Taverns

The Enchanted Forest Taverns are places of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages in the Enchanted Forest.

Before the Curse
Rumplestiltskin, a young boy, witnesses his father Malcolm get beaten up by a peasant when he attempts to scam him via a card trick, something his lowlife father is adept at. After giving him a straw doll and telling him to name it, Malcolm gets his son a job with a couple of spinsters, where Rumple discovers his talent for spinning at the wheel. However Rumple comes to the bar looking for his father and finds Malcolm up to the usual, drinking and running con games. The father claims to have been taking a break in his quest of looking for a job, but Rumple doesn't believe him and presents to his father a magical bean that the spinsters gave him. The young boy explains that the bean can take them anywhere they would like, that they can seek a fresh start. Malcolm speaks fondly of the place he visited in his dreams as a child, and wants to go there, so the bean is dropped, a portal opens, and the two of them make their way to Neverland.

Inside a local tavern, there is a commotion, on the count of the sailors that have arrived into the land recently. Lots of drinking and lots of fun all around, and Milah, the cherished wife of Rumplestiltskin, plays dice with the men, and is excited when it is her turn to drink again. Rumple appears and calls for her, and her excitement wears off immediately. She looks annoyed to see him, and Rumple tells her that it's time to go. "Good. So go.", she says, as she pours herself some more wine. The man sitting in front of her - Killian Jones - asks her who this is, and Milah tells him it's no one... just her husband. Rumple appears to be hurt by her condescending introduction of him, and Killian jokes that Rumple is a tad taller than Milah had described. This said, everyone around them, including Milah, laughs. Rumple begs his wife to come, for she has responsibilities, to which Milah replies, "You mean like being a man? And fighting in the ogre wars? Other wives became honored widows while I became lashed to the village coward." Rumple is futher hurt, and embarrassed, by her harsh words, and she tells him she needs a break and urges him to go back home, because it's what he's good at. She drinks some more and then the word "Mama", uttered by a sweet, innocent young voice, gets through to her. Young Baelfire makes himself appear, and his father reminds him that he was supposed to wait outside. The young Bae can't make out what is happening, and Milah, suddenly overcome with shame and the need to protect her son, gets up from the table and leaves the tavern with her family.

Mr. Smee encounters Rumplestiltskin in a bar and tells him that he will procure for him a magic bean in exchange for immortality. Rumple tells him that only the Dark One has life eternal, making a new offer of turning the clock back so that Smee is a little boy again. He tells Rumple that that's close enough but the Dark One tells him that if he fails to deliver, he will turn the clock forward and Smee will be reduced to dust. Smee is later kidnapped by Captain Hook and his crew and they take the magic bean he has procured for Rumple, making a deal with the Dark One themselves. After they trick him, Rumple ends up walking away with nothing, but Smee is still among Hook's crew. He talks to his new captain to ask what will become of him, Hook tells the man that he shall join his crew. Smee asks him how that's fair and Hook makes clear that they're going to Neverland, a land where he'll never age again, meaning that he will gain the eternal life he's always wanted. Smee is happy with this and asks Hook for his hat back, Hook takes it from one of his crew members, reuniting with with Smee before setting sail to Neverland, using the magic bean to do this.

