Forward-thinking cocktails and no password required at Herman's Loan Office

Herman’s Loan Office
22 W. Pine St., 407-649-0000

After work or after hours? Somewhere in between. It’s not a raucous late-night party crowd, but the bar doesn’t open until 8 p.m. most nights.

Beer/wine or liquor too? There’s a small beer selection, but liquor is the star here. Sorry, oenophiles: no wine.

Check all that apply:
☒ fancy cocktails
☐ make 'em strong and keep 'em coming
☐ wine list (5 choices or more)
☒ craft beer
☐ beer: the usual suspects
☐ wide selection of bottles/cans (more than 15)
☐ wide selection on tap (more than 15)

Food? Y ☐ N ☒

Smoking allowed inside? Y ☐ N ☒

Outside drinking? Y ☐ N ☒

Dog-friendly? Y ☐ N ☒  

Bathrooms: nightmare or not bad? Not bad, but they are shared with Native Social Bar

Bag hooks? Y ☒ N ☐  

TVs? Y ☐ N ☒

DJs? Y ☐ N ☒

Live music? Y ☐ N ☒

Loud music or background music?Background music of the throwback variety (Dave Brubeck, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Otis Redding)

Games? Check all that apply:
☐ pinball
☐ video
☐ pool
☐ darts
☒ other: There’s a chess/checkers board on one of the coffee tables, but we didn’t see any pieces readily available.

Essay question: Why should I drink here?  
If you love the concept of Hanson’s Shoe Repair but prefer to have a little elbow room, rejoice: Herman’s Loan Office is exactly what you’ve been craving. The well-appointed space – practically a palace compared to the tight confines of Hanson’s – features the kind of furniture you’d expect to find in a bank: dark wooden coffee tables, nicely upholstered couches and chairs … and a white marble bar to tie the room together. Chief creative bartender Rene Nguyen and his team sculpt a variety of forward-thinking cocktails. Try our favorite, the Dance at Bougival, a dark concoction of gin, prosecco, balsamic vinegar and Cynar served in a champagne flute. Or, if you don’t quite know what you want, the bartenders can craft something for you if you give them your preferences from three categories: Light or Dark, Refreshing or Spiritous, Comforting or Adventurous. Make it a point to check out their Friday happy hour, which features $6 bartender’s choice cocktails – no password required.