Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a comfortable lounge with live music many nights. It has a downstairs lounge with the bar and upstairs is a lounge area with a pool table. There is even an outdoor area where one can sit. Last night Joel Lamb was live entertainment. Joel sings, plays the piano, plays many songs on request and also performed original songs he wrote.

Fantastic specialty drinks, extensive whiskey selection, great service and atmosphere, and weekend live music. Great location near riverfront restaurants and cultural venues. Walkable neighborhood.

Toto and the ambience make this a great bar to start or end your night at in Wilmington. We got there and it was only a few folks... minutes later it was a bop. Congrats on the vibes and service y'all give, it's rare these days!!! Appreciate the custom Pina Colada!!

Went on Halloween, and everything was a whole vibe, played some pool, later that night they're was an awesome dj setup!

Came in last night the girl at the who made us an our first cocktail was absolutely lovely, but then we were served another drink by some, obnoxious man in a Hawaiian shirt. He was he was using vulgar language and over sharing about his escapades of the previous night. Then charged us $50 for three drinks would understand if I was at a high-end cocktail bar, but this is just your local downtown spot. Also lost our friends card and tried to convince him that he never gave him his card, but they hold cards for payments. Not the first time having issues here won’t be back previously, came there in the same boisterous bartender made us pay for a drink that he spilled won’t be back.

Toto is absolutely amazing! We come here once a month for my husband job and we always have to come see him! He makes the best cocktails and definitely can help you find the perfect one! I just tell him to pick anything never a disappointment ❤️

Very cool place. Couch and easy chair seating. Second floor seating. Fun cocktails headlined by their smoked Old Fashioned. Half the fun is watching them create the drink.

Fantastic spot in downtown Wilmington. The berry me tequila cocktail is pure spirits artistry! As the night went from classy cocktails to green tea shots, the bartender Anthony was attentive, kind, and gracious. Can’t wait to get back!

Cocktails and live music were awesome but music was SO loud!!! The band and singer were really exceptional so my friend and I were happy to sit and listen to them while we enjoyed our cocktails, but had to leave after one drink because we couldn't hear a word each other said, even in the upstairs area (as far as we could get from the music). My espresso martini was delicious but a little pricey. If I were looking to sit by myself and listen to music, this would be a great spot - just not ideal for the start to a night out with friends due to the noise level. I wish there were a more secluded area we could choose to sit in to hear each other.

Good Saturday afternoon bar-hopping spot. Had a nicely-made blood orange martini. (Okay, I had two if you absolutely have to know.) Lots of variety in the spirits menu in this bi-level space. There's very little actual seating at the bar; most is at small tables and sofa groupings in the main area. It's nice and dark and the bartenders are on top of everything. It's well-located in a central area about a block off the river.

We had such a great time last night. The live music was exactly what we were looking for. The bar is nice and dark allowing you to chill and relax while sipping on these gorgeous cocktails. My husband and I went down the list trying to taste drinks we've never seen at other restaurants. Needless to say, we put a damper on the list and we're not disappointed at all. The later it got throughout the evening the busier the bar got but the bartenders rolled with it and there wasn't more than a 5 minute wait from bar to table regarding your drink. All in all we throughly enjoyed the atmosphere is this bar and loved the live music on this Friday night! We tried the following drinks - Hers: Black Magic - My absolute favorite! This tequila espresso drink was so smooth and delicious. It had the perfect balance of sweetness to balance the bitters. It had a lovely smokey flavor from the charred and smoked cinnamon that's paired beautifully with the mezcal. This is a great sipping drink. Bourbon Breakfast - this has a lovely balance of bourbon and espresso. This is very similar to the Black Magic but with Bourbon and not smokey. My husband who is not a bourbon drinker loved this drink and asked to switch with me so he could have it. Lady in White - I am not a gin drinker but this was so smooth and delicious. Very similar to a refresher. The white chocolate gives it the perfect level of sweetness without making it overly sweet. Lemon Meringue Martini - last drink of the night for me, and man did this hit the spot. This reminded me of my husbands grandmothers lemon pie. It was the perfect balance of tart and sweet. My husband said had I started the night with this, he would have ordered it all night long. His: White Russian - he really enjoyed this. He normally enjoys coffee drinks at the house and doesn't venture too far out of his comfort zone. He was pleased with the coffee flavor and that the alcohol flavor wasn't over powering. Spice of Life - too spicy for him so we switched drinks and he drank my breakfast bourbon drink. This has a great heat from the chili and the lime flavor balances it out well. Not a sweet drink, more similar to a spicy margarita but with rum. I am not a rum drinker but it didn't over power the drink. Barking at the Moon - I took a tiny sip of this and it was a little too sweet for my taste, however, they use one of their house infused liquors to make this drink and the husband said it didn't disappoint.

