The Bartender & the Bitters

Harborview Bistro and Bar is perched atop Noyo Harbor right at the bend in the river, providing gorgeous views up and down river toward the sea. The building itself is steeped in the history of Fort Bragg and provides a rich atmosphere for the restaurant and the very special bar area just off the entrance to the hotel itself.

Mixologist and bartender Laura Spradlin has been at the helm of the Harborview Bistro bar for going on eight years. She got her start as a bar manager at Heritage House in her early days and from there moved to Albion River Inn where she managed the bar for over 30 years. So if anyone knows the business of managing high end Mendocino County hotel bars, its Laura.

Harborview Handcrafted

Her latest endeavor is handcrafting Harborview’s beautiful and proprietary line of bitters, and incorporating them into specialty cocktails. The botanicals used are grown on the premises and change with the seasons along with the cocktail menu.

At the time of our visit, early spring, lilac bitters were the latest concoction and Whale of a Thyme was the seasonal cocktail on offer, in sync with the annual whale migration season. The line of bitters can be purchased in the hotel lobby.

Local Tip:

Happy hours on the back deck overlooking the inner Noyo Harbor.

Bitters elevate the cocktail with layers of flavor expressions – the sky’s the limit.

– Laura Spradlin

The Harborview Bistro Bar includes Laura’s Apothecary Station, a wonderful and rich assortment of herbs, dried fruit, flower petals, peppers, and even edible glitter. Watching her construct her concoctions is almost as fun as drinking them.