a devoted regular, its claim to being “the best bar in the universe” doesn’t feel like much of a stretch. The bartenders and barkeeps are as friendly as they are fun, slinging well-crafted cocktails alongside playful boozy slushies in the summer—served from a machine adorned with 80s Japanese wrestlers. (Pro tip: Try the Phoenix Down, a bourbon-based concoction with lemon juice, honey syrup, extra-spicy ginger syrup and a dash of Angostura bitters, while you can.) The space itself is delightfully weird, like a fever dream set in your grandma’s basement: masculine exposed brick, floral wallpaper patterned with bats and eclectic taxidermy all somehow work together. If you’re not perched at the bar studying the craft beer list, you’ll probably be out on the patio when the weather’s nice, soaking up the easygoing vibe and wondering how time slipped away.