The Grinning Lion

The Grinning Lion is a tavern located in North Ward, Waterdeep.

Tucked away inside a block of homes and businesses just north of the big bend in Golden Serpent Street, this place, adorned with battle trophies (or faked battle trophies) from all over Faerun is as raucous as taverns get in North Ward. An old joke claims the Riven Shield Shop sends all shields beyond repair here, to hang on the walls.

The music is loud, with male and female dancers in fantastically styled and revealing mock armor swaying and pirouetting among the tables. Real, if broken, weapons hang on the walls everywhere, so disputes are swiftly discouraged by the bouncers. Grasping a patron's upper lip is an effective way to tow him to the door, one told me.

Food consists only of platters of fried onions and eels. I’'m told you get to enjoy them, but I couldn’t get past the revolting look and smell.

Folk really come here to drink-—and drink they do, copiously at a price of 3 cp/tankard of zzar and upwards. Most wine is 2 tp/glass.

I'’m told that a certain fat man on a stool at one end of the bar can help visitors buy and sell goods that are rather “warm.” The only such patron I spoke to was very rude and emphatic in his rejections.

Proprietor: Unger Farshal, who owns and runs the Grinning Lion, is bald, close-mouthed, and dangerous-looking.