2610 Best Bars in USA

Smack-dab on the beach, the full-service Nikki Beach is filled more with suburbanites and tourists than the in-crowd but promises plenty of fun nevertheless. The beach club is typically a daytime affair, opening at 10 am and closing at 6 pm (though there are often special evening events, namely on Sunday). Visitors can get their food and drink in the hammocks and beach beds (expect DJ-led tunes on weekends and rental fees all days). Sunday brunch at the club's restaurant is pretty spectacular with a true South Beach party atmosphere.

Hidden behind the the kitchen door of Moon Palace Express is Chinatown’s first cocktail bar. Neon lights illuminate Nine Bar’s sleek, dark space, and Asian-inspired cocktails with ingredients like Sichuan peppercorns and rice vodka feature on the menu. Don’t overlook bites like mapo fries, wings, and the chicken sandwich on the small food menu.

Don't be surprised to see patrons break into impromptu bouts of step-dancing at this authentic Irish pub inside New York–New York. It's so authentic that the place was built in Ireland, shipped over, and reassembled in Vegas. Today, barkeeps pour Guinness, Harp Lager, Smithwick's, and all sorts of Irish whiskeys, while cooks crank out traditional Irish dishes. Live Irish music rounds out the sing-along entertainment here. Live entertainment begins nightly at 9 pm; go before then if you want a table for dinner. Brunch is served Thursday through Monday from 11 am to 2 pm.

This unassuming joint claims the mantle of Wrigleyville's oldest bar, operating continuously since 1951. Whether it's thronged with Cubs fans on game days or by its loyal regulars in midwinter, the Nisei exudes a welcoming, divey vibe. If you want to sample Malört, Chicago's favorite unbelievably bitter liqueur best described as an acquired taste, no bar will be happier to introduce it to you.

At first glance, No Vacancy might convey an air of exclusivity and pretentiousness, but its relaxed interiors and welcoming staff will almost instantly make you feel like you’re at a house party. You know, the kind with burlesque shows, tightrope performances, a speakeasy secret entrance, and mixologists who can pretty much whip up any drink your heart desires.

A cross between a Tim Burton film and an Oingo Boingo album, this funky, cavelike bar makes every day Halloween. Noc Noc's bartenders serve up about 20 or so beers on tap, sake (even unfiltered), and unique twists on traditional drinks, like the Snake Bite, a blend of lager and cider. The house DJ plays acid jazz, industrial, and ambient music.

If you're looking for a chic beachy bar with a hipster young crowd, this is definitely not the place for you. This is your friendly neighborhood watering hole with a game on the TV, a jukebox in the corner, a pool table, and bocce ball out back (with tournaments). The beer isn't fancy and there are no "signature cocktails," but if you hit it at the right time, you might get complimentary hot dogs fresh off the grill or free pizza. Bring cash—that's all they accept here.

Panoramic views, warm and welcoming firepits, and cheekily named cocktails are the attraction at this rooftop destination, situated atop the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Gaslamp/Convention Center.

This urban winery wouldn't be out of place in a much bigger city, and was much needed in High Point. Nomad serves a list of 20 varieties of wine, mead, cider, and beer, with more than half made on-site.

This Admiral cocktail bar in a cozy old home leans into that living room feeling with wingback chairs, mid-century couches, and antique lighting. It's a little like drinking in your own house, if you lived in a fancy old mansion with bartenders who turn out intriguing craft cocktails. Not far from Alki, it makes a great post-beach stop if you need to wait out rush hour before heading back Downtown.

With a reputation for great takes on classic cocktails and even better conversation among patrons, this dimly lit haunt is a fantastic place to mingle. Tucked inside the Normandie Hotel, the lounge is a party without the affection for chaos afforded by other late-night spots. The menu features a slew of old standards, but mixologists are eager to play: they'll ask you what the mood is and mix a drink to match. The cocktails are seriously good, and the ambience is comforting yet classy. Plus, if you’re looking to dance off a well-made whiskey sour, you don’t have to go far, as The Normandie Club houses “damn fine” in back, a live-DJ dance party Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 9 pm--2 am.

Cleverly located in the thick of Northern Liberties' 2nd Street scene, this boozing-friendly bowling alley delivers in the tenpin department. The large, colorful space serves a snacky menu, featuring a big selection of wackily topped tater tots.

Named for its location at the north edge of Boystown, this decades-old gay-friendly sports bar is a favorite spot for watching the game, shooting some pool, throwing some darts, or just having a cheap beer with friends. 

