Swanky District Bar Now Open in Old Town

Central bar was an oasis of class in Old Town, a craft cocktail bar from Perierra Crêperie's Dustin Knox. But it succumbed to Old Town's frat-bro madness, briefly turning into a questionably named fried hot dog joint in spring of 2013. Though music-focused Harlem lounge took it over soon after, it didn't last.

But over the summer, James Silviano and his team at Vero Hospitality gave the space a complete overhaul. Former Kask bar manager Robbie Wilson was tapped to create and run the cocktail program.

In mid-December, they opened District, a 50-seat cocktail den with a sleek, candle-lit, pre-war European feel. The cocktail menu is all about classics done right (no soda guns; juices and syrups from Commissary). To eat, there's a small menu of snacks like popcorn and cheese plates, simple salads, and sandwiches like The Parisian (Prosiutto, goat cheese, honey, arugula). A rotating cast of DJ's spin all weekend long.

District, 220 SW Ankeny St., 503-432-8550