2629 Best Bars in USA

After a day of fun at the beach, head a few miles inland to this working farm on 12 acres and its sustainable brewery that crafts first-rate ales using as many local ingredients as possible—some of the hops are grown on-site. On sunny days, sample Throwback's beers in the tented, dog-friendly beer garden, and any time of year, you can sip and dine on farm-to-table pub fare, from cheese plates to Korean beef bowls. You can also buy seasonal produce at the farmstand.

Meet some of L.A.'s best drink makers at Thunderbolt. Inspired by the American South, the cocktail bar offers a broad Madeira selection and snacky Southern fare such as fried chicken biscuits and chicken drumettes with a tamari glaze. But Thunderbolt’s biggest standout is its robust cocktail program with interesting and complex combinations of flavors. Standouts include the savory Fu Gwaa Falsetto (shochu and Oaxacan rum with bittermelon, manzanilla, and li hing mui) and the tropical Koji Killer (rum, pineapple, coconut, orange, and shio koji for an umami punch).

This place gives the classic tiki bar an elegant twist, with meticulously crafted cocktails that highlight both traditional and innovative seasonal drinks. Ingredients might include persimmons, Kula strawberries, basil, watermelon, passion fruit, macadamia-nut orgeat, or calamansi. A daily happy hour offers discounts on some of the tiki classics. Nonalcoholic cocktails are available, as are snacks and pupus.

This immersive, over-the-top tiki bar is a melting pot of Asian, Hawaiian, and Polynesian influences that come together to create an adult Disneyland of juicy delights. The drinks and food don't disappoint, but the presentation and theatrics steal the show. Order fish-bowl–size drinks that serve four to six people, or a showboating cocktail that cues special lights and music when served—and don't forget to snap a selfie in your own themed booth. A more approachable tiki concept recently opened in their upstairs lounge every Monday and Tuesday night with its own casual cocktail and snack menu. You'll find it by entering through the back of the understated, speakeasy-style building and following the "Tiki" signs.

Rub the bust of legendary New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair (aka "Fess") inside this Uptown landmark named for one of the late musician's popular songs. The old concert posters on the walls read like an honor roll of musical legends, both local and national. The midsize venue boasts an eclectic and well-curated calendar year-round, but particularly during the weeks of Jazz Fest. The long-running Sunday afternoon Cajun dance party takes place monthly and still packs the floor. Although the neighborhood isn't dangerous, it's far enough out of the way to require some sort of rideshare, cab, or public transit option.

Packed with excited music-lovers of all ages, Toby's makes it worth the trip to Opelousas. Very few Friday or Saturday nights go by that you won't find a crowd jamming to live jazz, zydeco, or Cajun music. Give them a call to confirm who's playing and at what time, and then get ready to hit the dance floor—or at least to watch others dance while you sip on your beverage of choice. Toby's also has a restaurant with great Cajun food including fried seafood, po'boys, as well as steaks and baked potatoes.

L.A. has something for everyone. Case in point, this delightful pub touting a predominantly vegan menu tasty enough to satisfy the most steadfast meat lovers, more than 20 California-crafted beers at any given time, bar games including the titular pastime, billiards, and the occasional chili cook-off or adult spelling bee. 

You come to one of the city's most popular dive bars for one thing and one thing only: the reasonably priced beers, about four dozen of them on tap. The Toronado opens in the late morning and has a good-size crowd by early afternoon, so show up early to sit at one of the highly coveted tables. Just make sure to bring cash, as they don't accept credit cards.

A welcoming place with botanical prints, vibrant colors, carved totems, and globe pendants, Toucans is the longtime go-to for those who love drag queens, cabaret, and festive drinks.

Spend a gorgeous summer afternoon or early evening at Trillium Brewing's seasonal beer garden, situated on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Expect a crowd—it's generally mobbed, especially considering it's both dog and kid friendly. Food trucks park nearby or you can bring in your own noshes. On tap find a rotating selection of 16 Trillium craft beers, from hoppy to sours.

The intimate vibe of the Troubadour helps make this club a favorite with music fans. Around since 1957, this venue has a storied past where legends like Elton John and James Taylor have graced the stage. These days, the eclectic lineup is still attracting crowds, with the focus mostly on rock, indie, and folk music. Those looking for drinks can imbibe to their heart's content at the adjacent bar.

Offering live music on weekends, seating inside as well as—during the warmer months—in a huge tented beer garden, light snacks, and some of the freshest and tastiest beer in the state, this venerable craft brewery on the edge of downtown Conway is a fun place to relax after a hike or mingle with friends.

This neighborhood standby has something going on just about every night. On the main floor, two bocce courts and library nooks with couches are popular hangouts. There's a backyard patio open in good weather. Their menu of tasty burgers, wings, and hot dogs served in three styles means the patrons tend to settle in for the evening. Downstairs, there are smart comedy shows with both high-profile and up-and-coming performers, eclectic talks, or DJs spinning. Events are either free or have a modest cover (from $5).

