2610 Best Bars in USA

Sip on beer, port, or single-malt scotch in the cavernous basement of Ringlers Annex, a pie-shaped corner pub in the atmospheric Crystal Hotel, right where Harvey Milk and Burnside streets meet. It's part of the famously offbeat McMenamins brewpub empire.

The margaritas at this festive place are so potent that there's a three-per-person limit, but that's not all the Rio offers. In addition to fresh citrus cocktails, the Rio has been serving classic and innovative Tex-Mex food for more than 30 years. Request a table on the rooftop patio with unmatched mountain views.

A Mission tradition, this classy and casual charmer is like a cabaret club in an aging mobster's garage—it's almost hard to believe you're in 2020s San Francisco. Quirky lounge singers and other musicians entertain most nights. A small menu of affordable sandwiches and Italian food beats your average bar fare.

At this effervescent Hell's Kitchen gay hot spot, crowds put on the ritz every night for bargain happy hours (4 pm–9 pm) and late-night dancing on two floors 'til 4 am. Expect extra-packed weekend fun, with crowds flocking here for drag-queen DJs, women's nights, male go-go dancers, all-night drink specials, and weeknight variety shows.

Islanders, wash-a-shores, gay, straight, whatever—all are welcome at this unpretentious dive bar/rock club featuring live music year-round. There's been a bar at this spot on Circuit Avenue since 1944; these days, it draws a mixed crowd for live music, karaoke, pool-playing, and dancing—lots of dancing. There's live entertainment nightly in season, and trivia and karaoke midweek off season.

With its deep selection of dark liquor, low-light ambience, and black leather walls, Rob Roy is a serious-but-inviting cocktail bar. Their original concoctions change four to five times a year, and include drinks like a Saffron Sandalwood Sour. They also feature nonalcoholic cocktails for teetotalers and designated drivers. Goldfish crackers, beef jerky, and chicken meatballs are among the options on the limited food menu, which is half-off during a daily 4--6 pm happy hour that also features drink specials.

Let loose at this popular restaurant and sports bar, which has live music Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Thursday is trivia night, and sports are broadcast all weekend and Monday nights. It offers local microbrews and a full menu of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and other pub fare.

Located right on the corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente, Rocco’s is a premier destination for the LGBTQ+ community in an industrial looking spot with a covered patio. Enjoy a burger, pizza, wraps, salads, and sandwiches at this popular tourist destination. It's ideal for a fun night out with friends, weekend dance parties, or Drag Brunch on Sundays.

Home to SLO Brew's 30-barrel brewing and tasting facility near the airport, the Rock has a beer garden, restaurant, and regular live-music performances.

This Cajun Country outpost of the longtime New Orleans favorite has become a popular place to find bowling and live music in Lafayette. Top-notch local musicians perform most weeks from Thursday through Sunday, featuring a range of styles like Cajun, zydeco, rock, and more. You can buy a ticket to each show online or at the door. The food and drink options here are predictably miles better than your regular bowling alley fare, and the crawfish beignets make for a good local bite.

Classic tiki drinks are served with Hawaiian-inspired bar bites at this fun woman-owned hideaway under the A train. Think zombie cocktails, poke bowls, and kitschy island decor, plus a chill vibe with friendly service. Just because they're a tiki bar doesn't mean they aren't serving up some killer eats. Go for flavor-packed bites like miso mushroom bao buns, edamame or seared shrimp dumplings, a stacked tuna tower, and a kimchi dog, naturally all best washed down with a frozen cocktail.

If you're looking for some live entertainment to soundtrack the sipping of craft cocktails, this intimate venue with plush VIP booths mainly features tribute bands in addition to the occasional comedy show and UFC fight viewing party. Although not exactly worth a trip from the Strip in and of itself, if you're already at the Red Rock Resort, it's a fun place to hang out.

This brewery has won awards for its ales, porters, and stouts. The menu of burgers and other sandwiches, steaks, and pastas has something for just about everyone. The patio is open in summer.

Down-home Louisiana music, rockabilly, R&B, and New Orleans swing in a bowling alley? Go ahead, try not to have fun. This iconic venue has a terrific lineup of music Wednesday through Saturday. Thursday often features Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop, as some of the best musicians from rural Louisiana take the stage. The alley's restaurant throws a strike with pizza, burgers, hot sausage, chicken wings, hummus, and—if you're particularly hungry—a platter of 20 boudin balls.

