Came here for a whiskey bottle engraving. UPDATE/EDIT I'm usually very generous with my reviews when I have a great experience and this will be the 1st one that I edit because of the end of my experience there. I sat at the bar was greeted promptly I ordered my drink, since it's a craft cocktail place the bartender made my drink with flair and finesse. I got my Manhattan , was surprised at the cinnamon flavor but I figured since it was the holidays, in a craft place, It was an acceptable twist to my drink. It was very flavorful and I enjoyed it. I entered the bar on my own, having been in the business for over 30 yrs,, I'm very sociable. A couple approached the bar and the lady did not drink whiskey or bourbon so the bartender made a cocktail for her. I watched to see if she would like it and when she really enjoyed it I asked what the cocktail was. At that point the bartender told me the name with his head turned away so I missed the name. I asked about the ingredients and he told me to read the menu. Now mind you , it was very dark in the bar and having very recently suffering eye trauma, it was hard to see in there. Being somewhat offended, I picked up the menu and tried to read it. I sat there for a moment , and at that point decided not to finish my 16$ drink. I really wish that I would have crossed-out the generous tip but decided to leave instead. I'm a Food & Beverage manager at an Elite private club, had one of my staff told a guest to read the menu Instead of having the ability to multitask and offer courteous service, they would have been terminated. It appears that now, the politically correct term for Bartender, is "Mixologist". With some, I'm guessing it's a distinction that gives a "Mixologist" the ability to be cocky, ego centric and exempt from courtesy. Your experience is to be wowed by the flair, take your cocktail, keep quiet, and admire. A little insight from "Old School", Craft cocktails have been around since the 20's. Good Bartenders have the ability to serve multiple people, craft good cocktails, and give welcoming service. NOT what I received at the Volstead. I WILL never recommend or go there again. The only reason I left 1 star is the place is well decorated that imparts a nice ambiance.

Went for happy hour and the place was busy. There was only one bartender working, so there was a wait but worth it. The drinks were delicious. Once the construction in the front is done, it looks like the store front will be an antique style barber shop.

Chill vibe. Music is not loud enough where you can't talk to someone which is great, but good enough to enjoy!. First round of drinks my friends got tasted like straight up 409 lemon scent. Lol. It was effin disgusting. They took it back up and got the same liquor that was in the mix drink, but this time straight up. And it tasted nothing like the liquor that they had. The mix drink they had was awful. Kudos on fixing the problem.

UPDATE: I appreciate the follow up from The owner and I understand this bartenders actions is not a reflection of the entirety of the bar. We had amazing service with the taller gentlemen and will come back because it truly is a great ambiance ; being in the industry as well customer service for a business is of utmost importance especially for it being out first time in. Such a shame that the customer service from a particular bartender was so terrible because our drink and atmosphere was great. We sat and were seated on Sunday around 1015, after receiving our drinks from a taller gentlemen with glasses which was amazing, the smaller bartender with glasses turns on all the lights and said “it’s last call, go to the bar down the street if you wanted to stay out” I apologized for not knowing if was closing time when he responded well it’s Sunday so I’m closing early. I shrugged and when waiting for my check saw the man point and over hear him say “that girl over there”. As we finished our drinks he put on Christmas music loud enough where we couldn’t hear each other and clapped around the bar so that we can leave. So disappointed cause I was super excited and ready to spend more. $54 flr 3 drinks and with the ambiance I know we would have gotten another round. Hope this bartender self reflects or finds something he enjoys to do because unfortunately it’s evident he is extremely unhappy with life and or job position .

Best craft cocktails in Jacksonville. If you’re looking for a place to hang out and have a great time check out this speakeasy downtown. They make the best Aviation ever. Ask for Chris

During a recent short visit I came here back to back nights. Even though it may be a little dark it doesn't bother me similar to other traditional speakeasy. I had a tequila old fashioned and it was very tasty. Next time I am in the city I will explore the menu more

I've been coming to this place for years. Those years have been up and down. But in the recent times I've been have been fantastic! Glad to see this place finally come out of its funk and get back to being great! The drinks are amazing. Both the interpretations of classic drinks, and their original specials. Most of my poor experiences in the past have been with the staff, but it seems like the subpar staff have moved on to other endeavors. The old time atmosphere of a prohibition Era speak easy is also unique and not something I have seen done in Jacksonville this we'll! 10/10. Glad to see the place is back on its feet, out of its funk, and back on the up and up!!!

I really wanted to like this place but other than the drinks and the speak easy theme, it’s kind of boring. I was kinda surprised that they don’t have any type of food. It was for a friend’s birthday so obviously I enjoyed their company and conversation but we could do that anywhere. They played A LOT of Amy Winehouse so that just kinda further turned me off. If I return it’ll probably be when they have a little more goin on like a live performer or something. Beautiful drinks but not much else goin on here.

