2629 Best Bars in USA

The elegant supper-club atmosphere at this popular spot makes it a wonderful setting in which to enjoy an evening of jazz, swing, or blues. There's a special martini menu, an extensive wine list, and a late-night menu. The club fills up quickly, so make reservations.

The Standard's sizable underground room draws top names in the business, and as part of Danny Meyer's southern-food restaurant Blue Smoke, it's one of the few spots where you can get dry-rubbed ribs to go with your bebop. There are welcoming Jazz for Kids concerts most Sunday afternoons.

Downtown's early 1900s YMCA building has been converted into this gorgeous, high-ceilinged music venue with brick walls, colorful artwork, and a snug mezzanine. An impressive lineup of jazz and blues bands perform here, and full dinner service from a Southern-accented menu is available before each show.

For something truly unique, stop in at Kanemitsu Bakery on Ala Malama Street in Kaunakakai for the nightly hot bread sale (typically Tuesday–Sunday beginning at 7:30 pm, but call for most current info). Follow your nose down the alley to the little bread window. While you wait you can talk story with the locals and returning visitors who know not to miss this treat. Take some hot bread home for a late-night or early-morning snack.

Saturated colors out of the Day-Glo school of lighting illuminate a decor heavy on bamboo, rattan, and intricate wood carvings at this Tiki establishment. The rum-led lineup includes updated takes on Trader Vic's mai tai and Don the Beachcomber's Zombie, along with newer cocktails with equal verve. All play well with the Asian-influenced bar fare. 

A low-key mainstay of the downtown literary scene, the second-floor KGB Bar and third-floor Red Room together keep a busy calendar of music, readings, and other events. The name and the Soviet kitsch are a nod to the spot's history as a speakeasy for leftist Ukrainians. Some events have a cover charge and/or drink minimum.

The subterranean digs at this choice cocktail bar make it feel like a speakeasy, but there's no secret password required to enjoy bespoke cocktails like the Celebrity Sour, an addictive amalgam of mezcal, cinnamon, pomegranate, and caramelized goat yogurt. The owners are also behind the casual Queeny's bar/restaurant/hangout upstairs and the quick-casual QueenBurger, next to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

At the top of the luxe Thompson Nashville is the city's premier rooftop bar, where the drinks are strong and the views are just as Instagrammable as the hip modern decor. Filled to the brim with friendly young professionals and travelers on the weekends, this is always a lively spot, especially when there's a local DJ spinning records. The Frozé is always a crowd-pleaser, and they offer a variety of small bites and cocktails along with brunch on the weekends.

In an area full of bars with themes, styles, and hooks, La Dive stand outs as simply an excellent and fun bar for absorbing the neighborhood vibes. A long, L-shaped bar opens the room for conversation, while the booths allow for small gatherings. The sidewalk tables in front are prime people-watching spots and give the feel of a popular Parisian bistro. The drinks menu focuses on natural wine, with a few classic cocktails, plus their signature alcoholic slushies. As the evening goes on, more customers turn to the Cham-bong to slurp their sparkling wine. Thankfully, a strong food menu, with late-night options, keeps things from getting too wild. Look for upscale bar snacks with a slight Eastern European tinge, as in the dumplings section.

Housed behind an unremarkable door in the stairwell of the subway station at the southeast corner of 7th Avenue and West 28th Street, this 600-square-foot speakeasy-like cocktail bar has enough room for 30 lucky people. The dimly lit space pops with blue and purple hues, as a DJ plays funk and electronica. The experience will quickly make you forget you're drinking a nicely made (but somewhat pricey) cocktail in a subway station.

This ancient Cajun honky-tonk has live music on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The bar is open with beers, wine, and cocktails, and the dance floor is always full with locals dancing to traditional music.

Perhaps the most photographed building in the Quarter after St. Louis Cathedral, this 18th-century blacksmith shop was once a front for the eponymous pirate's less legitimate business ventures—or so says local legend. Today, it's an atmospheric piano bar with a rustic, candlelit interior and a small outdoor patio shaded by banana trees. Despite the addition of a few flat-screen TVs, a drink here just after sundown, under the soft glow of candles, lets you slip back in time for an hour or so. It's also known as the oldest bar in New Orleans as well as one of the most haunted.

If you're up for a rowdy evening of entertainment (and a worthy basket of grub for dinner), grab a spot in the backyard between April and September for the annual free Sunday summer concert series featuring national touring acts; on Friday check out free local acts. It's quite a sight, as fleets of boats anchor for a waterway view of the stage and the landlocked crowd packs the bank to relax and sip on pales and lagers from the on-site brewery, Independent Republic.

These 74 seats in the back of the Vortex restaurant and bar are Atlanta's most popular destination for local and national touring comedians.

Local acts from a wide range of genres—including the Soul Rebels with their standing Thursday-night gig—shake the walls of this ramshackle Magazine Street nightspot. The music normally gets started after 10 pm. Pool tables and a limited bar-food menu keep the crowd, including young professionals and students from nearby Tulane and Loyola universities, occupied until the show starts.

Longmont’s first brewery has been pouring innovative, independent craft brews since 1993. Left Hand first garnered attention for introducing America’s first nitro bottle and now is an industry leader in stouts and nitros; its Milk Stout Nitro is especially lauded. This brewery is one of the most awarded breweries in Colorado, with more than 29 Great American Beer Festival medals, 11 World Beer Cup awards, and 16 European Beer Star awards. Reserve a brewery tour or just stop in to enjoy a few pints out on the Tasting Room patio, which features 33 taps. Sit indoors or on one of four patios with Rocky Mountain views.

