If you think you can only find cheap beer and overly-boozy drinks from bars around Mt. Pleasant, home of Central Michigan University, think again.

When we visited downtown Mt. Pleasant for their Craft Beer Festival on June 11, 2016, we were pleasantly surprised when we found 120 South, an upscale cocktail and tapas bar south of the main strip. We ignored the beer before liquor adage and stopped by this gem after exiting the sun-soaked festival. We are glad we did.

Whether you’re looking for a great happy hour spot or a solid place to start an evening out, 120 South adds a legitimate upscale option to downtown Mt. Pleasant. A long bar extends the length of the space, providing seating for patrons, while booths and tables provide intimate seating options for couples and groups. This mid-Michigan cocktail sanctuary could easily be plucked from Detroit or downtown Grand Rapids, but it stands tall in Chippewa country.

Boasting a list of traditional cocktails, original cocktails, and seasonal sensations, 120 South provides an exceptional spirits program for the student and resident population alike. Not in the mood for a cocktail? Wine and beer are available as well.

Not ones to shy away from a quality cocktail, we particularly enjoyed 120 South’s champagne-based cocktail known as The Clark. Prepared with Veev, St. Germain, mint and champagne, it really hit the spot on a steamy summer night.

Hungry? 120 South offers a variety of tapas (small plates) ranging from charcuterie to flatbread, soup to shrimp. To accompany our drinks, we opted for the Bacon Shrimp, featuring orange jalapeño glazed shrimp wrapped in bacon on a bed of Asian slaw.

120 South’s concept seems well received by the community. People strolled in consistently during our visit in June, long after the student population left for summer break.

We are looking forward to another experience at 120 South next time we’re in the area. In the meantime, we’ll raise a glass to this Mt. Pleasant destination.