Volstead Bar

Shocked to find such an upscale place in downtown Sandusky! Well-​crafted cocktails, decent prices, and a great ambiance. Do go here for a date night or if you want to escape the maddening crowd of tourists that descend here during the summer months.

1. The entrance curtain: hillbilly. 2. The «rules» page on the menu: insulting and pretentious. 3. The drinks: watered down and sloppy presentation. 4. The service: Robotic and unfriendly. Two stars for the location and building. Probably won’t return.

I can’t sing enough praises about this bar! First of all, I’m a little obsessed with the whole speakeasy concept… And this place nails it. From the discreet entrance to the impressive cocktail menu to the classic jazz tunes playing to the cozy, classy vibe. I loved everything about it. Stopped in on a Friday night around 11, ordered a French 75, promptly downed it. The staff of two (one bartender, one server) were competent and polite but not overly friendly. I’m OK with that. I was there to drink.
So I was obviously in town to visit Cedar Point but when I saw there was a speakeasy, I knew I had to try it. I sought out the «green light» on Water Street; God, I’m glad I did.

A quaint, classy, authentic bar. You can imagine of it as your classy friends living room where every one gets a place to sit and order what ever they want to have. Must try is the ginger flavored copper mug drinks which scream authenticity and style. Loved the way they serve a single piece of chocolate and pretzels. And I don’t know why I but I wanna say the interiors including washroom interiors show the love the owners have for what they do.
#lovebar

I recently heard of this bar throw a friend they said t was amazing but drinks were a tad pricey but we had to check it out! We went in and I was nervous I hate going to new places where I know nobody but everyone was friendly And we had a great experience I didn’t find the drinks pricey at all and if they were it was worth it!

Top notch speakeasy in an unexpected place. Sandusky has not been well known for its cocktail scene and Volstead completely turns the entire city around. Sitting right on the water, this tiny bar is perfect for having a conversation as it is not overwhelmed with large, loud groups, a band or even a sound system.
If you find yourself in Sandusky, Volstead is worth discovering.

yes. all of the yes. this place is a gem. Pricey, small and hard to find but refreshing and unique. Don’t go with a group of friends, or lame friends that order basic drinks. This place is marvelous

Really unique spot! A small, speak-​easy environment with craft cocktails and beers. The ambiance is wonderful and drinks are fantastic. Cocktails run between $ 8 – 12, which is high for the area, but I would argue these drinks taste significantly better and contain more alcohol than a cheap beer or vodka! French 75 is my go-​to.

Speak easy? Yes that is their claim to fame. Only a few are allowed in at a time. You need to look at the lights at the door. If the l they are full and if they are green you are good to go. Once you are in they make you feel like a good friend. They only have limited food. It’s a great place to go before or after dinner. Don’t miss this unique bar. i

My boyfriend and I live in DC and went out for a drink at Volstead while visiting extended family in Sandusky over Thanksgiving. We can’t give Ryan and his team enough compliments — our cocktails were delicious (particularly the Sazerac and French 75), the staff was attentive, and the ambiance was perfect. Keep up the great work — we will definitely be coming back for more on our next visit!

Absolutely fantastic. Had lovely absinthe served with the drip and a well crafted Ramos gin fizz (aka New Orleans fizz). Small, intimate and cozy. Exposed brick walls and heavy gray curtains complete the speak easy feel. Well crafted Sazaracks — when poorly crafted they taste like cough syrup. This was well balanced and delish. The caipirinha was expertly mixed as well.
About four craft beers on tap.

Great place! Great cocktails!

Something different from all the other places and I love it! Enjoyable menu with a few ‘rules’ to help keep the atmosphere in check. Each of the drinks are so unique that you’ll want to try them all. Broken into sections by the main ingredient, each drink is featured with its history.
I had a delicious vodka drink as well as a margarita with pineapple juice and hot peppers (it was sweet, salty and hot– I thought my lips were on fire!) Both were delicious and I can’t wait to go back and try a few more.

HUGE drink menu. Authentic prohibition style cocktails. High quality spirits & ingredients. Cozy ambiance. The owners are also the bartenders, so everything is made with love and extreme attention to detail. This is one of our favorite spots for cocktails.

Ambiance: Very small place that is pretty much as big as a foyer to a hallway but nicely decorated with a touch of class reminiscent of the era (1920−1930s). There are maybe 3 – 4 tables and a few seats at the bar with a total capacity of 20 – 24? I forsee waits if this place really takes off. The tunes in the background were very digable with the brass and jazz elements that were starting to really come into their own at the time, the volume was also unobtrusive so you don’t have to yell like at clubs/​bars. I really enjoyed the bartender who was very friendly, knowledgeable and thematically-​dressed.
Drinks: Drinks in the menu are divided up by the key liquor in each and I have to admit everything looked well-​crafted and sounded delicious. I had one of the gin beverages that started with Bombay but it was fantastic with a grapefruit base, not too hard on the alcohol, slice of orange and a cherry — very refreshing. My friend raved about their «mules» which is either vodka, gin, or other liqour mixed with gingerbeer and lime served in a beautiful copper cup. Sadly, I was too caught up enjoying my own drink to try hers.
I don’t know what more you could ask for in a bar though with the relaxed atmosphere, fun music and a knowledgeable bartender. I definitely plan on coming back and exploring the menu. Prices aren’t bad with most cocktails averaging $ 10 – 12. The place can be difficult to find as they have no signs but clearly that is part of being a speakeasy. They’re near the corner of Hancock and Water street with a window that has decals saying «door» and «mediaworks». I’ve included a picture someone else posted on their fb page to help guide you guys, check the place out!