2610 Best Bars in USA

The first renovated bungalow bar that debuted on Rainey Street in 2009, anchoring it as its own distinct nightlife district, still attracts crowds every night of the week. The charming bungalow faces the street as it always did, but the property also encompasses a second story with rooftop deck, an outdoor stage for live music, and a courtyard filled with patrons playing bar games on the AstroTurf. The amazing Via 313 pizza food truck parked out front stays open late.

A late-night waterfront hangout, Luther's is casual and fun, with a young crowd watching the big-screen TVs or listening to live music. There's also a lunch and dinner menu with favorites such as Brewsky's burger and teriyaki wings, but the food’s not the draw here. The decor features exposed brick, pine paneling, old-fashioned posters on the walls, a great bar area, and plenty of outdoor seating.

Decorated with local art and retro furniture, Lux is an eclectic gathering place where artists, architects, and Downtown businesspeople enjoy excellent classic European espresso drinks.

Hoist a pint o' Guinness, and enjoy live local music at this popular spot, which also offers traditional Irish fare and other pub grub.

This lipstick-red, high-ceiling spot is a roomy lounge and playground (as in, billiards, shuffleboard, and darts). There are screens for sports, a long bar, and weekend dance parties—all without a cover charge. Extra points, too, for the bar's name, which cites TriBeCa's warehouse zoning law.

Your best option for a refined craft cocktail on Polk Street, this cheery, plant-filled bar serves solid, never-precious drinks, balancing the line between serious and fun. The food menu leans toward seafood like rock crab–stuffed eggs and a signature lobster roll.

Until very recently, Tampa Bay's beach towns were something of a craft beer dead zone, even as the rest of the region teemed with such establishments. This spot, located in John's Pass, is a shining example of how things are changing. Most of the draft beers are brewed on-site, though there are a few guest taps. There's plenty of space at the bar, and the barroom is not only massive, but it's also styled after a German beer hall—large tables and all. There's foosball and indoor beanbag tossing if you're feeling competitive, live music many nights, and a bar-food menu.

Claiming to be an authentic British-themed pub, Mad Dogs offers a selection of draft and imported beers, exotic cocktails, and extensive domestic beverage options. as well as entertainment that includes DJs, karaoke, and live acts. They also have a pub menu of fish-and-chips, Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, Winston's chicken and waffle, and more.

Alaska's premier LGBTQIA+ bar offers dozens of community events. Though housed in an unassuming building, the glittery interior offers weekly karaoke, DJ sets on the dance floor, lounge-y couches, a cozy patio, and a kitchen menu only overshadowed by the cocktail list. The main event is the all-inclusive drag show every Friday and Saturday night that rivals anything in the Lower 48. The entrance for Myrna's is in the alley between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Neon lights behind the bar and walls covered in kitsch and works by local artists add to the gritty feel of this legendary trilevel place that's hard to miss and hard not to like. An eclectic clientele listens to the live music that's performed every night and soaks up rays on the roof deck by day.

Regulars shoot pool, hang out with groups of friends, and chat up the friendly bartenders at this laid-back, anti-scenester joint. In an area where gay bar often becomes synonymous with dance club, this sports bar and pub offers an inclusive, relaxed hang-out spot.

Part art gallery, part performing arts space, part neighborhood bar, there's nothing quite like this evening anchor for the NoPa area. Film, music, dance, painting, and other art forms are on rotating display and add up to an always fun, relaxed nightly gathering spot. No two evenings feel the same, and it's a great place to remember the alternative, free-spirited character that San Francisco is known for but which is rapidly vanishing. At the bar, beers and casual cocktails (specifically various "mules") are the name of the game.

This friendly gay bar hosts special events ranging from country western line-dance lessons to burlesque and drag shows. There's a big-screen TV for games and a large selection of fruity drinks, vodkas, and top-shelf bourbons. The owner also runs a small guesthouse above the bar.

One of Sixth Street's longest-running venues (established 1978), Maggie Mae's features an Irish pub–style bar, a New Orleans–style courtyard, two stages, and one of the largest rooftop bars in downtown. The expansive, 11,000-square-foot venue hosts live acts throughout the week, and it is usually an official SXSW music showcase or party venue throughout the annual music fest.

Known for its food as much as its beers, Magnolia is a San Francisco institution, thanks in part to its prime location near the Haight-Ashbury intersection. Come for the smoked trout croquettes, falafel salad, and famed burgers, or just grab any one of the dozen-plus beers on tap, many brewed in-house. The brewpub occupies the site of The Drugstore Cafe, one of the first hippie hangouts in the Haight in the 1960s. 

A shack built over the water at Payne's Dock, Mahogany Shoals has a laid-back vibe and live music. The place has expanded, gracefully, with an outdoor bar and an upper-level deck. It remains the best spot on the island to enjoy a quiet drink, peer at beautiful yachts, and catch a breeze on even the hottest of nights.

After a long day of shopping at the Ala Moana Center, the casual, fourth-floor Mai Tai's is a great spot to relax. What you will find is live entertainment and happy hour specials for both food and drink. What you won't find is a cover charge or a dress code. To avoid waiting in line, arrive before 9 pm.

This historic building—with a sprawling three-story floor plan, interior balconies, and a solid kitchen, plus multiple bars, stages, and dance floors—has become one of Frenchmen Street's most popular destinations. Live music every night but Wednesday (normally with no cover) make it inviting, and the managers skillfully weave local and touring DJs into their lineup of parties and events. The New Orleans Mixology class takes place here every Friday and Saturday at 5 pm.

Operated by former Phoenix Suns basketball player Dan Majerle, this sports bar offers a comprehensive menu for pre- and postgame celebrations as well as some of the best people-watching potential in town.

A long-running destination on the banks of the Schuylkill Canal, this brewpub offers a well-rounded, quality selection of ales and lagers brewed on the premises. Check out the patio in the spring and summer—best for snacking, as the food is so-so.

The drinks menu at this classy yet jubilant spot with a speakeasy vibe is as vintage as the decor. Many of the cocktails are classics—including a mean Bloody Mary—made the old-fashioned way, but you'll also find innovative concoctions and craft beers, as well as either live music or a DJ most nights.

Lovingly referred to as the "Manhattan Lounge" by locals, this underrated and largely undiscovered bar neighbors the Italian steak house inside the Empress Hotel. The dark, old-school interior is perfect for sipping martinis and listening to live music Wednesday through Sunday.

With exposed red brick, big skylights, and rotating exhibitions of work by local photographers and painters, The Manifest has the vibe of an artist’s loft. It's a café by day and a cocktail bar and night club by night, so it serves a good cup of joe as well as quality cocktails.

The Map Room might help you find your way around Chicago, if not the world. Guidebooks decorate the walls of this self-described "travelers' tavern," and the craft beers represent much of the globe. This is a favorite gathering spot for soccer fans, so expect it to be roaring during World Cup season.

This 14,000-square-foot open venue in the former automobile factory now known as the Marathon Village complex hosts mid-level artists in its standing-room-only, 1,500-person-capacity space. Plan ahead, as most events are ticketed.

Distinctive craft brews like Idaho 7 IPA, high-octane Double White, and Malty's Oat Ale draw fans of artisan beer to Downtown's Marble Brewery, the original flagship location of this growing suds enterprise. The homey pub, with an expansive outdoor patio and skydeck, contains a beautiful 40-foot bar; food trucks provide the sustenance. There's live music most evenings.