In the fairytale land that was, a bartender hands a young Cora two cups of beer which she carries through a busy tavern to the men that ordered them. On her way she playfully fends off the drunken men who try and touch her, but in the process she accidentally bumps into a handsome well kept man. She apologises to the man, but he tells her to sit down as she's already worked past her shift, adding that she's earned it. Cora thanks the man and sits down opposite him. He tells her he's watched her the whole week he's been here, stating she works in a tavern but moves like a lady. Cora tells him she's just a miller's daughter and she works at the tavern for a little extra. She goes on to explain that someone once told her to act like what she plans to be, so she acts a little better than she is. The man, seemingly captivated by Cora's beauty, says he wishes he could stay longer but he cannot as he's already stayed longer than planned. Cora wonders why, but he says he thinks she knows why. He then goes to pull something out of his pocket, but accidentally drops a handkerchief with a royal crest on it. He apologises, stating he didn't want her to know. Cora is stunned to learn that he's royalty. The man tells Cora that he wanted her to know him as the true him, not Prince Jonathan. He explains to Cora that he doesn't feel right with all the other noble women, but he does with her. He puts away his handkerchief and then awkwardly states that "This isn't how it's supposed to go, but I hoped to only ask this question once in my life, but I'm going to ask it twice. Once now with this ring made of straw" he says, picking a piece of straw up off the floor and fashioning it into a ring. He tells her he'll return in two weeks and turn the ring into gold...or at least bring her a gold one and whisk her away to the castle as Princess Cora. He places the straw ring onto Cora's finger and asks if she'll marry him. She happily tells him "yes". He joyfully kisses her hand, stating she's made him so happy. He tells her the next two weeks will be torture and asks her to meet at the crossroads. She assure's him she'll be there before asking when he has to leave. He tells her he'll leave in the morning. She offers to keep him company in his room for the night, he agrees and takes her hand, escorting her upstairs.

When the unhappily married Queen Regina is approached by a fairy named Tinker Bell, said fairy offers the Queen a way to gain happiness: by using pixie dust to locate her true love. Regina is skeptical as she lost her first love, Daniel, thanks to Snow White, but Tinker Bell assures her that people can love again. The fairy steals some pixie dust from her superiors which, when a spell is performed, lead Regina to a man. Tinker Bell and Regina are led to a bar where a man with a lion tattoo on his arm is drinking with friends. The fairy tells Regina to go in, and leaves the Queen alone to do so, however, Regina doesn't go in as she's too scared to do so. She lies to Tinker Bell, saying that the man was horrible, and because Tink stole the pixie dust, she is stripped of her wings and magic thanks to Regina. It is later revealed that the man with the lion tattoo on his arm is Robin Hood, and by not going in and talking to him, Regina ruined both her life and his.

We are shown a cooked hog lying on a table in the tavern Anton was earlier looking at in the fairytale land that was as the shot moves to show James, Jack and Anton walking in together, the latter now being human-sized. James places his hand on Anton's shoulder and states that it's much better to be on the inside, and Anton nods. James then finds a table and turns a chair around dramatically for Anton to sit on, saying that he's their guest of honor. He sits down, now with a tankard in his hand, and notes how great it is not to have to fight for a seat at the table, wishing that his brothers could see him now. As Jack and James sit opposite him, the former says that she's not so sure about that family of his as it doesn't sound like they appreciate him. He takes a sip from his tankard before setting it down, telling his new "friends" that his family isn't so bad "except for the making fun of me, and then the pushing me around, and the harsh words", he then concedes that it's sort of bad. James places his hand on Jack's as he states to the two of them that sometimes you need to leave home in order to find the person you truly belong with. She smiles before James places his hand on Anton's shoulder, naming he and Jack his real family. "It's like you were always meant to be here, Anton," Jack adds, smiling, causing Anton to do the same before looking down, blushing. James gives him a pat on the back before telling his girlfriend to make sure their Anton has all that he needs, and standing up and walking over to the bar.

In the fairyatle land that was, the Huntsman and his wolf are walking through the Enchanted Forest, the Huntsman comes across a bar and decides to go in. Inside, the Huntsman and his wolf walk through and sit down, becoming at everyone's eye, "They're letting animals in here now? This isn't a slaughter house.", says a guy at the bar. "Forget him, he might as well be one too, I heard he was raised by him.", says another guy, "He does smell like him.", says the first guy, "Pathetic, I hear he cries over his kills, can you believe that?", asks the second guy. The first guy downs his drink and appraoches the Huntsman, "Tell me, Hunstman, what kind of man cries over an animal?", he asks, "An honorable one.", the Huntsman tells him, the guy asks him what he knows about honor, "I have it, they have it, you don't.", the Huntsman explains. "Animals have it?", the guy asks, "They're pure of heart, not selfish, and self-serving, like... people", the Huntsman tells him. The wolf growls madly at this, "You tell him to stop threatening me.", the guy says, "Because, do you know what I do to pets who threaten me?", he asks, drawing his sword at the growling wolf, "I hang them on my wall.", the guy finishes. At this attack, the Huntsman quickly draws his dagger and stabs the guy in the shoulder, he drops to the floor, "He's not a pet.", the Huntsman tells him. The second guy runs at hm witha sword but the Huntsman grabs him and smashes his head into a mirror, knocking him unconscious. A thrid guy approaches the Huntsman witha sword and so he grabs a large shard of the mirror and approaches the guy with it, he backs off. The Huntsman places down the shard and looks at his reflection.

