We heard good things about Civil Liberties and we were not disappointed. We've gone back now twice and had a great time each time.
If you're looking for a fun atmosphere, this is a great bar. If you love cocktails, this is a fantastic bar.
Civil Liberties is a place to try new cocktails without a heavy price tag. Tell them what you like and they'll create fun cocktails to try while giving you a background on the drink. Nick in particular is great and funny.
The only negative is that when the place gets full, the service suffers a bit and the charm of the place (that they tell you about the cocktail, what's in it, a bit of history) gets lost.
Better to come in earlier in the night (9 p.m.) and sit at the long bar to get a real feel for the place.