The Alchemist

We stopped in for cocktails after dinner. The atmosphere and decor here is Steampunk- brilliantly executed. The bar has a number of small table areas that can be as intimate as you want. We sat at the bar and tried cocktails blended by Samantha, “bartender extraordinaire.” She was friendly and helpful with drink explanations and recommendations. This is a one of a kind bar! The cocktail menu has a wide variety of exotic mixtures that are delicious and unique.

Great cocktail bar! The Alchemist is a fantastic place to grab a drink in White Bear Lake. Super unique atmosphere and drink menu. Our bartender was awesome, very friendly and even gave us samples of some stuff she was working on. Highly recommend this place.

Our first visit was a quick pop in for a drink 🍸. The place has such a cool steam punk style that I just wanted to take pictures of everything. I had a Flippercanorious (yes, that's not a typo), and the wife had a glass of wine 🍷. Both delightful. We plan to return and capture more of the style of the place and try some food.

Very unique cocktail lounge. I enjoy the steampunk aesthetics; I wish the aesthetic carried over to the patio. Either way, it's a charming 2nd story patio, and very enjoyable on a nice day. I also spotted a couple heaters, so it's good to know they have those. Our waitress was fun and helpful. Prices were in-line with similar establishments. I was a tad worried about finding a cocktail I'd enjoy, as most of the cocktails seemed to have at least one ingredient that gave me pause. But all the drinks were well crafted. I especially enjoyed the two I chose: Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Rye Knot. Also, I sipped a taste of a friend's cocktail, the Smooth Criminal, and it was a good rift on an old fashioned. The space is nice, and the town is charming. I'd recommend this place for the adventurous.

This place used to be amazing when Julie was there. She had an incredible ability to read the room and make a drink that perfectly matched your mood for the night. She was warm, welcoming, and actually talked to you—she made the experience feel special and personal. Since Julie left abruptly, this place has gone downhill significantly. We’ve given it multiple chances since then, hoping it would improve, but it hasn’t. The staff now only seems capable of making what’s listed on the menu—no creativity, no flexibility, no personality. The atmosphere is uncomfortable and uninviting. No one greets you, no one engages with you, and you’re left feeling awkward just sitting there. It honestly feels like the staff thinks they’re better than the customers, with a very “nose in the air” attitude. What makes it worse is how uncomfortable things get if you ask about Julie. Staff becomes visibly awkward and refuses to acknowledge her, and it’s clear there’s tension around the topic. Based on what we’ve witnessed, customers who ask about her are later talked about negatively once they leave—which is incredibly unprofessional. The place is also always dead, which unfortunately makes sense given the decline in service, atmosphere, and overall experience. This used to be our go-to spot for drinks. Unfortunately, it no longer is. Do yourself a favor and find a different place for cocktails.

We hosted our ten year reunion here, and had an absolutely wonderful time. James was our server and he was so sweet, incredibly attentive, and full of excellent recommendations. The owner gave us a historical tour of the incredible space he’s created. The cocktails were all so well flavored and balanced. I’ll be coming back for sure.

Great vibe and energy to the space and staff but didn't stay long enough to snap pics/selfies in their actual bar. Also wasn't there to drink alcohol so I cannot speak to the quality of their cocktails. I'm certain they're excellent, though, with what the locals have told me. Perhaps, next time 😊 (pics shown are of the bar behind them that they also own which is open later; don't hesitate to go there too or instead; I just don't remember the name of it because signage wasn't obvious and it was a cold AF night) Had a seasonal zero proof mocktail and it was pretty good but had artificial food coloring in it which I will avoid next time due to allergies.

Super cute steampunk establishment. Drinks were delicious but expensive! 16 dollars for a martini, so be prepared. seating was cute with small conversation spaces. Great atmosphere.

