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9 Maple Ave
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Jazz & Blues Nightlife Jazz & Blues Nightlife Bars Jazz & Blues, Bars [Edit]
9 Maple AveSaratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 583-2582
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4 pm - 3 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for 9 Maple Ave
Review Highlights
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"...the largest selection of Single Malt Scotch in New York..." In 2 reviews -
"...out a couple of the Angel's Share Sampling Society Events." In 1 review
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"Real bar with quality bartenders, best martini period." In 5 reviews
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Josh A.
Clifton Park, NY
Updated - 4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Got a chance to go back in on a more relaxed occasion. 9 Maple did not disappoint
AWESOME bourbon selection, really enjoyed our time there.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2012
Went in late Saturday for a few drinks. Good beers on draft looked like they had a ton of great… Read more »
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Review from Wahl B.
Saratoga Springs, NY
5/8/2012 1 photo
Very nice atmosphere, dark wood, cozy setting, great bartenders. Best place to go in Saratoga Springs for a nice martini or scotch, hands down.
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Review from Monica M.
Manhattan, NY
3/15/2012
Wow that same bartender is still there, used to go in 99 when i was a 22 yr old senior at Skidmore College. Love this place, it's the BEST bar in Saratoga County! The ambiance, the music, the patrons, no place like it unless you come to Jazz Alley in Greenwich Village. You used to be able to smoke inside too back then, i miss their apple martini's & their chocolate ones. Glad the age min is 22, only seniors or older can handle the atmosphere. Used to bump into my Anthropology prof.here, and try to know avail to sweet talk him into a giving me a better grade! I'm going to this bar as soon as i visit Saratoga again...
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Review from Shannon S.
Buffalo, NY
11/9/2011
9 Maple is a cozy little bar that is stocked to the ceiling with probably every liquor ever. I'm more of a beer gal but I enjoyed my visit.
The beer tap is a beautiful piece of art, grooved clay what looked almost like a globe of driftwood. There were only a few beers on tap, all of which I'd tried except Old Specked Hen. Correction: I remembered I don't like Old Speckled Hen because the sweet caramel taste reminds me of the time someone suggested I try a little spiced rum in my beer- and hilarity ensued.
A fellow patron was a scotch buff so chatting with him and the barkeep was informative. The company was pleasant but what I enjoyed the most was the impeccable woodwork. Some bars/hotels have piecemeal woodwork with laser-cut details tacked on and the styles don't match. Anyway, the rich English study atmosphere is cozy, elegant and romantic. So lovely in fact that it makes me want to try to replicate the look in my dining room.
Last observation: $30 min. for credit card orders. Are minimum purchases still against most CC company policies, or did they change it? Either way, while I understand the burden of running cards when it's packed, I didn't appreciate that I "had to" order a second beer to be exempt from this rule, because it was dead in there. -
Review from Victor H.
Northampton, MA
7/31/2011
I'm really torn, writing this review. I'm a long time user of Yelp, but rarely write a review. However, I'm a very road-weary, somewhat jaded guy, with many years of restaurant and bar experience.
Saratoga Springs is a wonderful town. I always look forward to coming here, and sampling the excellent food and spirits. A few years ago I "discovered" 9 Maple. My first impression was, "an old man's whisky bar, with 150 Scotches, and mediocre service." I had not been back since then.
This weekend, I had a good excuse to spend a night in town, on my way to Troy for a business meeting. I had a great cocktail at a wine bar, a wonderful dinner at one of the exceptional restaurants, and I had hoped to cap it all off with a Sazerac at 9 Maple.
I ordered the drink, and asked the bartender what he would use to make it. Bear in mind that the bar crowd included me, and a party of two. He said, "I don't make decisions, we have 150 Scotches." Ok. Fine. Eventually I settled on Old Overholt Rye (crappy but ubiquitous), and got a very passable Sazerac.
My complaint is not with the quality of the drink, nor the selection of spirits. I am just totally sick and Tired of shitty attitude. A superb selection of a spirit like Scotch, does NOT excuse you from being a service-oriented business.
I am very willing to pay a premium price for a high quality product. If the bartender had recommended Black Maple Hill rye, I would have payed $18 for the drink. He was uncooperative. I settled for "whatever", and the final insult was a $30 MINIMUM for debit card sales. I had to use the $&@((;& ATM. I'm a single guy who eats and drinks alone. NO!!!
Stay away from 9 Maple. There are plenty of excellent bars, with great service, and comparable selection. -
Review from Danika A.
4/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a student at Skidmore, I never visited 9 Maple. I'm rather sad it took me so long to visit this place.
My husband almost fell over when he found out they have 150+ scotches. He leafed through their thick, leather bound scotch menu with a smile like a child on Christmas morning. I kept it simple with a gin and tonic, but it was the best, most perfectly balanced gin and tonic I've ever had. These bartenders know their stuff.
