2629 Best Bars in USA

A multitime World's Best Bars honoree, this 8th Street cocktail bar is the stronghold of French mixologist Nico de Soto where he crafts inspired libations using unorthodox ingredients in a sleekly designed, dimly lit atmosphere. Things like dates, black sesame, pine nuts, corn puree, and something called \"Champagne acid\" are all likely to find their way into your glass. And it will taste fantastic. For nonexperimental drinkers, there are plenty of classic cocktails on the menu, too. 

The bartenders here truly know how to mix up a fantastic mai tai. This is, after all, the establishment that first made the famous drink in the Islands. The pink umbrella–shaded tables at the outdoor bar are front-row seating for sunsets and also have an unobstructed view of Diamond Head. It's an ideal spot to soak in the island vibes just steps from the sand. Contemporary Hawaiian musicians hold jam sessions on stage nightly, and small bites are also available.

Sommeliers own and run this wine, beer, and sake bar whose selections roam the globe but favor coastal California, Burgundy, and Champagne. A good place to learn about new regions or grape types, it hosts winery nights and restaurant pop-ups.

From the same father-son team who made Jacob's Pickle a neighborhood fave, this pleasant restaurant is deservedly famous for its French-dip sandwiches, melts, and other filling dishes. But its \"old-school but progressive\" cocktails, wine, and beer menus keep both of its separate bars busy. This is the sort of place where one visit will make you a regular.

Transport yourself to New Orleans in this dimly lit, yet lively cocktail and oyster bar, known for an extensive absinthe selection, a menu spanning light fare to hearty braised beef cheeks, and above all, an impressive selection of oysters hailing from both coasts. Cozy up at the horseshoe-shape bar or dine at a cast-iron table inside—or in the back garden on warm days.

This edgy bar has a retro vibe most evident by its bright-red carpeting, "No Regerts" mural, and twinkling ceiling. The party lasts until 5 am seven nights a week with a menu full of bold cocktails like the popular pornstar martini and sparkling Tommy's margarita. Late nights a DJ sets the vibe, and on the last Sunday of every month, there's an emo night that draws a massive crowd.

This local landmark and favorite of left-leaning politicos and media gadflies owes its popularity to its spirit and friendly service. Look for photos of vintage Atlanta sports teams and both local and national politicians, including a younger Bill and Hillary Clinton visiting with the spot's namesake. A crowd gathers around the wide-screen TVs when the Atlanta Braves play.

The phrase "New Orleans institution" gets thrown around a lot, but this place, now over 50 years old, deserves the title. It's wonderfully atmospheric, with pressed-tin walls and a lush tropical-theme patio, and it's also one of the city's best venues for blues, New Orleans–style R&B, funk, zydeco, and jazz. On Sunday afternoon, the bar hosts the south's longest-running poetry reading, and on Sunday night, Joe Krown plays a show with his band. Rebirth Brass Band's standing Tuesday night gig is a show everyone should see if they're in town. It's a long haul from the French Quarter, but worth the trip, especially if combined with a visit to one of the restaurants clustered near this commercial stretch of Oak Street.

Halfway between Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms sits a gleaming white Spanish bungalow so striking and solitary and surrounded by sand that you're bound to do a double-take. But it's no mirage. In fact, it's an adorable, chill oasis where you can quench two types of thirst: the morning or afternoon-pick-me-up need for coffee (and pastries) and the anytime (post-work, post-hike, celebration) alcoholic fix. There's a great patio, where patrons sometimes do yoga but usually just sip selections from the Mexican-leaning cocktail menu of margaritas, Mezcal negronis, micheladas, Bloody Marias.

In West Town near Wicker Park, the Matchbox isn't much bigger than a you-know-what, but the hodgepodge of regulars doesn't seem to mind. In fact, many claim it's the dark, cramped quarters (we're talking three feet wide at its narrowest) that keep them coming back. A heated front patio comes in handy when you need to reclaim a little personal space. You're practically required to try the signature drink, a margarita.

The craft beers produced by this Maui-based company are Island favorites, and a visit to this sprawling, indoor-outdoor brewpub adjacent to the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel's lobby means you don't have to island-hop to sample its offerings at the source. Ask about limited-release drafts to imbibe the brand’s hidden gems, or order a flight of freshly brewed beers. Maui Brewing strives to source local ingredients for its beer and its food, and the menu here includes a poke bowl made with locally caught tuna, a kale salad that incorporates Waianae-based Naked Cow Dairy feta, and a Brewmaster pizza featuring Honolulu-based Kukui sausage.

At this historic bar within the Menger Hotel (one of the city's great cultural treasures), listen to tales of how Teddy Roosevelt recruited his army of Rough Riders here. The bar was built in 1887 as a replica of London's House of Lords pub. It's a fun place to go with friends for a drink or to meet the locals. A small but hearty pub menu is served all day.

This nightclub boasts five ever-active performance spaces and has nicely carved out its niche as one of New England's most eclectic alternative-rock venues. National and local acts vie for the large upstairs and cavernous downstairs rooms (ska band Mighty Mighty Bosstones got its start here), while intimate combos play ZuZu's, Corner, and Sonia. There are also DJs, belly dancing, folk, jazz, country rock, and dancing. Nightly shows at 8 pm usually run $15 to $55, and most are general admission--standing only. Fuel up for all the dancing at Middle East restaurant, which is only open for dinner.

