Anodyne Pool Hall & Cocktails

Removed from the bustling Central Ave. bar scene beneath it, Anodyne is appreciated as a mellow spot where you can actually hold a meaningful conversation. Casually eclectic, this cool pool hall occupies the attic-like space of an old Route 66 business, symbolically looking down on the high-decible pick-up joints that surround it. That's not to say you can't find a great date here; you certainly can, and you won't have to lose your voice trying. Comfy sectional sofas, over-stuffed chairs, coffee tables, bookshelves and houseplants surround the pool playground where 19 red-felt beauties stand in a row. Friendly groups squish into big, black-leather booths or overload already crowded couches. Communal space is easily shared here among the twentysomething group that's more genuine and good-natured than most bar crowds. -- Susanna Suddarth