Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • See all
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
      • Accessibility
      • Arts
      • Attractions
      • Downtown
      • Health & Wellness
      • History
      • Live Music
      • Parks
      • Shopping
      • Stories
      • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • Nature Walks
      • ADK Guides & Tours
      • Birding
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Cross-Country Skiing
      • Cycling
      • Downhill Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Golfing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Mountain Biking
      • Paddling
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

A night on the town in Saranac Lake

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Jess Collier
December 05, 2014

Saranac Lake is the perfect place to hit the town for an evening with friends. There are just enough bars to keep you busy, but not so many that you can’t stand up straight by the end of the night, and for the most part they are all pretty close to one another. I’ve found myself on an impromptu pub crawl through Saranac Lake just to meet up with multiple friends who are out in various places or to try to hit up all the different live music and activities throughout town.

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get many people to go out with me on the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving, since most of my friends work regular day jobs, but I ended up with a fun and festive crew and we had a great time!

Eat at Casa first!

We started the evening with dinner at

Casa del Sol, a Mexican restaurant that is a local favorite. My friend Corey, who would be my designated drinking buddy for the evening, picked me up and drove me there. We met a group of friends, including Brandon and Seema, who were celebrating their anniversary - yaaaaay! Most of the crew stayed at the bar while Corey, Hannah and I sat down at a table in the dining room. Had it been a balmy summer day, we would have all dined on Casa’s wonderful porch, but it doesn’t quite work as well in November, unfortunately.

Casa
Casa

Meals at Casa always start with a bowl of corn and flour tortilla chips, along with green and red salsa. We also got an appetizer of guacamole to go with the chips. For dinner, I had a delicious carne asada dish, paired of course with one of the establishment’s famous margaritas.

margaritas
margaritas

The meal was wonderful, as usual, and filled us up for the long night ahead!

dinner
dinner

Another great place to do dinner at the start of a night out is the Belvedere Restaurant, which also has a fun bar, but unfortunately it was closed the night we made our rounds.

Live music at the Nail

After dinner, we dropped off Corey’s car and walked down to the Rusty Nail. No car necessary now that we're back from dinner at the other end of town!

We unintentionally hit the Rusty Nail on one of the best nights to go there. They host an open mic night every Tuesday evening, even in the middle of winter, and there’s a decent-sized group of musicians who frequent it. Anyone who knows me knows I love live music, so I was happy!

musicians
musicians

We each got a beer and checked out the tunes, which were mostly bluesy and classic rock-style covers. A few of our friends had dropped off after Casa, but there was a good group still going strong.

Nail hang
Nail hang

My father and his wife Sioux met us there as well, because they were celebrating my dad’s last day of work ever! Well, maybe not ever, but his last day before he was officially retired. So exciting!

dad
dad

We hung out for a bit at the Nail, watched people play pool, and met an adorable dog named Bruiser who hangs out there sometimes.

Bruiser
Bruiser

Then it was time to move on!

Bowling at Romano’s

Romano’s Saranac Lanes is just around the corner from the Nail. After we got a drink, half the group split off to bowl a few rounds, while my dad and Sioux ordered some food, and I met up with my friend Gabe, who was in town visiting for the holidays from North Carolina. We caught up while the bowlers bowled. And Corey would like me to mention that she got a strike on her first frame.

Corey bowl
Corey bowl

Dad and Sioux got some wings that they enjoyed, but the kitchen offers a variety of other options as well. I like their quesadillas!

wings
wings

I tend to visit Romano’s on Sunday afternoons to watch football, because they have about a million TV screens, so you can see all the 1 p.m. games at once, which is important when you are watching several players for your fantasy team or keeping an eye on the teams that are competing with yours for wildcard playoff spots.

I have also been known to enjoy a rare Saturday-night karaoke session at Romano’s here and there. No, I will not give you any videos of my singing.

After Romano’s, most of the crowd dropped off and went home to bed, while Corey, Gabe and I headed up the hill.

We had intentions of trying to make it to Downhill Grill before they closed, but we didn’t make it. So we ventured on.

Silliness at the Waterhole

By the time we arrived at the Waterhole, we were starting to feel a little silly. 

Gabe
Gabe

Normally my favorite part about the Waterhole is the frequent concerts, often in their Upstairs Music Lounge but also outside on the patio or inside in the downstairs bar area. There was no music tonight, so instead Corey played some fun metal classics on the jukebox. And some other random music.

