DIVE RIGHT IN
Esther’ s High Dive brings high-end cocktails with a casual vibe to the Aloft Providence Downtown hotel.
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HE DECOR AT ESTHER’ S HIGH DIVE channels a midcentury modern resort in Palm Springs. Inside the ground floor bar of the Aloft Providence Downtown hotel, palm motif walls, glossy green booths, a sleek marble top bar and shiny gold accents play off one another. A glowing neon sign depicts a woman taking a plunge and a suspended flashy disco ball hangs from the ceiling. The blend is the vision of the owners— who also manage Yellow Door Taqueria next door— and bar manager, Max Karlin.
“ You can’ t just open up a dive bar— it becomes one over time,” Karlin says.“ The word dive was used here so we don’ t come across as pretentious, like some cocktail bars can be. There are little, subtle things we’ ve done to make people feel more welcome.”
It’ s all in the details. Familiar bottles like Jack Daniels Fire get top shelf placement. Water comes in plastic cups. The laminated menus tell it like it is.
“ Our Split Personality [ brown butter and peanut butter bourbon cocktail ], for example, has a very, very long process, and I’ m happy to expand on all that with someone if they were inquiring, but I don’ t need to list milkwashed or clarified or all those molecular gastronomy terms,” Karlin says.“ The ingredients are there— that’ s all you really need to know.”
Karlin, whose career includes stints in New York hospitality, a Florida gastropub, a Martha’ s Vineyard wine shop and a Nashville cocktail bar, had a direct hand in developing Esther’ s beverage and food program. His bespoke menu is the best example of Esther’ s hybrid nature, offering up elaborate cocktails, nostalgic mixtures, boilermakers, shooters and draft cocktails.
You can sip pretty on the Late Check-Out— a force-carbonated dirty martini— or get adventurous with the Mango Sticky Rice rumbased milk punch while your bestie washes away a bad day with a Mind Eraser( where vodka meets coffee liqueur and club soda) and your designated driver enjoys a Phony Negroni. As for fare, you can easily pair any of the drinks with Esther’ s signature smashburger, a classy Caesar salad, a“ secret-family recipe” crab Rangoon dip, and more bar bites.
“ I wanted it to be the fun neighborhood spot where we have a little bit of everything,” Karlin says.
Since Esther’ s opening in December, it’ s been one big party. A late night might bring out Polaroid cameras and bubble guns to entertain guests. The question of“ Who’ s Esther?” may be answered with a quarter shot and an explainer on the former Olympic swimmer turned Hollywood starlet, and a knocked over glass sometimes means your next drink gets served in a sippy cup.
“ I’ ll always come back to saying, drinking is supposed to be fun,” Karlin says.“ That’ s the idea: Not to take everything too seriously.”
But make no mistake:“ You’ re gonna get a great drink.” 191 Dorrance St., Providence, esthershighdive. com— K. M.
72 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I APRIL 2026