359 Best Bars in California, USA

This laid-back spot is the embodiment of an unpretentious wine drinker's wine bar, complete with non-judgy staff. What else would you expect from a spot with repurposed furnishings and a vintage motorcycle mounted to the wall? There's a new menu of wine and locally sourced beer every week as well as delicious appetizers like the popular deviled eggs and charcuterie plate.

Latina-owned Bar Flores may look like any indoor--outdoor bar you'll find in sun-kissed Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, but the elevated cocktails served here are very Los Angeles. Margarita Wednesday is a must, and the back patio has a taco stand in case you get hungry.

In a 19th-century redbrick building that's been everything from a hotel to a bank to a bus station, this bustling bar opened in the 1970s. These days, it serves craft beers and specialty cocktails you can pair with booze-friendly appetizers, pizzas, and comfort food (or have a big ole rib eye with Bulleit bourbon peppercorn sauce). Open later than most downtown bars, BofA presents live music one night a week or more year-round.

The upscale lounge at the Sierra Nevada Resort is where locals gather for happy hour by the fire. 

This Highland Park outpost of an NYC institution started an arcade bar revolution in Los Angeles, serving elevated yet accessible (and more importantly, affordable) cocktails and American fare amidst rows of beloved retro arcade games and pinball machines. Barcade has built a community here, holding events like a pinball league to encourage loyal patrons to form bonds with like-minded individuals. You may want to block off the entire evening to visit or revisit classics like Pac-Man, Marvel VS Capcom 2, and Mortal Kombat 2.

This gigantic space can resemble either a raucous club or a sports bar, depending on what night you're there. But the drinks are strong and reasonably priced, and the reclaimed wood decor makes for an intimate atmosphere, even when the DJs are spinning mostly Top 40.

Al Capone and other Prohibition-era legends once sidled up to this hip nightspot's carved wooden bar. Rock to DJ music and sit indoors, or head out to the pet-friendly patio. Some menu items pay homage to California's early days.

Open since 1920, Barney's Beanery is an iconic spot along the original Route 66 that drew legendary regulars Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison (among others) to its doorstep. There's an extensive menu, but all anyone talks about is the famous chili and the list of more than 85 beers. There are plenty of distractions, including three pool tables, a foosball table, and arcade games. There's great trivia on Tuesday.

In addition to teaching workshops on improvisation, this group based in a renovated warehouse stages performances such as "Guilty Pleasures: Improvised Soaps" and "Spontaneous Broadway." As is always the case for improv, the quality varies, but it's reliably fun. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door and have a suggested price range of $5 to $50 depending on what each patron feels comfortable paying.

The groovy 1960s are the inspiration for the gorgeous setting of this cocktail destination with a busy bar up front and a more relaxed, lounge-style atmosphere in the back. However, the cocktails are straight-up modern excellence, always mixing a superb balance of high-quality spirits and homemade ingredients. The glassware and garnishes are gorgeous.

A fixture on local papers' "best of" lists, Belly Up has been drawing crowds since it opened in 1974. Its longevity attests to the quality of the eclectic entertainment on its stage. Within converted Quonset huts, critically acclaimed artists play everything from reggae and folk to—well, you name it.

The plush main room and adjacent lounge of this club retain a retro vibe perfect for the "Cocktail Nation" programming that keeps the crowds entertained. For a taste of the original San Francisco nightclub scene, you can't beat it. Indie low-fi and pop bands such as Mustache Harbor and Tainted Love have played here.

They call it your neighborhood bar, because even if you don't live in the neighborhood you'll feel at home at this Alfred Hitchcock–themed eatery. Located in Franklin Village, a block-long stretch of bars, cafés, and bookstores, come here for pub food or a poultry-centric dinner. Weekend nights mean cheap beer and well drinks, crowds spilling onto the streets, and a few rounds of oversize Jenga. Weekdays there's happy hour drink prices; holidays and major sporting events are celebratory occasions at this street side spot.

The city's best brewery within actual walking distance of downtown resides on a warehouse stretch of SoMa that is better known for Bay Bridge on-ramp traffic than food and drink. The cozy, colorful tasting room is always friendly and full of great fresh, gluten-removed beers on tap. It's hard to pick from the extensive list of brews, but there's a wide variety of styles, from classic lagers and pilsners to uniquely flavored sours and imperial stouts.

Barely seven stools fit in San Francisco’s smallest bar. There are just as many bottled beers (served from a bathtub!) as seats, and be sure to bring some cash since credit cards aren't accepted. It's as bare-bones as it gets, but there's sports on TV, a fun dice game, and most important, a neighborhood camaraderie that is increasingly hard to find.

