Top 5 Bars in Downtown Davenport
There are a lot of factors that go into “the best” bars. When I think of a good bar, it’s a place with good drinks, good vibes, and good food if we are in the mood to eat. I am someone who finds a place I like and then I stick to habits and usually return again and again until I’ve tried everything on the menu (or order my favorite food item until the staff knows my order by heart). These five bars are what I think of when my friends want to have an evening out in downtown Davenport. The best part? They’re all within a few blocks of each other which makes bar hopping easy! Starting with my top favorite, here is my list:
Me & Billy
This was one of the first bars I was introduced to when I moved to the area. What stood out to me originally was their seasonal drinks. Somewhere deep in my phone’s storage is a picture of the cocktail’s ingredients that made me fall in love with this bar. The name was something like “Winter Smash” and the drink had rosemary and vodka. It was so delicious and smooth that I lost track of how many I ordered! Of course, besides the seasonal drinks is their famous fishbowl. This drink you can order is quite literally in a large fishbowl and meant to share. It’s worth every penny because it gets the job done and is customizable to the kind of drink you want. Me & Billy is a good place to start the evening with dinner and a drink since their food is delicious and their menu expands past typical bar food. So far, I have had their Caesar salad and their deluxe grilled cheese. I can’t speak to other bars’ food since Me & Billy is probably one of the only bars I’ve eaten at downtown.
Armored Gardens
Alex teases me because I have the tendency to call Armored Gardens a brewery. They’re not. But what I love is the crazy variety in their beer selection, which is arguably the best in the Quad Cities. When you walk into this bar, the first thing you’ll notice are the screens above the bar listing 100 of their available beers. The list starts on the left with ciders and moves to light beers, ending with dark beers on the right. There are short descriptions of each so you can get a feeling of what you’d like. I love that you can taste a selection before ordering, too! Even if you’re not a beer drinker, I advise visiting and trying something new. It’s easy to find a beer you like at Armored Gardens. If you’re not in the mood for beer, they, of course, have a cocktail menu. Their food is very yummy. I usually order their grilled cheese.
The Office
The Office seems to be the popular spot starting after 11 pm. It can get pretty busy in the small space and gives strong college bar vibes (which I would consider most of downtown “college bar vibes”). A small dance floor sits In a corner directly to the left when entering the bar. The bartenders are wonderful here. The Office is where I first discovered the “Tootsie Roll” shot (a mixture of orange juice and Kahlua) after asking the bartender for a shot that didn’t taste like rubbing alcohol. They also seem to be one of the only places that know how to make this shot. If you visit, I recommend ordering one! You’ll like it even if you hate shots—AKA me. When the bar isn’t as busy, it’s a fun place to hang out and enjoy a game on TV.
Daquiri Factory
Daq Fac is a fairly new bar to downtown Davenport. The location opened earlier this year after a failed location in Rock Island. The owners did a great job with the open concept and the covered patio. At the front of the bar is a dance floor and space for a band to play which both become lively late at night. Behind the stage is a huge window that is normally open in the summer. I think this bar is unique and their cocktails center around daiquiris so are all smoothie consistency. So far, I’ve only tried two of their drinks—the Russian Quaalude and the Xtasy. Both were delicious! I’ve heard people talk about the Hurricane and the Bacardi Squeeze so I will try these next and report back.
Kilkenny’s Pub
Kilkenny’s pub has a cool setup. The bar is oval-shaped in the center of the room making it easier to order drinks. There is a stage in one corner where they usually have live music playing. It’s another place that gets crowded in the late evenings but is otherwise a relaxed place to hang. They have an outdoor courtyard with seating and space to play cornhole. Towards the back of the bar are dart boards although I’ve never seen anyone play. The drinks are typical bar drinks so nothing special but the bar itself is a cool setting to spend a weekend evening.
Of course, there are a lot of other wonderful bars in Davenport. When I think of downtown, these five bars pop into my mind. Whether it is their unique drink menu, their consistency in having a great staff, or the vibes/setup of the bar, these are some great stops all within walking distance that are my go-to’s on a Saturday evening out.