2610 Best Bars in USA

Welcome to one of the Hill's iconic dives—and not just because it was allegedly the last place Kurt Cobain was seen alive. The interior has a vaguely Western theme, but the patrons are pure Capitol Hill indie-rockers and hipsters. The bartenders are friendly, the burgers are good (brunch is even better), and the always-packed patio is one of the liveliest places to grab a happy-hour drink.

This bright, airy, 7,500-square-foot brewery and taproom is a tribute to its early history, when the brewers hauled their kegs on public transit line 51 to their warehouse. Now, Oakland Ale Trail explorers can enjoy freshly tapped beer from a vintage 1971 AC transit bus that serves as a refrigeration unit for their brews. Fermentation tanks are on full display: the owners are passionate about their Red Death ale, IPAs, Short Dog ale, and porters.

The Lion's Lair is a dive where punk-rock bands and occasional name acts---the Black Keys played here a couple of times years ago, as did British rocker Graham Parker---squeeze onto a tiny stage just above a huge, square, central bar.

Tucked away in East Nashville's Lockeland Springs neighborhood, this long-standing queer bar with a friendly community feel has all of your standard options, plus excellent brunch offerings like Bloody Marys on the weekend. Don't sleep on the food, which is better than your typical bar fare and has a Tex-Mex influence. Karaoke lovers, rejoice: The Lipstick Lounge offers up some of the best in town.

One of Nashville’s greatest musical traditions is the “writer’s round”: a group of songwriters performing their compositions one after the other in a round, creating an intimate environment focused on the music. The Listening Room Cafe is one of the premiere places to experience a writer’s round in Nashville, and its high-quality, straight-ahead Southern brunch, lunch, and dinner menus paired with its bar add a tasty twist to the music.

Two (unrelated) younger brothers opened Little Brother, a boutique brewery where wine and cocktail drinkers will feel equally at home. LBB has three locations in the region (including Lawn Service, a drink kiosk inside LeBauer Park), with award-winning beer like the User Friendly Kolsch and Jim’s Lunch stout. There is live music on weekends and weekly trivia and running club events.

A purple light at the door marks the spot of this eclectic, New Orleans–influenced watering hole–dance club at the center of H Street. The dark interior features old concert posters from cult favorites like Pantera and Iggy Pop. The bar downstairs offers an enormous list of bottled beers and a signature adult slushy—the "Awesomeness”—that packs a real punch. The upstairs bar hosts DJs every Friday and Saturday night, when the space heaves with dancers packed wall-to-wall. The bar’s cheeky slogan—“a lousy bar for rotten people”—isn’t quite right. The service here is great.

Bring your cowboy boots and hats to this honky-tonk, which is inexplicably located in one of Seattle's most gentrified neighborhoods. Live country bands take the stage most nights; there are free line-dancing lessons on Monday nights and two-step lessons on Thursdays. Don't expect anything fancy—this place has not been sanitized for tourists.

Make the gorgeous 10-mile drive down the coast in Rockaway Beach and pop inside this rustic-chic bar with a cozy deck for a well-crafted cocktail—the cast-iron margarita with habanero-infused tequila and hot honey is a popular choice. Light appetizers are served, and guests are welcome to bring food in from neighboring Upper Crust Pizza.

The big new resorts would be nothing without their dance clubs, and Fontainebleau fills that niche with this one that comes straight from the Miami Beach original, now crowned with a halo of Sin City lights. Headliner DJs might include Tiesto, Dom Dollar, or David Guetta, and the club hosts special events such as a viewing party for the Big Game—or Super Bowl, for anyone who’s not a Las Vegas casino.   

The city's bigger bands get the summer spotlight at Town Square Park. Designed for the after-work crowd, these Thursday evening shows start at 5:30 pm and feature a beer garden.

A swanky downtown bar during most of the year, this hotel bar brings Austin nightlife to the next level during big city events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Pride Week, and, of course, SXSW. There are multiple lounge spaces and bars here, including the Records Room where DJs play weekly, and an air-conditioned Screen Porch hangout. 

In voodoo tradition, loa are the divine spirits, and this bar just off the lobby of the chic International House Hotel certainly strives for an extraordinary experience with its modern, upscale decor. Well-heeled downtown professionals mingle with an international crowd gathering for the evening to sip on inventive, high-end cocktails created by the friendly bartenders. The aperitif hour from 4 to 6 pm every day includes special cocktails and snacks.

Take a load off on the back patio, order food from a menu of burgers, hand-battered appetizers, and sauces made from scratch daily (all dishes made with high-quality ingredients and local produce), and sip by the pint or pitcher. It'll be time well-spent, especially if you catch a local singer-songwriter's set.

