2610 Best Bars in USA

Stop by this friendly downtown taproom with big patio with food trucks to sample superb handcrafted ciders made from a variety of heirloom Northwest apples. These Belgian saison– and English ale–style hard ciders come with a range of complex flavor profiles, from dry and crisp to chai spiced to full-on fruit bombs infused with marionberry or cranberry.

Since 1968, the Freight has been a venue for some of the world's finest practitioners of folk, rock, jazz, gospel, blues, country, bluegrass, and spoken word. The nonprofit grew from an 87-seat coffeehouse to a thriving, nearly 500-seat venue in the heart of Berkeley's Arts District. Many tickets cost less than $40.

This is a must-visit for any who love to submerge themselves in old-time elegance. Adjoining Arnaud's, the classic New Orleans Creole restaurant, this dark-wood bar is complete with leather-backed chairs and imposing columns. The bartenders work magic with their encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails and arsenal of ingredients. Be sure to venture upstairs to the free Germaine Wells Mardi Gras Museum, a slightly bizarre showcase for memorabilia and ball gowns worn by the original owner's daughter.

This hip little downtown wine bar with live music every Friday showcases Gård Vintners' superb Columbia Valley and Walla Walla wines. Although it's open for tastings, most folks stop in for a glass or two and a bite to eat—there's a short list of tasty nibbles, including a fantastic warm molten chocolate lava cake. Rhône wines—including a well-balanced Reserve Syrah and a bright, unfiltered Viognier—are the main focus.

This inviting downstairs addition to The 404 Kitchen offers up 14 pages of hard-to-find whiskies from around the world on its menu, many of which are proudly displayed as part of the decor. You'll find some bottles here, all hand-selected by chef Matt Bolus, that you'd be hard-pressed to find in even the most exclusive whiskey bars in New York. Every dish from the restaurant upstairs is also available to order directly from the bar.

Two doors down from Diavola Pizzeria (same ownership), this long skinny bar in Geyserville's Odd Fellows Building wows locals and tourists with classic cocktails and a bar menu of international comfort food. Hardwood floors, exposed brick, taxidermied animals, and contemporary lighting set the mood at this cool spot.

You’ll need to access a hidden door in the back of the Block 16 food hall at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (look for the small donkey on the otherwise plain door), but employees will help you find it if you get stuck. Once inside, you’ll find yourself in a tiny space with a gigantic collection of mezcal and tequila. The food menu’s limited to nachos, but they’re quite creative, with choices like black truffles with white cheddar, and mole chicken with cheddar and red cabbage.

Vintage furnishings, upholstered walls, and intriguing details set the 1920s speakeasy scene at this low-lighted lounge. Downstairs, The Library has velvet booths and vintage art surrounding a handsome book-lined bar.

This casual spot has old-school arcade games, pinball, occasional DJs, and craft cocktails often named after pop-culture references. Come for the games (ranging from classics like Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga to Killer Queen, the world's only 10-player strategy arcade game) and stay for drinks and friendly bartenders. Those looking for something to soak up the alcohol can enjoy a selection of muffuletta sandwiches made to order.

Craft cocktails, beers on tap, an outdoor smoking patio, and retro video games—this bar in the heart of Downtown is not to be missed. With one of the oldest liquor licenses in Los Angeles (issued in 1905), the Golden Gopher is the only bar in Los Angeles with an on-site liquor store for to-go orders—just in case you want to buy another bottle before you head home.

This classic mid-century tiki bar might remind you of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. It's part of a crazy-busy strip mall in Chinatown, with a cocktail menu spilling over with nostalgic classics. Cautiously sip a Dole Soft Serve Float or jump into the deep end with a Blue Lagoon or Painkiller. Hop a rideshare back to your hotel after a Navy Grog with three rums. The roomy decor is full of surprises if you look around, including such treasures as an animatronic skeleton of the mythical privateer and legend behind The Golden Tiki, William Tobias Faulkner. A tiny stage and dance floor host occasional DJs and live bands. There's a happy hour from 4 to 7 pm, a limited food menu—mostly sliders and wings—and a Sunday \"Captain's Brunch\" with waffles and burritos.

It's a fridge; it's a door; it's the entrance to Davey Wayne's, a bar and lounge that pulls out all the stops to transport you back in time to the '70s. The interior is your living room; the outside is an ongoing backyard barbecue with all your friends. Come early to beat the crowds or be prepared to get up close and personal with your neighbors.

Two of Charleston's most respected sommeliers co-own this wine shop and oenophile haven that spins classic records and hosts live bands on weekends. The walls are lined with carefully curated bottles that can be taken to go or popped and enjoyed on the spot.

Housed in a former corner market, this easygoing neighborhood craft beer and cocktail bar, led by head bartender Patty Dennison, changes their cocktail roster seasonally, each with funny names to go along with the season's quirky theme. The kitchen keeps up, preparing light bites to pair with them. 