This neighborhood hangout blends industrial chic and old-world charm. The crowd is less casual than others in the Castro, though no one will judge you for wearing Chuck Taylors. Blackbird serves up a good selection of craft beers, along with seasonal cocktails.

Get your margarita skinny, spicy, or standard, with homemade sours and fresh-squeezed juices, at this prime spot within Fashion Valley Mall. Don't miss weekday happy hour ($8 specialty cocktails from 3 to 6 pm) or Taco Tuesday ($6 tacos until 6 pm and happy hour drink specials all day).

The famed New York jazz room's intimate West Coast club hosts headliners such as Candy Duffer, Kim Waters, and Dinah Jane. At Locals Night on many Wednesdays, homegrown talent performs. There's a full bar, and you can order a meal or small bites from the kitchen. The larger JaM Cellars Ballroom upstairs books similar artists.

This no-frills neighborhood watering hole gets packed on weekends and whenever professional soccer is streaming on one of the large TVs.

A cozy, casual date spot, Blush! serves wines paired with tapas, charcuterie boards, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Sit at the counter for a nice chat with the friendly bartender, and pick a glass or bottle of bubbly or white, rosé, or red wine from its well-curated collection. This place always buzzes on weekends, so reserve in advance.

Priding itself as one of the last remaining neighborhood bars in Los Angeles’s ever-evolving bar scene, Boardner’s has maintained its no-nonsense vibe since 1942. Leave your self-importance at the door, order ice-cold beer and hearty mac and cheese, and keep an eye out for any weird apparitions—this place is known to be one of the most haunted spots in the city. Live music, a killer sound system, and a large dance floor bring out L.A.'s party people to this last-of-its kind Hollywood speakeasy.

For a glass (or a bottle) of natural wine served with delicious, fresh small plates from burrata and radish salads to flavorful sweet potato tacos, head to this popular neighborhood wine bar. The rotating selection of artisanal wines from small producers, mainly in France, Italy, and California, pairs well with the eclectic, casual atmosphere. The weekend breakfast burritos are legendary.

One of San Francisco's liveliest music spots is this Fillmore blues favorite, opened in 1997 by the "King of the Boogie," John Lee Hooker. The club has a fun blend of blues, funk, and hip-hop shows most nights of the week.

This is a great live-music dive—in the best sense of the word—and truly the epicenter of Bay Area indie rock. The club has hosted some great acts over the years, including the Strokes and Arcade Fire. Catch up-and-coming acts right before they make it big.

Although this spot reeks of Prohibition-era speakeasy cool, it's not exclusive (though it's highly recommended to book a reservation). The place has sex appeal, with tin ceilings, bordello-red silk wallpaper, intimate booths, and low lighting; loud conversations and cell phones are not allowed. The menu of spirit-forward cocktails and quality bourbon and whiskey is substantial. A speakeasy within the speakeasy called Wilson & Wilson is more exclusive but just as funky.

This 70-plus-year-old, charming bar continually reinvents itself. The Brig has its pluses (interesting drinks, talented DJs, and some live music) and minuses (ugh, parking), but is worth a look if you're in the area. There's always a food truck around, and the bar's fine with you bringing in outside food.

This tucked-away German biergarten is in Oakland's Brooklyn Basin along the waterfront Bay Trail, with lovely views of the marina, estuary, and Coast Guard Island. Known for its select German beers and delectable Bavarian dishes, including sausages, schnitzel, and homemade spaetzle, this family-friendly spot is especially popular on nice days.

Around since 1919 in various incarnations, Burgundy Room attracts a fiercely loyal crowd of locals, as well as the occasional wandering tourist. The bar is supposedly haunted (check out the Ouija boards toward the back) with famously dark interiors, but those details just add to its charm. Its rock-and-roll vibe, strong drinks, and people-watching opportunities make this a worthy detour on any night out on the town.

Karaoke every night, yes you heard that right, every night. Cafe Brass Monkey is K-town dive bar royalty, a perfect place to belt out your ballads without fear of the judgment you might find in snootier spots. The ambience is relaxed and the food is bar style. If you’re looking to sing, be prepared to wait your turn as the line to perform can get lengthy. Sprinkled in with tried-and-true regulars, celebrities looking to have a good ol’ fashioned sing-along filter through Cafe Brass Monkey from time to time. The wall features photos of famous friends of the Monkey like Adam Levine, Seth Macfarlane, and Chelsea Handler. Parking is free after 5 pm with a validation, but the glory of knowing you hit the high note is priceless.