The best Old Fashion! Love the presentation of smoking the glass by lighting the bar in fire! The ONLY reason it gets 4 stars... both times I was there, we had to wait 30 just to get served. Granted, everyone from the convention hall was there, but they should prepare for these types of crowds. Must experience.

Always excellent cocktails here. We stopped in after NYE dinner with the intent to have one round, never works, stayed for more. The folks running this bar are consistently 5 stars. While there's no shortage of very good crafted bourbon cocktails downtown, the folks behind the bar stand out at a higher level. The best part, we were in earlier in the week, on cash out, after a couple of old fashioned's and Manhattans, received a suggestion of another old fashioned to try next time in, one with a chai whipped top layer. Sounded interesting. Walked in last night, the recommendation was remembered by the expert behind the bar. Another perfect cocktail, not sweet, well balanced in flavor, addictive.

Just a cool place, we were early having been next door at the RUM COW (Highly Recommend) and wanted to have some libations so, WTF, let's go to WTF! lol Cool vibe Toto and his fellow mixologist had it going on, Friendly, good at what they do. I can tell you this place looks big when there are just 6 of you in the place, but you can tell this place fills up fast, so iif you show up with a big party on a Friday or Saturday night, do not expect to waltz right in, and this is not a cigar bar and, it is a bar, with a small menu, so each one is made consistently well. Concentrate on what you do well, is what this place is known for. Is it perfect? No but I tell you if you make it an early evening, get here before it gets crowded, it has pool, comfortable seating, in and out, 2nd floor and loft are. If you do get here late, be patient, it will save you a lot of anxiety.

I didn't know quite what to expect with this bar, but whatever I was expecting was exceeded! They're like an upscale dive bar. You go in to socialize, there's live music, it's loud, there's a pool table, but the cocktails are hand crafted with care like you would get at a fancy lounge. The bartender was super friendly, and made each drink perfectly. Definitely recommend!

The Good The location is great and they have a patio although it is super tiny and dirty. The Bad Not a cigar bar. No cigars available for purchase - allegedly since COVID. I should of left once he said that. No smoking inside. Weak drinks. Service was poor which is surprising we are in the South. I would not recommend nor would I come back. As an Army Veteran and true patron of bars I was disappointed - stamped NO GO!

Great drinks, had the smoked old fashioned and breakfast - espresso infused bourbon old fashioned ... live music was setting up but inside had ample sitting on relaxing couches and chairs. Great location too.

This is an interesting cocktail bar with a very "roadhouse" feel to it... Concrete floors, pool table, really run down and needing updating... But with a killer cocktail menu! Definitely not the "speakeasy" looks and vibe you'd expect (and hope for) with this interesting menu. The staff was friendly and helpful... Funny too! Drinks were good! If the venue looked better, was more comfy and slightly (ok, a lot) more upscale, I'd definitely return.

Cute and cozy bar that was surprisingly very spacious on the inside. Fresh, handmade cocktails by the super friendly bartenders really completed the vibe. There is an upstairs area with a pool table and a little balcony where you can get a good view of the floor and stage. There wasn't live music when we went but we'll definitely be back for a gig!

I love going to WTF- the drinks are always delicious and unique (they infuse many of the liquors themselves along with having super creative bartenders). They have great live music and pool tables upstairs. There are couches and tables and bar stools downstairs. Always a good crowd. And the women's restroom is darling!

This gem was located across the street from our hotel so we thought we would check it out! Walked in and ALL the bartenders were super nice and were ready to serve! We ordered drinks and started a tab. We were here on a Friday night, so there was live entertainment. He was really good and sung songs from different genres! They also have a pool tab with 2nd floor seating. On the 2nd floor you can still look down and see what's going on, on the first floor. The great thing about this place, is they ONLY serve drinks so you can bring food in if your like - that was great! Were here for a few more days, and we will definitely be back!

Great drinks! Get the smoked old fashioned. The bartender will make anything you like. Thursday nights are great for karaoke. Right up the street from the hotel ballast.

Came for a drink after dinner. They have a nice extensive cocktail list so I decided to try something new and ordered the That's My Jam - super tasty! My husband ordered something with grapefruit and rum - totally blanking on the name but it was also great. The first floor was starting to fill up so we wandered out to the patio and had it to ourselves for a while. Overall, great drinks. Very eclectic crowd. I'd return.

