2629 Best Bars in USA

The century-plus-old bar at the New Sheridan Hotel is a favorite hangout for skiers returning from the slopes and, in summer, for everybody else. There's live music weekly.

In order to score 90 minutes at a table in this exclusive bar (the waitlist to get in is booked up months in advance), you must be dressed up, charm the person guarding the door, and most important, first find the entrance—it's not obviously marked. Craft cocktails have a flair for the dramatic, made with unique premium and small-label brands, creative liqueurs, and other interesting juices, syrups, and ingredients. The food is fantastic, but secondary to the cocktails.

Named one of the best bars in America by GQ magazine, Nickel City holds court in one of the most bustling stretches of east Austin. With an arsenal of heavy pours, classic cocktails, and a "damn good" whiskey selection, bartenders serve loyal customers without gimmicks or frills. There are hearty on-site food options, and weekly specials are promoted regularly on the pedestrian-heavy East 11th Street. Look out for special pop-up installations and themed takeovers during SXSW.

A Park City favorite anchoring Main Street's nightlife, this is a classic wood-backed bar with lots of memorabilia, a shuffleboard table, and a regular local clientele. The upstairs outdoor deck is great for enjoying cool summer nights, but heaters in the winter make this deck comfortable year-round. The eclectic decor looks like everything was purchased at a flea market, in the best way possible. If you are looking for some late-night grub, No Name has the best buffalo burgers in town.

There are a handful of speakeasy-style bars in San Diego, though none deliver so far above and beyond the novelty quite like this cozy-yet-swank cocktail lounge hidden in the back of a burger restaurant. Seek out the hidden door (hint: look for the stack of kegs), tuck into a plush leather booth next to the wall of golden skulls, and sip on some of the best craft cocktails in the city. For even more exclusivity, check out the speakeasy-within-a-speakeasy Youngblood, which is an all-inclusive cocktail experience in an adjacent space for the up-front fee of $67. Reservations are almost always a must, so be sure to call ahead.

Some of the finest craft beers in western Washington are poured at this inviting taproom with a gas fireplace and comfy seating. Notable options include the refreshing Yellow Booth Kolsch and the roasty Leadbetter Red Scottish Ale, which will warm your soul on a stormy winter evening.

Should you happen to be Downtown, head over to Downtown Container Park and sit inside a shipping container to sip barrel-aged cocktails and whiskeys galore. Although tiny—it's sometimes tough to nab a spot at the bar—this little railroad car of a drinking spot packs a punch with a well-crafted menu of drinks. Can't decide on a whiskey? Order a flight. Want to try something truly special? Order a taste of one of the bar's barrel-aged bourbons.

This stunning flagship bar in the 1912 Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel is a see-and-be-seen hot spot, with the original sky-high coffered ceilings, catbird views over Copley Square, and top-notch bartenders. Inside, coveted barstools are filled with an upscale crowd, while outside in warm weather, patrons can sit at outdoor tables while perusing a menu of signature martinis, single malts, shareable platters, and desserts. People-watch and enjoy a panorama that encompasses the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church in this historic spot.

It's a short walk from the dune trails and beach to this terrific, welcoming, craft-beer bar with a comfy interior, but the greatest draw is the 9,000-square-foot beer garden that is dog-friendly, has plenty of picnic tables, and even has a large enclosed seating area that comes in handy during the winter months or on rainy summer days. There are nearly 20 well-chosen drafts on tap, and light pub fare is served.

West-oriented views (particularly stellar at sunset), creative cocktails incorporating fresh fruit and herbs from neighboring farms, house-made syrups and spirits, and live entertainment most nights draw locals and visitors to this classy, surf-themed lobby bar at Turtle Bay Resort. It’s also the only nightlife choice on the North Shore east of Haleiwa, and night crawlers should know that the bar usually stops serving by 10 pm.

There's an enticing and creative array of beers, ales, ciders, and hard seltzers at this employee-owned brewing company. Ola Brew is committed to community investment and support of local farmers and merchants. Take a barstool at a picture window facing the main brewing operation and enjoy a fresh on-tap draft and an appetizer. There's plenty of outdoor seating as well. The taproom menu features reasonably priced tacos, salads, flatbreads, and poke bowls. Ask about their brewery tours. Popular local bands entertain on a regular basis.

Housed in an old steam-cleaning facility with most of the building’s original 1920s fixtures—all except the sign—drinks and company take center stage at Old Glory. There isn’t an expansive food menu, but there are craft drinks that highlight fresh and seasonally available ingredients. You’ll find this spot by looking for the large golden triangle accenting the entrance door.

From the owners of Austin's popular Nickel City comes the Texas tavern Old Pal Bar. Much like its predecessor, Old Pal gives off vintage dive vibes, but it has an incredible whiskey selection and a well-curated cocktail program. You'll reach peak Texan status when you enjoy a frozen Dr Pepper alongside a beer-can chicken or Frito pie. Come hungry because this is better than your average bar food, and the fried chicken and jojos (seasoned potato wedges) are not to be missed. More nights than not you'll find live music or karaoke on stage and end up staying much longer than planned—just like you would at the home of an old pal.