This palace of fun combines a bowling alley, a restaurant, a taproom, an outdoor patio, and a game area into one establishment. There's live music most days. Eat an upscale Southern entrée like shrimp and grits or espresso-rubbed rib eye before rolling for a turkey.

Though the Grant Grill—located on the ground floor of the historic US Grant Hotel—is a full-service restaurant, it's built up a reputation in recent years for stepping up San Diego's craft cocktail game. The cocktail menu is updated seasonally with fresh ingredients and themes (one recently featured a mini "Voodoo" doll frozen inside of a large ice cube), all of which are both innovative and palate pleasing. The atmosphere is comfortable and elegant, even on its busiest nights.

Located inside Tempered Café and Chocolate (and only open Thursday through Saturday), Green Hour is one of Germantown's best-kept secrets. It's the only bar in town that specializes in serving a wide variety of absinthe in traditional absinthe drips, making each drink ordered its own experiential treat. And if absinthe isn't your thing, the bar also serves a variety of classic cocktails and a small selection of beer.

A Chicago institution, the legendary Green Mill has stood sentinel in the Uptown neighborhood since 1907. Deep leather banquettes and ornate wood paneling line the walls, and a photo of former patron Al Capone occupies a place of honor on the piano behind the bar. The jazz entertainment (appearing nightly; cover charge required; cash only) is both excellent and contemporary, as are the monthly poetry slams. 

Pause for a libation in the open air and breathe in the spirit of Key West. Built in 1890 as a grocery store, this property has been many things to many people over the years. It's touted as the oldest bar in Key West, and the sometimes rowdy saloon has locals outnumbering out-of-towners, especially on nights when bands play.

This award-winning brewery shines in crafting brews across the whole beer and ale spectrum, especially IPAs and sours. However, they're now also partnered with Physica, a sister wine program of local, natural wines. In addition to their already sprawling taproom that's adjacent to their tanks and barrels, is a large outdoor-indoor rooftop space, where you can use your beer or wine to wash down slices of New Haven--style pies from La La’s Apizza.

Revisit your teen years at this massive, old-school Old Town arcade filled with more than 100 classic arcade games and about 50 pinball machines, including vintage Atari, Super Nintendo, and Killer Queen. There are two full bars and a kitchen serving reliably good nachos, tacos, and ice-cream sundaes—and now that you are no longer a teen, you can have as much as you like. Over 21 after 5 pm.

What really puts Gruene on the Hill Country map is legendary Gruene Hall, known as the oldest continuously operating dance hall in the entire state of Texas. Many famous musicians owe their success to performances on this fabled stage, including Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Jerry Lee Lewis, and The Chicks. A trip to Gruene isn't complete without a turn on the old hardwood floors of Gruene Hall.

The handsome gastropub in Alta's swanky Snowpine Lodge has big windows and an inviting terrace overlooking the slopes and plush leather seats and rustic stone columns. Upscale but easygoing, it's a terrific spot for a glass of wine or local IPA and light dining (from noon until evening) on tasty bar fare, such as kale Caesar salads, pickle-brined fried chicken, and New Haven–style white clam pizza.

The Guthrie has a repertory company praised for its balance of classic and avant-garde productions.

The 80,000-square-foot Vegas haunt is one of the iterations of the nightclub brand that started in London. The space is one part nightclub, one part modern Cantonese restaurant—five floors in all, with three dedicated to nightlife. To fill this space, the venue has booked some of the biggest DJs in the world, including Lil Jon, Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, and Tiësto. For a more casual experience, head to the third-level Ling Ling Club.

This excellent Downtown wine bar is small in size but big in reputation, regularly winning accolades, including another James Beard award nom for its wine program in 2024. Owner Haley Fortier and her staff will walk you through a rotating selection of natural wines from small producers, from, really, anywhere. Pair a glass with some crudo or tinned fish, but definitely make a reservation before showing up.

One of the newer breweries to debut on Oahu, the modern, two-story brewhouse has its manufacturing area, a gift shop, a bar and more casual dining area downstairs, and an upscale mezzanine with exclusive cocktails. With 20 of its beers on tap (half of them IPAs), plus guest collaborations, cocktails, and mocktails, there's something for everyone. The food menu is just as extensive, including at Sunday brunch.

You can sip an umbrella cocktail while you gaze at the original "Bali Hai" from this lounge, open on two sides and offering breezy views across Hanalei Bay to plush emerald mountains. If you think the scene looks familiar, maybe you’ve seen the classic movie South Pacific, filmed here. "Bali Hai" is actually Kauai’s Mt. Makana. Order a tropical cocktail and pupu and enjoy a truly enchanted evening as the sun sets over the sparkling waters. Local musicians entertain guests Thursday through Monday. Nearby Tunnels Beach (aka Haena Beach and Makua) is often called Nurses' Beach, where Mitzi Gaynor sang about washing that man right outta her hair; Hanalei Bay is where Bloody Mary sang “Bali Hai.”