In LEO’s 2010 Reader’s Choice issue, Zanzabar was crowned with “Best Trivia Night” and “Best New Bar/Club,” and got top 3 nods for “Best Sports Bar,” “Best U of L Bar,” “Best Live Music Venue,” “Best Pub Grub,” “Best Bar Bathroom,” and “Best Neighborhood Bar/Pub.”
That’s pretty impressive (and also evidence that the amount of categories LEO has in its annual poll is absurdly superfluous for a city of Louisville’s size. Just sayin'.)
Spend a half hour inside this instant classic Germantown bar however, and you see why everyone seems to love the place. In fact, for us unlucky ones who don’t live within walking distance, an hour into your stay feelings of ambivalence kick in as the gratitude you feel towards the bar Gods who have bestowed such a fine watering hole upon your city is matched only by grief as you lament the fact that Zanzabar isn’t on your block.
The good news is the drinks are cheap enough to forget all about such travesties, and by the next round you’re just trying to decide whether or not a second order of sour cream cheddar macaroni salad is overdoing it – because it, as well as almost everything else on the menu, is amazing.
There’s also a huge heated patio, a bunch of old school arcade games, and a stage that lands some perplexingly big acts for such a small space. (It seems half the bands that play Zanzabar could just as easily play a club at least twice its size. Proof: The Whigs played Z last summer, they’re playing at Headliners this month.)
There’s no official happy hour, but there’s almost always a daily special which seems to change with the mood of the bartender. Last Thursday, for instance, was ½ off well drinks for ladies (which came to $1.75).
A couple things that never change however:
Monday: Ping Pong Tournament 9pm
Thursday: ½ off bottles of wine. (Z has 5 reds, 4 whites, all normally $22/bottle, $6/gass)
Sunday: Trivia Night 6-8pm
Daily: $1.50 PBR cans, $2 Rolling Rock cans, $2.50 Miller/Bud products
2100 Preston Street
(502) 635-ZBAR
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Comments
Zanzabar was like a shiny new rocket. It took off and never looked back.
tlk
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