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Hotel Heron opens new cocktail bar in Old Town

By James Cullum
The Francis Hall cocktail bar at the Hotel Heron at 699 Prince Street in Old Town (via Hotel Heron)

There’s a new craft cocktail bar in Old Town.

Yesterday (Thursday) was the grand opening of the craft cocktail bar Francis Hall in the Hotel Heron (699 Prince Street) in Old Town.

The drink menu features dozens of drinks “ranging from approachable to experiential with nods to Southern traditions and the mid-Atlantic region,” according to Hotel Heron.

One of those drinks is Frank’s Punch, a strong alcoholic frozen sorbet with corn whiskey, mezcal, a Negroni, clementine, suze (a French liqueur) — and it’s made table-side with liquid nitrogen.

The concept was designed by Betty Woodward, director of food and beverages at the hotel.

As for the visuals: “Francis Hall features a dramatic tented ceiling, rich jewel tones and (a) burnished brass bar,” the hotel said in a release. The velvet and fringe banquettes and antique mirrors create an upscale cocktail experience.”

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.