craft cocktails Archives - Small Barrels Magazine

The Rundle Bar at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is a welcoming, stylish place to share some drinks and good food. Whether it be for a pause in the afternoon or for late night cocktails, the art deco-inspired decor and stunning views make it memorable.

Clean, contemporary decor and great views

We recall the days when this space was the hotel’s old lobby. It’s certainly been refreshed and re-imagined since then – gone are the dark tones and medieval-style tapestries. But, even with its much more contemporary vibe, the tasteful new Rundle Bar manages to fit in beautifully with the grandeur of the rest of ‘the castle’.

Of course, when you offer views like the Bow Valley (pictured below), ‘grandeur’ is somewhat baked-in.

We stopped in for an afternoon cocktail after checking in. The Rundle Bar is large space – two levels, in fact – offering a comfortable mix of tables, chairs, and sofas to relax in. We had no trouble finding a table. But even at this time of day, the popular bar was hopping.

Rundle Bar's Signature Cocktail List — Rundle Bar’s Signature Cocktail List

In addition to all the usual lovely wines, craft beers, and spirits, the Rundle Bar offers a creative craft cocktail menu. I very much enjoyed my intriguingly herby Royal Cosmo de Provence.

The Boulevardier was also excellent.

The menu goes beyond cocktails if you’re looking for a snack, or something heartier. We had big plans for dinner and so didn’t order food, but plates and platters were sailing around us everywhere. An all-day menu focuses on upscale appetizer fare, like smoked salmon, vegetable crudités and hummus, and oyster plates. A lunch menu is also offered, with bistro selections like poke bowls, soups, salads, and gourmet sandwiches.

An outdoor patio opens up in the warmer times of the year. The weather wasn’t ready during our visit, but the views of the valley and the fresh mountain air would certainly ‘elevate’ the food and drink even further.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stop at the Rundle Bar, and suggest popping in if you’re a guest at the Banff Springs!

For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/banff-springs

Todd English's Bluezoo Menu — Todd English’s Bluezoo Menu

Todd English’s bluezoo, an upscale seafood restaurant, is located at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. It has a hip, sophisticated vibe from its ‘blue-lit’ decor, creative menu, and excellent service. Dare I say it even has a somewhat ‘un-Disney’ like quality to it, making for refreshing change from days spent park hopping. You’re still going to see some families and groups, but in our experience, this is one of the more ‘hip date-night’ locations to eat at when doing Disney.

Bluezoo has a really great cocktail list. I was drawn to the concoction aptly named ‘serenity’, and it was fantastic. It’s as cool and refreshing as it sounds made with cucumber vodka, elderflower liqueur, a pleasing mix of muddled strawberries, basil, rosemary, and spiked with some lime and pineapple juice. Sooooo good and tastes rather like the grown up, fruitier cocktail cousin of spa cucumber water. For him – something a little more classic, but no less tasty – a Manhattan made with specialty bourbon and garnished with brandied cherries.

Appetizers are creative, varied (though lots of seafood, of course), and generous. We shared two: the jumbo shrimp cocktail and the scrumptious teppan seared jumbo sea scallops. Unfortunately, I have only a blurry photo of the scallops, unworthy of posting, but it was pretty — to look at, and to eat with tender and tasty morsels of seafood and beef both beautifully set off by a cauliflower purée.

The jumbo shrimp cocktail was really delish, served with interesting handcrafted sauces. The ‘bloody mary’ sauce was the most traditional of the bunch, and the avocado purée was my favourite: velvety and lovely. There was also a nice garlic aioli and a honey mustard sauce, and lots of fennel salt to tie together. A nice twist on the usual!

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with a selection of creative sauces

Both of our entrées were superb. I had the Simply Fish: corvina on that particular evening served with roasted zucchini couscous, corn purée, and a caper beurre blanc sauce. The fish was out of this world, delicately crisped on the outside, and flaky and beautiful on the inside. I was more impressed than I thought I’d be with the zucchini couscous – so delicate and tender, with the zucchini adding that subtle bit of green flavor to freshen it up. Great dish!

For him – what is probably the most outstanding item on the bluezoo menu bar none: the two-pound cantonese lobster. The tender lobster meat is fried and then tossed in a sweet, sticky, earthy/spicy glaze whose flavour you won’t forget. I can literally taste it as I look at the picture below. Spectacular — I really can’t say enough about this dish, and words are not going to capture it. If you go, just get it.

Bluezoo's signature dish: Two-Pound Maine Cantonese Lobster — Bluezoo’s signature dish: Two-Pound Maine Cantonese Lobster

To accompany our fabulous entrées we selected a chardonnay from bluezoo’s lovely wine list. We greatly enjoyed our bottle of Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay (Napa Valley, 2014). It was crisp and rich at the same time, especially perfect for drinking with the robust, ‘sweet and sticky’ flavors of the cantonese lobster.

We highly recommended bluezoo. First, there’s its grown-up ambiance roviding a little date-night oasis within the family-centered context of most Disney dining experiences. But mostly it’s the wonderful service and outstanding dishes, cocktails, and wines that makes bluezoo top our list as a favorite on our Disney holiday.

For more information or to make reservations, visit https://www.swandolphinrestaurants.com/bluezoo/