Carved into a narrow pocket on Franklin Avenue and awash in ’50s flair (chrome barstools, marquee lighting), this bakery-bar-cum-soda-fountain from Allison Kave and Keavy Blueher is a triple-hitter throwback. The boozy brick-and-mortar—the permanent offshoot of the duo’s beloved flea stall—serves coffee and pastries in the morning, snacks and spirit-spiked sweets in the afternoon, and drinks after dark. Tending both the oven and the stick, the flour-dusted pair proves it has a few more skills up the sleeves of their chef’s whites than just that buzzy bourbon-pecan pie.
ORDER THIS: Nitehawk Cinema bar maven Jen Marshall issues $10 cocktails like the frothy, gin-based Honeychile Rider, swirled with Mike’s Hot Honey and a heavy dose of passion fruit. The Hop Toad 1910 riffs on a daiquiri, with oaky, aged Flor de Caña rum offset by tangy lime and just enough earthy bitters to counter candylike apricot liqueur. A seasonal special, the Hot Buttered Scotch is a brawny blend of Monkey Shoulder and allspice dram tempered by a tuft of orange-infused whipped cream that’ll leave you craving another mug by the last sip.
GOOD FOR: The sweet retro vibe, complete with doo-wop soundtrack, sets the tone for an easygoing first date. Sit side by side at the bar for a piece of pie—bitters fans should opt for the Negroni custard, and sweets seekers can go for a s’mores slice—or snuggle into one of the vinyl booths tucked away in the back corner for a bit of alone time. There are plenty of playful bites to choose from, including grapefruit-wedge Jell-O shots and dark-and-stormy caramel corn, but among the best is a sticky-toffee trifle, layered with bourbon-soaked caramel-date cake and butterscotch pudding, that you can conquer together.
THE CLINCHER: The bakery operates alongside the bar until close on weekends, which means to-go treats like birthday cake ($45) and bourbon-ginger-pecan pie ($38) are always available to take home after you’ve slugged a few drinks. Watch the pastry magic happen from your barstool through a small window into the kitchen and you’ll see: Kave and Blueher are no one-trick ponies.