Bowen House - The Unmarked Hip Joint in Uptown

I stopped by the Bowen House for the first time at a small happy hour gathering to say goodbye to a colleague. The owners have done a great job of converting a small historic home into a seriously cool, laid-back joint. It feels more like your own private hangout spot than a bar.

And since they don't even have a sign on the building - just a historic marker for the Bowen House - you have to know where you're going. How's that for privacy?

The Tuesday crowd was light, which I appreciated. I hate crowded spaces and long waits for drinks. It seemed an eclectic bunch - some hipsters, some Uptown standards and folks stopping in for a quick drink after work. It made for a really interesting vibe.

We sat at the bar - great service and loved watching the cocktails made. Talk about precision and focus. No sloppy drinks served here. I had a dirty martini (extra dirty). The drink was delicious, but seriously - it was $14 and change before tip. That's a little high for a happy hour session (for one drink), so this would not be the spot that I'd want to kick back for a few drinks with friends on an average work night. A special occasion? That's a different matter - I'd be back in a heartbeat.

This is a $14 dirty martini.

The vibe of the space is seriously cool.