We were walking downtown WBL looking for a dinner spot and stumbled upon the Alchemist. The Alchemist can best be described as a cocktail potions laboratory. The bar manager Julie (aka Joe Exotic) creatively crafts a rotating menu of cocktails. The names and flavor combinations are so unique. She was making her own bitters, simple syrups and dehydrating fruits for garnishes. She also makes a ginger beer on rotation. We were lucky to try the spring onion rhubarb ginger beer and the cilantro chili ginger beer. Both were incredible. I had the Stache cocktail which features a house made pistachio cold foam. RUN to try this drink!! We shared the spinach artichoke dip which was good but the fig pizza was one of the best flatbreads we have ever had. The bar has tons of antiques to look at and very cool seating spaces. To the bar manager Julie- thank you for the love and effort you put into this place, we loved chatting with you!

Say it with me: OVERRATED. The scene is odd, the furnishings are odd (old office chairs and old wheelchairs for seating) but I could get past all of that if the drinks were actually good... Sometimes you look at a drink menu and are intrigued but a bunch of options, this place was the opposite, not one drink looked good. All of the options are very masculine in nature: vermouth, bitters, etc.. you would think there would be something with like vodka or tequila and some fruit but nope. There was one drink that almost fit that profile but they threw in pink peppercorn and I was told that under no circumstance would they alter the ingredients... makes me think the bartender is either incapable or a complete jerk. In any case, bad customer service. I came here with 3 others and no one liked their drinks.

Great little spot, amazing craft cocktails. So many great looking drinks on the cocktail menu and I saw being servers to other customers...too bad I had to drive so I only had one cocktail. Check the place out!

This place has become my go-to spot - I've been there a dozen times already and look forward to another dozen or more visits. The bartenders are fantastic, always friendly and attentive. But the real star of the show is the drink menu. Their cocktails are unlike anything I've had before - creative and delicious. Plus, the punk-steam motif is surprisingly cool and trendy, a total hidden gem in the suburbs.

Not sure why it took so long for us to visit this charming stop. Great drinks. Beer and wine on the menu including Big Wood Jack Savage and your standard Michelob Golden Light. Some menu items are offered. The Hot Spinach Dip was delicious.

Changed a lot since first here soon after it opened. WBL needs a nice place to grab a cocktail instead of the light beer found elsewhere. Our server was accurate & efficient, even fun. The bartender however ruined the night for us. She didn't seem to want to be there & had absolutely no charm to give customers. It was after dinner on a Sat night but she acted like we were disturbing Sunday mass. Interesting drinks and great decor ruined by 1 persons bad attitude. Can't imagine any of us going back.

Been here six times in three years. Just went again this month. Overpriced cocktails.....by 20 percent or more. Not strong enough. Pretty and tasty, but terrible value. No thanks. I'm so exhausted from constantly being disappointed here. I give up. Host was friendly but bartenders, not always. There's a woman bartender who's been there a while and sometimes she's pleasant and other times she is not. I guess she is a bit fickle, you might say. This last time she seemed to like my male companion--lots of small talk-- but not myself. Hey, I can't win them all. I annoyed her when I wanted to actually look at the menu instead of just ordering a 16 dollar drink, willy nilly, off the cuff. Male bartender ....much too serious, seemed as though a smile would Crack his face. Off putting. As if it isn't Mod enough to, you know, be service oriented. Seemed to have a chip on the ol shoulder. The decor and location are nice. No apologies for calling them out on their bad service. The two bartenders even gossipped under their breaths about the party next to me. I shouldn't have heard that!!! This is supposed to be a nice place, ..well, according to the sticker shock and nice decor, it is. Lastly, they bemoaned how slow it was and that they weren't going to make any money that night. Hmm wonder why??? So tacky!

Come out and sit outside for Flatbread Pizza and drinks - perfect way to end the day! The drinks are perfection (like drinking juice!) and the food is the perfect amount along with taste! The location couldn't be better - quaint and nice shops/cafes to explore before stopping in for a drink.

