Mandarin Hide

I love this place; I really, really do. And now that it’s hotter than Ugandan monkey balls, I can justify going more than I have been in the past. Their Moscow Mules are simply perfection. While it can get a little expensive, you have to accept the realization that if you don’t pay for good liquor now, you’re going to pay for it later with a beast of a hangover.
Also of note, I swear upon all that is holy and good: I will buy one or two of their candles the next time I’m in that establishment. Those candles smell so, so good. Every time I’m in MH I say I’m going to buy one and carry it around, but I always fail in this endeavor. Not again!
So, why four stars?
The bathroom situation causes consternation like no other. In an establishment that sells alcohol, you’re going to need a restroom… or three. There is no reason for the tacky lines streaming through the bar on busy nights. I assume there are only two toilets in the whole place? Regardless, when I’m not waiting in line for drinks, I’d rather not being in the line for the restroom. My solution? Go sooner than later. Either way: GO!
… And check it at the door, girlfriend.

Delicious and interesting cocktails and friendly bar staff. It’s nice getting water automatically when you’re going to sit down and put back some strong drinks.

Love this bar! The bartenders know how to make a good drink. Some times you need to get the bartenders attention. I’ve waited patiently for a drink before… Some advice, choose your seat wisely. Other than the service, I really enjoy the atmosphere and the alcohol.

Stopped in here for an afternoon pick-​me-​up a few weekends ago with some friends and was pleasantly surprised with just how different a place this is between day time and night time. You could say it’s like… black and white.
The first thing you’ll notice about this place when you walk in is that it’s beautiful. It’s a narrow area, so the bar itself takes about about half of the area, meaning there’s not too many places to sit, or even to stand. But it’s decorated impeccably creating a very warm and inviting atmosphere, and you can always go out back for a little extra room. The day we were there they had a band playing near the entrance, and while the music was honestly amazing, it was so loud that my friends were yelling and still having trouble being heard. And the few times I’ve been here at night we’ve had the same issue even without there being a band to add to the problem. The only problem with the awesome décor is that it’s all hard surfaces and noise just never dies.
As for the drinks, I’ve got nowhere to complain. I’ve had a Moscow Mule there, which was pretty good; an Old Fashioned, which was great; and this most recent time I ordered a Nolet’s Nectar, which was absolutely amazing. You get your drinks pretty quickly when you order them, and the bar tenders are all very classy looking people that seem to know what they’re doing. And this is definitely a place to stop by on your birthday.
Prices are a bit steep but it’s what you’d expect from a bar that’s trying to look a little classier than the multitudes of others within a two block radius.
Definitely give this place a try though. And if you like gin (and especially if you like the bitter kick of a negroni), give the Nolet’s Nectar a try. Not as bitter, but absolutely amazing.

Best cocktails in Tampa Bay! Hands down! The cocktail menu is incredible, but don’t limit yourself. The mixologists are true technicians and can make anything to suit your flavor. The selection of brands is unparalleled, but it’s the wisdom of the bar men that make this place. Must try if you are a cocktail connoisseur.

VERY nice atmosphere and very strong and tasty drinks. My only criticism is that they sell absolutely no food. NOTHING at all to eat. Not little snacks or appetizers, something to soak up the alcohol. Had they sold food, we would have stayed much longer. It was after work on a Friday and I was very hungry. We ended up having one drink and leaving to go somewhere else where we could drink and eat. As someone else mentioned, it’s very hard to find even when Google maps is telling you that you’re standing right in front of it lol. Better signage is needed! Maybe it’s a play on the name, Mandarin «Hide».

A pretty cool place to grab a drink or specialty cocktail if you’re in the Downtown St. Pete area. My friends and I came here on a recent Friday, which also happened to be First Friday. It was pretty packed up until about 10pm then got super packed so come early. Great vibe and décor.

Unbelievably good!!! This will always be one of our stops for handcrafted cocktails when we are in downtown Saint Pete!!!