Great drinks, amazing talent and fun atmosphere! We loved our visit and can't wait to go again next trip!

If I could drink a "Barkin At The Moon" every night, I would. This drink is PHENOMENAL!! And Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is one of the chillest, while still being fun and upbeat, spots downtown. The drinks are a work of art. That being said, the drinks do take some time to make, so you may be waiting at the bar for a few before you can order. The bartenders are super friendly and attentive, and they get to you as soon as they can. The wait is never ridiculous or excessive, but if you are impatient or time conscious, this may not be the spot for you. There's an upstairs area with additional seating that overlooks the main floor and stage, which also has a pool table. There is also a small outdoor area guests can explore. Music is kept to a respectable decibel; however, live bands do perform, though I don't know the schedule, I'll get back to y'all with that, and those nights can be a little loud. But going back to the start -- if you like a semi-sweet drink with a hint of bitterness (like your mother-in-law), order a "Barkin At The Moon".

One of my favorite bars in Wilmington because of their craft cocktails and cozy environment. They're reasonably priced for the Wilmington market, especially for the quality of beverages provided. They have live music nights, karaoke nights and occasional private tickets events like comedy shows. Check their social media pages for info on those. If you're like me, you have a go-to drink but you're open to trying new options to see if the bartender can wow you with a nifty new flavor combo. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF) has a vast amount of curated cocktails on their menu and I've tried a good handful of them by now, but the one that surprised me the most was the Fired Agave made with habanero infused tequila. Take lemon sorbet on a hot day and add a few dashes of cayenne pepper. It's confusingly refreshing with a dash of "my throats on fire." I wouldn't pound them down all night but definitely worth a try. Another new thing I've been into is egg in cocktails and coffee. WTF has a seasonal drink right now called Honey I'm Home which has tequila and egg whites in it, amongst other things. I could not believe the texture; It was so fluffy and went down so easily. I had to ask the bartender twice if it was really egg and tequila I was drinking... two things I never thought I'd combine on purpose. They also have vodka based dessert shots/drinks here that make you question why you've ever had any other form of post meal sweets. WTF is currently partners with RumCow, a restaurant and rum bar next door which also has great craft cocktails. It's located on a side street in the heart of downtown. It's two story with the bar and lounge downstairs, patio out back and pool upstairs. They have restrooms and close street parking. It's a little classier than I'd say your average neighborhood bar but still jeans and sandals accepting. Would recommend for groups, dates, bachelorette parties, etc. Definitely a Wilmington cocktail gem.

Delicious drinks, friendly bartenders, good prices for how well the drinks are made. Loved that there were several options of tequila drinks, berry with tequila was a favorite. Highly recommend.

Awesome Anejo Old Fashioned...highly recommend! Thanks for the great drinks and fun night!

Had two of the best dessert martinis here Wednesday night! It was the lemon meringue and the creme brûlée. You could tell the bartender is an excellent craftsmen's and takes pride it what he does. The music was amazing as well and I just loved the whole overall vibe and experience! Definitely recommend

The smoked old fashioned is the best I've ever had. Service isn't fast but the drinks are complicated so that's to be expected. The presentation is really cool. The bartender Derek is a great entertainer.

Awesome bar to go to!! Really cool atmosphere with good drinks and plenty of options. The music there is solid, and the apps are pretty epic!! I cannot say that I have been there for straight up dinner, but I can say the, appetizer wise, they give you the perfect selection of bar foods to compliment those drinking munchies. The bar tenders are cool, and know how to make tons of different drinks, which is rare nowadays...you don't have to walk them through what a rob Roy is...they just know it (yes I drink like a 60 year old man from 1940s, both style and quantity haha). Check this place out if u get a chance

Currently at WTF. My first time in Wilmington. It's a Thur night and Karaoke is in full force. Am at a bar hopping after Christmas party fun time. Would highly recommend. The atmosphere is electric for karaoke. All of the patrons are friendly. It has been a pleasure to visit WTF. Sara

My favorite bar downtown! The bartenders are super cool guys. The drinks are very unique. I love watching them make the smoked cocktails. I absolutely love their lemon meringue and creme brûlée drinks. It tastes like you're actually drinking the real dessert. They have pool tables, live music , and a chill vibe.

Great place serving craft cocktails! One of the only bars in the area I know making drinks like this. Highly recommend!

