Behind the Curtain at Barrymore’s in Lincoln

A lit downtown alley leads to a door that feels more like a theater side entrance than the front door of a cocktail bar. Step inside Barrymore’s, and the scenery changes quickly: ropes, lighting equipment and other surviving pieces of an old theater’s backstage world remain in view around the room.

Barrymore’s occupies a compact space behind or within the backstage area of an old Lincoln theater. It has the pleasant sense of having been discovered rather than announced, with theatrical hardware doing the decorating instead of neon signs, sports screens or a wall of generic memorabilia.

The old machinery is not treated as a distant museum display. It is simply part of the room. You can settle in with a drink beneath the visual evidence of stage work that once happened nearby, a reminder of the theater’s earlier Vaudeville-era life.

Stage ropes and lighting consoles give Barrymore’s an eccentric, lived-in character. The details make sense in this setting, but they still catch the eye: a practical object from theater work becomes an unexpected bit of bar décor once it is no longer hidden above a stage or behind a curtain.

The room is small, clean and visually busy without losing its elegance. It is a nice change from bars designed around a single theme pushed too hard. Here, the theme is built into the address.

That scale also makes the place well suited to an unhurried drink with one or two people. On busier weekend nights, the same compact dimensions can make the room feel considerably more lively.

The cocktail menu has range, covering familiar orders alongside drinks with a little more personality. A Moscow Mule, Dark & Stormy, maple Old Fashioned and vodka martini give a sense of the lineup: classics are available, but they are not the whole story.

Creative combinations have a place on the menu as well, which gives a group room to compare notes instead of everyone automatically ordering the same dependable standby. The maple Old Fashioned is a particularly appealing detour for someone who wants a small twist on a well-known drink.

Bartenders are known for being attentive and comfortable making recommendations. If the printed list does not quite match the mood, an off-menu request is also within the conversation.

Cocktails may be the focus, but they are not the only option. Barrymore’s also offers wine, bottled beer and several drafts, useful for a table where not everyone is in the mood for a shaken drink.

Music is generally kept at a level that leaves room for conversation, an increasingly valuable quality in a downtown bar. You can talk through a date, catch up with friends, or sit over a late drink without having to conduct the evening by leaning across the table.

The overall mood is quiet and relaxing more often than rowdy, though it is not stiff or hushed. The theatrical setting brings charm, and the bar’s small scale keeps the atmosphere personal.

It works neatly for a nightcap, a low-key meeting with friends or a small celebration. The room has also accommodated larger gatherings, including wedding and graduation groups, when arranged in advance.

Barrymore’s has long had a welcoming, inclusive identity in Lincoln. Its past includes a role as a gay bar in the 1980s, and it remains a comfortable gathering place for LGBT guests alongside the broad mix of people drawn in by the drinks and setting.

Occasional trivia nights and live music can shift the energy toward a more social evening. They are additions rather than the constant point of the bar, so the basic appeal remains a drink in an unusual room with enough calm to enjoy it.

For a downtown evening built around a film, Barrymore’s also makes a natural stop before a movie at the nearby Grand theater. The alley entrance and backstage surroundings make the transition into a theater night feel especially fitting.

Come here principally for cocktails and conversation, not a full dinner. Barrymore’s is a bar rather than a full-service restaurant, although nachos have sometimes appeared as a snack option.

For private gatherings arranged ahead of time, outside food has been accommodated. That can make the space useful for a celebratory get-together without changing its basic identity as a place centered on what is in the glass.

The downtown location is reached through the alley behind the theater. A paid parking garage is one option nearby, and the alley approach is worth keeping in mind if you are meeting friends who expect a conventional street-front entrance.