Dave M.
Yelp
Ah, 3 Fade Street. Or The Bar with No Name, Kelly's, The Snail Bar: whatever you choose to call it, it's a wonderful place, with excellent cocktails and one of the finest outdoor areas in the city. Really, there are two versions of this bar: the quiet weeknight bar and the insanely packed weekend one.
On a weeknight, this place is the perfect venue for high-quality mixed drinks from skilled and knowledgeable staff. Odds are they can make your cocktail, whether it's on the menu or not. On one occasion, a friend was served slightly different versions of the same drink by different staff members- and one gets the impression that that's because the well-trained staff might have different ideas on how to practice their craft. The outdoor terrace is usually pretty calm during the week, and is perfect for a quiet summer drink.
Weekends, though, are a different beast. On Friday and Saturday nights, the bar is packed to the rafters with young professionals, and while the same quality bar service exists, it's under a lot more pressure, and it might simply be easier to stick to quickly-poured pints by the time you fight your way to the bar. There's little chance of a seat, and you might find yourself outside whether you like it or not (but the covered, heated area is well equipped for shelter).
Luckily, the atmosphere is fantastic when the bar is this full. The tight confines of the bar make it very sociable in a crowded sort of way, and for some reason, it works well in a way that so many other busy spots just don't manage.
So, pick your poison: midweek quiet cocktails or a frantic and fantastic Saturday night. Either way, if you haven't been here, it's time to correct that.
(And I prefer to call it Kelly's).