The Monkey Bar

It's so much fun to go out for drinks with girlfriends and Downtown  Fairhope has many excellent places to imbibe. The newest addition to the GNO (girls' night out ) scene is The Monkey Bar on Section Street.  Ellen Semple, the owner, acquired the old PNC bank building and renovated it to open Five Gold Monkeys, a boutique store specializing in fine furniture, fabric, accessories, and gifts. This is the second location of the store, the first being in Mobile. An interior designer for 25 years, Ellen had to think long and hard about the potential of the space, especially the Drive Thru Teller Station.  Seeing the perfect walk-up opportunity, she transformed the drive-thru into covered seating, a deck, and the old egress is an open patio.  “  I enjoy green space and I wanted as much greenery as possible. The Monkey  Bar is a play on the name of my store, Five Gold Monkeys. When I think of monkeys, I think of the jungle. I wanted it to feel like a tropical oasis,  an escape in the middle of downtown.” she says.

An oasis it is!  We found a cozy-covered corner to sit and visit. The outdoor furnishings are stylish and comfortable. Large planters full of greenery create a green screen that gives a feeling of privacy while huge ceiling fans keep the air moving.  Patio tables with umbrellas for shade and a beautiful, covered bar area make you feel like you are in an island paradise. The menu has a nice selection of wine and beer, and I ordered an especially delicious specialty cocktail.  The servers were attentive, and Ellen brought us colorful jute fans to help with the end of July heat.  

When asked about her plans for the bar, Ellen said, “We will be adding “nibbles” to our menu hopefully in the next few weeks. We are looking to partner with a local business or hire someone to run our kitchen. We would like to also invite Food Trucks to our back area for special events. We will also have live music from time to time. Being a huge football fan, we will be well set for the football season. People have inquired about renting out for special events. We will need a little more time to work towards that, but with our extra space behind The Monkey Bar, we are already thinking about the possibilities... I look at the bar like I am inviting people into my home, including a warm open welcome, casual friendly atmosphere, high-end cocktails, wine, and beer. I am always creating and love trying new things. Our special cocktail list will always include new things. We have a dessert martini list coming very soon. My stepson and General Manager, Henry Semple, and I created the names of our specialty drinks and the cocktail list. We introduced the Chunky Monkey Bushwhacker yesterday, my special recipe, everyone must try one. You can even add a dark chocolate-covered banana if you really want to splurge.``

Girl's night out, Date night, a rest from shopping, an after-work cocktail, or even day-drinking, The Monkey Bar, is a fun, easy spot with a laid-back casual feel. It is open from 11:30 till 8 pm at 51 South Section Street.  Reversing the Joni Mitchell song “ They paved a parking lot and put up a Paradise! “

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