Remodeled Temple Terrace Beverage Castle adds full bar and cigar lounge

I complimented owner Kal on the newly redesigned space, and she explained to me that they could no longer offer drive-thru service since they were obtaining a full liquor license for their new lounge. Come again? I was more than intrigued, so this gracious lady walked me next door to their cigar shop, where they are in the process of building a high-end, full liquor, craft beer and wine bar adjoining the existing cigar lounge. The bar is set to open in a few weeks.


Here I was introduced to Kal's husband and co-owner Atul Solanki, who filled me in on the details. He told me that they will offer 22 beers on tap, a comprehensive wine list and a variety of upscale liquors. The Cigar Castle and Lounge is also just that -- a cigar shop and smoker's haven. They will have seating for 65 inside and another 20 seats outside (for the non-smokers; ha ha).


I will definitely be first in line when they open this upscale-but-casual bar, filling a niche in this part of Tampa. Pictures and details to follow.


11724 N 56th St., Tampa.

I dropped by the Beverage Castle on 56th Street in the Temple Terrace area of Tampa today to pick up up some Abita Restoration Ale and Rogue Dead Guy and was surprised to see that the drive-thru section has been enclosed (not that I intended to "drive thru", but had always thought it was a novel concept). But that was just the first of many surprises in store for me.

The now-enclosed section joins the remodeled interior, which was once just a large room, jumbled floor to ceiling with imported and craft beers, with billowy white and light-blue tinged insulated foam walls and ceiling (which always made me laugh as the room was not refrigerated, just had a simulated "chilly" look). In the new space, one entire wall is refrigeration for cold beer. The rest of the store now has neatly arranged shelving to display the hundreds of craft and imported beers that they sell, as well as wine.

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