This place is awesome - a hidden gem that is a must visit when visiting Wilmington. When you first walk by or walk in it seems like it is going to be a typical cheap cocktail, beer joint, but do not let it fool you! The eclectic menu and crafty vibe is what makes this cocktail bar stand out! Cocktails are delicious, atmosphere is so chill and inviting and the bartenders are excellent entertainment even with live music! It was a great experience and this bar will permanently be on our list of "must-do's" when we come back to visit! Great job guys!!

Don't miss this place for a drink or 2 before dinner!! Great atmosphere and fun staff!

Great bar, great staff! Karaoke Thursdays are a must! Drinks are made with a flourish and are fragrant, they have great aromatics.

I never leave lengthy yelp reviews, but I'd be doing everyone a disservice if I didn't, I'd give this place 100 stars if I could. Stayed a block away from WTF on a work trip and stopped in for a quick drink on a Tuesday night. Ended up sitting there for hours talking to the owner and others sitting at the bar, and went back the next two nights for drinks. The owner Joseph made us feel at home, told us about all the cocktails on their menu and others they were experimenting with. This guy is a mad scientist behind the bar, they have some real creative and PHENOMENAL drinks at this place (at a great price). They just rolled out a new cocktail menu, seriously close your eyes, point at one and repeat until you've tried them all. Will definitely be back the next time I am in Wilmington. Can't imagine there are any better cocktail bars in town! Thanks again.

You're going to get a darn good cocktail in this place. Go get a drink here you can't go wrong. They know there craft and execute it with care and finesse which is hard to find in many establishments.

Second night here. The missing link is amazing amazing amazing. The whole reason I came back to back nights.

Chill bar with an extensive list of cocktails. I love the name too. We stopped in to kill time while out in Wilmington and were able to sample a few from the seasonal menu. We tried the flight club, midsummers gimlet and hello beautiful. I didn't care for the gimlet much but other two were tasty. The flight club has a honey ginger foam, it was interesting but I liked it. In the end, WTF is a great place to grab a few drinks at.

Very chill vibe, definitely not a college kid crowd. Inventive cocktails that are served with a smile. These guys know what they're doing. Atmosphere is casual and laid back with a baby grand piano on the raised stage. My husband just said this place is indicative of a more upscale movement that's coming to downtown. The atmosphere is laid back and casual and not at all gimmicky like some other cocktail bars in the vicinity. The menu is extensive in terms of cocktail, beer, and wine selection with prices comparable to other establishments. You can order house cocktails, classics, boiler makers, deconstructions (diy drinks), infusions, and dessert cocktails. I ordered the ""Call me an Uber" - a Titos infusion with honey ginger syrup, pineapple juice, and soda water. It's going down way too fast it's that smooth. With specials throughout the week this will be on my circuit for sure.

Cute place for a drink downtown. We went here for the beginning of our Wilmington Food and Wine Festival. Very eclectic furnishing, sadly most of them need to be replaced, they are falling apart.Upside they were comfortable. WTF has multiple places to sit, wether you are a single, couple or group, and they have an upstairs. The bar is long and beautiful, multiple beers on tap, at least 7. The bartenders were fun to watch, they had great rhythm and the drinks looked amazing! Downfall , it does get loud in WTF, between the music, and everyones conversations.

Best smoked old fashions and bartenders in town. Nice place to hang out after work. It gets even better as the night goes on.

Awesome awesome awesome this place is chill, great service would definitely come back.

Just stood in line to get in the bar. 15 people left.we so asked bouncer why we can't go in and replace those who left his response was "There's 50 other bars" So we left. ..went to Growlers tavern instead. They were much more welcoming for our party of 10. Wtf why did we walk 4 Blocks for that hassle??

Awesome place to hangout for great live music & specialty drinks! The bartenders were quick & friendly considering the complexity of the drinks they were serving! Would definitely recommend!

Place is OK. Dirty overall and very small selection of drinks. Having that said, giving it 3 stars because staff was friendly AND they have a tiny hidden patio in the back with great atmosphere. We were looking for a place with outdoor seating to smoke cigars and this was it!