The Waterhole has a great porch where people will often spend the whole night, even when it’s freezing outside. I’m not a smoker, but I venture out to the porch frequently to breathe some fresh air and hang out with all my smoky friends.

After a few smokes and a few drinks, it was time for our last stop.

Ending the night at Grizle T’s

We finished the night with a drink at Grizle T’s, my favorite bar in Saranac Lake (and the closest one to where I live). It goes by a variety of nicknames, including Grizle’s, Grizzly T’s, Grizlets, or just Griz (my favorite, because I’m into the whole brevity thing).

Griz has a great, homey atmosphere; beautiful, Adirondack-style wooden tables; and the most draft beer taps in town, with the beer offerings constantly shifting. I love trying new beers, so it makes me happy.

There’s usually a good crowd at Griz on Tuesday nights, because they offer two-for-one on a variety of their drinks after 9 p.m. That Tuesday night was no exception. As we walked in, we were accosted by big hugs from Brad, a former Saranac Laker who moved out of town and was visiting for the holiday, and there were plenty of other friends and friendly strangers hanging out as well.

Brad
Brad

We watched Brad play pool and quaffed some delicious beer as I took stock of all the reasons I love Grizle’s: There’s a foosball table, a photo booth, all the bartenders are great, and graffiti is encouraged in the bathrooms. For real - the walls of the ladies room are all painted with chalkboard paint, and several pieces of chalk are usually available to write and draw all over the walls.

pool
pool

I meant to get Corey and Gabe to do some strips of photos with me in the photo booth, but I forgot, so I’ll just have to leave you with some of the other fun photos we took during the night, because what's a pub crawl without a few fun photos?

 

seema
seema

bowling
bowling

nice
nice
Casa
Casa
margaritas
margaritas
dinner
dinner
musicians
musicians
Nail hang
Nail hang
dad
dad
Bruiser
Bruiser
Corey bowl
Corey bowl
wings
wings
Gabe
Gabe
Brad
Brad
pool
pool
seema
seema
bowling
bowling
nice
nice