For those looking to avoid Boston's ultrasceney clubs, Middlesex is a welcoming, laid-back night club for all sorts of people looking to dance the night away. A range in cover (usually around $10) kicks in for DJs spinning crowd-pleasing EDM, house, techno, and hip-hop until 2 am.

Flavorful, colorful, fruity cocktails are the specialty of this bar and restaurant whose equally rich-hued decor and corrugated-metal ceiling intentionally evoke spots throughout Mexico. While sipping sangria, a cerveza, or the house margarita in several flavors, you can nibble on street tacos, posole, elote (corn on a stick), and other small plates.

When the women behind hit NYC cocktail bars Clover Club and Leyenda took over the old Milady's dive bar, they kept its predecessor's name, but elevated its decor, drinks, and bar bites. Their inventive cocktail menu now offers “cheeky” minipours and “full-figured” libations, all listed with their ABV, so you can go strong or light.

The jazz institution that once featured big-name performers such as Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington is now a sophisticated supper club (that also serves weekend brunch) with a roster of house-band jazz performers and featured musicians. Small plates are plentiful, with dishes like rigatoni carbonara and greenshell mussels in a white wine cream sauce, paired best with a libation such as the Cinnamon Toast Punch, with bourbon and smoked cinnamon. It's not a cheap night out, but it is worth the splurge; just be sure to make reservations and dress to impress. It can get loud in here, so if you're worried about the sound, simply request a table toward the back.

An intimate and inclusive neighborhood music venue, with balcony seating and old Oriental rugs covering the standing-room-only floor, community-oriented Mississippi Studios offers high-quality live music performances every night of the week in a wide range of genres. Between sets, you can jump back and forth from the adjacent BarBar, a hip, comfortable bar serving delicious burgers and vegan fare and a covered back patio.

This multilevel, indoor-outdoor Red River establishment is consistently a frontrunner for "best live music venue" in local Austin polls. With a cool, indoor stage and a killer outdoor stage and sprawling rooftop deck and bar, these guys know how to throw a party. Expect serious jams and strong pours seven nights a week. This is a popular spot for large touring acts throughout the year and during SXSW, the venue hosts multiple days of official, unofficial, and free showcases with lines wrapping around the door for certain acts.

Founded by Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn and D.C. nightlife entrepreneur Vinoda Basnayake, this Shaw bar serves spectacular cocktails. You'll feel like you're simultaneously at a 1950s-era diner, sitting on a backyard patio, and in a Wes Anderson film. The happy-hour menu features slightly cheaper cocktail options, wine, and beer, while the full menu offers cleverly crafted cocktails. Both menus change monthly, so make sure you return to see what's new, and if you're unsure of what to order, just ask a bartender. The bar menu includes cheese and charcuterie boards, dips, and salads.

Launched by the team behind Kindred, Mothership is a cocktail experience right out of the most fantastical science fiction. Its interior has to be seen to be believed, half of it resembling a cinematic spaceship and the other half looking like the alien worlds it landed on, while the drinks they serve—with names referencing the likes of Alien and Star Trek—are dazzling and delicious tiki concoctions. Reservations open up 21 days in advance but fill up fast, but bar seating is first-come, first-served.

Mountain Layers has a cozy bar on the first floor and a larger space on the second floor, plus a rooftop deck with nice views of the mountains. It serves its own ales, porters, and stouts, and there's often a food truck parked out back.

One of the state's first craft cider producers, Mountain West uses local ingredients—prickly pear puree and a wide variety of apples—to create its crisp and refreshing concoctions. In the cheerful tap room and sunny garden, where live bands often perform, you can sample the ciders along with local beers and spirits. It's on a quiet block in the Marmalade District, next door to the popular Red Rock Brewery.

Tucked alongside The Smith Center’s big concert hall is a cozy, 240-seat cabaret (bearing the name of Smith Center president Myron Martin) that creates an upscale vibe and a close communication with performers that’s unduplicated in the casino venues. Patrons sip wine at tables-for-four while hometown favorites such as Frankie Moreno and Earl Turner work around visiting headliners that have included trumpet legend Herb Alpert, pianist George Winston, and jazz singer Jane Monheit. Shows are held mostly on weekends but also on occasional weeknights.

Napoleon House is a living shrine to what may be called the semiofficial New Orleans school of decor: faded grandeur. Chipped wall paint, diffused light, and a tiny courtyard with a trickling fountain and lush banana trees create a timeless escapist mood. The house specialty is a Pimm's Cup (here they top Pimm's No. 1 with lemonade and 7-Up). This vintage restaurant and watering hole has long been popular with writers, artists, and other free spirits.

If you’re a classic country music fan whose tastes lean more towards Waylon, Merle, and Willie than Luke and Luke (Bryan and Combs), get yourself to the Nashville Palace as quickly as you can. This bar and venue is a country music legend and one of the few places in town that showcases classic country exclusively. They have live music from open to close, and you can order a fried bologna sandwich whenever your heart desires. In the back is a huge dance floor where they have special events and concerts (usually ticketed) on weekends, but it isn’t uncommon to see a little line dancing or two-stepping on the smaller dance floor in the front room either.

This quirky hangout has quickly won loyal fans for its cheeky cocktails (including the Sazerac-like All Hat, No Cattle, and the strawberry milk–washed daiquiri Yachts on the Reg) and food specials like Chicago hot dogs and Sunday gravy with spaghetti. Families with dogs spread out on the patio in the afternoon, and order from the bartender-owners inside the retro space that feels like your cool uncle's basement bar.