Basilio: Bar for the Pet's Owners
More than a month ago when I first went to meet with my landlord to check out my new digs, I came across a sign for the bar, Basilio: Bar For The Pet’s Owners. What a find. There is so much to love about this sign. The happy obese cat and the interesting English grammar which seems to imply the primacy of the pet over the owner. It was long on my list of places to explore, but I kept putting it off. My trepidation was rooted in an irrational fear of off-the-beaten-path basement locals, and that I didn’t have a pet who might legitimize my patronage. The thought of wrangling a stray cat off the street did cross my mind.
Tragically Basilio: Bar for the Pet’s Owners may be no longer. Or at least the sign is. Maybe business was hurt by potential customers with similar fears, or maybe it just changed ownership. Either way… I feel I may have missed my chance.
I found their website. It has some awesome pictures and some information about what the place is all about. Naturally the site is in Estonian so I will try and recap as best I can…
Several years ago the owner purchased the bar with no other intention than serving the locals who had been enjoying the place for years. Shortly after the owner’s pet cat died tragically. In the face such a profound loss she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of consolation by her guests. Gradually she allowed pets into the bar, both as a way of making life easier for her patrons, and as a way of overcoming her own grief. This convention evolved into a full blown theme and soon it became the place to be for pet owners. It became a pet themed bar.
Patrons brought in images of their pets to decorate the walls, and occasional poetry nights were hosted where owners could recite verse dedicated to their furry friends. Basilio’s definition of pet is equitably broad. While most people bring their dogs, cats are welcome and guinea pigs, ferrets and even rats have made appearances. There are separate menus for the animals to enjoy and assurances are given as to the cleanliness of the bar, as there are separate dinnerware sets for all species.
There are also strict rules for the animals themselves:
Hopefully the concept inside the bar is still intact, but until I get the courage, or requisite animal to investigate here is a virtual pouring out of a drink for what was probably an amazing watering hole. Nägamist Basilio… it seems your nine lives 
were up.
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