Related Stories

Decidedly Different Entertainment
Faces of Music in Saranac Lake
Summer Programs for Kids
Explore Your Inner-Artist at ADK ArtRise
Lovely Lodging
Decidedly Artful
Black History in Saranac Lake
Sweet Indulgences - Saranac Lake's Coffee Hotspots
'Tis the Season
The Time Traveler's Guide to Saranac Lake
A Fall Vacation with Hot Sara
In Her Studio
Fall Events
It's All Good at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park
Don't Miss the Amazing Lawn Serpent!
Hot Town, Summer in the Village
My, How You’ve Grown: 40 Years of Pendragon Theatre
Walking the Walk: ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
Live Music at the Waterhole
An Artist's Haven
The Historic Saranac Experience
6 Must See Winter Carnival Events
More than the center of town
4 Ways to Enjoy Music and More in Saranac Lake
Extreme Art: Painting Inside the Blue Line
Music on the Green 2018
The VIC: It's Luxury Hiking!
Walking the Walk: 20 years of ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration!
'Round the Mountain Canoe Race - An Event For All Paddlers
The art of Pink House
Five decidedly different things in downtown Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake's Walk of Fame
Canoodlers and Lawn Chair Ladies
New Year, New Finds
From Your Home To Our Home
Downtown Holiday Shopping Guide
Getting First Night Ready
Calling All Rock Hounds
Crafting an art evening
The sound of healing
When the twenties roared
Be there at the finish!
Rugby — A Gentleman’s Sport
Six Nations, First People
Family fun that's free
Rebirth of the Hotel Saranac
Vroom! Daffest Derby creator shares memories
Maple, sweetener of the future!
The coolest St. Paddy's Day
Get out and art!
Winter Carnival Invention: Arctic Golf
2016 Most Popular Blogs
If self-care is naughty, I don't want to be nice
Get it together — First Night Saranac Lake
In plein site
A tree for the whole family
Dia de Muertos at Pine Ridge
Fall Events: a blaze of glory!
A Rainy Day Birding Trip in Madawaska
Coolest Adirondack Chopped Challenge!
Planting seeds
Don't miss the summer's coolest events
History Is Cool: The Lab Museum
Hotel Saranac: Then and Now
An "event-full" spring
Some assembly required
Wonderful Weddings in Cool Places
Anti-vaxxers lead to Saranac Lake reopening tuberculosis facilities
Five Fun (and obscure) Facts about Saranac Lake!
All things maple, in one weekend!
Saranac Lake Arts Beacon
Carl Ballantine, comedy magic
Love among the cure cottages
Yeah, we're cool - no matter what we're wearing!
Shops with personality plus
Special Dining Options - Gluten Free & Vegan
Fun with Ice: Saranac Lake Creativity
First thing's first: An insider's guide to First Night Saranac Lake
Winter Events You Won't Want To Miss
Trotting for Turkeys
Shopping without the stress
Tubing: the sport to please the masses
Adirondacks' Masterpiece
Unleash Your Inner Picasso
Upcoming Fall Events
Martha Reben: Staring down the Great White Plague
How to have fun at the Art Opening
Stevenson Cottage - small outside, a world inside
Riding the Rails, Adirondack style!
A Wonderful Wellness Weekend
July is when things heat up!
Coming Home to Saranac Lake
Cycle Adirondacks: Pedal On Over
Summer music is everywhere in Saranac Lake
Adirondack Cure for Cabin Fever
February Fun and Games in Saranac Lake
Wedding planning with the pros
Get ready to jam at Winter Carnival
Adirondack Traditions, then and now
Wellness Resolutions: Easy does it!
An Evening Sleigh Ride in the Adirondacks
Four Seasons of High Points
A night on the town in Saranac Lake
Where to find hot beverages
Healthy Holidays, Adirondack Style
A picture's worth a thousand words - epic winter events
Eat 'n Meet: a community-minded neighborhood joint
Saranac Lake Remembers the Great War
A Guide to the Great Indoors
New fun at Titus Mountain Ski Area
The Blind Owl Band: A true Adirondack band
Norman Bethune, the hero, the artist
The biggest Cure Tour of them all
History Comes Alive in Saranac Lake
Forks, Fests, and Flatwater: 3 Featured Fall events
See artists at work in the mountains
A cure cottage tour, a step back in time
The Art Walk is a path to art, music, and fun!
Mid-summer events in Saranac Lake
Frankenstein Lives! In the old laboratory in the village
Events roundup for Saranac Lake
Art Event or Fun Party? BluSeed blurs the line
Daffest is just around the corner
Night Time's the Right Time in Saranac Lake
VIC music sweetens a ski Sunday
Waterhole Wednesdays Feature Free Music
Winter Foodie Scene
BluSeed Studios planning for busy spring
Spoken Word: Poetry on Stage
Thursday Night Music Jam
Breakfast & History
Mid-Winter Events 2014
Winter Carnival means live music
Building the Ice Palace
The Art of Gifts
New Years Eve Saranac Lake NY
Intimate Studio Tour With Sandra Hildreth
Art & Dining
Winter Family Events
Less than two weeks to Sparkle Village Craft Fair!
Camera Obscura: The Renaissance Camera
Saranac Lake Art Attraction Nov 22 - Dec 28, 2013
Discover the Art of Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake: A Mecca for the Arts
5 Cool Ways to Experience Art in Saranac Lake
Hunkering down with Adirondack arts in late fall
Hunkering down with Adirondack arts in late fall
Holistic Guiding: Immersing Yourself in ADK History & Culture
Painted Landscapes, Clay Demonstrations, and Chickens...all a part of the Artist at Work Studio Tour
Artist at Work Studio Tour this week
Fun family events for fall foliage season
Fifth Annual Hobofest: Music, Food and Fun on the Tracks
Hobofest tops the calendar this weekend
FlavorFest at The Wild Center
Farm 2 Fork: Slow Food, Long Life
Hobofest Returns to Saranac Lake
Pianist Eugene Sirotkine performs August 6th concert to benefit Bartok Cabin
Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend
Top 5 Family Friendly Activities in the Saranac Lake Area
Paper Making with a Purpose at BluSeed Studios
From carousels to magic lamps - events to tickle your Spring fancy
Historic Saranac Lake "History Matters" series continues with "Clara's Rib"
Historic Saranac Lake "History Matters" series continues with "The Art of Guideboat Building"
A Taste of Provence at Saranac Lake's Left Bank Cafe
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES