2610 Best Bars in USA

At this gay bar, the plentiful flat-screen TVs and cheap Budweisers draw sports enthusiasts of every stripe, from athlete to armchair. The bar also sponsors—and frequently hosts parties for—a number of local gay sports teams. The two-for-one happy hour in the early evening on weekdays is one of the best deals in the neighborhood.

The only D.C. bar to offer indoor miniature golf, Skee-Ball, and giant Jenga has a friendly, laid-back vibe. Fish tacos and an impressive margarita list round out the fun mix at this popular nightspot. Big-screen sports line the walls downstairs, but you can usually catch a breath of fresh air on the roof deck.

This sharply dressed speakeasy is one of the South Bay's gold standards for craft cocktails. Drinks are intricate without being fussy, and the bartenders are always quick to offer insight into what cocktails might fit your taste. The cozy, low-ceilinged space is filled with velvet curtains and plush booths, continuing the 1920s feeling.

This downtown microbrewery sells beer by the sample glass or pint glass and in liter growlers to go. Captain Cook's Spruce Tip Ale is a good choice, best enjoyed on the back deck if the weather complies. Just note that the brewery is cash only. In recent years Haines has become known as a hub for the craft beer movement; in May, the town hosts the Great Alaska Craft Beer & Home Brew Festival, a wildly popular event.

There aren't many reasons to make a special trip to the Bowmanville neighborhood, but Half Acre is certainly one of them. Head to their taproom to see where their legendary Daisy Cutter pale ale is produced, and while you're there, you can sip a pint in their beer garden or enjoy a plate of fish-and-chips or a katsu sandwich from their kitchen. 

This beloved gathering spot was one of the originals of the Bay Area craft beer scene and continues to be a popular spot for a pint or a full meal. Not surprisingly given the locale, there's a popular amber ale named for Mavericks, along with the Bay Area's favorite pumpkin ale in the fall. The food menu is definitely more exciting and seafood-focused than your average brewery fare.

A prime spot for craft cocktail aficionados, Half Step is a swanky Rainey Street locale with first-rate bartenders who are serious about cocktails, but not too serious to keep away the fun. Both the indoor and outdoor seating areas are prime for people watching, and there are two delicious local food trucks parked on-site: Little Lucy's Mini Donut's and Spicy Boy's Fried Chicken. Live music and DJ sets are scheduled on weekends.

This pricey bar and restaurant, which caters to a crowd of professionals young and old, has a contemporary, minimalist interior design. A piano-and-sax duo serenades the first-floor dinner patrons and the bar crowd several nights a week. During Sunday brunch, the Plantation Singers gospel group belts out the spiritual blues.

Drag queens rule the scene here on weekends, with events such as "Mary-oke" and the town's premier drag revue, all of which take place on the stage side of this restaurant/club. Other digs farther east on 17th Avenue in City Park feature a sportier, classier look than the previous location, and the restaurant crowd, gay and straight, seems to agree that this bar offers one of the town's best burgers, with tater tots as a side option. The huge patio out back is always a party.

From the street, it looks like a swanky Downtown D.C. restaurant with a high-ceilinged power bar to match. The magic happens, however, with live shows in The Hamilton's cavernous basement space. Care in equal parts has focused on acoustics, comfort, and tiered seating, which makes it hard to find a bad seat. There is secondary space above the bar–restaurant where the venue regularly hosts more intimate acts and "Free Late Night Music in the Loft." Check their website for the concert schedule.

The sleepy North Shore stays awake—until 10:30, that is—each evening in this small convivial deli and bar inside Hanalei's restored old schoolhouse. There's local live Hawaiian, jazz, rock, and folk music on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings.

This lively restaurant and bar attracts a Western line-dancing, 10-gallon-hat-wearing crowd.

Originally opened by local celebrity Lance Armstrong, this lively Warehouse District bar quickly became a place to see and be seen. The warm lighting, exposed brick walls, and hardwood accents give this place a sexy urban-chic appeal, and the rooftop lounge provides amazing views of downtown at night. This venue will undoubtedly pull in a SXSW lineup.

A small, sleek, and unpretentious nautical-themed bar offers a half-price raw bar after 10 pm every night of the week, here and at its locations on the Wharf and Old Town Alexandria. The bartenders are friendly, giving you tastes of different wines or drinks to try, along with recommendations on the daily catch and other food options, including one of the best lobster rolls around.