The atmosphere is perfect. Live jazz playing in the background, but not so loud that you can't hear the person next to you. Cozy, but not crowded. Excellent. -
Review from Walter G.
8/8/2011
dress up a little bit because this place is straight classy. dark green walls with many a mahogony trimmed mirror, and a beautiful big bar stocked with every type of scotch you can name, and at least a few dozen you've never heard of. soft light background music and a polite bartender in a crisp white shirt and tie.
i really enjoyed the relaxed vibe and the complete absence of the jersey shore type people that flock to saratoga for track season and seem to infest every other nook and cranny of the city. what's also interesting is that the admittance age here is 22 which effectively excludes the cargo shorts and flip flops crowd.
can't comment much on the cocktails because i drank scotch here which is impossible for the bartender to alter in either a positive or negative way, but i liked how they serve it neat alongside with a glass of water to drink and a tiny carafe of water for you to adjust your scotch to your liking.
gets crowded on weekend nights but perfect spot to stop in for an evening digestif -
Review from Aria v.
New York, NY
11/22/2009
Romantic Anniversary Weekend = Third Stop's a Charm
Venue:
I don't know why this place is amazing. Maybe it's the old bartender who's been doing this for years--nearly 20 at 9 Maple. Maybe it's the ridiculously large jazz selection they have on tape and CD. Maybe it's the strong sazerac and tasty dark & stormy we consumed, or the fact this place had my Mount Gay. Maybe it's just that after two previous attempts to find dark, cozy lounges to sip away the night, we finally found what we were looking for.
This place almost made me up and move to Saratoga, permanently. If this were New York City, 9 Maple would be a speakeasy of the most secretive variety. It's not tiny, but with a few tables and long bar it could get packed quickly. We were lucky though, at 9:30, 10pm on a Sunday night, we were the only ones in the place, but that was fine by me. Only thing that could have made the night better was if the live jazz band was there. But oh well, it gives me a reason to go back.
Their drinks and spirits list is more than extensive. All of the bottles are lined up behind the bar, 6 rows deep both above and below the shelves. They'll make you anything you want, and if they don't know how to they'll peak in a book and make it well. Old school meets old world meet secret society, I seriously wish I could live here.
Food:
They have free peanuts.
This is a running joke, for some reason, and the more you drink, there the funnier it gets.Listed in: Weekend Getaway: Saratoga…
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Review from Nathaniel H.
Saratoga Springs, NY
10/7/2011
The place to go for excellent martinis!
I myself enjoy the fresh fruit Apple Martini. Impressed with the fact that they make a fresh Granny Smith Apple Puree to infuse with the martini, and a slice for garnish.
I would have to say the place to go for Happy Hour as well. Excellent subs, and of course the complimentary peanuts, ha ha!
The bartender's are professional, and knowledgeable. -
Review from Robert D.
New York, NY
12/11/2007
What words will best describe this bar: amazing, classy, serious and fun. Nine Maple Ave is not for somebody that wants your basic "well liquors". They have the largest selection of single malt Scotches, an incredible variety of fine blended Scotches in New York State and tons of Whisky and Whiskey, if you catch my drift.
The staff is very knowledgeable, and they take tremendous care in making every drink. I'm a wine and spirits expert, and they put me to shame in the Scotch department. The jazz there is always energetic, and the other patrons are usually well behaved. You won't find lots of "kids" here, but real adults that appreciate their fine drink. The best value, if you're looking for a stiff mixed drink... the basic martini (made with gin, not vodka). I do recommend trying the fine liquors on their own, as their selection is really impressive. -
Review from Ed R.
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Small, quaint, hard to find and quite possibly the deepest stocked bar in the USA. Every Single Malt, Small Batch Bourbon I have ever seen or wanted is easily found here. Bartenders are old school cool and never an obnoxious or loud college kid. Read the other reviews here: Don't miss 9 Maple Ave on your next visit to Saratoga Springs!
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Review from Molly O.
Saratoga Springs, NY
11/20/2008
9 Maple is one of the best bars in Saratoga Springs, particularly in the winter months. This is a great place to wander in and listen to live jazz, or grab a table in the corner and ignore everyone else.
Do yourself a favor and check out the drink menu. The bartenders here are serious, and if you've ever wondered about trying Drink X, this is the spot to do it.
9 Maple is the sort of bar you always leave saying, "We should come here more often."
The only problem with 9 Maple I've found so far is some of the other patrons. It's a small, intimate place, and when a few loud or drunk people come in, it really ruins the whole experience.
Other than that, this is THE place to get a Martini or a Brandy Alexander. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but the service is good and the drinks are better. -
Review from Patrick L.
Greenfield Center, NY
11/24/2010
Real bar with quality bartenders, best martini period
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Review from Andrew A.
