Devlin’s Cocktail Lounge

While you probably won’t get poisoned by the food/​drinks here, Devlin’s is an unfortunate expanse of uninspired, unremarkable and amateurish cocktails on Whyte. They call themselves a cocktail lounge and while they have the atmosphere as such of one, they seem to dwell on ignorance.
I’m okay with people needing to look up notes when making a cocktail, but I’m disappointed when the server has never heard of an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan or even a Gimlet — all of which are 80 year old martinis and are well known for a reason. It’d also be okay if the server didn’t know of these because it wasn’t on their menu, but in this case they in fact do have them highlighted as classic martinis with a brief history behind each.
The martinis were subpar. I had a conversation with the bar tender because I was confused whether to go with «The Burnt» or «The Bronx», both of which are gin/​vodka based martinis with subtle differences. His answer was, ‘it depends on whether you like vodka or whiskey and what flavors suit you’. He had to read about the drinks when I asked him and misread, not realizing that they were both gin/​vodka martinis. We ordered both, to take notes and were disappointed because neither tasted the way they were supposed to (based on the menu description).
It wasn’t crowded at 8 p.m. on a Friday night and it always saddens me when that’s the case with a business, especially these guys since they have a really impressive list of cocktails. Clearly, talentless preparation of an impressive sounding cocktail is still… umm, without talent. It’s worth adding that their KITCHEN CLOSES AT 8:30 p.m. (even on a Friday night). One last comment: our server took a break and went out to neighboring Tim Hortons. She returned with 4 coffees for the other servers, through the front door. They drank their coffee at the bar. Interpret.

Maybe I’ve just been brainwashed by how expensive going out for drinks can be when I lived in Calgary, but I really didn’t find Devlin’s all that pricey. The drink prices were pretty standard for a lounge-​styled bar. That being said, I was really impressed by the martini list. It had a good mix of traditional drinks for someone like me and more fruity ones that my friends were able to enjoy. They served them all with those gummy dinosaurs everyone used to eat as a kid. Blast from the past!
While I enjoyed the drinks, the food wasn’t all that exciting. It was pretty standard fare for a lounge with nothing that really stood out on the menu. I was a little irritated that the waitress never told us that the kitchen was closing at ten. We had decided to order a second round of snacks and were disappointed to find out we couldn’t.
One thing that surprised me was how small it was. From the outside, I expected bigger but I was happy to see that it was actually a more of a cozy spot to stop by for a few drinks. While I did like the atmosphere of Devlin’s, I do wish the music was turned down a bit. It was too loud in there to have an intimate conversation.
Overall, I did enjoy myself and I will probably return for drinks.

They have a great drink menu with average prices. I do love having gummy dinosaur candies as garnish on my drinks: D The food is tasty, although a small menu and some items a bit too pricy. I’d prefer more appetizer options as it’s a great place to mingle, and fun to hit before going out dancing.
Devlin’s is a touch small — they have DJs in on the weekends and a dance floor would spice up the place. The bathroom is small and not great for touch-​ups.
The staff are hit-​and-​miss in my experience.

I love this little Martini bar. My most recent encounter with this place was after dinner with a few people we stopped by for dessert and drinks. The drinks were amazing and the chocolate fondue was exactly what I wanted. The environment is classy and relaxing, the crowd is older and chilled out.
A side-​note that I’ve noticed lately… Devlins gets quite loud on the weekends due to that Whyte Ave vibe. However, it remains a classic gem along the strip, try it out!

I really like coming here bacause it’s smaller and a little quieter than most places on Whyte, with an older crowd as well. Although their sound system isn’t great and the music can be a bit loud on weekends.
The booths are comfortable with pillows and there is plenty of seating. Martinis come in singles and triples only and are cheap on thursdays. I haven’t tried their fruity martinis because I always drink Gin martinis but I have heard they are good too. Service is usually decent here and they have a few tables outside the front door in the summer which are really great for people watching. I have heard they have an awesome secluded patio out back too but I haven’t seen it… yet.

Devlin’s is a great spot to visit along Whyte because it’s not your typical Whyte Ave bar. The music isn’t club-​banging tunes, and there’s no dance floor. So what is there? A very, very cool selection of martinis and other classy drinks, a cool atmosphere (nice seating and wood panelling all over, if I remember correctly — hey, it’s dark in there!), and a great older crowd to hang out with over great food and drink.
I had an annoying interaction with a bouncer one time when I was here. The bar is technically 21 and over, and I was just under 21 at the time. After a verbal push-​and-​pull that I didn’t see as being as funny as he did, but eventually I got in. Happy to be over the age now so it won’t be a problem in the future. I like this bar too much to deal with any trouble at the door! Definitely a great joint along the Whyte Ave strip that separates itself from the pack for all the right reasons.

Classy place. They have some good wines and a great list of Martinis. I was there last summer and the patio with 2 stainless fireplaces keep it warm until close. Will be back soon!!!

