Courtyard Marriot Bar

This bar is one of the best-kept secrets of the Fairfield/Suisun/Vacaville area; for better or for worse it is my duty as a frequent patron to let others know about it.

The Marriott Bar/Lounge is located inside of the Marriott Hotel. I discovered it one evening while my husband was stuck at a function in said hotel. Rather than be social and mingle with the hotel crowd in one of the many reception rooms with a nametag slapped to my chest, I decided it would be better to go find the hotel bar. Boy, I'm glad that I did. Mark (the bartender at the Marriott) is a wonderful find. His rockabilly hairstyle and snappy black vest assured me right off the bat that it would be an evening of good conversation and good drinks, and I was not disappointed. Here's the great deal that will knock your socks off: on Tuesday nights there is a free appetizer bar (cheese/vegetables and the like) and free draft beer/select wine. Ideally one should purchase a cocktail for the sake of saying "thank-you" for the wonderful amenities; more importantly, one should order a cocktail for the simple pleasure of experiencing a Mark-crafted Manhattan.

The bar itself has two flatscreen TVs; by default Mark usually will keep them trained on the sports world unless you make a request. As it stands the lounge area could stand to be opened up a bit more. The conference/dining area next to the bar is frequently empty, which makes the placement of the bar area feel rather arbitrary. The decor is, well, hotel-y. All the basics are behind the bar but do not go if you plan on ordering an esoteric bourbon. They do have Sierra Nevada on tap, which is nice, but other than that your beer choices are fairly limited if you're an avid microbrew fan. My suggestion: get a group of friends together, grab a table early on (especially on Tuesdays) or sit at the bar and let Mark work his magic. You will not be disappointed.