Craftails Speakeasy — Restaurant in Bradenton

Honestly, this place was super cool. The cocktails were really good, the atmosphere was cozy and chill with the jazz music, and the cocktail prices were fair.

However, I do have a problem with the service that left a bad taste in my mouth. My mom went in around 4:30 PM to check it out. She loved it so much and told me I needed to check it out myself- and I decided I would go there later that night with my girlfriend. My mom told me she left some cash with the bartender, Dan, to buy me and my girlfriend some drinks when we got there. She never told me how much, which I should have asked her.

I got to the bar and the bartender only said “Your mom bought your first drink. What would you like?”

I ordered the traditional old fashion $11 and my girlfriend got the French 75 one $14. He told us we were good and she left $ for a tip as well.

I went up to the bar for another round of drinks, ordered the NY Sourpuss $16 and the Lavender Cocktail $14. He didn’t say anything to me regarding if my mom still had more money for us left, etc. Instead, he made the drink, barely interacted with us, and took my card and charged it. I tipped 20%. I assumed my mom must have only left enough $ for a round of drinks and a tip. I didn’t ask any questions, I just assumed he had morals.

I just spoke with my mom about my night and she said she left Dan $60 and told him to use that to pay for me and my girlfriends drinks. Never once did he say the amount, and he knew my first round of drinks was only $25 and continued to charge me for my second round even though I had $35 still there.

Therefore, he took about a $40 tip home just from us. It felt shady, and to do that to my mom when she was just trying to do a nice thing is terrible.

Overall, the establishment is really cool. But, you have to have good service and good people to meet your atmosphere...

Mediocre cocktails - environment was alright. Staff was a bit “snooty”. The whole place seemed snooty - but was skimped on a lot of the places where it would have done better. (Even the bartender talked about how the bar could have been better… but it would have cost more)

I would say if you’re looking for some jazz and a cocktail “date night” style - you’ll enjoy and it’s a good spot. If you’re just looking for a cocktail, easier and more efficient elsewhere.

Personally - won’t be going back. A local came in with his hat on with two guests and was asked to remove his hat (understandable- house rules) but he didn’t want to (understandable - people don’t like being told what to do) he and his two guests left and the room took to making fun of him. That’s not something I agree with or an environment I’ll...

"I recently had the pleasure of having drinks at this establishment, and I was thoroughly impressed! The drink I ordered was absolutely delicious, and the service was top-notch. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made sure I felt welcome. I'll definitely be coming back for more!

As an added bonus, there was a talented saxophone player performing live on Thursday evening. His music was incredible, and it really added to the overall ambiance of the place. I felt like I was in for a real treat!

Overall, I highly recommend this spot to anyone looking for a great drink experience. The combination of excellent drinks, superb service, and fantastic live music makes it a must-visit destination. I can't wait to come back and enjoy...