One of happy hour’s best kept secrets
The lush patio at LYNQ in south Fort Myers is one of the best kept outdoor secrets in the area, and the happy hour might just be another. The indoor/outdoor bar is spacious and attracts a friendly, diverse crowd for happy hour, which lasts well into the evening.
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Made into perfect bites, LYNQ’s sushi nachos.
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The bar at LYNQ opens to the outside patio, a lush space perfect for distancing.
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Beef carpaccio is a signature appetizer and a popular happy hour nosh.
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Olivia Dupay toasts marshmallows used to garnish Give Me S’mores.
Smoking drinks are in fashion and while they more typically involve bourbons and whiskies, at LYNQ it’s tequila. Patron Anejo, sweet vermouth and chocolate bitters make up one of the season’s newest drinks: Dapper Chris. Patrons can choose between cherry wood, apple wood or mesquite wood chips, which are smoked tableside. Not only does the glass fill with sweet smoke, so does much of the bar; it’s warm and comforting.
The nostalgia of a campfire also comes alive in Give Me S’mores, garnished with a skewer of marshmallows, toasted by the flames of a torch. The rim of a mason jar is brushed in vanilla frosting then dipped in graham crackers. It’s filled with a mix of locally distilled Mr. Tom’s vodka and Mr. Tom’s caffe latte liqueur, along with Godiva dark chocolate liqueur and chocolate bitters. Smoke from a chuck of dry ice adds to the campfire illusion.
In another local partnership, LYNQ uses Love Boat Ice Cream lemon sorbet for When Life Gives You Lemons. Ketel One vodka, limoncello liqueur and fresh lemonade is strained into a martini glass over a ball of sorbet. Eat the sorbet or let it melt. Either way it’s light, refreshing and pairs well with spicy sushi.
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Built around Hendricks Gin, Pocket Full of Greens, is a refreshing favorite.
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Drink your dessert with this Raspberry Cheesecake Martini at LYNQ.
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When Life Gives You Lemons features vodka and a scoop of lemon sorbet from Love Boat Ice Cream.
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For an aromatic and delicious drink full of nostalgia, this one is s’mores in a glass.
Pocket Full of Greens is also refreshing. Mint, cucumber and lime juice are muddled together, and then shaken with Hendrick’s gin and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Add a splash of soda and have it served to your liking: on the rocks or straight up. Crisp and with a kick, it almost feels healthful.
For dessert, the Raspberry Cheesecake Martini hits the spot. The glass has a graham cracker crust rim and is swirled with raspberry syrup for a festive touch.
To accompany the large selection of cocktails is an equally large selection of appetizers, all of which are $8 during happy hour and in full-sized portions.
Carpaccio is a staple, thinly sliced eye of round topped with arugula salad, drizzled in truffle basil oil and balsamic glaze.
Sushi nachos are easy to share, even though you might want them all to yourself. Crafted into perfect bites, on house-made corn tortilla chips, is a mixture of spicy tuna, scallions, masago, tempura flakes and jalapenos, drizzled in eel sauce and spicy mayo.
Quesadillas are double layered, and the Asiago pesto gnocchi “makes you want to lick the bowl,” general manager Melissa Jensen says with a laugh. LYNQ also has numerous plant-based items and vegan wines.
“We are linking cultures, cuisines, music and people,” Melissa says. “We really do have something here for everyone.”
Those who like to brunch with bubbles make reservations weeks in advance for the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brunch. The third Sunday of the month, the theme often changes but the deal is the same. The iconic Champagne is $10 a glass or $50 a bottle.
Celebrating the end of 2020 and looking forward to 2021, LYNQ offers lots of space to do so safely and deliciously.