United States · best-of list
The 40 Best Bars & Cafés in the United States
We narrowed 243 bars & cafés from our curated routes in the United States down to 40, spread across 39 destinations. 6 spots on this list appear on more than one of our routes.
Our curated picks
40 bars & cafés in the United States, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
East Nashville 2 picks
The 5 Spot
East Nashville · On our Nashville Music Weekend route + 1 more
Five Points dive with live music most nights and a Monday swing dance tradition.
Tip: Cheap cover; check the calendar for themed nights.
Photo: Erika McCullough · Google
Attaboy
East Nashville · On our Nashville Music Weekend route
Menu-free cocktail bar where bartenders make drinks to your taste.
Tip: Small room; expect a wait after 9 pm.
Photo: Sam Walden · Google
Asheville 1 pick
Antler Hill Village
Asheville · On our Asheville, Blowing Rock & Boone route
Biltmore's village of shops, restaurants and the Biltmore Winery, which offers tastings in the old dairy barn.
Tip: Tastings are included with estate admission.
Astoria 1 pick
Fort George Brewery
Astoria · On our Oregon Coast Hideaways route
Brewery and pizza-and-pub-food spot in a 1920s auto garage downtown.
Tip: The upstairs Lovell Taproom has wood-fired pizza.
Photo: Fort George Brewery · Google
Austin 1 pick
Broken Spoke
Austin · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Classic honky-tonk dance hall with two-step lessons and chicken-fried steak.
Tip: Arrive for the early dance lesson.
Photo: SueRostvold · CC BY 4.0
Bardstown 1 pick
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience
Bardstown · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Visitor center for Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig, Evan Williams) with tours and tastings.
Tip: Book tours online ahead.
Photo: Bourbon Heritage Center · Google
Beale Street & Downtown Memphis 1 pick
B.B. King's Blues Club
Beale Street & Downtown Memphis · On our Memphis New Year's Eve route
The flagship blues club on Beale, with a house band, Southern food and a packed New Year's Eve stage.
Tip: Reserve a table package for Dec 31; walk-ins wait outside.
Photo: Bjoertvedt · CC BY-SA 4.0
Breckenridge 1 pick
Breckenridge Distillery
Breckenridge · On our Breckenridge, Vail & Aspen route
Craft distillery known for its bourbon, with a tasting room and restaurant on Airport Road.
Tip: Book a distillery tour, then stay for dinner in the restaurant next to the stills.
Cherokee 1 pick
Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Cherokee · On our Blue Ridge Parkway Slow Drive route + 1 more
Downtown Bryson City brewery with 16 taps, an upstairs deck over Main Street and a food truck out back.
Tip: Grab a seat on the upstairs deck at sunset.
Photo: Mountain Layers Brewing Company · Google
Detroit 1 pick
Cliff Bell's
Detroit · On our Frankenmuth & Detroit route
Restored 1930s jazz club near Grand Circus Park, with live music most nights and a full dinner menu.
Tip: Reserve a table for the evening set; walk-ins usually end up at the bar.
Photo: Mx. Granger · CC0
Downtown & the Short North 1 pick
Brass Eye
Downtown & the Short North · On our Columbus New Year's Eve route
Rooftop bar on The Junto hotel across the river from downtown, facing the skyline; its NYE party ran in 2024 and 2025.
Tip: The NYE ticket covers a welcome drink, passed bites and a midnight balloon drop; buy it in early December.
Downtown Cleveland & the Flats 1 pick
Flats East Bank
Downtown Cleveland & the Flats · On our Cleveland New Year's Eve route
Riverfront boardwalk of bars and restaurants on the east bank of the Cuyahoga, across from the Powerhouse.
Tip: Use it for a drink before or after your party; most bars run their own New Year's events.
Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0
Downtown Denver & 16th Street 1 pick
Denver Union Station
Downtown Denver & 16th Street · On our Denver New Year's Eve route
Restored 1914 rail station whose Great Hall holds the Terminal Bar and the Cooper Lounge mezzanine bar.
Tip: The Cooper Lounge takes reservations; book for Dec 30 when New Year's Eve is booked solid.
Photo: Isaac Kim · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown Kansas City 1 pick
Green Lady Lounge
Downtown Kansas City · On our Kansas City New Year's Eve route
A red-lit jazz lounge on Grand Boulevard with live Kansas City jazz every night, including New Year's Eve.
Tip: Seating is limited; arrive by 9 p.m. on Dec 31.
Downtown LA 1 pick
Perch
Downtown LA · On our Los Angeles After Dark route
French-styled rooftop bar 15 floors up, with fire pits and live music.
Tip: Dress code at night; go before sunset for a table.
Photo: Perch · Google
Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront 1 pick
Brit's Pub
Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront · On our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route
British pub on Nicollet Mall with a rooftop lawn-bowling green and a long-running New Year's Eve party.
