With a strong contingent of 20 to 30-somethings looking for places to unwind and mingle after dark, Fairfield’s bar scene has never been better. While the town definitely has its share of quiet retreats, after 10 p.m. the downtown party scene picks up. Whether you’re after a chilled martini or a frosty pint, there are more than a few places that can provide the necessary buzz. If you’re out with a group of friends or looking to meet someone new, Fairfield’s hotspots provide enough fun alternatives to make trekking to South Norwalk or other surrounding cities almost irrelevant. The spots with the most buzz tend to have a combination of elements working in their favor—they attract a mix of older and younger clientele (typically shifting from the former to the latter as the night wears on), they foster a certain atmosphere and stick to it, whether casual and relaxed or stylish and trendy, and they offer customers something they can’t find anywhere else in town.


barcelona
4180 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, 203-255-0800
www.barcelonawinebar.com

Managing to be equal parts restaurant and nightclub, Barcelona in the Hi-Ho Motel has a bustling clientele that not only stays for dinner, but well later for extra rounds of their locally-famous sangria (white or red) and impressive selection of Spanish wines. High leather stools surround the bar-level tables, with booths in back for those looking to get outside the bustle. There’s an intimacy that comes not only from the close seating arrangements, but the paisley-printed walls lined with old family photographs, the low lighting and the streaming sounds of ambient, progressive music from the DJ. The food all lends itself to sharing, too, with a tapas menu that’s equal parts meat, vegetable and seafood—from sautéed chicken livers to baby artichoke to octopus salad. Their late night menu, too, goes well beyond the artery-clogging offerings of most bars, with organic greens, chilled seafood salad and marinated eggplant. It’s the ideal spot for locals who want to enjoy an evening of talking, drinking and eating, or for couples sharing a romantic night, without having to jostle elbow-to-elbow with the youngsters crowding many of other local bars. More than a few Barcelona devotees told us that the DJ music they offer on weekends is a cut above the mainstream hits blaring from the speakers of most clubs. It’s a little more refined, honoring the nightlife crowd with more sophisticated taste. Sports fans can still get their fix from a TV above the bar (a bit incongruous, but necessary, we suppose.)

“O” bar
52 Sanford Street, Fairfield, 203-259-4151
www.saint-tropez-bistro.com/obar.htm

Of course, there are plenty of nightlife-seeking locals who enjoy a well-shaken martini, and for those the “O” Bar has become the sought-after drinking destination since opening in early 2003. An extension of French restaurant Saint Tropez Bistro Francais, the narrow spot features a large bar, mood lighting, small overhanging lights and a couple hard-to-nab booths in private rooms. For all the well-to-do atmosphere at the bar, with clientele who lean toward the more stylish variety, “O” Bar maintains a looseness. The drinks flow freely, the mixed age groups mingle and some even attempt to dance in the little available walking space to the rotating DJ tracks. Atmosphere-wise, “O” Bar’s one of the closest approximations to a New York City club locals are likely to find, and outdoor heat lamps provide smokers, and those looking to escape the throng inside, a place to talk more comfortably. Sometimes smallness is a good thing—it causes crowds to spill together, feeling more like one big social gathering than just another stretch spent sitting at a bar. And as if to insist it doesn’t take itself too seriously, “O” Bar offers a giant martini glass filled with french fries throughout the wee hours (or chilled seafood for the more taste-savvy), something you’d never find on the restaurant menu next door.


bravo
1418 Post Road, Fairfield, 203-254-1478

While there are plenty of dance clubs in other parts of the county, Fairfield has relatively few, giving the downtown restaurant and bar Bravo an easy niche to fill. It helps that Bravo is spacious, with a large, curving back bar, outdoor patio and extensive indoor seating. By day and early evening, it’s a restaurant for families and couples to enjoy a relaxed Italian-influenced meal, but come 10 p.m. on a Thursday evening it undergoes a transformation into Club Fairfield. A DJ sets up speakers and turntables in front of the sliding glass doors and spins classic hip-hop and dance tracks as a crowd of young twenty-somethings line up to get inside and show off their moves on the impromptu dance floor. For young singles, Bravo’s a favored destination, as there’s a good balance of young ladies dressed in the latest fashions, be it dangly earrings or kitten heels, and cologne-splashed young men (more than a few with slicked up hair à la John Gotti, Jr.). For those looking to turn the night up a notch, Bravo provides the beats and the buzz whether one is on the prowl for a date, or just looking to shake everything she’s got.