When Dreamy shares his feelings with Bossy at a local pub, stating that he can't make them out. Belle, who is sitting next to him, tells him that he is in love. Dreamy wonders what love is like, to which Belle replies that it is the most wonderful and amazing thing in the world, but also that it doesn't always last forever. Dreamy tells her that Nova, the fairy he is in love with, probably doesn't even love him back, for all she talked about was meeting with him at the top of a hill to watch the fireflies. Belle chuckles and tells him that her intention was not to focus on the fireflies, but to ask him to come and be with her at that spot. She adds that she has already had her heart broken enough times to know when someone is reaching out. She insists that he go see Nova while he still can.

Belle is sat in a tavern drinking a beer as a group of men listen to their leader, Alistair, tell tale of a beast that is ravaging nearby villages. He states that no man has been able to kill the beast, known as the Yaoguai, but assures them that they will. He then explains that there is room on his wagon, so asks who shall join him. Some of the men cheer to signal their support. Belle smiles at the men with a look of adventure on her face. Suddenly, Dreamy the dwarf approaches Belle and asks if she's looking for an adventure. Dreamy suggests signing up for the hunt, but Belle tells him that despite dreaming of heroics, she thinks its safer to stick to her books as they're the only adventures she knows to have happy endings. Dreamy supposes this one could have one too, but Belle doubts this as she already faced a beast and it didn't end well. Dreamy asks what she's talking about, but before she can answer, the leader of the group tells his men to follow him. They then leave the tavern to begin their hunt for the Yaoguai. Dreamy tells Belle to get on the wagon, to take a chance. A curious Belle bites her lip and then prepares herself to leave.

Before the Second Curse
Hook and his small pirate crew are then seen at a tavern, gambling. When the captain wins a game involving coins, he raises his tankard of beer and makes a toast: "To the most dastardly band of pirates ever to set sail-" he and Smee laugh "-stride on the open roads!" Smee then raises a toast of his own, to Captain Hook, and everyone in the bar raises their glass and cheers, before drinking. Hook's right-hand man then approaches him and reveals that he and the boys chipped in and got a little something for their captain, gesturing to the wench standing by the bar, clearly a prostitute. She approaches with a smile on her face and takes Hook by the hand, leading him gracefully out of the tavern whilst his men wish for him to enjoy. "To Captain Hook!" Smee cries again as he leaves with the wench, and everyone inside cheers once more. Outside, Hook smiles at the wench but simply hands her a bagful of coins, something which she doesn't understand, having already been paid for by his men. He says that, tomorrow, she is to tell them she had a grand time, before bidding her goodnight. She walks away, and Hook sighs with sadness, proceeding to simply walk lonesomely down the alley.

Season 3
Captain Hook returns to the Enchanted Forest of the past along with Emma Swan, having fallen through a time portal created by the now deceased Wicked Witch of the West. When they accidentally make it so Snow White and Prince Charming don't meet when they're supposed to, Snow heads to a tavern to discretely meet with Black Beard, hoping that he will be able to provide her safe passage on his ship to a different land so that she will no longer be a wanted woman. She presents him with a bagful of gold, which he says should be enough for a trip on his ship, however, he adds that a "blind eye" will cost double, which Snow would have had she robbed the prince's carriage as she did originally. Emma and Hook use Rumplestiltskin's crystal ball to witness this and quickly orchestrate events to get time back on track.