The Vault Martini Bar

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  Love this bar! The staff is great and the selection is fine. The bar itself is an old bank vault adding to the character of the hotel!

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  Posted on 01.28.13 Mande D.

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  This place far exceed my expectations. My boyfriend and I asked for somewhere cool to go while we were visiting Columbia. We were told about the rooftop bar at the Sheraton downtown. When we arrived we were told that the rooftop lounge was closed due to the storm but that the Vault was open so we decided to check it out. We walked through the vault doors and found a little intimate bar. We were the only people there when we first arrived, about 8:00pm on a Saturday. We were introduced to our bartender Branden who asked what flavors we liked and created cocktails based on our flavor preferences. He also entertained us with stories and colorful illustrations of what he was making us. Every drink served was a special creation that excited the palate. At about the second drink a steady stream of people began arriving and by and hour the place was packed. Everyone enjoyed the custom drinks Branden created. We ended up staying and ordering food, risotto and cajun chicken parm, and the food was great. I left intoxicated and full which was the aim for the night and thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the different people that came in that night. Definitely a must for anyone visiting Columbia.

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  Posted on 08.13.12 Meghan H.

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  My wife and I visited this place with a friend recently, and it was a bar that I think was OK, but not a place I would make a regular hang out. The bar is actually the hotels (Sheraton Columbia) bar, and there was not a single person in there when we arrived. The bartender was a nice enough guy and he infuses his own liquors for the drinks (chipotle vodka for a bloody mary) but it was just strange to be the ONLY people in the bar for the entire time we were there. It is neat that the bar is in the old vault, but it's more a of a kitschy one-time visit type of place. If you are staying at the Sheraton and don't feel like going out, give this place a shot. If you're looking to get out and experience nightlife in Columbia, try the Vista or Five Points area instead.

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  Posted on 12.18.11 Martin V.

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  Um, not so much.  This bar was dead when we walked in and I can see why.  AC was PUMPED- must have been set at around 65 or something.  The bartender was friendly in a strange sort of antagonistic way.  Kind of yelled at one of my friends for, um, touching her mint julep tumbler.  Apparently that is a no-no.  Anyway the martinis were below average.  I was not impressed.

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  Posted on 07.08.10 Lisa C.

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  The Vault Martini Bar
  
  It's a cozy little bar with a really cool drink menu.  Martinis are named after famous bank robbers.  Very intimate setting with actual historic bank vault as the entrance!
  
  From the Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel's Site:
  
  Nestled within the bank's original safe, this hip lounge remains as a historic centerpiece of the hotel, and a popular hotspot for those who insist upon their martinis shaken, not stirred, and with a twist of sophistication.
  Cuisine:  Bar Menu
  hours:  Monday - Saturday, 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Closed Sunday)
  Atmosphere:  Hip

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  Posted on 03.07.10 K F.

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