Volstead Bar

Wednesdays just joined the rotation. Sneak in at 4 PM, and to celebrate — half off French 75s and French 76s all night. Gin or vodka, champagne either way. 🥂

This Friday night special, we give you the São Paulo Handshake 🤝

The bright, citrusy elements of a Brazilian caipirinha (Cachaça, lime juice and sugar) meet the herbaceousness of an Italian Amaro in the form of Fernet Branca. It’s a citrus-forward drink with a mysteriously satisfying finish. It’ll make you believe the sun is out this weekend. ☀️ 🍋‍🟩

🌶️🥒 HOT PANTS 🥒🌶️

Muddled cucumber + jalapeño, reposado tequila, elderflower, jalapeño simple, soda.
Cool, crisp, cucumber-forward with just a whisper of heat. Put your Hot Pants on — summer’s calling.
Garnished (while supplies last) with edible flowers from The Chef’s Garden.

🚇 AN UPDATE ON THE TUNNEL.
Last year, we shared our vision for a underground tunnel connecting Paddle Bar and Volstead — a bold infrastructure project that would forever change how Sandusky bar-hops.
We regret to inform you that the tunnel has been cancelled.
After extensive excavation planning, geological surveys, and one very long conversation with someone who watched a lot of YouTube videos about tunneling, we have determined that the project is no longer feasible due to logistical difficulties. We cannot elaborate further at this time.
However.
We are thrilled to announce Phase 2: The Skyway.
That's right. Rather than go under E Water Street, we're going over it. A fully enclosed, climate-controlled skyway connecting Paddle Bar directly to Volstead — suspended above one of Sandusky's favorite streets — is now in the planning phase.
Projected completion: Summer 2026.
Drink service on the skyway: Obviously.
FAA approval: Pending.
We are committed to giving our guests the most seamless bar experience on Sandusky Bay.

From an original Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Sandusky — and our building is right there in the middle of it.
The pink section at 314-316 East Water Street? That's us. The building you're sipping cocktails in was once part of the John G. Dorn Winery — one of Sandusky's most prominent wine operations in the late 1800s.
The Dorn family arrived in Sandusky in 1866 and built a wine empire right here on Water Street. At its peak, the operation was producing 125,000 gallons of wine a year from 65 acres of vineyards. On this map you can see the wine storage rooms, arched brick ceilings, and press rooms that filled this block. (Pink on Sanborn maps = brick construction, blue = stone, yellow = wood.)
Sandusky was one of the wine capitals of the Midwest — the 1898 city directory listed nineteen wine wholesalers. Then the Volstead Act — the very law our bar is named after — shut it all down in 1920.
After the winery went dark, the building lived a few more lives... including one as the infamous Green Door brothel. Eventually it sat empty until we gutted it and turned it into what you see today.
When you walk through our green door, you're stepping into a building that's been pouring drinks for over 150 years. We just made the cocktails better. 📜🥃