I miss the days of when they first opened with friendly bartenders and wait staff. We would ask for something fruity and they would make a concoction. The female bartender now absolutely refused to alter any drinks, even to switch out tequilas as some don't like mezcal. She even refused to make a simple gin with ginger beer. Wait staff has no sense of humor or a friendly demeanor. Used to love going here but now not so much.

This is our go to bar when we want a unique and high end cocktail. Whether you go with one of their recommended cocktails or stick with a classic, they are all amazing. I love the spicy margarita variations they often have on the menu. Some of the stuff have such unique ingredients I have to Google them. ;-). The presentation is always good. I've always had great service.

Such poor customer service and the drinks are over priced. Some folks go out with their friends and want a simple drink, not one of the ones on the menu. To refuse to make simple drink such as a vodka-soda is absurd. This place thinks too much of itself. It used to be a great place- did they get new owners?

Freddie and Beth are the reason for five stars. Wow personable relate-able and went above and beyond service I've experienced. Definitely heading back for some food and conversation PLUS our pups were shown some love too.

Cannot say enough good things about The Alchemist. Ordered their cocktail kits all during COVID, so we could make craft cocktails at home for friends and family. There is truly no place else in the northern suburbs like it! From the drinks, to the decor, to the staff--one of the best cocktail bars I've tried in the Midwest. The owner was kind enough to give us a tour of the space and explained in detail all of the unique decor--some of which is from the 1800's. The space also has an event venue upstairs for weddings (Kellerman's Event Center). What a cool venue for a wedding/reception. One of the things I love most is their menu rotation--they switch it up each season, which makes it more fun to come back and switch up your order! This time my group ordered two rounds of drinks. One of the go to's is the "Business as Usual", which is their Old Fashioned. Some other favorites include their Mexican Standoff (spicy margarita) and the Coco Loco. Do yourself a favor and make the trip to downtown White Bear Lake. The Alchemist never disappoints!

AMAZING all around! Cocktails are made from fresh ingredients. No mixes used here. Many different places to sit including patio, rooftop, intimate spaces or the bar. Something for everyone. Very impressed by Julie, the wizard behind the bar. It's my go to place for a quick cocktail or to entertain a group of friends. Don't miss out.

Lovely place, great ambience. They have a wonderful rooftop deck for guests. Some of the best drinks I have ever had! Bartender and wait staff are very knowledgeable and friendly.

If you get a chance to stop in and meet the staff do it place is great she'll even make a drinks that are not on the list very easy to talk to great with requests great prices great music great atmosphere, will be back for Halloween

I've been meaning to stop in here for a drink for a lonnngggg time and finally made it for a date night with my beautiful bride. We came during Market Fest and they had live music on the rooftop patio. It was pretty loud and not really our taste of music, but that's a preference thing, I think we can all agree that outdoor live music on the summer is awesome. We stayed downstairs for our cocktails and pulled up to a couple high stools by the window. The interior has a kind of classy dungeon decor, if that's a thing. It seems to work well in the space, which is a bit tight. We didn't venture upstairs, but I imagine there's more room to spread out up there. The service was friendly and prompt and the drinks were delicious. The drink menu has a lot of options that all sound great. I went for the Stolen from Glasgow which was smooth with a hint of maple without being sweet, and my wife went for The Frenchy, which she loved. It's a bit expensive but on par with other cocktail bars, we'll be back to try something new.

If you're into eclectic, edgy Steampunk décor and memorabilia, this is the craft cocktail bar for you! It is so beautiful inside. I was a little taken aback. I felt that it's too hidden away in White Bear Lake (BUT maybe that's a good thing, more for us here in the 'burbs!) I could see a place like this in Minneapolis. It's dark and mysterious inside. It's not super spacious, but that adds to the appeal of the place. The bartenders are great and we had a good chat. Our group of three ladies ordered cocktails and appetizers. The Buffalo Chicken Dip and Stuffed Mushrooms were delicious! I had two different cocktails, one had Mezcal and the other had Norseman gin. Both very good cocktails. Take a look at the cool and creepy Gargoyle as he gazes down upon the bar. It's so funny. I loved the atmosphere and the wonderful interior. My friends and I will return!

