Bar Muse

If you find Bar Muse, you've done well.Enter a slender doorway just off Van Buren, with the bar's name spelled out in tile...Inside is understated and cozy...nothing fancy. Just a chill atmosphere for some equivalently chill beverages.If you sit at the bar, be prepared to have a friendly chat with proprietor Joe, who also artfully crafted the menu.The offering features generous pours and generous deals at happy hour, which runs 4-6.Cocktails are the star here, although a thoughtful selection of select wine and beer awaits if that's your jam. Tonight, Sip It Trebek caught my eye and I'm glad it did. "What is bourbon with a fig liqueur and some bitters, Alex?"Bar Muse is one of those places you wish was near your home, no matter where home might be. Peace from the pace.

Hidden gem with a very intimate speakeasy-esque vibe... right up my alley. I came on a Wednesday after work and there was plenty of seating (although I'm sure this changes during high traffic hours). The bartender was very friendly and the cocktails exceeded my expectations. I will definitely be back on my next visit!

Don't be fooled by its size, if you're lucky enough to find this place you'll know that great things come in small packages. We found this gem of a spot on a Saturday afternoon wandering around the square in Oxford looking for something that wasn't a college bar and wasn't a full blown restaurant where we could just chill. Bar Muse was what we were looking for and more - as soon as we walked in and heard the old school hip hop music and saw the cocktail menu we knew we were home! This spot is small, maybe 10 seats and the door man has to check to see if there is room for you when you approach him around the corner from The Lyric, but it's worth the wait. When we visited we had the pleasure of having the owner as our mixologist so we were able to ask him about the spot, how it came to be, his background, the drinks on the menu, etc. The thought & care he has for the bar and for the art of making cocktails is very evident. I had a couple drinks on that first visit (could have sat there for hours listening to music...) and the Shagadelic was my favorite.

Fabulous cocktails! I've been when it was so busy it was standing room only (it's a tiny place) but it was still worth it for a daiquiri that would put Hemingway's himself to shame!!

Terrible customer service. Bartenders could not even make me a glass of wine. Extremely rude and honestly disappointing as most places in Oxford are very hospitable.

I've always loved Bar Muse and usually have a great experience, but my most recent visit was ruined by a bartender named Austin. I'm actually friends with the owner and have always spoken highly of this place, but Austin's rude attitude and lack of professionalism were unacceptable. He seemed to think being rude was funny, but it wasn't--it was just insulting. On top of that, the drinks he made were subpar. If this is the kind of service Bar Muse is offering now, you've lost a customer. I think Austin is new, but he's already managed to ruin what used to be a great atmosphere. Do better. NEXT!

Great place! Cocktails are beautiful and delicious with attention to detail. It is a small, cozy atmosphere but a great cosmopolitan vibe. Check it out!

Bar Muse is exceptional in every way. It is the best cocktail experience in Oxford, for sure, but is easily on the map for best bar program anywhere in the country. The menus are always creative and inspired, and they rotate with some frequency. The bartenders are absolute experts, and they do a phenomenal job. It's a cozy place that reminds me of a cross between a small British pub and a high-end cocktail place.