Just a stone's throw from Second City, Old Town Ale House has attracted a diverse cast of characters since it opened in 1958, including comedy legends John Belushi and Bill Murray. With eclectic artwork and a mural of bar denizens painted in the 70s, it's a dingy neighborhood bar unlike any other in the city—perhaps the country. Esteemed film critic Roger Ebert called it "the best bar in the world."

As the name suggests, the nightclub at Park MGM is all about sound. The brainchild of L.A.'s Houston brothers brings in live DJs and offers three hidden karaoke rooms, as well as a hidden vinyl bar in the middle of the club. Perhaps the coolest detail is the hallway lined with cassette tapes. Don't miss the double-decker bus in the open-air courtyard either; it's like nothing at any other club in town. On the Record is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

This dive bar's biggest claim to fame was that Georgia's own Jimmy Carter stood up on the bar to announce his bid for the presidency. The people are friendly, the drinks are cheap, the analog jukebox is loaded with an unexpected mix of soul, R&B, and punk, and the vibe is laid-back with zero frills.

Although Ostia Amore is a full-service restaurant serving very good Italian fare, its bar is also one of the best spots near the University of Utah and the Avenues for a glass of wine—the selection is impressive, and the setting warm and inviting. On warm nights, sip and eat on the sidewalk patio.

This outstanding venue programs an inspired, eclectic slate of genres, from local nuevo folk to techno, jazz, and traveling East Indian beats. Some big names—especially from the jazz world—show up at the compact, comfortable space (perfect for serious listeners), which is a key player in bringing the world-class New Mexico Jazz Festival to the state every September.

High up on Floor 64 of the historic 70 Pine tower is this suave splurge-worthy cocktail lounge, where guests come as much for the views and polished service as they do for the high-end, deliciously creative libations. Pass through the fine dining room that is Saga on your way up a flight of stairs, into oval-shape Overstory, which occupies the former A.I.G. board room and whose Art Deco furnishings suit this 1930s-era skyscraper. The wraparound balcony has seating, though lofty winds may limit outdoor time to just long enough for a few marvelous skyline photos. Reservations are highly recommended.

Named one of 2024's top 50 bars in North America by the beverage industry, PCH is a relaxed, suave favorite for some of San Francisco's most unique and sophisticated cocktails (plus one of the city's best cocktail bar courtyards). As the name suggests, Asian Pacific flavors—shiso, ume, li hing mui, pandan—abound on the lengthy cocktail menu, and the talented bartenders make reliable recommendations. Fun theme nights and unique mugs and glassware are common; the holiday season is a special delight.

With picnic tables and firepits outside and a gas fireplace surrounded by wooden chairs and benches in the rustic-industrial interior, this upbeat craft brewer is a comfy place to sip rich Butter Peak Porter or hoppy Tree Line IPA any time of year. The taproom occupies a smartly restored 1930s mercantile store, and the kitchen serves tasty guacamole, poblano-chicken tacos, and a few other Mexican-influenced snacks.

If you'd like to catch a football game or UFC fight, this is the place for it. It also offers the most diverse nightlife on the island, with music and dancing most evenings. Start off with happy hour from 2 to 5 pm Monday through Saturday, then stick around for the fun. 

Smack in the middle of a Wild West main street movie set built in the 1940s, this haute–honky tonk saloon serves stiff drinks and hosts live music on two stages: one inside and intimate, the other out under the stars. Given that it's on the small side and in the middle of nowhere, you might be surprised at the caliber of talent it books—Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Orville Peck, Lizzo, and Patti Smith have all made the pilgrimage—and the number of patrons it packs in on any given night. It also hosts surprise, drop-in performers, especially during the Coachella music festival. Bring your dancing shoes and come hungry, as the restaurant here dishes up open-fire, Santa Maria–style barbecue that's worth the inevitable wait for a table (reservations aren't accepted).

One of Nashville’s long-standing speakeasy-style bars offers a Prohibition-era feel, which makes it one of the city's most popular nightspots. The amazing drinks, crafted by knowledgeable mixologists, enhance its popularity.

One of the first of the retro speakeasy bars in NYC, PDT (\"Please Don't Tell\") made a name for itself with top-line cocktails and it's \"secret\" entrance, and although it's not much of a secret anymore it's still a great spot for excellent drinks with a touch of cloak-and-dagger. Make a reservation online, then head to the unassuming Crif Dogs hot dog restaurant, where you'll be escorted through the phone booth's false back. The upscale cocktails are perfectly complemented by the hot dog specials from the neighboring shop that are also served here.

This chic, contemporary cocktail bar opened in summer 2022 in the buzzy Granary District/Central 9th neighborhood and has quickly become a trendy go-to for artfully crafted drinks and Vietnamese street food—lemongrass pork skewers and crispy fish-sauce wings. On warm days, snag a seat on the patio to enjoy your ice-cold ca phe, a robust concoction of Averna amaro liqueur, Vietnamese coffee, chicory, and spices. Check the bar's Instagram page for details.