Subtly-​lit, draped with rich curtains and boasting a sexy roster of patrons, Devlin’s is a favoured upscale spot for drinks on Whyte Avenue. Their food, alas, is inconsistent. The bruschetta was among the worst I’ve ever tasted — no tomato flavour was apparent and all I could taste was watery onions. Not all food fared poorly; «soul chicken» was delectable, crispy and hinted of maple. I would venture that Devlin’s is a good spot for colourful cocktails, but certainly not for food alone.

I decided to venture down Whyte Avenue to clear my head and found this place. It sets itself apart from the 20 something crowd with a mature crowd. The music is kind of loud for a lounge setting but the comfort level is pretty good. I would definitely bring my friends or girlfriend here for a night to just chill and enjoy an evening aside from the drunken post secondary school students looking to have fun. I don’t know if there is a drawback to the place but maybe it’s a setting that is better suited for downtown rather than Whyte. Maybe I’m wrong.

This place is very small, decorated with black leather couches and chairs, has only a handful of tables, and is completely charming. In the middle of the lounge there is a nicely stocked little bar where bartender creates every imagineable kind of martini. When you browse through the menu you will see that most of its pages are reserved for cocktails, wines and other spirits. Although Devlin’s is a lounge and not a restaurant, it would be nice to see more edible items on the menu — presently, the selection of food is really limited.
My two girlfriends and I opted for two clambakes, squash soup and a salad with arugula and cured salmon for sharing. The food was good but the portions were meager. Thank God all our meal were that day’s specials priced at $ 7!
Ironically, neither I nor my two friends chose martinis Devlin’s is so famous for. Instead, we went for mojito and white wine. Since I was the one drinking mojito I will comment on its freshness, the abundance of mint and bacardi and overall yumminess.
The music played at Devlin’s is very good (think 90s) and loud, but not overly so — you won’t be distracted from the conversation you have going on at your table. At the time of our visit two TVs were tuned to Olympic games.
Our server lady was charming and attentive.

This is a trendy little chic lounge on Whyte Ave.
It’s a nice place. They have a million different martinis so if that’s your drink of choice, you should definitely go to Devlin’s.
The black leather and dim lights create a wonderful atmosphere. It’s very chic and it’s very nice. If you’re going out for drinks with a few friends, this is a good place to go — especially if you feel like dressing up a little bit. It’s got a higher end feel to it. It’s a great place for a girl’s night out, that’s for sure.
The patio is open in the summer. It’s small but I like to think of it as quaint.

Devlin’s is a refreshing surprise located in the mix of rowdy bars and clubs on Whyte Ave. It is a nice little place where people go to sit down, have some drinks, maybe some food and actually chat and. lounge.
They have a menu full of martini’s with great names, so this should immediately tip one off that the place is pretty classy. You won’t find the regular Whyte Ave bar crowd here. It is in a league of its own. No one comes here to get crazy, they come to have drinks and hang out. If you feel like gettin crazy save that for a different spot.

I was at Devlin’s for a networking event recently, and it was the first time I had ever set foot in the establishment. Most of the menu consists of different kinds of martinis, as well as other drinks. Many of them seemed new and unique, and had I been in the mood for one, I definitely would have tried something. The food menu is not as extensive, but definitely could be categorized as haute cuisine, There is an executive chef who has masterfully put these dishes together. Because I dietary restrictions I was not really able to sample anything, but other people in my party seemed to enjoy the flatbreads (gourmet individual pizzas), sliders (miniature burgers), and surf and turf (beautifully arranged seafood and meats). The dishes are a bit pricey and the place itself quite small and got loud very quickly. However, I would come here again, if only to try one of the drinks.

A stylin’ and laid-​back lounge that’s a nice break from the revved up booze hounds and pre-​pubescent-​looking revelers who make you feel positively OLD on a Friday night in Strathcona. Everything’s classy about this place, including the crowd, décor, drink list and menu, so it tends to cancel out some of the riff-​raff you’d expect at other beer-​sponsored joints. Devlin’s has a great chef who has dreamt up some great appetizers and tantalizing desserts that are great for sampling in a group. Drinks have playful names like «Mommy Needs a Cocktail,» «Oh My Buddha,» «Sand in Your Crack» and «Ask My Roommate.» You can frequently find the owner and his friends chilling here. He also owns Suite 69, a club on the corner of Whyte and 104 St. If you’re looking for a place just to chill out with your friends, enjoy a few drinks, conversation and lounge music, this is a good place to stop off at. If you like Savoy down the street, you’ll like Devlin’s, and vice versa.

This is a classy martini bar on Whyte. They’ve got open air windows — you can sit along a bar and people watch on the Ave while sipping a beverage and munching on tapas.
Their specialty is martinis and they have an entire menu dedicated to them. I’d never seen so many different types in one place in my life! They do a good job of describing the flavours of each one and offer doubles if you dare.
This is more of a sit and chat type of lounge. It’s a great place to wind down or to start your evening.