Southall Has a Speakeasy in an Old House. It's Now Open to You.

When it comes to revelry, one element has remained true for me from high school to now: house parties are the best parties. 

When Southall Farm & Inn was in early design stages, there sat a home, a classic-looking brick one plucked right out of 90s suburbia, atop a hill overlooking the grounds. Instead of tearing it down and using the lot for cabins, etc., someone savvy had the idea to convert it into a speakeasy: Dottie’s. 

Hotel guests and locals in the know keep a watchful eye for green exterior lights that signal it’s open and drinks are flowing. Historically, the bar has been complimentary for resort guests only, but new nightly programming opens it up to anyone with a dining reservation and the general public for a booking fee. 

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 p.m. on, each night offers something unique. On Tuesdays, come for Tiny Tinis – a rotating set of miniature martinis so you can pick one or them all. I sampled a little strawberry number that, in true Southall fashion, was grown on the grounds. 

On Wednesdays, we learn. The EDU programming focuses on wine and spirits, sometimes welcoming a guest vintner or distiller to host a tasting, with cigar pairings on special occasions. 

Pinky’s out on Thursday nights, when Dottie’s rolls out the champagne and caviar service, properly served with potato chips and créme fraîche. Fridays and Saturdays are all about the beats with live music from Mike Godwin, the resident musician known for familiar soul tunes and acoustic sets.  

I’m not sure which is most enticing: the setting, the decor, or the drinks themselves, so we shall go one by one. First, you make your way along the aggregate sidewalk until you reach the back porch, where fire pit flames and cigar smoke do their little dance into the sky. From here, head in the back door and take in the beautifully decorated space that looks both carefully curated and effortlessly chic. 

There’s an entire collection of framed silhouettes, a wall of pinned-up letters, a ceiling covered in colorful magazine clippings focused on art and artists, and a bathroom so aesthetically pleasing, you might never leave. 

But you will, if not for another drink. There’s the Sorghum Standard, a gin number served with a sidecar of popped sorghum; the Soap Opera with tropical influences served in a sudsy bathtub; and riffs on classics like a Dottie’s Fashioned with Turkish tobacco and the Beekeeper’s Buzzzz combining tequila and local espresso. Beer, wine, and a full bar of spirits are also available. 

But full disclosure: cocktails start at $20 each. 

Speakeasies are all about secrets, and I have one more for you. There’s an accent wall covered in a mural — rolling hills, blue skies with perfect clouds, a pretty pond, and a familiar hearth that you can also see IRL if you peek out the window to your left. 

This mural was painted by none other than country music legend Brad Paisley, who has familial ties to the property. 

So next time you’re making a reservation for a room or a table at Southall, watch for green lights illuminating the hillside. Hop on a shuttle or take a (very uphill) stroll, come around back, grab a craft cocktail, and settle into a tufted sofa for an evening of libations, music, and secrecy. 

This may look different than those high school house parties, but my 30-something self is mighty content with the option.