Taverns of Valiya

10 Pubs and Taverns That Are Guaranteed to Change Your Life

by Farrah Canaria

1. The Sweaty Anvil in Thrawnton, Filonar

I know... it's almost a little too easy to put this one on the list, but The Sweaty Anvil lives up to the hype you hear from this tourist town in Eastern Parkana. Thrawnton became a household name after being the location of a pivotal point along the journey of the Heroes of Magisteria, close to three centuries ago. Known for its highly skilled craftsmen and armorers, Thrawnton is also home to one of only a handful of ancient forges. These forges were placed on Valiya by Moradin himself, ages ago. The heroes crafted a powerful weapon here that they used to defeat Lolth, thus ending the Overdark War. Ever since, tourist traffic to Thrawnton has been through the roof. A lot of the town seems to shamelessly cash in on the tourism, but The Sweaty Anvil is authentic. When a blacksmith is done forging on their anvil, they will pour water on the red hot metal to cool it off. This was the inspiration for the pub's name and also for their famous spirit dubbed Anvil Sweat, which is not for the faint of heart. One drink of that will knock your boots clean off, leaving you looking like an anvil: red-faced and sweaty. If hard liquor is not your speed, The Sweaty Anvil features a large variety of locally brewed ales. Their choices include the Dark Steel Stout from Emberclaw Brewery, Crooked Ingot IPA from Crucible Brewing Company, Blackshale Shandy from Moradin's Cask Brewery, and Bad Bellow Bedfellow, a cider from Bronze Pick Brewers, just to name a few. Need to fill up your belly after you've wet your whistle? No problem. This pub features some of the best steak and potatoes on the continent, as well as many other amazing dishes and appetizers. Most of the customers you'll meet here are tourists, but once in a while you'll see the locals in there too, chatting it up with Bart the Bartender. Between the great drinks, the delicious food, and the rich history, there is something for everyone at The Sweaty Anvil, making it a mandatory stop on your world tour of pubs.

2. The Grim Grinner in Shallowvale, Corscano

This tavern, nestled in a small town along the Bahlmore River, just a day's boat ride West of Parkana's capitol Valor, has a haunting title. Named for the mass graveyard just south of the town, one of many such cemeteries surrounding the capitol, the Grim Grinner brandishes a spooky logo of the fabled Grim Reaper. This iteration of the Reaper has a zany twist, however, as he is cross-eyed and cheerful, holding a mug of ale. Found right in the heart of Shallowvale, The Grim Grinner promises a cheerful time, despite its macabre name. Brooke, the no-nonsense barkeep and owner of the tavern, is who you will find behind the counter. She'll fix you up whatever you may be in the mood for, whether that's a nice salad, made from locally grown veggies, or a hearty steak, made from fresh meat, courtesy of the town huntress: Aspen The'nor. There are also multiple beverages available on tap, including the Trembling Topsoil Pilsner, a home-brewed drink by Ralph the Mortician, who also tends to the graveyard grounds, crypt, and funeral home. Their most famous drink, however, is called The Horny Devil. It's a potent mixture of Dwarven spiced-rum and Orcish red wine, served in a horn or tusk. The horns are cleaned and coated with a lining of sealant, again courtesy of the local huntress. Along with the variety of ales and food, there are also four rooms for rent. Although, one is almost guaranteed to be occupied by the resident bard: Patrick O'Peters. This Halfling minstrel is the cheerful musical butter to Brooke's tough-loving, but always welcoming, bread. The two of them, along with the lovely townsfolk, make sure the Grim Grinner is an inviting place. It could be your home-away-from-home, but at least make sure to stop there if you are travelling along the river to Parkana's capitol.