Hands down– this is my favorite bar in downtown St. Petersburg.
Mandarin makes great cocktails, is reasonable priced, has an awesome décor — and always makes me feel welcomed. Thursday night is my favorite night to stop by the bar– it is $ 5 mule night and they have a variety of ginger beer based drinks at least one of which is sure to be perfect for you. My favorite is the Mezcali Mule– which is mescal blended with ginger beer in a fantastic spicy, smokey combo that is sure to hit the spot. But if that isn’t your style– try the classic Moscow Mule or Dark & Stormy and enjoy being in a nice bar having a good drink.
Any night of the week you can stop by and have a great cocktail. All of the bartenders are professional and I have never received a bad drink.
I love the Mandarin Hide… but, so do lots of other people. On weekends the bar can be crazy crowded and overwhelm you with people. The bar staff– making their meticulously awesome drinks– are not fast, and with large crowds it is easy to be frustrated at this bar. It is narrow on the inside without a lot of seating. As much as I love this bar I usually avoid it as it gets later and more crowded on Friday and Saturday nights.
Additional notes:
*There is often a live blue grass band in the bar– which is an awesome touch.
*During the holidays they fill the bar with the biggest Christmas tree you will find downtown.
*They have an excellent selection of craft bourbons– want to try pappy? This is a place you can do it.
You can’t go wrong with a classy cocktail bar that knows what it is doing. Stop in and find out for yourself.

Super lovin’ on Mandarin Hide. We go here every time we visit St. Pete. There’s a British bartender here, I have no recollection of his name as I’m half in the bag each time we leave here. He’s patient and attentive, and takes the time to answer our questions and make his own off-​menu drinks (try the Clover Club — yummmmmm, you won’t be sorry!). I had my first Aviation here and I’ve been drinking/​mixing them ever since.
This bar is low key (on weekdays) and for the most part, quiet. We will always, always visit Mandarin while visiting Saint Pete.

Love the place! A bit narrow, but very pretty inside. Love their Christmas decorations. They always have a live Christmas tree. White lights make it look so classy! Love their hand crafted cocktails. My favorite is chocolate raspberry Godiva martini. They also have some great drink specials, such as $ 5 Moscow mule on Thursdays and $ 15 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday. Great happy hour that lasts till 8pm!

I went to this bar because of the reviews on Unilocal… They seemed good and I was looking for a place like I could find in Chicago. Although it’s on a busy strip, it’s hard to spot. A musician playing in the bar that night help me and my dad find it, but consigned on its obscurity.
The first guy who helped me at the bar was pleasant but couldn’t suggest a drink because he was new. He let me know that another bartender would be right with me. That guy wasn’t as pleasant or welcoming. Not sure if it was because he was busy, but that’s his job… You know?
That whole strip doesn’t bring in a diverse crowd, this bar included.
The stars are for how the bar looks inside… it’s nice.
I won’t go back.

Great hand crafted drinks. Bartenders really know their stuff. Very hip and trendy. Small space and gets crowded but it’s in the heart of downtown on Central so it’s expected. Great if you really appreciate a fine cocktail.

I can’t comment on weekends, but on a Tuesday this place was the perfect spot for getting a drink.
They have «experimental» cocktails for $ 6 in addition to the regular ones on Tuesdays. The one with Pineapple and Vanilla was delicious.
I also had the Port of Envy which was good, you could really taste the port.
Wifey had an Old St. Pete, which was fruity and tasty.
They also have a very good collection of Bourbon, Scotch, and Rye.
The atmosphere was very cool.
The bartender was friendly.
Great place for a chill drink, ON a WEEKDAY.

Loved the drinks, loved the atmosphere. Unlike other DTSP bars, you can actually have a conversation here. I would not describe the bartenders as warm or attentive, but they got the job done. I’ll be back.