You can sit at a table or on a black leather sofa lining the brick wall as you enjoy one of the extensive selection of southern Oregon wines—more than 130 choices. Try one of the many flight options or order 2-ounce pours of whatever you'd care to try.

With an industrial-chic vibe, retractable garage-door-style windows, and an impressively extensive selection of house brews, UTOG gives Salt Lake City's many acclaimed breweries a run for their money. The Mandarina Kolsch is a refreshing choice on a warm night, while the heady Red Eye Imperial Red Ale will warm your soul on a winter night. Brats, cheesesteaks, and other pub fare is served, too.

Arguably the most accomplished artisan beer maker in the Lower Valley, Varietal produces an extensive roster of both traditional and experimental brews—including a chocolatey English brown ale and a variety of hop-forward brews featuring different varieties of Yakima-grown hops. Enjoy your sipping at the counter, or head to the back to play some old-school arcade games. Food trucks are on hand most days. 

In a city where nightlife seems to end when the Tower Theatre locks up, the nearby Velvet Lounge has earned loyal fans. Join the flannel-clad crowd for a happy-hour brew or an after-show cocktail in the narrow, bi-level bar, which is filled with vaguely western decor and hanging houseplants.

There's nothing better than a feel-good story in Las Vegas. Sisters Pamela and Christina Dylag saved and scrimped to open this great, velvet-lined cocktail lounge dotted with furniture they found at vintage shops and equipped with beer taps that look like hands. Two different new-ish immersive patio experiences create a true \"Alice in Wonderland\" vibe. A great cocktail list with a vintage feel and punches are just some of the treasures behind the bar. Regular Wednesday specials mean a number of wines are available for $5 per glass.

If you're hitting only one bar in North Beach, it should be this one. The low-ceilinged second floor of this raucous boho saloon hangout, little altered since its 1960s heyday (when Jack Kerouac frequented the place), is a fine vantage point for watching the colorful Broadway and Columbus Avenue intersection. Another part of Vesuvio's appeal is its diverse clientele, from older neighborhood regulars and young couples to bacchanalian posses.

Going strong since 1995, with themed happenings and live entertainment or DJs most nights, this popular sports bar/nightclub/restaurant caters to a young crowd and visiting bachelor/bachelorette posses who want to dress sexy, drink seriously (and cheaply during happy hour), and play hard.

This prototypical jazz club, tucked into a cellar since the 1940s, has been the haunt of legends like Thelonious Monk and Barbra Streisand. Today, you can hear jams from the likes of Bill Charlap and Ravi Coltrane, and, on Monday night, the sizable resident Vanguard Jazz Orchestra blows its collective heart out.

Vortex prides itself on being impolite—a look at the "rules" will show you they take no guff—but really it's a friendly bar with great burgers. Ask for the off-menu fried zucchini. Just look for the huge skull, a landmark of Little Five Points, and you've found the door. The bar-restaurant's Midtown location fronts the popular Laughing Skull Comedy Club.

A rare gem for jazz and blues fans, Wally's Café, founded in 1947, is the oldest continuously operating family-owned jazz club in America. Patrons may see nostalgic stars like Branford Marsalis or Esperanza Spalding drop by, because the place is internationally renowned for its steady stream of heated performances by local bands and guests. Wally's diverse crowd attracts regulars from the South End and Roxbury, and music-hungry students, especially from Berklee College of Music. It's jammed for the nightly jams, and there's never a cover. Arrive early if you want a seat, because the line can be brutal. Sessions begin each night at 5 pm, then bands take over from 7 pm to 1 am. Monday it's blues; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday are funk; Thursday it's Latin jazz salsa; and Friday and Saturday it's jazz.

Trade winds waft through Wally's Lobby Bar, a modest little open-air bar situated in Hukilau Lanai that looks out onto a coconut grove. Sit at the cozy bar or recline in big comfortable chairs while listening to Hawaiian slack-key guitar. Live music plays from Wednesday through Saturday evenings. Poolside happy hour runs from 3 to 5 pm. Try one of the freshly infused tropical martinis or Kauai-made mead, or choose from a good selection of wines and sake by the glass.

Perched atop the Arlo Williamsburg, overlooking its rooftop pool, this ambitious bar serves inventive albeit pricey cocktails, and is one of four party venues within the hotel. Not actually one of New York’s iconic, functioning water towers, but rather a conical glass structure made in tribute to them, the bar attracts both scenesters and those just coming to take a selfie with its jaw-dropping view of the Manhattan skyline.

This intimate, minimalist space on the west edge of downtown received a James Beard nomination for its exemplary farm-to-cocktail scene. Creative drinks using fresh herbs and extracts and artisan spirits are served with a flourish in colorful vessels.