Comings & Goings

As a Lambertville resident, I've walked past The Distillery, The Spirit of Lambertville more times than I can count. Whether I was taking my dog to the towpath or heading to the Lambertville Farmers Market on a Sunday morning, somehow, despite always being on the lookout for a new local spot to try, my fiancé Adam and I had never actually stepped inside.

So when his birthday rolled around in June, we figured The Distillery would be the perfect place to kick things off before heading across the river to New Hope for dinner.

From the outside, The Distillery blends naturally into the charm of Lambertville. Like many of the town's best spots, it's understated. If you weren't looking for it, you might walk right past it. But despite being one of Lambertville's newer spots, it somehow already feels like it's been there forever.

One of the first things I noticed was the atmosphere.

The space is warm, moody, and cozy without trying too hard. Exposed wood beams, low lighting, cozy seating, and dark interiors create the perfect balance between an upscale cocktail bar and a neighborhood hangout. It's the kind of place that feels perfect for a date night, a birthday celebration, or catching up with friends before dinner.

When we visited, the crowd was made up mostly of locals. I'm the kind of person who can never decide what to order, so I'll ask the bartender, server, or honestly anyone nearby for a recommendation. While I was debating between a few cocktails, one of the women sitting at the bar assured me I really couldn't go wrong because "all the drinks are good." Thankfully, she was right.

Even before the drinks arrived, though, my favorite detail of the spot was the menu itself.

Designed to look like a newspaper, I immediately loved it. It's creative, memorable, and exactly the kind of touch that makes an experience unique before you've even ordered your first drink. Everyone loves a cool menu.

Another detail I loved was how many of the cocktails represented Lambertville itself. Drinks like Finkels Nuts and Bolts, named after the longtime local hardware store, make the menu feel personal and connected to the town. It's a small detail, but is meaningful to the locals. 

And yes, Finkels Nuts and Bolts is definitely on my list for our next visit.

One of the things I love most about Lambertville is that, despite its size, there's always something new to discover. We have incredible restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, and local businesses, but The Distillery feels like it fills a space that didn't really exist before. It's already become one of the first places I'll suggest when friends are visiting Lambertville.

Of course, if you know anything about me, you know exactly where my eyes went next.

The dessert cocktail section.

I have a serious sweet tooth, so while I started with the Minty Morning Side, I already knew I'd be ordering something sweet afterward. Described on the menu as "a bright, botanical escape in a glass," the Minty Morning Side combines lime, elderflower, and fresh mint into something refreshing, crisp, and incredibly easy to drink. It felt like the perfect cocktail to start a summer evening.

But the real star of the show for me was The Neapolitan.

The second I saw vodka, strawberry, amaretto, and almond milk on the menu, there was absolutely no chance I was ordering anything else.

I had high expectations, and somehow it still exceeded them. It tasted exactly like melted Neapolitan ice cream in a cocktail glass, and I mean that in the best way possible. I'm not exaggerating when I say I spent the rest of the weekend telling people about this drink.

If your ideal cocktail isn't basically dessert in a glass, this one might not be for you. But if you're anything like me, do yourself a favor and order it.

As much as I loved the Neapolitan, Adam's cocktail choices proved that The Distillery isn't just for people like me who view dessert as its own food group.

He started with the Southside Boozy Tea, their take on a Long Island Iced Tea featuring bourbon and, as the menu puts it, "a bit of everything." He followed it with the Sweet Jerk, a Caribbean-inspired cocktail featuring sweet, spicy, citrusy, and botanical flavors. Both were completely different from what I ordered, which just proved to me that there's really something for everyone on the menu.

What I liked most about The Distillery is that it felt stylish without feeling overdone. It's cozy, welcoming, and somewhere you could easily spend a few hours without realizing it. The bartender we met was friendly, happy to answer questions, and probably very patient with me while I debated what to order. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, and the whole place just felt welcoming.

Honestly, the fact that we've already gone back says it all.

During our first visit, I spent most of the evening debating whether to order the Neapolitan or the Mint Chocolate Chip cocktail. I told myself I'd save the Mint Chocolate Chip for next time, which, as it turns out, happened sooner than expected.

And yes, it was absolutely worth the wait.

After going back for the Mint Chocolate Chip on our second visit, I've already got my eye on the espresso martini for next time. And yes, Finkels Nuts and Bolts is still on the list too.

For a place I'd walked past countless times, it's funny to think The Distillery has quickly become somewhere I'm already looking forward to going back to. And honestly, isn't that the best kind of local spot?