There is a wall in west Delray with more than 1,200 bottles of whiskey on it, floor to ceiling, lined up like books on a shelf. Pappy Van Winkle in every vintage they can get. Rare Macallans. A vault of allocated bottles most bars in Florida will never see once, let alone all at once. It is the largest whiskey collection in the state, and Whisky Advocate has called it one of the best whiskey bars in the country.

It is not in Miami. It is not on Atlantic Ave. It is in a plaza on the southeast corner of Lyons and Atlantic, about twenty minutes northwest of Boca, and you have almost certainly driven past it.

What It's Actually Like Inside

Warren is dark in the good way. Warm wood floors, deep green velvet banquettes, chocolate leather, lighting turned way down. Six thousand square feet split between the dining room, a big indoor-outdoor bar, and a turfed patio that stays comfortable most of the year. Some nights there is a DJ. It reads a lot more Manhattan than it does suburban plaza, which is exactly why people react the way they do the first time they walk in.

The kitchen is not riding on the bar's reputation. Start with Gloria's Korean fried chicken, fried chicken thigh morsels in a gochujang glaze with black and white sesame. The Char Siu ribs come breaded, fried, and served with a ginger carrot slaw. Warren's Burger is two dry-aged patties with aged gruyere, truffle aioli, a bourbon glaze, and a fried egg. Get the truffle fries for the table, they are enormous.

The chef also runs a rotating weekly selection, which is where the kitchen actually shows off. Recent weeks have brought a swordfish cioppino loaded with mussels, clams, and shrimp, a wagyu stroganoff with filet tips, creminis, pappardelle, and horseradish cream, and a honey cumin skirt steak. Deviled eggs and New England clam chowder have been the openers. Ask what is running before you order anything, because the specials change every week and they are usually the reason to go back.

The Insider Move

This is the part almost nobody in Boca knows. Tucked inside Warren is a separate four-stool tasting bar with its own whiskey director, John Fitzpatrick, who goes by Fitzy and whose actual title is spiritual advisor. He runs two small seatings a night, four people each, and he builds every tasting around whoever is sitting in front of him.

There is no minimum spend and no membership. You call the front desk at 561-455-4177 and ask for a seat at the tasting bar. That is the whole process. You can order off the full food menu while you are there, so it works as dinner, not just drinks.

If you do sit at a regular table instead, do not try to read the entire list. Tell your server what you already drink and let them build a flight around one style rather than sampling across categories. That is what the program is designed for, and it is the difference between a great night and an expensive guess.

The Buzz

People fly in for this place. Boca Raton Magazine described whiskey people making a pilgrimage to Warren from across the country, and Fitzy's four stools get called the most exclusive seat in town. The Boca Raton Observer named it a Readers' Choice finalist for Best Cocktail Spot. On the food side, the Korean fried chicken, the lobster mac, and the pork chop are the dishes that show up over and over in reviews.

The one consistent complaint is worth knowing about: the dining room gets loud when it fills up, and it fills up on weekends. Plan accordingly.

Before You Go

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