When I'm in Jax, I always make it a point to grab a drink at Volstead. It's a wonderful place to grab a drink and their bartenders are the best in the business-- they are true craftspeople. For example, I wanted something herbal, minty with the only restriction being no dark tequila. Chase, the gentleman who took my order, made the light and wonderful drink I was asking for and it was all off the dome. I truly appreciate the care in the preparation and the explanation behind each ingredient's choice. I can't sing their praises enough. Volstead is a downtown staple. Cheers!

I am a simple lady, with simple taste. I like a chill vibe, a good cocktail, and some excellent company. The Volstead provides, in abundance. Christopher and Matt have yet to disappoint me, even when I'm indecisive and have them make me a drink on the spot using buzzwords- it's impressive as hell to watch. The seasonal cocktails are spectacular, don't get me wrong, but there is definitely something special about giving Christopher a word or two, and seeing what magic he comes up with. The latest, a coffee mix, was spectacular. So Monday night is my night at The Volstead, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What a hidden gem! Traveled for work and always try and find a cute spot to have a drink and really glad I stumbled upon this one. The bar is very speakeasy / prohibition vibes behind a red curtain. The drinks were really great and the service was great too. If you are in the area, I would definitely recommend popping in and talking to the bartenders about their concoctions on the menu. Great vibes

Fantastic Barista, very nice and great go talk to. I must have been there at a bad time cause there was only 1 other group there. Drink was too strong but some people wouldn't complain about that.

One of the most unique atmospheres I've experienced for a bar downtown. Bartenders are super slow, but they make sure to make you feel inferior while they're making a unique whiskey drink. Way overpriced. The third time I came here I walked in and walked out without ordering anything.

We stumbled upon this little gem in downtown Jax and were pleasantly surprised by the mixologists and their ability to craft custom drinks based on flavor profiles. They also had a great menu of drinks too. The dim lit atmosphere was nice and service was impecable especially for a busy bar. It’s worth the stop in. They love up to their website for the best hand crafted cocktails in Jacksonville.

This place is one of my favorite stops downtown. The atmosphere is impeccable, the drinks are divine, and the staff are always so welcoming and very knowledgeable. I’ve celebrated many life events with a drink here, and will continue to do so as long as they’re around!

Top class place. Very relaxed with great prices and many liquor selections. I was there Friday night and they had some young musicians playing the greatest jazz songs of all times. I encourage The Volstead to have these musicians as often as possible.

This bar was awesome. However its tricky to find from the street, I won't give away the secret. If you know you know. The bar tender knows his biz, he's been in the game a minute. The bar is very relaxed though, no drama or bs. Came in here effort happy hour, came out with plenty of money still. Will come back and bring friends. Great drinks and vibes all around

I can not explain how much that I love this place. The Volstead has become a staple in Jacksonville. It's not even the best kept secret anymore. The bartenders are the best at what they do. The drink menus are always artfully creative. If you are ever in the downtown are and are looking to just unwind, this should definitely be a go to.

4 of us had drinks after a play. Wasn’t a parting kind of night. It’s a Wednesday and it was pretty quiet. Seemed more like locals than anyone else. Good spot to grab a drink on a late weeknight!

I had the duck bubble bath drink, it tasted like toothpaste but i was happy because i was able to keep the duck 🤣

I had reached out via email to make a reservation for a group of friends to celebrate with each other. The responded quickly and catered us with excellent service and detail. All the drinks where consistent and accurate. The music was not loud and was nice. The ambiance and entrance could not have been any better. Well will definitely be adding this to our frequent locations. My apologies for the late post.

Disappointed by the staff. We went for a drink on Sunday, January 29, at about 7.30 pm. While the decor and setting was good, the girl at the bar had an attitude problem. We had barely sat down and she gave us a look, meaning, "I'm gonna have to serve you." We tipped in accordance with the service we received.

I met up with a friend here last night and it was busier than I expected. It was packed actually. There were only 2 bartenders but that was all they needed! Chris and Geion killed it! The drinks and service were on point! This is my FAVORITE after work spot!

Excellent, excellent drinks and a great range of music as well. I love the darker ambiance and overall mood of the bar.

Tasty drinks and excellent staff. Love the movies on the wall. My favorite bar downtown, tends to be a low-key noir vibe. See you soon!

The Volstead transports you back in time to an era of sophistication and charm, offering an authentic old-timey bar experience that's hard to find elsewhere. The attention to detail and commitment to recreating classic libations truly sets The Volstead apart. The ambiance, reminiscent of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, provides the perfect backdrop for sipping these artful concoctions. My visit to The Volstead was a delightful journey through time, where I couldn't help but fall in love with the ambiance, cocktails, and the overall sense of nostalgia it evoked. Are you a business or influencer interested in collaborating with us for an unforgettable experience? Reach out to us through direct message or email, and let's create magic together! @april.visuals on all platforms