Created by beloved local bartenders Eric Johnson and Christian Siglin, Happy Medium is a hip, but not overly precious take on the neighborhood cocktail bar. The menu of elevated bar bites rotates often, but always go well with drinks both serious (Old Fashioned) and silly (booze-infused slushies).

With ships' wheels, nautical pictures, and a mounted red snapper, the Harbor Bar's decor stays true to Petersburg's seafaring spirit. The bar's liquor store has a separate entrance.

This gem is about a 20-minute walk from town and well worth the effort. In addition to a rotating selection of small-batch IPAs, lagers, stouts, and more unusual offerings, Harbor Mountain makes their own root beer and cream soda. There's a pizzeria in the same building.

Views, drinks, pizza, and pub food make this a perfect late-night hangout. You'll find big-screen TVs, pool tables, darts, and live music on weekends at this spot that's open from lunch until late.

The Hard Rock Cafe here is the largest on Earth, which means you can see plenty of memorabilia, including such Beatles rarities as John Lennon's famous New York City T-shirt, Paul's original lyrics for "Let It Be," and the doors from London's Abbey Road studios. The food's great, too. Next door, the Hard Rock Live concert hall (the "Coliseum of Rock") hosts comedians, solo acts, and internationally recognized bands that make it one of the most popular venues at Universal. A few drawbacks: the seating's not the greatest, and if you arrive at the door carrying a large purse or bags, it won't be time to rock, it'll be time to walk—about a quarter-mile back to the parking garage to stow your stuff. 

The Nashville branch of the Hard Rock Cafe is situated where Broadway meets the Cumberland River. It's packed with rock memorabilia from around Nashville, like recording equipment used by Elvis Presley, and from around the world. If you want to party like a rock star, you can take over the mic at live band karaoke in the live music venue on the upper floor on Thursday nights.

A-list wannabes (and a few real celebs) gather in two bars, the loungey 207 off the lobby and the rooftop Float. The latter's raucous Liquid Sunshine pool parties bring a club vibe to poolside cabanas from March through September, with VIP service available. 207 Bar's "Good Vibrations" happy hour runs Sunday through Thursday from 3 to 5 pm, but the party tends to go all night long. Maybe you can't be a rock star, but you might as well party like one. Just be prepared to spend like one, too.

Launched by three graduates of Historically Black Colleges, this cozy pub is Manhattan's first 100% African American--owned craft beer bar. Bites on the casual menu include a Bavarian soft pretzel, jerk chicken and vegan bratwurst sausages, and a variety of spicy guma pies (similar to a flaky samosa or empanada). Everything pairs well with an accessible selection of innovative small-batch beers. They can also be found at Market 57 in Chelsea.

A juicy burger and more than a dozen craft beers on tap make this the type of neighborhood watering hole every New Yorker wants on their corner. Plenty of stools fill the sprawling space, along with a scattering of tables on the sidewalk in warm weather. The peanut butter burger, loaded grilled cheese, and fork-and-knife fries are crowd favorites, and there’s live music during special events. It's an unfussy spot to raise a glass after a day of exploring vibrant Harlem.

Harold's has two full bars, a huge dance floor with live bands on weekends, a game room, TVs, and a restaurant serving some of the best ribs in the Valley. It's also the go-to place to watch Pittsburgh Steelers games during the NFL season.

This is a local watering hole with true character, not a tourist trap. Don't be surprised to see a great white shark staring back at you as you eat a juicy piece of that shark's cousin (mahimahi) stuffed with fresh Chesapeake Bay crabmeat, or enjoy raw oysters and a cold Corona.

Off in the Marina District, near the Borgata and Trump Marina, Harrah's has a distinct, perhaps mellow, vibe compared with the other casinos in town. It's known as a haven for slot players. The hotel also has eight restaurants (including Dos Caminos and Luke Palladino), several shops, and a large theater where seasoned crooners and comedians grace the stage and entertain an older crowd. But it's not entirely sedate. The Pool After Dark ropes in effortlessly fit twenty-somethings with its popular weekend dance parties.

Harrah's Casino

The lounge at gives people something fun to do on Tuesday night: listen to live Irish music.