Hogwash Whiskey Den

"Spokane has its share of savory secrets. None better than a set of unmarked stairs leading into the basement of the Cracker Building, one of the city’s oldest landmarks. At the bottom, you’ll find a whiskey-forward craft cocktail lounge headed up by Simon Moorby. Enjoy the spirits — but what will truly haunt you is if you leave without biting into anything from the wildly eclectic menu curated by Josepeh O’Neal. It’s not often you see a catfish po’boy and tantanmen ramen sitting across the table from smoked brisket tacos and okonomiyaki tater tots." - Kris Kilduff

"Every once in a while, we’ll notice something that goes shockingly under-appreciated, like the self-cleaning function of your oven or Guy Pearce. They’re right in the open, but we never seem to grasp how much better they make life. That’s how we feel about Hogwash too, a beer bar in Union Square that should be in everyone’s rotation more than it already is. This place on Sutter has 30 craft beers on tap and a knowledgeable staff who’ll help you choose something based on your favorite type of beer, star sign, or maybe even a favorite member of the Wu-Tang Clan. The beers here come in a variety of different sizes - including a giant fishbowl - but unless you come with other people or have a strange love for room temperature beer, we suggest sticking with standard 6 oz. pours. Besides beers, they also serve bar food - including some excellent sandwiches with housemade sausages - all of which is substantial enough to work as an impromptu dinner after a few drinks and good enough to make you want to come here on a lazy night when your fridge is empty. We particularly like the Sheepish with two fennel-heavy lamb merguez sausages, topped with blue cheese sauce, pickled cabbage, and beet relish. But if you want something to split with a few friends, their curry fries with a duck egg on top are fantastic, a little easier to pass around than a sandwich, and won’t necessarily fill you up if you’re camped out here waiting for a table at Liholiho Yacht Club." - Will Kamensky