3. Corellon's Nightstand in Rivershard, Selanil

This high-class bar on the first floor of the Corellon Hotel is located in Selanil's capitol: the large port-city Rivershard. It was named after the favorite past-time of the Elven god Corellon Larethian, which was spending quality time with a consort named Angarradh, known for her unmatched beauty. Being named after the god of the High-Elves, Corellon's Nightstand emanates class and wealth. While there are no written rules or regulations for dress-code, you'll want to make sure you put on your best outfit before walking in here, in order to avoid the judging glances of the regular clientele. Located right along the Tired River, this tavern is filled with people from all over the world, fresh off their ships, looking for a nice place to stay and eat. The bar offers a large variety of food, but they specialize in sea food and are famous for their salmon and seasoned quipper, both caught locally. On the drink side of things, the spotlight focuses heavily on Ravensong, a black-licorice-flavored liquor, crafted in a factory in Larethia, Magisteria's southernmost country. There are a few popular cocktails as well, including the Change of Tide, a blue-colored drink with a salty, sweet taste, and the Trickler, a drink poured into two specially shaped glasses, one pouring into the next, to mimic the leaves of the Trickling Forest located to the Southwest of Rivershard. They also carry almost any beer, cider, or wine you can think of, including a locally brewed Oblivion Pale Ale. If you have more than 3 of these, you are guaranteed to forget the last 12 hours. Whether for the atmosphere, the people, the food or the drink, Corellon's Nightstand is the perfect place to treat yourself to a royal night.

4. The Giant's Moon in Rivershard, Selanil

Fancy and regal not your speed? Go no further than The Giant's Moon, a popular dive bar on the other side of the city. Found in Rivershard's Mercantile District, shortened to Merc District by the locals, The Giant's Moon is definitely a change of pace from Corellon's Nightstand. Featuring two large overlapping moons above its entrance, this tavern gets its name from the hideous visage of a pants-less Giant, seen by an unlucky few. The bar is run by a tough Half-Orc woman named Krana Ledenfell. Here at this bar, anyone is welcome to grab a seat, but be careful someone else didn't claim it first, lest you meet the wrong end of a stranger's fist. Brawls are an everyday ocurrence at The Giant's Moon. So much so, that they named a meal after it. Enjoy a Brawler's Feast, a sampler plate of fried fish, fried shrimp, fried chicken, fried cheese, and fried dough, to give you the calories you need to win any fight. Want to guarantee that you get into some trouble? The Giant's Moon has many drinks that will help you make that happen. While they carry a wide selection of beers and spirits, they are most known for their Raven Bombs. This cocktail is a shot of Ravensong digestif, dropped into a wide-mouthed potion bottle that is filled with Flintlock Sparkjuice, an intense energy-giving potion brewed locally at an apothecary called Forager's Harvest. Whether or not you partake in the Raven Bombs, The Giant's Moon promises to give you one of those unforgettable nights, that you'll never remember.

5. The Growling Giggle in Grizzly Gorge, Malumbéc

For this next one, you might need someone to point it out on the map, otherwise it's a bit tough to find. Hidden deep in the Trapper Woods of Grizzly Gorge in the wilderness of Malumbéc, The Growling Giggle is a beautiful tavern that almost becomes one with the forest. Primarily acting as a refuge for hunters in the area, the Growling Giggle can provide a good time for any traveller that's able to find it. You'll be greeted out front by Sally the Grizzly a taxidermied bear decorated to match the season. As far as food goes, the menu varies from day to day, depending on what the proprietor (a halfling named Orville Saprolein, a hunter/trapper himself) can wrangle up that week. Local hunters will sell their meats or hides here as well, either for a profit or just to settle their tab. You might be thinking, What if I'm a vegetarian?. Well, don't you worry because Orville's wife Levetta spends a lot of her time foraging the forest for fresh fruits and veggies, which she then transforms into amazing dishes, from refreshing salads to decadent pies. Of course it could hardly be considered a tavern if not for their ales and beers. Their most popular is Greenbush Ale, a locally brewed beer named after heroic halfling bard, Snapp Greenbush. Along with their selection of beers and spirits, they also have a secret menu of cocktails. For instance, if you order a Twelve-Point Buck, you'll be handed a glass filled with a blend of Kremanian Gin, freshly squeezed lime juice, home-brewed ginger beer, fresh mint leaves, and Azulan Syrup (made from the sweet sap of locally indigenous Azula Trees). If you ask for a Hunter's Mark, you'll receive a shot of imported Moonbow Cream Liqueur mixed with Canto Whiskey and a glass of Shady Bough Stout. It's tradition to drop the shot into the glass and drink it as fast as possible. Only order this one if you're prepared to chug! No matter what you order, you are guaranteed a laugh at the Growling Giggle, assuming you don't get lost in the woods first.