The appetizers are delicious and the Carol Burnett, my favorite cocktail, is awesome. Our server, Beck, was very professional and accommodating. The Alchemist continues to be one of our favorite places.

Really great cocktail menu. Many yummy appetizers. Nice outdoor patio. Chill location with fancy wedding party facilities.

My friend and I like to go here on girls night out when we stay in white bear! Always fun and delicious drinks! Just one thing that was slightly off putting was when our server Zane told us our minor alteration to our on-menu cocktail was upsetting the bartender, it felt a bit inappropriate. We decided to leave instead of ordering another round. At $13 per drink, I would hope going forward they are more understanding about slight changes, or at least that if it is an undesirable change, it's not mentioned to the customer! Great fig and truffle flatbread though.

Have heard nothing but good things about this place, boy was I disappointed. Ordered a vodka martini and it tasted like water with hint of vodka. You know, vodka teenagers steal from the liquor cabinet and replace with water.That vodka! Told the waiter and he just stood there. You know like the kid that has been busted and doesn't know what to say, staring blankly then turns his back and walks away. The martini was dreadful and left on the table full, olives too.

This is a cozy spot that has great drinks, tasty pizza and flat bread. Had a great time. We will be back for sure.

Highly recommend! Me and a few girl friends had a reservation for the patio and enjoyed pizza and a beautiful charcuterie board along with our drinks. It got a little chilly but there was room at the bar so we moved inside where the experience was still a 10/10. The bartenders truly enjoyed their job and made great conversation while creating some of amazing drinks!

This placed wow'ed me and I can't wait to go again. There are no other words for this place but sexy. It's literally almost a hole in the wall alchemy themed den of drinks. Real candles everywhere; so high on the walls I don't know how they reach them. Dark, intimate and enthralling. The drinks matched this interior as well. An appletini garnished with Honeycrisp and made with local Pine Tree Apple Orchard cider. Perfect. Whatever my partner ordered was surprisingly satisfying as well. This place has even more allure than bars in the Cities and it's arguably easier to get to depending on where you hail from (and definitly cheaper). Dress nice! This place is connected to an old armory that is used for events and guests regularly visit. I felt very underdressed. Also, the music is indie trance etc. Great ambiance.

A unique and interesting place where you'll find great food and amazing drinks created by the "alchemist" behind the bar. Seat yourself inside where you'll find fascinating decor or up top where you can sit outside and listen to live music while looking down on the bustling activity below. There's always something new that will pop up even if you're a regular at the Alchemist!

A friend and I stopped in for a cocktail last evening. She had been telling me about this place for a few months, and I was excited to give it a try. The menu features an assortment of craft cocktails, which all featured exotic combinations of ingredients. If you don't see anything on the drinks menu that catches your eye, they are also willing to make a standard cocktail. Unfortunately, the bar area seemed a little cramped because it is just a narrow passageway. After we got our drinks, we moved out to the street-level garden, and sat at a table. Even in early September, with the weather just starting to turn cool, the garden area was well-kept and beautiful. Definitely a nice start to the weekend.

Fun drinks for sure. It is pricey but you're paying for quality ingredients and service.

What a great neighborhood cocktail bar! We happened upon this while doing a mini pub crawl, and I'm so glad we did. It's gorgeous inside, and they have quite the extensive cocktail menu (I did the ginger margarita and it was delicious), as well as beer & wine. Seems like an excellent date spot, or for a pre-dinner drink!

For White Bear, this place isn't too shabby. If it were in Minneapolis, I'd probably knock it down to 3 stars. While the vibe is awesome, the cocktails lacked the complexity of others I've had in the Twin Cities, but with the same price tag. Boo. The servers were all fantastic, however!