Sip quality ales and lagers brewed on-site at the art deco-inspired brewery helmed by owner/brewer Kelsey McNair. His award-winning West Coast IPA Hop-Fu! put his hoppy brews on the map years ago, but his extensive portfolio of pilsners, stouts, dunkels, and other styles caters to a wide variety of craft beer enthusiasts.

This spot was one of the first anchors of the now-teeming Wicker Park nightlife scene. Locals come to drink, eat, shoot pool, and see and be seen. The enclosed indoor-outdoor patio lets you get the best out of the chancy Chicago weather.

This outpost of Notch Brewing (there’s one in Boston, too) sits on the South River Basin in Salem with plenty of space indoors and out. Open year-round, Notch promises at least 10 to 14 brews on tap, along with snacks such as a cheese plate, pretzels, pickled eggs, and other bar food. Communal tables, Skee-Ball, cornhole, and special events such as artisan fairs, make this a lively place to gather with friends. No one under age 21 is allowed after 6 pm on Friday and Saturday.

At tucked-away Novare Res Bier Café, choose from some three dozen rotating drafts and about 500 bottled brews. Relax on an expansive deck, munch on antipasti, or share a meat-and-cheese plate. Maine craft beers occupy at least eight of the taps at any given time, and the rest span the globe, with an emphasis on Belgian and Trappist ales.

Think of Nowadays as a music venue with a conscience. This sprawling, indoor-outdoor space with fire pits and hammocks lies on the border between two neighborhoods (Bushwick and Ridgewood) in two boroughs (Brooklyn and Queens), and is up for just about anything. By day, people may enjoy a DJ set while picnicking with food trucks, but nights bring forth vivacious \"Nonstop\" parties with resident and guest DJs. The Zumbador, a Mexican restaurant on the premises, serves dinner Thursday–Sunday.

This buttoned-up, \"not-so-well-kept secret\"—at least according to the Fontainebleau—does indeed evoke the opulent living room of an eccentric stranger. With coffee service until noon, the drinks come online. Far be it from us to divulge the surprises promised, but know there's live music beginning nightly at 8 (9 on weekends) from the likes of locally famous Mikalah Gordon and Nieve Malandra. 

The heart of Logan Circle nightlife is this predominantly male gay bar attracting guests of all ages. The downstairs lounge offers plush banquettes and street views, while big-screen viewing is offered upstairs at the 9½ video bar. The daily happy hour (5–9 pm) offers two-for-one drinks. At any time this is a great place for a cocktail and some good conversation in a bustling neighborhood that includes, a block away on 14th Street, Trade, which is another popular, no-frills gay bar from the same owners as Number Nine.

This retro-cool hangout with stiff cocktails might be one of the most popular bars in Hillcrest, but don't expect a glitzy facade. The intentionally dated decor sits within the tatty walls of a white-brick box that probably hasn't had a face-lift since the LBJ administration.

If you want to meet the locals, sidle up to the bar at O'Donoghue's Tavern, get a beer pulled from the tap, and listen to their stories. The menu stretches beyond standard pub fare and draws families (mostly for lunch and early dinner) and couples. The live music on Saturday nights always draws a crowd.

Done up in black and white, this lively sushi bar serves fun small plates like ceviche with mango, pear, and mint-yuzu vinaigrette that pair perfectly with a sake flight. You can lounge on the couches during happy hour—which runs from 5 to 7 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—and enjoy half-priced sake and signature sushi rolls. On Saturday night, a high-energy DJ cranks out tunes while the place becomes a velvet rope club.

Visitors to this Oak Street establishment can enjoy two bars in one: on one side, a sleek, modern lounge invites wine-sipping, and on the other, a publike vibe makes for a perfect place to enjoy a beer. The two venues share a courtyard and an expansive menu. Depending on what you're drinking, you might want seared mortadella and ham on focaccia, or a plate of wings and Honduran-style tacos. There is weekly trivia on Monday evening.

The Ocean Mist has a beachfront deck where you can watch surfers on the point and catch some rays while enjoying a beer, a burger, or breakfast. Bands, including rock, throwback pop, and reggae acts, perform nightly in summer and on Thursdays and weekends the rest of the year. The music is free on Sunday Funday, but get there early, it's popular. Considered one of Rhode Island's best hangouts, "the Mist," as it's called by locals, is that cool beach bar that every coastal area has—or wishes it had.

Lively and always hopping, Ocean Walk is a cluster of shops, restaurants, and bars (the Mai Tai Bar is a good bet) stretching along Atlantic Avenue and the ocean.

A popular gathering place, this sports bar in the back of the Coconut Grove Marketplace has a pool table and an outdoor patio, along with dozens of TVs screening the big game (whatever it happens to be that day). It really gets hopping on the weekends and for karaoke. There's good happy hour pricing and taco specials three days a week.