6. Paulie's Pawprint in Refreyn, Canto

Pack your dancing shoes, because your next stop is Paulie's Pawprint in Refreyn, Canto. Located right by Smithwick's Bard College, Paulie's Pawprint is home to some of the best live music in all of Valiya, guaranteed to get your feet tapping. Every bard that hopes to graduate from Smithwick's is required to play a live show at Paulie's, so near the end of each semester you will always be able to see a variety of up-and-coming musicians showing off their talents. That being said, Paulie's always has their resident act and getting hired for this position is a very big deal and considered a huge honor. Many stars have made Paulie's their musical home over the decades. Frenna and Turnn Greenbush, a flute and drum duo act, were the famous resident act for a while, over half a decade ago. Since then, there have been many other greats like Crinsop Montaugh, the famous lutetist/singer, Lethella Newhart, known for her voice and skill on the harp, and The Brulacue Five, a popular band known for their beautiful vocal harmonies and raw talent. Now, there's no better way to enjoy all this wonderful music, than with a fine drink in your hand, and Paulie's Pawprint has plenty to choose from. They have many popular beers on tap including Greenbush Ale, Honeysweet Vibrado Cider, and the locally crafted Slightly Sharp IPA from Bass Clef Brewery. Along with the lively music and cold ales, they also have a full menu of food and cocktails, as well as many rooms to rent. They do it all at Paulie's Pawprint, and even better: they do it all with style.

7. Moradin's Flask in Braunford, Ironhold

This next tavern is only for ones with thick-skin and iron-clad livers. Moradin's Flask is the toughest Dwarven bar in Kremania, located just outside Ironhold's capitol in a town called Braunford. They only serve Dwarven whiskey, and they have the finest there is. There are multiple distilleries for whiskey around Mordaria, so many in fact, that the stretch along the eastern coast of Kremania is sometimes dubbed "The Dwarven Whiskey Trail." They feature whiskey from the following distilleries: Copper Point, Stonehill, Lucky Prospect, Miner's Rail, Clamburn & Co., Bearded Barrel, and Yellow Canary, as well as many others. If you aren't a fan of whiskey, they have a selection of ales, but it is limited. They only sell ales from their brother company Moradin's Cask, such as the popular Blackshale Shandy among others. Now, you can order your whiskey neat or on the rocks, in a shot or in a mixed drink, but the way to truly prove your toughness, is through surviving the Sit-Down Whiskey Trail Tour. It is sixteen shots of whiskey, in order to showcase a whiskey from each of the featured distilleries. If you complete it in under thirty minutes and manage to not pass out, they will give you a Moradin's Flask branded steel plate pauldron. The toughest of the toughest come to this whiskey bar to celebrate their victories in glorious battles. If not that, then they come to forget their defeats. Either way, no better way to do it than with the finest Dwarven whiskey in all of Valiya, which makes Moradin's Flask a mandatory stop on your tour of the world's watering holes.