I wish I took photos of this cocktail bar! It was not warm enough to sit on the patio or garden alley, but the edgy and eclectic atmosphere inside is unique. I love that it's here in quaint Downtown White Bear Lake. The Alchemist has beautifully crafted cocktails. My sister-in-law and I both had the Carol Burnett which had hints of citrus, tequila, St Germaine and a pink edible flower. I noticed they also have wine and beer, so it will be a good excuse for me to bring by husband next time! I've visited this spot a handful of times, and just learned that flatbread and regular pizzas and appetizers are available. We shared a full size BBQ Chicken Pizza, but I think I'll try a different one next time. Service was also phenomenal on a early Thursday evening. Julie was attentive and friendly. We will visit again!

My favorite place to get cocktails. Every time I go I'm satisfied with everything I ordered, and the customer service is superb.

First & foremost - this place has legit strong tasty drinks. No fluff, nothing watered down. Prices aren't extravagant considering any downtown Minneapolis joint charges $10 for mixed beverage. This joint is located is downtown WBL in a part of town I'd say is throwback to what a quaint small town downtown looks like. But inside the Alchemist looks like a swanky prohibition meets goth decor which is uber funky. There's a semi-private table way in the back that seats 6 comfortably. We were there Friday night and the place was buzzing for a couple hours. Word of mouth & reputation will make the Alchemist a popular spot guaranteed.

Best dirty martini ever! It's called Ivan Putzki. Very smooth and served with pepper. If you like drinks with flavor and class, this is the one. We came on a Wednesday evening and it was very low key, but amazingly intimate. I would highly recommend anytime you are in White Bear Lake. Give it a try and I am sure you like it.

Rum poured on a huge cube of ice! I was asking for another rum and the bartender brought out a Rare Rum from Trinidad which I must say was very satisfying! This is a small place as we had a group of 8 however once we got our drinks and a big round, cool as hell gear table we were all set! Decor and vibe is second to none in White Bear! Can't wait to go back!!!

5 stars fo sho. Awesome drinks in an awesome establishment with an awesome rooftop deck with great service. I'm down. Came here after our 2nd botched attempt at liking Big Wood Brewery next door and decided to establish base at the rooftop deck. Cool view of downtown WBL. I ordered an Old Fashioned and it was fantastic, the way it should be. The waitress was super friendly, believing I was from Kazahstan *giggle*giggle*. And of course as everyone else has mentioned the place is just spiffy, super cool designs all over the place. Fun place, highly recommended.

This place used to be ran by a very well suited manager, and extremely professional. But the new manager is so rude and extremely disrespectful to customers and trash talks the old manager when he was one of our friends. She is so power hungry, and just not a nice person. We will not be coming back to this establishment while she is the manager. If I was the owner I would question her integrity in how's she's doing things because multiple people that we used to go there doesn't want to go there now with her running the place. Once the owner changes managers we will consider telling our friends to come back to the establishment. Hopefully he realizes she's toxic for his business before she drives all his customers away.

It is hard to believe that a place like this exists in White Bear Lake. It is as if an incredibly creative bar from LA has been transported to downtown WBL. Walking inside you are transported to a super trendy, steampunk themed, candle lit bar. It is small and intimate, but feels other worldly. The drinks here are out of this world. Honestly they are some of the best I've ever had. They can do things like take an old classic and put a fresh twist on it (caramel old fashion) to creating something entirely new (my personal favorite, the Macho Camacho, which sadly isn't on the menu anymore). The drinks take time to make, but they are expertly crafted (not mixed here, crafted). If you aren't sure what you are in the mood for or you have a vision in mind, just tell the bartenders. If they aren't too busy they probably will whip you up something amazing. On the nice nights there is a great patio upstairs to go enjoy if it is too crowded downstairs. The prices here can't be beat either. You get a to die for cocktail at WBL prices. Such a steal! I will keep coming back here long after we move. 71/100

