It’s always nice to see a new bar open in Augusta, Ga.

A couple weeks ago, a new watering hole called the Indian Queen opened on the corner of Wrightsboro Road and Monte Sano Avenue in the building that used to house the Gun Cabinet.

It’s refreshing to see a new bar with a different vibe opening in Augusta. Many of the city’s bars have the same artistic, grunge-type feel to them, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It fits the community, although it is an enjoyable change of pace to have a different type of venue. Other types of people who are not into the grunge scene can go to the Indian Queen to have a few drinks.

The exterior of the building is very plain, nothing flashy or ostentatious. The building is made of dark wood that creates a relaxed environment. When you walk in the front door, the relaxed atmosphere continues. Everything is made of light hardwood, from the ceiling to the floors, mimicking the experience of a vacation in a log cabin. The windows are covered in wrought-iron bars, but it doesn’t make you feel unsafe; it adds a touch of character to the place and blends in nicely with the scheme of things. There is a small sitting area with nice leather couches if you want to sit.

Unlike most bars, Indian Queen does not have that dark and dank feeling upon entering. It is a well-lit bar, and there is no lingering smoke smell, which is always nice, because smoking is not allowed inside. There is a nice porch outside and a sitting area for patrons and their friends to go if they would like to smoke.

It is a very upscale, laid-back place to go relax. The music is not too loud like in other bars. While I was there, they were playing music along of the lines of Michael Bublè or Robbie Williams – soothing music, though I’m sure that will change as the crowds change. They also have two televisions behind the bar for sports. The bartenders are even nice enough to turn the music down and the game up if you ask them.

The service was great. The bartenders were very attentive, not only to me but other customers as well and always made sure their drinks were to their taste. They were very good at making small talk and making you feel comfortable. Other bartenders even approached us to ask how our drinks were and if everything was OK.

I would definitely recommend going and grabbing a few drinks at the Indian Queen, and it’s close to campus for you to go after a rough day of classes to take a load off. It’s the place to go if you are tired of seeing the same bar scene.