Retro classic cocktails are the drinks of summer, thanks to Apple TV+’s hit series Palm Royale. The show is set in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1969 and stars Kristen Wiig as Maxine Simmons, a newcomer struggling to fit into the glamourous social scene that revolves around the Palm Royale Country Club. Her signature drink is the green-hued Grasshopper, one of several throwback cocktails frequently featured in plot lines. (Ricky Martin plays a bartender who shakes up many of them.) While Palm Beach is not exactly a stone’s throw away, it’s possible to sip Palm Royale-inspired cocktails – from the tropical Mai Tai to the classy Gimlet –with a visit to one of these five Fort Worth bars.
Simply Fondue
Starring as Maxine’s drink of choice, Palm Royale’s most mentioned cocktail is the Grasshopper, a 1950s and ‘60s-era mint martini made creamy with crème de cacao and crème de menthe. While the drink is experiencing a resurgence in big cities thanks to the show, it’s hard to find on menus in Fort Worth. Enter Simply Fondue, downtown’s underground fondue restaurant and martini bar. There are dozens of martinis on the menu here, including a more chocolatey – and potent – version of the classic Grasshopper. This one adds vanilla vodka, rum, Irish cream, and a dark chocolate striped glass. Find it half off (only $7) during happy hour in the bar, Sundays from 4-7 pm and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-7 pm.
Japanese Palace
This iconic Fort Worth teppanyaki and sushi restaurant (8445 Camp Bowie Blvd.) is truly retro – not much has changed since it opened in 1975. While waiting for a table, guests are often corralled to a spacious separate bar area – a step back in time with its dim lighting, round club chairs, stained glass, and dark wood fixtures. It’s where patrons will find several time-honored tiki cocktails, including one of the best Mai Tais in town. Featured prominently in Palm Royale, the strong and fruity rum-based libation comes in a tall curvy glass garnished with an orange slice and a cherry speared by a plastic sword. Other retro drinks on the menu include the puckery Apple-Tini, the vodka and raspberry-infused French Kiss, and a pink Pina Colada served in a portly glass with an umbrella.
The Coupe
With an interior design palette proximate with pinks, greens, and palm leaves, this South Main Street bubbles bar looks like a set straight from Palm Royale itself. Coming up on its first anniversary in August, the Tastemaker Award-nominated lounge draws customers for its lengthy list of small-batch sparkling wines from around the world. But there are cocktails here, too, including a version of the Gimlet, which is popular on the show. In its most basic form, the 19th-century cocktail is made with gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. The Coupe’s adaptation is purple-hued thanks to Empress Gin, which is indigo in color from infusions of butterfly pea flower blossoms. The cocktail is also topped with a splash of bubbly in fitting fashion for the bar.
The Tropic Lady
Newly opened on Race Street, this sister restaurant to The Bearded Lady boasts Palm Beach vibes with its vacation-inspired atmosphere. (There’s even a real palm tree on the patio by the entrance.) A beach-themed drink menu also features a version of the Palm Royale-popular Mai Tai. Called Mai Oh Mai, this one is made with white and dark rum, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and orgeat. The menu is also big on tequila with other tropical libations, ranging from a hibiscus margarita rimmed with pink Himalayan salt to a coconut milk concoction made with blanco tequila, mezcal, jalapeno, and lime juice. Get on island time during happy hour, Tuesday through Friday from 3-6 pm, when select cocktails are $5, Mexican lagers are $4, and there are discounts on apps.
Tropic Lady/Facebook
The Tropic Lady serves a menu of Mai Tais and other beach-inspired concoctions.
The Flying Saucer
Craft beer may not come to mind when contemplating retro libations, but the downtown Fort Worth draught emporium is a hub for black and tans – referred to on Palm Royale as Arf & Arfs. No matter the name, the 19th-century concoction is always a layering of dark and light beer, usually a lager or a pale ale topped with a stout or porter. At The Flying Saucer, the drink is most frequently made with a Bass Pale Ale and a Guinness Stout, but with more than 100 beers available, the possibilities for a custom Arf & Arf are endless.
