359 Best Bars in California, USA

Long before Uptown got hot, the late Peter Van Kleef was serving stiff fresh-squeezed Greyhounds and booking live music at this funky café-bar that always crackles with creative energy, along with live music on some nights. The bizarre decor full of all kinds of art objects could be a museum if it wasn't a bar.

Part cluttered shop, part cozy bar, Chestnut Street’s marquee wine destination is a longtime favorite for grabbing a glass or three. Featured wines come from some of the state’s most highly regarded vintners of all sizes and celebrity standings. The neighborhood has many wine bars, but this is where the locals go when the focus is on the wine itself.

The well-respected Cantina Mayahuel carries San Diego’s largest collection of agave-based Mexican spirits—with tequila and mezcal flights to boot—and is regularly frequented by local service-industry pros. Happy hour runs from noon to 6 pm, and service switches to 21+ only after 7 pm.

A British pub might look out of place in Hollywood, but the Cat and Fiddle's punk-rock influence and 43-year stint give it more than enough street cred. Besides, classic pub grub like fish-and-chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd's pie are a nice counterpoint to L.A.'s vegetarian and gluten-free offerings. There have been a few changes over the years, but it remains the perfect spot to just grab a pint and a savory pie or to satisfy one's inner Anglophile. There's even afternoon tea during the weekends.

This huge, grimy, and fun club books rock, indie rock, punk, death-metal, reggae, and other acts.

The almost 360-degree views of San Francisco and the bay are dazzling at this hip rooftop bar high atop the LUMA Hotel. Firepits and strategic wind barriers make this one of the warmer outdoor SF drinking destinations. But the real stars are the intricate cocktails and wonderful bites inspired by Central and South American cultures and ingredients.

Make this import from Seattle your last stop on a revelrous Saturday night. Grab a cheap cocktail then meander through the Mexican fiesta--themed bar that basks in a red glow. Foosball tables, a photo booth, and a vending machine full of kooky objects will give you plenty of ways to occupy your time.

Dance, drink, drag, and dine at this nightclub in a strip mall in the heart of the gay-centric Arenas Road district. By day, it's quite civilized. Socialize on the patio, share a watermelon feta salad, and play games. When the sun goes down, it's time to get down on the large dance floor to the hypnotic electronic beats of live spinners, enjoy drag performers, or marvel at the go-go dancers. Alcohol flows all day, every day no matter the theme.

An Italian restaurant and event venue with a big bar area, Cibo brings live jazz and other music to downtown five nights a week.

This Wild West–motif neighborhood gay bar has pinball machines, pool tables, and several theme nights and drag shows on the schedule. The Cinch is not the least bit trendy, which is part of the charm for regulars of this landmark 1970s bar.

Part marketplace, part bazaar of bars, part curio museum, Clifton’s Republic is a wild, weird, and glorious establishment. Enter the ground floor and you’ll find an indoor forest and a whole lot of grub. Upstairs is a maze of bars, dance floors, and intimate corners.

Nearly 30 beers on tap and more than 50 by the bottle—plus 160 whiskeys and an extensive pub menu—ensure plenty of variety at this lively gathering spot across from the Village Gondola. Open for three decades, this underground bar is the best spot to go for an extended après-ski. Be sure to look up at the hundreds of bottle-cap tops pressed in the ceiling by beer-consuming customers.

This is hip local hangout spot offers a glimpse of the young professionals who have brought new life into Atwater Village. Aside from the occasional DJ and live music nights, Club Tee Gee also offers tons of dog-friendly outdoor seating options for summer day drinking and lazing about after a wander through the neighborhood’s farmers’ market. 

A roomy, premier entertainment venue, Coach House draws music crowds of varying ages for dinner and entertainment. Make a dinner reservation and receive priority seating to listen to the next hip new band, popular cover bands, and legacy musicians. The calendar of shows is online.

Well-known stand-up comics appear here, though there's more emphasis on up-and-comers. You might also see local sketch comedy and comic singer-songwriters. No one under 18 is admitted, and there is a minimum drink purchase in addition to the entrance fee.

Step back into the '80s with this kitschy yet vibrant hybrid of bar and video arcade. The room is stocked with vintage arcade cabinet games like Galaga and Pac-Man, as well as Skee-Ball and other childhood favorites. Yet unlike those trips to the arcade, Coin-Op features a rotating menu of craft cocktail creations, including punch bowls (like the Capri-Sun inspired "Power Punch") to make those pinball tournaments even more spirited.

Come on the first Sunday of the month for free games all day long.

