Best of Another Round: 39 photos from our DIY neighborhood pub crawls

Cozy up (or hook up) in downtown Orlando's bar scene

Courtesy Bar (114 N. Orange Ave.)

"Picture grandpa's liquor cabinet with a twist of hipster, and you'll get an idea of the vintage, grown-up ambience emanating from this space, with its brick walls and checkered-tile floor. The cozy half-booths along the wall made it easy to share a New York sour (Old Overholt rye whiskey, honey, fresh lemon, topped with Altos malbec) with my sweetie."

Cozy up (or hook up) in downtown Orlando's bar scene

Elixir (9 W. Washington St.)

"When we walked in to Elixir, Hootie & the Blowfish's 'Let Her Cry' greeted us, as well as a pleasant short-shorted female bartender. Nothing really set this massive room apart from any other downtown bar, so we knew one drink would suffice (and sometimes, that's for the best on these pub crawls), so we downed a couple of Goose Island IPAs and were on our way."

Cozy up (or hook up) in downtown Orlando's bar scene

On the Rocks (13 S. Magnolia Ave.)

"On the Rocks might be facing something of a sports-bar/art-bar identity crisis (ESPN on flat screens and Morgan Steele art on the opposing wall), but it's certainly a suitable meeting place to calm the nerves for a first date – or, in our case, to serve as a starting point for a drinking date night."

Unwind with after-work drinks in Ivanhoe Village

The Caboose (1827 N. Orange Ave.)

"At first glance this joint looked like a smoky hole-in-the-wall. But the promise of $2 sangria lured us in. Aside from a stripper pole situated at one end of the bar, the rest of the no-frills, down-to-earth decor was appealing – especially the kitschy railroad knick-knacks on the wall (just like everything else on Ivanhoe Row, the bar is located right alongside the tracks), the four simple taps of domestic beers and the life-sized faux alligator. Oh, and did I mention the NASCAR coasters? Don't judge. Like I said: $2 sangria. With an orange slice, I might add."

Unwind with after-work drinks in Ivanhoe Village

The Hammered Lamb (1235 N. Orange Ave.)

"We opted for a seat at the covered patio bar (bar and table seating are available inside), which was a prime spot considering the cool breeze coming off the lake right across the street. We ordered Swamp Ape IPAs and Brooklyn Brown ale (on draft, $6) along with some sammies from the limited food menu. (Try the grilled cheese on Yalaha challah bread or the tzatziki chicken salad club.) Before long, we heard the roar of an oncoming train, which meant "train shots" (blueberry-infused 44º North vodka) for all courtesy of the bar, which was a pleasant surprise."

Unwind with after-work drinks in Ivanhoe Village

The Imperial Wine Bar and Beer Garden (1800 N. Orange Ave.)

"The mellow, dimly lit room feels like a lounge or living room – a really, really expensive living room, that is, full of globally imported furniture – which helped dissolve the stress of the workday. You could easily settle in for the night at a place like this, but that defeats the purpose of a pub crawl. So we headed out after one drink and went to look for our next spot."

On the prowl in Hannibal Square

BARcelona (433 W. New England Ave.)

"It happened to be Tapas Tuesdays, so we ordered glasses of red sangria ($8, with rosé champagne and chopped apples) and Spanish tapas ($4 on Tuesday’s special menu) – croquetas, empanadas and the like. While I was looking for a better variety of fruit in my sangria, what I needed to keep an eye on was the bill – we were almost charged regular price for our snacks. Too many sangrias and you might not notice!"

On the prowl in Hannibal Square

Dexter’s (558 W. New England Ave.)

"We ordered from the happy hour wine and cocktail menu: a Dirty Dexter martini ($8, with hand-stuffed blue cheese olives) for one of us, a Crown Royal Manhattan ($8.25 – and no cherry, mind you) for another and a Blood Orangetini ($8, topped with champagne) for me. While our drinks were flavorsome and the bright, art-filled walls looked pleasant, Dexter’s noisy inside area proved difficult for chit-chatting. Next time I would opt for an outside table."

On the prowl in Hannibal Square

Fresh (535 W. New England Ave.)

"Fresh offers a short but serviceable wine list as well as Orlando Brewing beer. 'I wish I could live here,' one of us commented, as we adored the heavy wood tables and dream-pop background music. But, as calming as this place was, we knew we couldn’t stay forever – we had more crawling to do. So after finishing our glasses of wine, we headed east."

On the prowl in Hannibal Square

Hannibal’s on the Square (511 W. New England Ave.)

"After all, allegedly, Hannibal’s is where a nasty catfight went down on VH1’s reality TV show Basketball Wives. We decided it was only appropriate to pay tribute to that infamous moment by downing a round of lemondrop shooters. Thankfully, we dipped out long before the bar’s elevator music and the peering elephant on the wall drove us to insanity."

