Baldur's Gate 3 fans debate which of the game's taverns is better

The nature of the three-act structure of Baldur's Gate 3 means that we don't experience the Sword Coast Tavern proper until Act 3, when the party enters the city of Baldur's Gate and gains access to both the Blushing Mermaid and the Elfsong Tavern.

These two facilities have appeared in previous entries in the series, with The Blushing Mermaid appearing in the original Baldur's Gate and the Elfsong Tavern also appearing in the original Baldur's Gate as well as Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance.

Rowdy Dive Bar or Refined Wine Bar?

In Baldur's Gate 3 – as in the previous games – the two pubs have very different environments and clientele. The Blushing Mermaid is a rowdy, nautical-themed establishment where you're almost certain to find a representative of every one of the city's illegal organizations. You can expect hilarity, sea shacks and bar brawls that could start at a moment's notice.

Elfsong Tavern, meanwhile, is a more refined experience. You can expect moody lighting, exotic wines and encounters with interesting characters from all over Faerûn.

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The wizard and his tower.

The tavern's bartender, Alan Alyth, is the son of Lady Alyth Elendara, who owned Elfsong during the events of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. You can ask him about the gruesome murder of Duke Stelmane. Blushing Mermaid may be rowdy, but at least it hasn't been infiltrated by a serial killer cult. Hags are… another story.

RequirementSimple271 recently posed a question to the community: “Choose your vibe: Blushing Mermaid or Elfsong?” The community is surprisingly divided on which device they prefer.

“I don't think it's a fair competition, Elfsong is a much more important place in terms of lore, but the in-game representation of the Mermaid just blows it out of the water, pun intended – it's your standard fantasy swamp inn versus a pirate-themed bar with an actual ship's hull bolted to the side. Like, Mnik1.”

The ship protruding from the Blushing Mermaid in Baldur's Gate 3 is a reference to the Low Lantern, a tavern from the original Baldur's Gate that operated from a docked ship. Larian combined the two places to pay homage to both taverns.

The Elfsong Tavern from Baldur's Gate 3.

“Unfortunately, I have a feeling for Elfsong and a mermaid's budget,” quips Holler_Professor; “Although I love Elf's Song and if I lived in Baldur's Gate I would avoid the mermaid like the plague, I love the mermaid vibe so much. The pirate ship, Ethel's quest, Karlach's banter, it's just immaculate,” writes Kittykatkillua; Sit outside at the Mermaid in the summer, cozy up at the Elfsong in the winter,” SynnerSaint writes, getting the best of both worlds.

There's something very familiar and homey about RPG inns and taverns that we don't really get until the third act in Baldur's Gate 3. There isn't enough time left in the game at this point to create a hub somewhere, but I think Elfsong Tavern is as close as it's going to get to home for our party.