Seattle, WA
5/22/2007 3 photos
My favorite bar in Saratoga. They have the largest selection of Single Malt Scotch in New York state, plus a wide variety of Bourbon and Irish Whiskey. They also have a Martini menu with over 250 choices. They even have an "Angel's Share Sampling Society" night where people who enjoy whiskey get together once a month to sample a featured Single Malt Scotch, Bourbon, Irish Whiskey, and a mixed drink made with a type of whiskey. Check their website for dates, times, and drink menu.
Check out a couple of the Angel's Share Sampling Society Events:
http://www.andrewacomb... -
Review from Chris M.
Cincinnati, OH
4/6/2011
Great place to get a REAL drink.
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Review from GHADA Y.
San Diego, CA
8/18/2009
Probably the best bar I've been to. Ever. It has the low-key, glamorous feel. The type of bar where deals are made, couples canoodle, and friends come to actually talk. I love the champagne cocktails and my husband revels in the selection of Scotch. I'm not much for the downtown scene. If you're like me, 9 Maple is your spot.
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Review from hapa l.
Chicago, IL
6/12/2008
Simply the best. I am always looking for a 9 Maple wherever I move to but I haven't found one yet here in Chicago. I will seriously fly out to Saratoga just so that I can have my apple martini and free peanuts. They make my apple martini just how I like it, extra chilled and filled to the very top! The bar tenders take really good care of you too. This jazz bar seats about 40 people and it's the kind of place to go with your girlfriend or a date to relax and forget about the crazy world around you.
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Review from Alysse J.
Franklin Square, NY
9/9/2009
This is, by far, my new favorite bar in Saratoga. I've heard about it for so long and finally got off my butt and went. For starters, the drinks are outstanding. A bit pricier than most places, but in this case you definitely get what you pay for. And then the vibe is just cool. It's nice and relaxed. You can actually sit at a table and talk to your friends without screaming. I hate that I'm only up there for six weeks a year to enjoy 9 Maple.
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Review from Max R.
Ballston Spa, NY
10/14/2010
Small space that easily gets packed, but perfect for an intimate jazz experience. Definitely for jazz lovers and those who want to learn more. Pricey, yet worth it, and you'll end up meeting new people before you leave.
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Review from Stephan P.
Burnt Hills, NY
2/6/2008
For my money, the best bar in Saratoga. There isn't a whole lot of room on weekends but the jazz and the drinks are what make this place. And the drinks......well, they are as good as you will find anywhere north of NYC. I'm not a huge fan of scotch but if you are they have over 150 kinds. The martinis are flat-out amazing. There used to be a martini bible behind the bar that listed more than 400 martinis although I understand that recently they got rid of it. Either way, the friendly, knowledgeable barstaff will make you anything you want.
Simply put, this is a classy, one-of-kind place that caters to an older (non-college), more discriminating crowd. If you like a slightly more expensive, yet much higher quality drink in a cozy, back street bar, this is the place. -
Review from Derick F.
Schenectady, NY
1/13/2008
A tiny, cozy, wood-and-mirrors bar on a back street with live jazz. I was drinking wine so I didn't check out the spirit lists everyone's raving about -- I'll probably head back to drink whisky sometime. I'm only giving it 4 stars b/c it really bugged me that hardly anyone there seemed to be actually paying any attention to the jazz & they didn't applaud after the solos. Maybe I got spoiled at Wally's (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) but if someone's playing music 6 feet away from you so you can see every gesture and hear every note in perfect unamplified clarity, the least you can do is clap a bit.
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Review from Jackie V.
San Jose, CA
3/31/2008
Classy place, amazing selection of drinks (especially if you like Scotch; they have dozens of bottles!), very skilled bartenders, great jazz music, and no annoying drunken kids..what a great locale! Very nice place to come with friends if you want to relax & enjoy a mellower vibe than a lot of the rowdier places. You can also enjoy your drinks out in the walkway; a little chilly on a March night like when I was there, but I imagine it'd be fantastic on a warm summer evening.
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Review from Suneal C.
Fort Washington, PA
12/18/2008
This little speakeasy has been open since around 1990, so well before the speakeasy trend started in NYC this year. The entrance is tucked away in an alley right next door to some of the larger, better known establishments in Saratoga Springs. It is dark, intimate, warm, welcoming, cozy, unassuming and unpretentious. The staff are all universally friendly and thoroughly professional and go out of their way to make your drink properly. If you're in search of a raucous party, this is not your place, and doesn't attract that sort of clientele. In fact, the owner will tell you his rule to keep out the college crowd- only serving those 22 and over- is the best decision he ever made. This is the place to get a real classic cocktail or a good single malt scotch. And what a scotch! They have over 100 different bottles of single malt scotch alone. Best selection I've ever seen. Not to mention a decent selection of bourbon and Irish whiskey as well. I love this place. It is my home away from home and I absolutely would love to own a small place exactly like this one day.