It’s hard to imagine a bar feeling homier than Rogers Park Social. The community-oriented spot has an impressive menu of craft beers plus fresh cocktails that pack deep layers of flavor into every glass.

Just up from the harbor, Rollie's has been in business since 1972 and it's especially popular with sports fans who come to watch the big game. The food is good and very well priced, and they may just have the best hamburgers in the state. You'll see families crop up around dinnertime, but food is served until midnight on Friday and Saturday and there's an excellent happy hour weekdays 3–6. There's a deck for outside dining, too. The vintage bar came from a 19th-century sailing ship.

One of the city's hottest perches, ROOF occupies the 27th floor of theWit Hotel. The outdoor space entices with firepits and panoramic city views; floor-to-ceiling glass windows make the indoor area equally breathtaking. DJs spinning eclectic beats and a menu of pricey cocktails and small plates complete the scene.

The laid-back setting, daylight Fitch Mountain views, and seafood-leaning menu are among the reasons to check out this fourth-story bar. The mostly small bites pair well with specialty cocktails like the Rooftopia (rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice).

You don't have to be a hotel guest to enjoy skyline and harbor views at this seventh-story rooftop bar. The vibe is lively during warmer months, as you might expect, with people crowded on cabana-style bench seating and the occasional fire pit. Premium classic cocktails and seasonal sips (think a frozen lychee "frosee"), and really tasty food mean that you'll go home satisfied. Stop by in the winter for a "snow globe" experience inside heated, transparent geodesic domes.

On the rooftop of the Providence G residential building, the lively bar is open evenings year-round (it has a retractable glass rooftop and fire pits) for drinks, snacks, dinner, music, and general conviviality. Valet parking is complimentary.

Have a cocktail and appetizer as you watch the colorful sunset behind the church steeples. There are actually two bars at this venue atop the Vendue hotel; the lower Deck Bar has tables and chairs shaded by umbrellas, but the view of the water is partially obscured by condo towers. Keep going to the upper-level bar, which offers a 360-degree panorama and an open-air atmosphere. You'll find live music by local and regional bands on weekends.

Forget all your misconceptions about dive bars and walk into the Roost, whose comforting elements—a jukebox that comes fully loaded with Tom Petty, Springsteen, and the Allman Brothers Band; cozy leather booths; dimmed lights; and decent hearty food—will make you feel like you’ve flown back to your hometown for the holidays. The cocktails aren’t too shabby either, but do bring cash.

This friendly gay bar hosts theme nights such as speed dating evenings: arrive at 7:30 pm and hopefully by 9 pm, you'll have found a new friend or flame. The menu features pizzas, pastas, protein-based dishes, tapas, and salads at affordable prices.

On Historic 25th Street, this long-time favorite brewpub (housed in a building from 1892) serves up an eclectic roster of house brews, including the popular O-Town Nut Brown ale, plus steak, sandwiches, and pizzas with locally made cheeses. Hang on the patio on warm days or watch the weather from the glass-enclosed sunroom year-round.

A longtime favorite, Roscoe's Tavern has a lot to offer its patrons, including a full all-day dining menu, jam-packed front bar, a dance floor, a pool table, an outdoor garden,  DJs on the weekends, and a sidewalk café in warmer weather. When it's airing, Roscoe's also hosts Drag Race aftershows that regularly feature former contestants. 

A true English pub, this is Palo Alto’s best place (and oldest bar) for a proper pint of Old Speckled Hen or a pour of a locally-produced double IPA. Evenings bring tech workers and graduate students out to play darts and have lively conversations at the wooden tables inside or at the picnic benches on the narrow patio. Trivia nights are particularly popular in this scholarly area.

At this rollicking pub you can sing along with the piano or just listen to a jazzy version of last year's hits. Indulge in a whiskey flight or sing along with the pianist while raising a specially made pub blend. The atmosphere is adults-only, though children are allowed, and reservations are highly recommended. Note that the Pub and Dining Room are two different eateries and not connected physically. The English gardens across the walk are a perfect and perfectly quiet place to enjoy a pint and respite from the sometimes chaotic EPCOT crowd.

Rosie's is very lively, pumping out pop tunes and award-winning burgers. It's the go-to gay-friendly place for affordable drinks and great times. Sunday brunch, with its cast of alternating DJs, is wildly popular.