Back Door Lounge

Something about the classic interior of this place makes it appealing asides from the snicker inducing name. Definitely an older crowd here with an underground, "escape from the top 40 bars" vibe to it.

Stopped by the Back Door Lounge in between shows at Sacramento Music Festival. My friend had been in here before and had some tasty martinis, so he was eager for me to try it out. Had a G&T and he got a vodka gimlet all for the low, low price of $11. And that was on a holiday weekend.

In short: Awesome jukebox, cheap drinks, and that dive bar smell.

Its midnight on a wednesday night and a friend and I go wandering into the now completely closed and deserted Old Town. We wonder down the alley and the doors to the Back Door are still open. The smell of bourbon and smoke waft outside and I find it enchanting. I can barley see across the bar but the bartender who im assuming by his age must have owned the place tells us to take a seat. "what'll you have?" he ask. "what'd you recommend sir?" He slides me the most divine Manhattan I have ever tasted. I felt like it was 1950, and I was the star of Mad Men. Given the crowd was a little sketchy though. I love this place. Its dark and seedy and I really like that. Take a stroll down there. Maybe you'll fall in love like I did.