Set back from the main entrance of the Halekulani Hotel and decked out with dramatic drapes and cozy banquettes, Lewers Lounge is a great place for cocktails, both classic and contemporary. Standouts include Chocolate Dreams (made with Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka) and the Lost Passion (tequila, Cointreau, and fresh juices topped with champagne). Enjoy your libation with great nightly live jazz and tempting desserts, such as the hotel's famous coconut cake.

Delight awaits at this uncommonly large (for Times Square) and flamboyantly decorated bar, with nearly every square inch covered in old English art and sculpture. Don't be thrown off—the cocktails here are inventive and expertly made, as is the tasty, filling pub fare. Consider a table reservation if you're dining around pretheater hours. Lillie's also shares its friendly brand of Victorian charm in its Union Square location.

Hemingway would have loved this exquisitely designed brick-and-copper bar that serves up equally exquisite craft cocktails that are definitely made for sipping. Drinks may be the centerpiece here, but as one of the few late-night dining spots in the area, the menu also features numerous "exotic game" items, such as bone-in elk chops and venison sliders. (Vegetarians may wish to seek sustenance elsewhere.) The vibe runs on the sophisticated side, and is highly recommended for those looking to impress a special someone. Happy hour runs from 4 to 6 pm, and the kitchen doesn't close until 1 am.

If you're lucky enough to find this bar, which is in an old garage off Commerce Street in the Arts District, you will be rewarded with some of the best cocktails in Las Vegas. Nightly selections are written on brown butcher paper and hung from a clothesline behind the bar. Depending on when you visit, the options may range from a drink that mimics blueberry pie to a horchata milk punch. The bar has an inventive selection of non-alcoholic drinks, too. Perhaps the only downside is the hipster factor; on weekends, even the coolest of guests may feel like they're not cool enough.

Looking for an authentic Austin honky-tonk dive-bar experience? This chapel-shaped Burnet Road haunt is a legendary Old Austin favorite, though from the looks of the shabby exterior, you may not believe it at first. It's not glamorous, but the beer is cold (and cheap during happy hour), the service is friendly, and the vibe is always fun. Local music legend Dale Watson often takes the tiny stage here (there's live music every night), and the cast of regulars at this honored saloon is too good to miss. The claim to fame here is the riotous good-times had at the weekly Chicken Sh*t Bingo played every Sunday.

It's not hard to see why LIV often makes lists of the world's best clubs—if you can get in, that is (LIV is notorious for lengthy lines, so don't arrive fashionably late). Past the velvet ropes, the dance palladium impresses with its lavish decor, well-dressed international crowd, sensational light-and-sound system, and seductive bi-level club experience.  Men beware: groups of guys entering LIV are often coerced into insanely priced bottle service.

Two bartending all-stars and a chef fascinated by international comfort food opened this bar where patrons wash down tacos, kimchi noodles, crispy pork spare ribs, and chicken tenders with craft cocktails. There are good beer and wine selections, too. Everything's best enjoyed on the back patio.

If you're looking to sip a classic cocktail in a space that harkens back to a bygone, old New York era, point yourself to the legendary Chelsea Hotel. The Lobby Bar, which opened in 2022 after the hotel was fully renovated, is vintage to the nth degree. Think: opulent chandeliers, a marble-topped bar, high ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and plush vintage furniture. And of course, there's a menu of classic libations, including re-created drinks from around the world. Pro tip: go for the ultrachilled Dukes Martini from the Dukes Hotel in London.

This lofty resort's lobby lounge is perfect when you want live Hawaiian music, a bit of hula, and freshly prepared sushi or other quick bites all in one sitting. The artisanal cocktails are well done and highlight locally distilled spirits and locally harvested or foraged ingredients. The atmosphere is casual chic, the setting is contemporary, and the views—of the Pacific, west Maui, and neighboring Lanai—are classic. Food is served 5–10 pm; cocktails 4–11 pm.

This natural wine bar and shop popped up amidst the dive bars and music venues of East Sixth to great fanfare, offering an incredible respite for respectable wine lovers. Friendly staff help navigate the selection of biodynamic and natural wines at the shop's front counter, and the shady back patio has communal seating and live music some nights. Stop in for a bottle to-go or enjoy their happy hour with an artisanal cheese board.

This saloon and dance hall, made famous by the hit song crooned by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, was originally built by German settlers as a town hall, eventually growing into a post office, general store, blacksmith shop, and dance hall. In 1970, it was sold to a local humorist (and self-proclaimed “mayor of Luckenbach”) who turned the entire space into a music venue. Within a decade, the site was attracting musicians from all over to play against its rustic walls plastered with historic signs and relics. These days, Luckenbach features three stages with a full calendar of live music performances, a beer garden, a saloon and dance hall, a kitchen serving barbecue and burgers, and a food truck. Photo opportunities abound, and there’s even a general store stocked with a wide variety of souvenirs. It’s an essential stop for any fan of country music, and Texas history.

Sommelier-owned, this wine bar lauded for its hospitality focuses on natural wines, along with fortified wines like madeira and sherry. The elongated space is small but welcoming, and a menu including charcuterie, savory meats, and vegan gnochetti make perfect pairings for the international varietals. 

This laid-back spot invites you to indulge your sweet tooth. Walking through the door, you're immediately greeted by a dessert case full of freshly baked specialties—try some of the homemade truffles. The menu also includes a spectacular list of specialty drinks, including champagne cocktails, chocolate martinis, and a modest selection of beer and wines. Warm up with an Irish coffee or the truly divine "drinkable chocolate," an especially fulfilling twist on hot chocolate.

Smoky, dark, and delightfully unpolished, this complete dive bar (cash only) is anything but what you'd expect from glitzy South Beach. Once a favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain, this spot is decorated with neon signs that were a gift when they hosted the Miami Vice wrap party in the '80s. Happy hour takes place from 8 am to 5 pm, and you'll always find an eclectic crowd at the bar at all hours.