Sunday Funday pub crawl in College Park

Ollie’s Public House (3400 Edgewater Drive)

"Some might remember this spot as the former Jax 5th Ave or know that it has the same owners as downtown’s Finnhenry’s, but no one can help but notice its unusually close proximity – literally within steps – of Edgewater High School. One of us (OK, it was me) insisted we order a round of Ollie’s infamous 'pickle shots' to pump up the volume. And while Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey might not support the Cinco theme, the spicy pickle-juice chaser in the Dirty Finn ($4) was actually quite refreshing."

Sunday Funday pub crawl in College Park

Paxia Modern Mexican & Tequila Lounge (2611 Edgewater Drive)

"Fully engaging in the Cinco de Mayo spirit, we gorged on Paxia’s habañero-strawberry guacamole, and then dove headfirst (or shots-up, rather) into the bar’s tequila menu – not an easy feat, considering they offer more than 250 types of tequila, ranging from $5.50-$110. (At this point, admittedly, we were aiming for quantity over quality.) Surprisingly, the place wasn’t overly crowded, and although the ladies in our group weren’t down with the one-stall bathroom situation, we slurped down our margs at two-tops by the bar before making our way back to the Local."

Sunday Funday pub crawl in College Park

The Local Bar & Grill (3231 Edgewater Drive)

"Housed in the space that was formerly Alfonso’s Pizza, the Local is your typical dive bar: a little dark, a little smoky, with a pool table/darts area and a group of afternoon regulars in residence. The staff didn’t seem too welcoming when we walked in. But that’s understandable, I suppose, because we were a group of rowdy, inebriated, newbie bar-crashers. Nevertheless, we continued our Cinco de Drinko with a few Dos Equis pitchers for the table while the guys headed for the pool tables and the girls played a bit of the Bobs (Marley and Seger) on the jukebox."

Diversified drinking in Mills 50

BART (1205 N. Mills Ave.)

"What this small spot lacks in space, it makes up for in personality: outgoing bartenders; video game-inspired art on the walls; and a well-curated selection of classic arcade games. I opted for Breckenridge Brewery’s Agave Wheat and set up shop for the rest of the evening at the Night Moves pinball machine."

Diversified drinking in Mills 50

Lil Indies (1036 N. Mills Ave.)

"It’s the quiet kid sister right next door to loud live music venue Will’s Pub, and from the outside, you’d never imagine that it envelops such a cozy, rustic vibe inside. Disclaimer: You don’t have to be a hipster to enjoy Lil Indies. In fact, the super-friendly bartender worried more about what we were drinking (Genesee Cream Ales and Southern Star Brewing Company’s Bombshell Blondes), than if we were wearing skinny jeans (full disclosure: One of us was). OW associate editor Ashley Belanger had recommended the Viking Blod mead, but they were out of it. It wasn’t a problem, though; the wide-ranging menu of beer and wine – eight craft beers on tap, large-format options and plenty of red/white varieties – offered ample choices."

Diversified drinking in Mills 50

Quantum Leap Winery (1312 Wilfred Drive)

"The winery is a somewhat upscale, yet inviting, spot on the border of Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village, comprising a spacious tasting room and outdoor lounge area. I know what you’re thinking: No, they aren’t growing grapes out back. Quantum partners with wineries around the globe that start the winemaking process, and then finishes the wines here in Orlando. We ordered the mixed tasting (2-ounce pours each of the Rogue Valley riesling, Kaley’s Rescue Red and Stellenbosch merlot) from the $5 wine flight menu while standing at the U-shaped pouring area. Before heading out, we couldn’t pass up purchasing one of their bottles to take home."

Diversified drinking in Mills 50

Wally’s Mills Avenue Liquors (1001 N. Mills Ave.)

"When you walk into Wally’s, you’ll find a devoted crowd of seasoned regulars who mean serious drinking business. It’s smoky, it’s dark, and if you can find a seat (there are maybe 25 total) at the bar, stiff cocktails are coming your way. (Note: Most other bars in the Mills 50 area only serve beer and wine.) Those looking for booze on the go can purchase from the liquor store that makes up one side of the joint."

Seaside bar crawl in New Smyrna Beach

Chases on the Beach (3401 S. Atlantic Ave.)

"With intense pool volleyball tournaments, two massive covered bar areas and a solid location directly on the beach, Chases has that signature Jimmy Buffett style written all over it. So, in true Parrothead fashion, we ordered on-the-rocks margaritas – quickly followed by a round of brightly colored Jell-O shots."

Seaside bar crawl in New Smyrna Beach

Flagler Tavern (414 Flagler Ave.)

"With 'tavern' in the name, we were expecting dark and smoky, but it was the exact opposite – its vibrant neon-green walls and beach-themed mural put us in the mood for a kamikaze shot."

Seaside bar crawl in New Smyrna Beach

JB’s Fish Camp (859 Pompano Ave.)

"This laid-back spot along the Mosquito Lagoon, decked out in kitschy nautical trinkets, not only offers indoor and outdoor bar/restaurant areas, but you also might catch a manatee sighting near the dock while listening to live reggae music."