14 Renovated Bars With Histories Worth Drinking To

Time to have a beer at school. Or, you know, a bar that used to be one.

1. Bitter and Twisted

Luhrs City Center / Via luhrscitycenter.com

Where: Phoenix, AZ

Then: Prohibition headquarters

Now: Ironically located in the historic Luhrs building, whose agents once seized liquor and poured it down the drain in the building's basement, Bitter and Twisted is now a classically styled cocktail parlor serving sophisticated spirits and house-made syrups.

2. Kennedy School

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Where: Portland, OR

Then: The 1900s-era John D. Kennedy Elementary School

Now: This is the one school where it's okay to get caught with a drink and a smoke in hand. Featuring original chalkboards and cloakrooms and offering transformed classrooms as hotel guest rooms, the Kennedy School building houses a restaurant, a movie theater, a soaking pool, a gift shop, and a brewery.

3. The Church Brew Works

The Church Brew Works / Via nebula.wsimg.com

Where: Pittsburgh, PA

Then: A church

Now: Time for a few draughts in the pews. This ornate (but deconsecrated) structure is now a spacious brewpub serving eclectic cuisine and desserts as well as handcrafted beers.

4. Story Inn Restaurant and Still Tavern

Brown County Convention & Visitors Bureau / Via browncounty.com

Where: Nashville, IN

Then: A turn-of-the-century general store

Now: Step back in time in this tiny Indiana town, where an eclectic B&B and tavern serves flavorful gourmet fare and fine wines in walls lined with antiques and lit by oil lamps.

5. Crop Bistro

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Where: Cleveland, OH

Then: A 1920s-era bank

Now: With ornate decorations and golden hues everywhere, the renovated bank's huge marble columns and 37-foot ceilings give this restaurant and bar a sleek, modern look.

6. The Airplane Restaurant

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Where: Colorado Springs, CO

Then: A 1953 US Air Force Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker

Now: If you're not that into airplane food, consider this offbeat restaurant and bar, whose aviation-inspired menu (complete with wings and Air Tower Nachos) and "flight attendant" servers welcoming you aboard will put you in the mood for a great meal.

7. Steel & Rye

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Where: Milton, MA

Then: A car dealership, then an ambulance garage

Now: It's time for a new industrial revolution with this 150-seat kitchen and bar. Inventive, locally sourced dishes make the ever-crowded Steel & Rye a must if you're in the area.

8. The Tippler

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Where: New York, NY

Then: Part of the basement of the Nabisco factory

Now: With antique fixtures, vintage decor, and an array of artisanal spirits and wines lining the shelves, this cocktail lounge inspires a classy speakeasy vibe and sits just below the famous Chelsea Market.

9. The Depot Craft Brewery and Distillery

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Where: Reno, NV

Then: An old railway headquarters

Now: After a history of serving the transportation needs of cattle ranchers and farmers, this renovated three-story brick building now serves locally sourced food as well as craft beer and spirits to discerning travelers and locals.

10. Moshulu

Visit Philadelphia / Via visitphilly.com

Where: Philadelphia, PA

Then: The largest square-rigged sailing vessel still afloat

Now: Permanently docked in Philly after sailing throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Chile in the 1900s, the renovated restaurant and bar gives you spectacular views of the city as you sip your fine wine from its deck.

11. Mission Brewery

Mission Brewery / Via 001b684aaecf4d85f6e9-6136cb5b2e745ba248bd131b0fe2eb34.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com

Where: San Diego, CA

Then: Wonder Bread factory

Now: With original brick and bow trusses intact, this 1894 structure is now a restaurant and microbrewery that houses a 2,500-sq.-ft. tasting room and bars overlooking the brewhouse.

12. Kelly's Brew Pub

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Where: Albuquerque, NM

Then: A former Ford dealership and service station

Now: Route 66 is full of popular stops, but this converted restaurant and bar adds a certain historic flair. Harnessing the building's rich history by using Route 66 design elements and keeping the old gas pumps and original restaurants, Kelly's Brew Pub offers delicious house brews and has made great strides toward incorporating sustainable energy into its business plan.

13. Old Firehouse Brewery

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Where: Williamsburg, OH

Then: Firehouse

Now: Opened by a former firefighter, the Old Firehouse Brewery offers handcrafted beers and uses a firehouse theme for its decor, which includes fire extinguishers, old fire suits, and other historical memorabilia.

14. Willimantic Brewing Company

CT Beer Trail / Via api.ning.com

Where: Willimantic, CT

Then: A town post office

Now: After years spent evolving from a deli to a full-service restaurant, this brewpub now serves handcrafted beer in the old reception area, with a private dining room in the postmaster's office.