This old-school downtown pub with a modern vibe and first-rate beer and food was opened by a trio of Western Washington University graduates who also happen to be talented beer makers (they own Menace Brewing). As you might guess, this laid-back spot with a conversation-friendly decibel level has a great list of rotating taps, featuring craft beers from throughout the Northwest. The locally driven food is tasty, too, from fried chicken and waffles during the popular weekend brunches to late-night pork-belly tacos and fish-and-chips.

When they have to remove all the chairs in the joint to make more room for dancing, you know you've picked a good spot. Locals and out-of-towners alike pack in on weekends to enjoy the joyful pop music, multiple dance rooms, and the outdoor-deck bar perched one story above 16th Street. Luxe couches, chandeliers, vintage pieces, and winding staircases enhance the atmosphere of a Victorian house party with a modern twist. There's an outstanding happy hour and brunch on weekends.

This women-owned bar was started to bring together the things the three partners love the most: beer, art, music, and spending time with friends. True to its name, this is an "art bar," where the activities are just as important as the drinks, featuring a schedule full of game nights, live music, crafting workshops, book club meetings, and more. In addition to beer and wine, they offer a menu of innovative cocktails, and nonalcoholic specialty drinks.

This is a fun, positive-vibes spot to have a night out catching up with friends. Good margaritas, cold beers, and L.A. street-style tacos are the perfect combination. It's also open for lunch and has a popular brunch. There's another location in Fishtown and in Center City West near Graduate Hospital. 

Crowd-pleasing magic shows (sometimes other entertainment) and a casual-industrial setting keep patrons happy at this Heavenly Village bar and lounge where kids are welcome. The mood is upbeat, the specialty cocktails are potent, and if you're in the mood for dinner, the kitchen turns out tapas and larger plates more tasty than one might expect at such a venue.

This adults-only venue makes its home in the vast space above the MV Chowder Co. and has long historic roots. Today it's home to an over-21 hot spot for concerts, comedy, DJs, and events. The 400-seat club is one of the hosts of the MV summer concert series and draws national and regional live music acts to its stage. A game area offers pool tables, Ping-Pong, darts, foosball, video games, and a full bar. A full menu is available in the restaurant space below the club.

The second-floor ballroom hosts all-ages rock shows put on by the team at the Empty Bottle, plus other live performances and assorted special events. The acoustics aren't the best, but the hip younger crowd it draws doesn't seem to care. For those 21 and over, there's a full bar.

Many baseball fans make the trip to Los Gatos just to visit this brewery owned by former MLB infielder Kevin Youkilis. However, the brewery deserves many accolades in its own right for producing some of the top beers in the South Bay, such as the hops-packed Greek God of Hops, a double IPA that riffs on Youkilis’s nickname in the book Moneyball. At this family-friendly brewpub, everyone can enjoy refined pub grub with or without the house beers.

In a sea of hip craft cocktail bars, this slightly off-the-beaten-path neighborhood icon (you can't miss the namesake palm tree outside) is a refreshing throwback. There is no cocktail menu; this is a place for martinis, Negronis, and other classic cocktails. This is the rare locals' joint that feels both divey and strangely refined—tables have white tablecloths and the soundtrack tends to be cheery '80's pop.

This watering hole is popular with bikers, bears, and the men who love them. The inside bar has an old tavern feel, with a pool table and a long wooden bar you half expect the bartender to sling a beer down. Weekend "Beer Busts" unfold on the great outdoor patio bar. The action can get steamy during events like Gay Pride or the Folsom Street Fair.

This inviting bar is the perfect spot to wait out the long lines at nearby restaurants Au Cheval or Girl & the Goat. The tiny but mighty menu of bar snacks (homemade corn dogs, grilled cheese, spicy fries) will tide you over nicely; solid takes on classic cocktails and a healthy rotating draft list make it a welcome addition to the restaurant-heavy ’hood.

Offering the warm vibe of a down-home, 1970s-era watering hole with an expertly crafted cocktail menu, Lone Wolf prides itself as an anti-hipster hangout far from the madding crowd. Choose from a refreshing mix of high- and low-brow beverages, from a cold Schlitz for a couple bucks to a house cocktail made by some of Savannah's best bartenders for under $10. Toss back a shot of Fernet Branca or sip a Zippah, an invigorating crisp mix of gin, absinthe, and lemon with a touch of earthiness. A mix of townies, students, and neighborhood folks gather around the wood-paneled bar and booths as well as the sumptuous Cobra Room, open sporadically for karaoke.