China Live's stylish upstairs, vintage Shanghai–inspired bar focuses on scotch and intricate cocktails with no shortage of creativity. The renowned AvroKO firm's sharp-as-a-tuxedo design, with dramatic lighting and a black-and-gold motif, is as glamorous a setting for drinking as any in this city.

With Los Angeles being Los Angeles, a disproportionate number of comedians call the city home, from the would-be to the been-there-done-that. The decades-old Comedy and Magic Club attracts them all. One popular engagement is when 10 up-and-coming comedians perform, one right after the other, in a sort of comic brinksmanship. Other nights might see the occasional magician or an icon of the field like Jay Leno or David Spade, there to keep their timing fresh and try out new material for adoring crowds. Stiff drinks and decent entrées and appetizers reward those who arrive early for the best seats, but try grabbing a meal nearby before arriving 30 to 60 minutes prior to the show (budget a little more time for someone like Leno, who's a regular on Sunday nights but still draws crowds).

Like its sister establishment in Hollywood, this club hosts some of the best national touring and local talent. Cover charges range from nothing (with a two-drink minimum) to $50 or more for national acts. Seating is at bistro-style tables, and all shows are 21 and older.

More than 30 craft beers on tap, elevated pub-style food, and a killer weekday happy hour (3--6 pm) make this Kearny Mesa brewery a magnet for beer aficionados. Depending on the day of the week, last call hits between 10 pm and 1 am, meaning you can curl up in the unique living-room setting and make yourself right at home for the night.

Perched above town on the site of North America's first chairlift, this local institution has a bar decked out with old wooden skis, sleds, skates, and photos of Truckee's early days. A superb spot to enjoy a local brew or craft cocktail and not bad at all should you stay for dinner, Cottonwood serves pasta dishes and grilled meats and fish.

An authentic British pub, downtown Crown & Anchor has 20 beers on tap, classic cocktails, and a full menu, including 18 daily specials available in the restaurant and heated patio until midnight.

Step through the curtained entrance and back in time to 1970s Korea at Dan Sung Sa, which gained wider popularity after Anthony Bourdain paid a visit. At this quirky time-capsule bar, wood-block menus feature roughly 100 small eats. You’ll see much that looks familiar, but fortune favors the bold. Take a chance on corn cheese, or try the makgeolli: a boozy Korean rice drink you sip from a bowl. It pairs perfectly with good conversation and snacking all night long.

This tiny hip hop space has cozy red walls and an all-around good vibe. The music usually gets going by 10 in the evening, and can span the decades. Come on Sunday night if you're looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. The small food menu is priced well.

The music changes nightly at the venerable DNA Lounge, with Monday Night burlesque and gothic-synthpop shows, themed weekend dance parties, and a wide range of music styles each evening. With two stages and multiple dance floors on two levels (plus a restaurant and several bars), the festivities are rarely uncomfortably crowded and always huge amounts of fun.

If the Dogpatch neighborhood had a town hall, this friendly, ultra-relaxed watering hole would be it. With its dark wood interior and dim lighting, it truly does feel like an old-time San Francisco saloon — because it is one of the few remaining saloons that dates back to the 1910s. Drinks are unfussy but nicely shaken or stirred, and the draft beer list is perfectly acceptable for hanging out with your dog and friends while watching a Niners game.

If you're looking for that everybody-knows-your-name vibe in L.A., look no further than The Douglas, where owners Dave and Johnny warmly wave to patrons, new and old alike, entering the front patio. The draft beers and hard kombuchas are affordable enough to keep you returning. Pair your beverages with casual, no-nonsense food, such as chicken wings (served with house-made blue cheese), crowd-favorite breakfast burritos, and homemade falafels. Be prepared to rub elbows with Dodgers fans on game night.

Drawing Room is the dive bar of the locals. Located in a dimly lit nondescript strip mall a few blocks away from the major bustle of Los Feliz, it's easy to miss. Inside, Drawing Room is bathed in a red glow with Chinese accents such as a large gold-painted dragon and a list of Chinese zodiac signs tacked to the wall. In a neighborhood of increasingly trendy bars, the prices for cocktails cannot be beat here.

This bar's 1940s lounge decor makes it a favorite with folks in Los Angeles. Another reason to wander in is the Blood and Sand cocktail, self-proclaimed to be "the world's most tantalizing drink." 

“Farm-to-bar" cocktails, many powered by local artisanal spirits and organically farmed ingredients, are among this downtown bar’s specialties. The old-school-in-a-fresh-setting vibe suits the inventive libations, but the bartenders fashion the classics equally well. DJs get people dancing on many weekends.