There are Christmas lights and then there are Christmas LIGHTS. And the Mission Inn in Riverside has the latter. So my better half and I decided to spend the holiday at the massive hotel that takes up a large block and is a busy destination with food pop-ups all through the promenade that makes up a part of the Riverside Arts and Historical district.
The first drinks spot was BeerFarm at the Riverside Food Lab food hall near the Mission Inn. The spot has a nice variety over their nearly 20 taps. There was not anything local to the city but I was able to find a few choices and I went with a DIPA from Pure Project.
Before I checked out the two bars at the hotel, I made another close by stop. A taproom location of Route 30 Brewing which I had not had a beer from before. There were a limited amount of offerings but my choice of a dark Czech lager was really good and great to have while waiting for rain to arrive.
The Mission Inn had a bit of a disappointing beer menu. One bar is a multi-purpose space, the tequila bar looks great but the two times that I poked my head in, there was no one inside and no one manning the bar. A quick witted thief could have snared a bottle and left with no one the wiser.
The Presidential Lounge is the best choice but them prices is high. Since it was the holiday season, I was hoping to see a special cocktail or two. But none was to be had. Over the days there I had to different spins on an Old Fashioned. I had the Corn Silk version made with Nixta liquor de Elote and then the George Bush with Fernet. Both were just fine but just didn’t have a special kick or notes to it especially with plus $20 charge.
The better option is down the prom is a classy restaurant The State which did have special holiday cocktail, an egg nog riff, Coquito with coconut and rum. It was great and literally $10 cheaper. They have whiskey Wednesdays too with Happy Hour choices which made me want to re-visit.