I love to hate Downtown St Pete, and Mandarin Hide is most of the reason I love Downtown. It is right in the middle of the craziness, but they don’t seem to allow that to bother them. The attention to detail every cocktail receives is what helps make this place a true gem.
The Moscow Mule is actually served in a copper mug, which makes a difference. And Thursdays they are $ 5, yay!
The Espresso Martini is one of the best I’ve ever had and definitely helps with a pick-​me-​up to finish the night.
Every drink I’ve tried on their cocktail menu is awesome. Last night I had the Lemon Haze and it is so refreshing!
(I also had a drink with cucumber and basil but I can’t remember the name, also great and refreshing)
I have to say you need to try this place if you have never been. It can be a little slow early in the evening and after the brunch crowd has left on the weekends, but it’s still worth it for a great drink.

For delicious hand-​crafted cocktails, this is THE place to go in St. Petersburg. Located on a happening section of Central in St. Petersburg, I think of the Hide as a tiny oasis away from the madness.
If you luck out and get there at a time when the bar is not busy, it’s a great experience to sit at the bar and chat with the bartender about cocktails. They obviously love where they work, and what they do, and I have received great cocktail suggestions when I’ve told them what liquor I’m in the mood for. They also serve a delicious frozen treat to snack on — grapes soaked in flavored vodka — yum!
On a recent Saturday night, the volume was loud, the place was packed, and yet, it was still a fun, cool place to hang out. Fortunately they have a detailed cocktail menu, so even without suggestions, there were plenty of unique cocktail options. Keep in mind that specialty cocktails take time to make, so sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere — your drink will definitely be worth the wait.

A rose amongst the thrones! This is a total Gem in the middle of DTSP. The vibe you get is chill, hip, trendy! The drinks are average but you are getting more than you paid for when you taste it!
The staff is so very friendly and approachable. They might have a full bar of people but are still willing to tell you exactly how they’re making your drink. They make you feel important and it’s a nice feeling. There is a drink du jour (drink of choice) and it’s always fun to let them just have their way with a drink and I have yet to be disappointed. Thank you Mandarin Hide for existing!

my new spot for Old Fashioned’s in St. Pete!
Upon stepping into this place you immediately feel the coolness factor going on. dim lighting, a great selection of spirits & whiskey, an antique bathtub, a buffalo head & cool chandeliers … need i say more?
been wanting to check this place out for a while and glad to say it did not disappoint. went here on a Sunday afternoon with the girlfriend and was greeted by bartender Neil. very gracious and hospitable, he asked us if we had any questions and was very informative of every drink we asked him about. also had a cool old school mixologist outfit on which fit the theme of the bar (suspenders & a white buttoned down) which i believe was the outfit of an old school mixologist. trully gave the place an nice added touch!
I ordered the old fashioned and was very observant as to how he made my drink. neil stated that this was one of his favorite drinks to make so i knew i would be in for a treat. enjoyed the BURNING of the orange peel to get more aroma and flavor which was something i had never seen on an old fashoned before and it worked! this was hands down the best old fashioned i have had in st. pete and possibly one of the top ones in the bay area as the taste of the whiskey was not too overpowering and mixed extremely well with the bitters.
next time i will try the moscow mule (WOW they have 5 different mule variations!) as any place that serves the mule in a copper mug you know is LEGIT
plus they even had hudson whiskey rye on selection (haven’t seen that since hanging in NYC!!!) and they gave us frozen grapes to help wash down our drink.
i will def be coming back here for more!

Great cocktail bar with friendly and knowledgeable staff! We hung out with Niall all night, and keep the mules and old fashioneds flowing. In fact, my old fashioned was so damn delicious that it gave me the confidence to try a new cocktail. While admiring the chalkboard art, I noticed a drink that have everything I love in life – The Brew Driver. It contains OJ, Galliano, Grand Marnier, and wheat beer. Very good drink. The orangiest shit I ever done drank!
The atmosphere in here is great. They don’t actually have a lot of space to work with, and it gets crowed quick shortly after 7 PM, even on Thursdays when the Moscow Mules are $ 5. However, they maximize the space well with a long bar, and a long row of seats along the wall. Plus, I noticed there was an outdoor bar out back.
I need to try a few more spots in DTSP, but I think Mandarin Hide might be the best cocktail lounge down there. Cask & Ale is okay, but their drinks aren’t NEARLY as perfectly crafted.