Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Nightwatch Lounge
Grand Rapids, MI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Nightwatch Lounge operates as a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge with a menu that runs from $18 house originals to a $500 Japanese single malt. The cocktail list is ambitious and playful, though a few signatures draw mixed reviews. Low-proof and non-alcoholic options get real attention, and the Nightwatch Coin adds a practical twist for regulars.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Wicked Implement, a Malort-led house cocktail with reposado tequila and yellow chartreuse, or the Topkapi Palace for a pistachio-cream take on whiskey. If you want something classic, the Espresso Martini is a menu mainstay. Buy a Nightwatch Coin to cover any cocktail up to $20.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate a lengthy, experimental list and don't mind a speakeasy-style setting. The Low & No section also gives non-drinkers a reason to visit. Guests who prefer straightforward classics may want to stick to the Espresso Martini.
- What should I expect to spend?
- House cocktails run $18 to $25, with classics in the same range. Low & No options are $16 to $18. The top shelf climbs quickly: Louis XIII is $120 for a half ounce, and Saburomaru IV The Emperor sits at $500.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The menu is unusually broad for a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge, with a dedicated Low & No section and a Prestige Collection featuring rare spirits. The Nightwatch Coin—redeemable for any cocktail up to $20—and Sips To Go takeout cocktails are practical touches.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail menu is extensive, with house creations like Wicked Implement and Topkapi Palace alongside classics like Espresso Martini and The Nightwatch.
Menu strengths
- — Menu spans creative house cocktails, classic interpretations, and Low & No versions.
Standout selections
- — Wicked Implement: Malort, reposado tequila, yellow chartreuse, passionfruit liqueur, lime, grapefruit, celery salt.
- — Topkapi Palace: Crema di pistachio, Canadian whiskey, black raspberry liqueur, honey, lime, Celtic salt, rose petal.
- — Espresso Martini: Vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, crème de cacao, salted licorice.
Pricing: $18-$25 house and classic cocktails; $16-$18 Low & No.
Wine
The wine list is minimal but functional, offering rotating red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines by the glass or bottle, plus a single prestige Champagne. Sparkling wine also appears in cocktails like the Hugo Spritz.
Menu strengths
- — Rotating selection covers four wine styles, giving some variety.
- — Laurent Perrier Rosé offers a premium by-the-bottle option.
Standout selections
- — Rotating Red — MP — Market price; Rotating White — MP — Market price
Pricing: Rotating wines at market price; Laurent Perrier Rosé at $150.
Beer
The beer offering is a single craft lager from City Built. It's a serviceable option for cocktail-focused guests, but there's little depth for beer enthusiasts.
Menu strengths
- — At least one local craft beer is available.
Standout selections
- — City Built 'Alemania' — 12 — Mexican lager
Pricing: City Built 'Alemania' at $12.
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated Low & No section includes non-alcoholic versions of Espresso Martini and Amaro Sour, using Seedlip and Pathfinder. The category is creative, though some listed items still contain alcohol.
Menu strengths
- — Non-alcoholic versions of popular cocktails are available.; Options use specialty zero-proof spirits like Seedlip and Pathfinder.
Standout selections
- — Espresso Martini (Low & No): Seedlip Spice, coffee/chocolate/habanero, espresso.
- — Amaro Sour (Low & No): The Pathfinder, grapefruit, lemon, sage.
Pricing: $16-$18 for Low & No cocktails.
Spirits
The Prestige Collection showcases rare bottles, with Louis XIII cognac served by the ounce and a Japanese single malt from Saburomaru Distillery. The list is short but high-end.
Menu strengths
- — Prestige Collection features rare and unique spirit bottlings.
- — Louis XIII is available in flexible pour sizes.
Standout selections
- — Louis XIII cognac; Saburomaru IV The Emperor Japanese single malt whisky
Pricing: Louis XIII from $120 (half ounce) to $480 (two ounces); Saburomaru IV The Emperor at $500.
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