Standby

"Downtown’s celebrated bar and restaurant is famous for its vast catalog of cocktails, ranging from smoky, spirit-forward concoctions; refreshing and citrusy sips; to more adventurous, savory or vegetal offerings. In addition, its food menu — designed by chef, restaurateur, author, and cooking show host Matty Matheson who in 2024 partnered with the spot — features fun bites like coconut shrimp with jerk mayo, mortadella sliders, and Alabama barbecue grilled wings. It should come as no surprise that Standby’s mocktail menu is equally impressive, with drinks like the California Sober, featuring the Pathfinder hemp-infused spirit, lemongrass, ginger, tart orange, and club soda." - Serena Maria Daniels, Will Reaume

"Hidden down Belt Alley - a Midtown alleyway filled with street murals and art galleries - is Standby, a semi-speakeasy that doubles as a cocktail bar and restaurant. The bar itself, which is referred to as a “cocktail lab,” serves more than 50 different cocktails, most of which are really delicious, but also take a few minutes to make. It’s dimly-lit and definitely intimate, so if you’re looking for a good date spot, come here. You can also stop in until midnight for a late dinner, with the gnocchi and cheeseburger being two of the biggest crowd pleasers. If you want another bar to check out afterward, grab a frozen cocktail at The Skip at the other end of the alley." - sara barron, sam faye

"Matty Matheson will launch a new menu at Standby, featuring dishes like coconut shrimp with jerk mayo, mortadella sliders, Alabama barbecue grilled wings, steak frites au poivre, and a variety of taquitos. Standby is a celebrated downtown bar and restaurant known for its vast catalog of cocktails." - Serena Maria Daniels

"Nestled in the mural-laden Belt in Downtown, Standby is a speakeasy and lounge that caters to imbibers who desire craft cocktails using local or unique ingredients. The laid back atmosphere is enhanced by the friendly and knowledgeable staff, with DJs spinning cool tunes several nights a week."

"Nestled in the mural-laden Belt in Downtown, Standby is a speakeasy and lounge that caters to imbibers who desire craft cocktails using local or unique ingredients. The laid back atmosphere is enhanced by the friendly and knowledgeable staff, with DJs spinning cool tunes several nights a week."