High 5’s, located at 318 State Street, presents patrons with one of the most distinct bar experiences in New London. Decidedly part of New London’s “alternative” bar scene (which also includes Oasis, 33 Golden Street and, prior to its unfortunate closure, the EL N GEE), this establishment nonetheless identifies foremost as a sports bar – and with good reason. Nine large, flat-screen televisions line the walls of the bar, which prides itself on having access to the broadest range of sporting events of any drinking establishment downtown.
Bartenders are extremely accommodating, and will readily change the channel being broadcasted on a particular screen to the game or event of your choice (provided, of course, that no one is watching the program currently being shown). Much of the décor at High 5’s is also sports-themed, the most prominent example of which is an extensive collage of sports photography – ranging in subject matter from NBA basketball to the WWE wrestling to local New London athletes, several of whom are related to members of the High 5’s staff and ownership – which stretches along the left wall of the establishment.
Underlying this inclination toward sporting events is, perhaps contrary to a first-time patron’s initial expectations, a categorically “alternative” vibe. The bar’s playlist fluctuates between hip-hop, classic rock, R&B and even some reggae, but refrains from delving into the realms of Top 40 or electronic dance music. Pictures of rock stars and punk albums pepper the walls surrounding the bar counter, and, perhaps most apparently, a great number of patrons on any given night will, through choices in fashion, reveal their identification with “hipster,” “punk” and other “underground” aesthetics.
According to Jenna and Dez, owners of High 5’s, sporting events act as a way for their diverse patron groups to readily integrate; the bar is intimately concerned with being accessible and accommodating to all. (Also noteworthy – High 5’s is a favorite spot of Conn professors, so next time you need to talk about your midterm grade…)
Without a doubt, the biggest draws of High 5’s are the bar’s impressive beer selection and high-quality food. With the exception of PBR, a reliable fallback for nights when you are running low on cash, the taps at High 5’s are reserved exclusively for craft beers. The selection is reliably diverse (never will you be forced to chose between five different IPAs when in the mood for a lager) and very reasonably priced. Bartenders are all extremely knowledgeable about the brewing process and readily offer free samples of beers available on tab. High 5’s also stocks bottles of several more mainstream beers (Budweiser, Corona, etc.) behind the bar, as well as a variety of hard liquors.
Also notable at High 5’s is the menu, which, unlike any other bar in New London, changes on a nightly basis (generally with the exception of the burger and wings, both of which are delicious). Ownership and staff at High 5’s regard food as a high priority when it comes to providing a completely satisfactory patron experience, and remain steadfast in their commitment to regularly develop new recipes. Food is always prepared in a timely manner and, like drinks, can be purchased at a very reasonable price.
Perhaps, in a general sense, the most appealing feature of High 5’s is the establishment’s simultaneous consistency and variety. Dez and Jenna consider their bar to be a highly personal space, and, as such, make their presence felt through the establishment’s décor, selection of food and drinks and, most important, commitment to providing patrons from all subcultural pockets of New London and elsewhere with a comfortable bar experience.
That being said, with this accommodation of various crowds comes an array of diverse vibes. Stop by midway through a football game and you will find a substantially different atmosphere – in terms of patron energy and interaction – than that which overtakes the bar during the Olympics or, conversely, on an average weeknight.
Indeed, during certain days of the week, at certain times of night, you might find the fervor that generally overtakes High 5’s during important sporting events to be momentarily subdued; most patrons will be seated, eating food and casually drinking beer in accordance with more “traditional” bar protocol. On Superbowl Sunday, conversely, you can expect nonstop conversation, cheering and chanting spurred on by first-rate dishes and quality beer.
It is the ability to base such adaptability based on a platform emphasizing customer service and top-of-the-line products which make High 5’s a unique space on the New London landscape. •