Went here for the first time on a date night with my husband. We were impressed by the service, ambience, inventive cocktails, and music, of all things. For this forty something couple, thank you for playing music that was recognizable and pleasant to listen to while also being able to carry on a conversation. After having lackluster (at best) service at a well known nearby restaurant for dinner, we were pleasantly surprised at how friendly and attentive the service was here, despite being pretty crowded. The bartender even gave me a generous sample of a cocktail that I was a little hesitant about trying (the "Inspector 2.0"). I ended up ordering one and my husband enjoyed his "Dark Horse" so much he ordered a second. Thank you for a fun evening and we hope to return!

Decor is amazing. This space is absolutely stunning, however, they are quite pricey. The cocktails are okay...and for the prices they should be out of this world. Still a great place to check out and is a great spot for date night!

Innovative drinks and an amazing space! The decor is Steam punk meets library chic, great place for a date. Menu from the brewery next door is good if limited: some apps, flatbreads and charcuterie was also good.

Very creative and friendly place to have apps and cocktails or wine. I call it my Harry Potter hangout. A definate 5 star location to meet friends or just relax on your own. Upstairs deck and service is beautiful with an awesome event option.

So great to have a swanky little cocktail bar in white bear. The prices are reasonable for what you are getting and the bartenders will help you find what you might like (or they'll invent something for you). All of this care and precision does come at a price though, and that would be the wait time - if its busy it can take some time to get your drink order as they work on other cocktails.... but if you wanted a quick beer or vodka soda, there's plenty of other bars where you can get that if it's speed that you're looking for. Looking forward to going back!

Legitimately the best drink I've ever had. Delicious, creative, fresh! Wonderful staff. Great venue. Will definitely be back!!

Such a trendy gem! I felt like I was in the north loop but it feels comfortable and super friendly service. The cocktails were so good and had flowers in them. They have no food so don't come looking for dinner. Can't wait to come back!!!

The cocktails were outstanding and the space is good. This doesn't come close to making up for a uniformly terrible service experience. Our group received no greeting on arrival. To call the service simply "slow" is charitable. This is mystifying - we finally just asked for our check and left rather than ordering more rounds. Oh, that took forever, too. The cocktails were good enough that we'll probably try again. This was a real disappointment.

Handful of girls after work stop by for a yummy cocktail rooftop and some nice after work music. It was lovely! We had the barbecue pizza in the fig pizza which they were both yummy along with Avocado dip, This was the perfect night visit with great atmosphere. The place is small so it doesn't fit very many people so if you get a spot your lucky but there's not a lot of places like that in the downtown area of White Bear. So I think this place is a find and I definitely would go back.not sure if they really do a full menu but a drink and an appetizer I think this is the perfect place.

Order the Salty Caramel Lemon Drop. You won't regret it. Great service and even better drinks.

Walked in and was immediately impressed by the atmosphere. Very steam punk, edgy, and fun. Couldn't get service at our table to save our lives, so we went up to the bar to order drinks. Definitely overpriced for what you get, but a well-mixed drink. The bartender was extremely cold and rude, and even asked if I had been carded yet. When I said no and explained that I had just come up to the bar to order my first drink, he proceeded to yell at one of his co-workers for not carding me sooner rather than pouring my drink. Didn't offer any conversation, greeting, anything. We then had a woman hover over our table and after every sip ask "Are you done with your drink?" In fact no, no I am not done. Please allow me to enjoy my overpriced cocktail with some leisure! Would NEVER go back here again. Not worth the price nor the bad experience. I would go down the block to Washington Square. Better drinks, better value, and phenomenal service.

This place rocks! Everything about it was right up my alley. The prices were fair and the ambience was perfect. When I am in town it is worth the drive. Can't wait to go back.