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Where to grab a drink in Providence

From hidden speak-easies to a rooftop bar where you can see and be seen, Providence pours some pretty fantastic cocktails.

A Charlie Chaplin at Justine’s, a speak-easy style bar.
anthony tieuli
A Charlie Chaplin at Justine’s, a speak-easy style bar.

The Avery

A dark and broody atmosphere is the perfect setting for craft cocktails and an impressive beer collection of rare and aged bottles and uncommon drafts. Illuminated carvings of sea nymphs and Providence city scenes provide the backdrop for creatively mixed concoctions. Ask about the secret whiskey cabinet behind the naked lady art; it stocks rare finds for lovers of good drink.

18 Luongo Square, 401-751-5920, averyprovidence.com

The Dean Hotel

The Dean Hotel is your one-stop shop for a night on the town. Start in the shadows of the Magdalenae Room, where bartenders mix off-menu drinks based on your spirits and flavor preferences. Once you’ve gained some liquid courage, head next door to the Boombox Japanese-style karaoke bar, where sake bombs and punchy drinks in kitty cat mugs await. Then head right upstairs and spend the night.

122 Fountain Street, 401-351-5200, thedeanhotel.com

The Eddy

Old Fashioneds on tap put the Eddy on the map, but it’s the more innovative drinks that keep patrons coming back. Take a seat at the U-shaped bar while mixologists combine quality spirits with house-infused syrups, fresh herbs, and squeezed citrus. They’ll often curate cocktails to suit personal tastes, but the Orange Julius Caesar is a must — it tastes like an alcoholic Creamsicle.

95 Eddy Street, 401-831-3339, eddybar.com

Justine’s

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Enter the bar through, farcically, a lingerie shop to sip cocktails straight out of the speak-easy era, and priced back in time a bit, too. Vintage glassware is the perfect vessel for drinks like the Charlie Chaplin (apricot brandy, sloe gin, and lime) or the epitome of a good daiquiri.

11 Olneyville Square, 401-454-4440

Hostess Kristen Gold welcomes visitors to hidden bar Justine’s, reminiscent of an era when every glass raised was a secret thrill.
anthony tieuli
Hostess Kristen Gold welcomes visitors to hidden bar Justine’s, reminiscent of an era when every glass raised was a secret thrill.

Ogie’s Trailer Park

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A retro theme includes 1970s decor, a Route 66-style beer menu, classic cocktails, and a tiki bar (Blue Hawaiian or Zombie, anyone?) on the seasonal patio, where revelers gather around a fire pit. The bar and restaurant’s interior walls boast modern masterpieces that feature the face of the owners’ family cat and restaurant eponym.

1155 Westminster Street, 401-383-8200, ogiestrailerpark.com

The Rooftop at the ProvidenceG

The hip rooftop hot spot features a view of the Providence skyline, including the famed Superman Building. A retractable glass roof suits all four seasons, but come summer, en plein air is the way to be. Chef Robert Sisca, formerly of Boston’s Bistro du Midi, heads up the kitchen, while a young, stylish crowd cozies up on couches around seasonal roaring blazes in fire pits.

100 Dorrance Street, 401-632-4904, rooftopattheg.com

Jamie Coelho is an associate editor and producer of The Dish food newsletter at Rhode Island Monthly magazine. Send comments to [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @BostonGlobeMag.