Central Ohio earned a new cocktail bar last week with the opening of The Lion in Bexley! The Lion is a little outpost on East Main Street from the Bexley Hospitality Group, and it bills itself as Bexley’s only cocktail bar. It draws its name from the Bexley high school’s mascot.
The storefront itself, situated in a strip between a Great Clips and a community center, may seem unassuming, but inside the bar features a soft and relaxing vibe, with dark green accents, exposed brick, wood floors, plush couches and booths, greenery decorating the front, and mirrors scattered throughout.
The bar team is busy at work with their creations, which run the gamut from all the classics to one of the city’s more unique cocktail selections.
Opening weekend they were sampling some of their menu, like the Corn cocktail: a concoction that involved Mellow corn whiskey, a reduction of it, and filtered liquid from corn itself. It was like a sweet corn version of of an old fashioned.
The Where Are We? cocktail blends blanco tequila, sake, and snap pea – it’s lightly sweet and slightly vegetal.
The Lion’s beverage program is headed up by Dustin Ross, who has experience with a number of spots around town. You can read my interview with him at Service Bar for Experience Columbus here.
Our second round of drinks included the Fortunate One (right) with rum, mezcal, guava, and a touch of kanzuri chili paste. We also tasted the Trieste Melon (left) with oyster blanc vermouth, melon lassi, and Prosecco. Both an interesting balance of flavors (yes, you can taste a touch of the oysters) while still being refreshing and unique.
Of course, if you want something more traditional, they’re more than adept at the classics, like my favorite rye Manhattan.
The Lion’s soft opening hours are Monday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, noon to midnight; and Sunday, 1-11 p.m.
The Lion
2511 E. Main St.
Bexley, OH 43209
Web: thelionbexley.com
IG: @thelionbexley