If you're looking for a curated cocktail, this is the place to go! I love that they don't have chairs at the bar so that it's very welcoming for patrons to go up and order without feeling like they're intruding on others. Our mixologist, Derrick, offered suggestions based on my husband's and I's tastes and it was spot on. I had a spicy cucumber tequila drink; they infuse the tequila in house with ten peppers. Phenomenal! It was downed faster than I wanted. My husband's drink was quite the show with the glass being coated in absinthe then lit on fire to start; a large ice cube was added and then the goods. Again, a stellar drink that was happily consumed. Such a nice place for drinks that isn't too high brow, but offers a setting that allows patrons to enjoy an elevated drinking experience with seasoned mixologists.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot pulls off the rare feat of making the superlative accessible. It's a comfortable space with a great drinks selection and prices that aren't as high as one would think. First and foremost, the selection here is commendable. Wines include whites and reds as well as ports and dessert wines. There are also beer offerings to suit any preference: lagers, ciders, porters, stouts, IPAs, and more. The real stars, however, are the cocktails. They range from classics (a Negroni, a Manhattan, etc.) to house specialties to boilermakers to infusions (such as vodka with basil, lime, and peach) to deconstructions to dessert cocktails and seasonal specialties. My wife started with a Funfetti Chocolate Cake (cake vodka, Godiva chocolate, Frangelico, and cream with a funfetti and chocolate rim) while I went with an iced chai cocktail. Both were delicious, prepared with skill and care, and at $8 and $9 respectively, neither broke the bank. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot also offered adequate space and comfortable seating and attracted a non-obnoxious clientele. This is the kind of place that can do classy without being snooty, fun without being raucous, and the music wasn't bad, either. While downtown Wilmington has no shortage of bars, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot's combination of ambiance and excellence sets it apart.

Soooo, here we are. After dinner late night relaxing across the street from our hotel, Courtyard Marriott in Wilmington, N.C. Great little craft cocktail bar with live music on our Friday night. Guy on piano singing accompanied by a young lady with a killer voice. Good local crowd and chemists as bartenders. Lol. Very relaxed and enjoyable evening listening to great music and just "chillin". Great place to unwind, give this spot a go.

You have been warned. We waited at the bar for a least 20 minutes for our first drink. The place wasn't very busy. The mixed drinks start at $10, before tip. My wife's drink arrived in a short glass and included a large ice cube that filled the glass at least half way. The cocktail part of the drink (total of two shots at the most) was disgusting and tasted like chemicals. The bartender was rude. We would have been much better off skipping the bar, buying ingredients and making the drinks ourselves.

Holy cedar smoke this place is good. We had dinner a tad early and on our way to our hotel spotted this little joint. We figured that we would give it a shot. Upon entering you are greeted with the clean smell of a well kept bar and the lingering smell of burnt cedar from the drinks. We found Toto and Derrick doing their thing behind the bar, and let me tell ya, they are blessing the drinks down in Wilmington! Sorry Toto, had to get a "Africa" joke in some where. I've been all over this country and parts of the world. I've drank at the dirtiest dive bars in New Orleans, the quirkiest in Key West, the most stuck up in LA and I've never had a better drink than here. We had the place pretty much to ourselves with a few other couples. The music was great and there was comfy seating everywhere. It's hard to emphasize how good these guys are and I encourage you to let go and let them just make you something. Toto's Sazarac was incredible along with his Chartreuse concoction and Derricks Peach Tea drink was outstanding. To be so good, I was stunned at the tab. I don't have many reasons to go to Wilmington anymore, but this is now one of them, and I'll make the 3 hours drive back for a nice hotel, a good dinner and drinks at this place. Highly recommend!

Such a great bar and happy we took a chance on this place! They take extra care of making drinks which sets this downtown bar above the rest. We enjoyed our drinks and the atmosphere and will definitely be back!

Favorite spot to grab a craft cocktail after dinner downtown. Loved my Smokey old fashioned and whiskey sour. Regularly hosts live music but we have not been there for that yet. The making of the cocktail is half the fun so don't come in a hurry.

Fantastic drinks, personable bartenders and chill atmosphere. Great way to start or end an evening. Try the smoke old fashioned!

I was at Kure Beach for a bachelorette weekend and we decided to come into Wilmington for the afternoon. After walking around a while and grabbing some dinner we decided to pop into WTF for a cocktail. I'm all about the resurgence of the craft cocktail. The menu here is refreshing for sure. Twists on some classics with house made infusions, cold brew coffee & simple syrups. There are even these pretty neat boba ball shots filled with margarita. Plus those are even made in house. After trying a boba ball I got a Cold Chill. Which was super freaking delicious! It's a twist on an old-fashioned made with the house cold brew, bitters, Maker's Mark, and a few other things. If you like coffee this is definitely the drink to try. I'm surely looking forward to see what other cocktails they come up with. So I'll be dropping in when I'm back on this side of NC.