8. Coarse House in Finecrest, Jabrak

The self-named Dunefolk of Corvahl only recently revealed their existence to the rest of Valiya, about 600 years ago. However, since then they have been fully accepted into the rest of society, having representation on the High Council and one of the best Naval Academies in the world. With their borders opened, many people have travelled there, curious of this "new" land. If you ever make it out that way, I recommend trying out a local brewery called Coarse House located in Finecrest, Jabrak. They brew their own label of beers right there in the building and even offer tours of the complex once in a while. Their normal line-up on tap consists of the following brews: Sandpoint Blonde (Golden Lager), Dust Devil (Red Ale), Bulette Chaser (Hoppy Wheat Ale), Wandering Nomad (Oatmeal Stout), and Sunblister (Rye IPA). They also will always have a few seasonal or limited edition beverages on tap as well, so make sure to try some of those before they're gone forever. In the spring and summer months, they have a drink called Guava Jabrava which is a Jabravan Pale Ale flavored with Guava. In the fall and winter months, they have someting called Java Jabrava which is a coffee bean flavored stout. They don't offer any rooms and don't have a kitchen, but the city of Finecrest has a lot to offer. The brewers at Coarse House, welcome outside food and will help arrange your stay at a local hotel or inn. They also offer a lot of entertainment that anyone can enjoy. Any classic game you can think of, board game, card game, or otherwise, is available to play with your friends, family, or just the local clientele. If you even vaguely consider yourself an aficionado of beers, then Coarse House is a mandatory stop along any trip to Corvahl's finest city of Finecrest.

9. The Frosty Gnoll/Wyrm in Ni Haldrén, Artemon

For this next stop, you're not only going to want to wear layers, but you might want to bring a ladder or some rope, as well. There are two adjoining taverns in Ni Haldrén, Artemon. One is called The Frosty Gnoll, sized for beings that are Human-sized or similar. The other one is called The Frosty Wyrm and is sized for the local Frost Giants that average about twenty-four feet tall. Both the Frosty Gnoll and the Frosty Wyrm serve some of the finest Giant-brewed ales and spirits in all of Valiya, the only difference is the size of the glass into which they're poured. Be sure to try the world-famous Fee Fye Foh Rum, made right there in Ni Haldrén. Their beer list includes Higher Aspirations, a locally brewed porter, Ice Breath, a popular pilsner, and Thrym's Kiss, a snowberry-flavored weisse, as well as a handful of Coarse House imports. They also offer a few cocktails, such as the Head in the Clouds, which is Corvahlian coffee liqueur, Faene cream, and orange liqueur, and the Heavy Footstep, which is their Fee Fye Foh Rum, mixed with lime juice and Azulan syrup, and then frozen in-house by a Frost Giant bartender. Whatever you get, you're sure to have an amazing time so you can return home with some tall-tales of your own.

10. Taishedo's Spirits in Quessaria, Seldarine

If you want to truly experience the culture of the Seldarin Elves, then Taishedo's Spirits is an absolute requirement. Located right in the capitol of the Seldarine Empire, the sign above this bar brandishes a ghost exiting a bottle. Built during the youth of the Taishedo Dynasty, this establishment has been around for well over a millenium. Many members of royalty, as well as countless other famous adventurers, have frequented this beautiful tavern over that time, so Taishedo's Spirits has plenty of history in her walls. While, for some, that might be reason enough to visit this bar, the majority of the customers at Taishedo's Spirits come for their authentic Tari, which is a liquor made from rice that is very popular throughout the Seldarine Empire. They serve many varieties of Tari and Veru (a lighter liquor brewed from sweet potatoes). Their selection of Tari is as follows: Vintage, Mild, Medium Dry, Extra Dry, Flavored, Sparkling, Sweet, Unfiltered and Plum Wine. They also are popular for their Moonbow Cocktail which is an Okruhn Veru (Wood Elf variety), mixed with a Moonbow grape juice, and served with two peeled grapes floating in the glass. Word of warning, however: do not order a Tari Bomb (a cocktail made by dropping a shot of Tari into a pint of ale). It is considered an insult to the culture and they will kick you out of the bar. Otherwise, Taishedo's Spirits is a welcoming atmosphere where one can soak in the culture of the Seldarin Elves while soaking up some delicious alcohol.

Type

Pub / Tavern / Restaurant