Tip: Its party is ticketed; buy ahead if you want in after 9 p.m.
Downtown Phoenix 1 pick
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
Downtown Phoenix · On our Phoenix New Year's Eve route
Cocktail bar in the former Arizona Prohibition Headquarters building; its NYE masquerade ran in 2025.
Tip: NYE is ticketed; on Dec 30 go early for a seat.
Downtown Portland 1 pick
Departure
Downtown Portland · On our Portland New Year's Eve route
Rooftop restaurant and lounge atop The Nines, with covered, heated terraces over downtown; it typically throws a NYE party.
Tip: The terraces are covered and heated, so rain is not a dealbreaker.
Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter 1 pick
Altitude Sky Lounge
Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter · On our San Diego New Year's Eve route
Rooftop bar on top of the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, looking down into Petco Park.
Tip: It sells tickets for New Year's Eve; dress for wind on the open deck.
French Quarter & Riverfront 1 pick
Carousel Bar & Lounge
French Quarter & Riverfront · On our New Orleans New Year's Eve route
Slowly revolving circular bar inside the Hotel Monteleone, known for the Vieux Carre cocktail.
Tip: Seats turn over quickly; stand nearby and wait for one to open.
Photo: Carnaval.com Studios · CC BY 2.0
Grand Teton National Park 1 pick
Blue Heron Lounge
Grand Teton National Park · On our Glacier to Yellowstone route
Jackson Lake Lodge bar with big windows over Willow Flats and Mount Moran.
Tip: Open about mid-May to early October with the lodge.
Photo: Blue Heron Lounge · Google
Healdsburg 1 pick
Jordan Winery
Healdsburg · On our California Wine Country route
Chateau estate in Alexander Valley with Cabernet tastings paired with food.
Tip: Book well ahead; the estate tour includes a vista point.
Photo: Jordan Vineyard & Winery · Google
Hollywood 1 pick
Good Times at Davey Wayne's
Hollywood · On our Los Angeles After Dark route
1970s-themed bar entered through a fridge door, with a backyard patio.
Tip: Lines form after 10pm on weekends.
Photo: Cornelis J. van Santen · Google
Homer 1 pick
Homer Brewing Company
Homer · On our Alaska Glacier Route
Homer's oldest brewery, a small taproom pouring growlers and pints.
Tip: Take-away focus; check hours before driving out.
Photo: Beeblebrox · CC BY-SA 3.0
Kansas City 1 pick
Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City · On our Kansas City to Omaha route
KC's largest brewery, with tours and a rooftop beer hall.
Tip: Book tours ahead; try Tank 7.
Photo: Boulevard Brewing Company · Google
Key West 1 pick
Captain Tony's Saloon
Key West · On our Miami Beach Getaway route
The original Sloppy Joe's location (1930s), with a tree growing through the roof and live music.
Tip: Quieter than Duval's big bars; good first stop of the night.
Photo: Bubba73 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Las Vegas 1 pick
Herbs & Rye
Las Vegas · On our Las Vegas & National Parks route
Off-Strip cocktail bar with a history-organized drinks menu and half-price steaks at happy hour.
Tip: Happy hour runs late at night too.
Photo: Herbs and Rye · Google
Lexington 1 pick
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Lexington · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Frankfort distillery with free tours and tastings.
Tip: Free tours fill fast; reserve online.
Photo: Joseph “Jaythree” · Google
Louisville 1 pick
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Louisville · On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route
Whiskey Row artisanal distillery with tours and tastings.
Tip: Book tours online, especially weekends.
Photo: Gina Jackson · Google
Lower Broadway 1 pick
Skull's Rainbow Room
Lower Broadway · On our Nashville Music Weekend route
Printers Alley supper club from 1948 with jazz and blues, a quieter break from Broadway.
Tip: Reserve for dinner shows; cover charge applies.
Photo: 박수정 · Google
Mackinac Island 1 pick
Horn's Gaslight Bar
Mackinac Island · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route + 1 more
Saloon on Main Street since 1933 with live music and Southwestern food.
Tip: Live music most summer nights.
Photo: Horn's Gaslight Bar & Restaurant · Google
Milwaukee 1 pick
Lakefront Brewery
Milwaukee · On our Chicago & Great Lakes route + 1 more
Riverside brewery known for its entertaining tours and Friday fish fry.
Tip: Book tours ahead on weekends.
Photo: jgagnon · CC BY 2.0
Napa 1 pick
Domaine Carneros
Napa · On our California Wine Country route
Chateau-style sparkling wine house with a terrace over the vineyards.
Tip: Reserve a terrace seat on a clear afternoon.
Photo: Domaine Carneros · Google
New Orleans 1 pick
The Sazerac Bar
New Orleans · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Art deco bar in the Roosevelt Hotel, home of the namesake cocktail.
Tip: Order a Sazerac or Ramos Gin Fizz; dress smart-casual.
Photo: The Sazerac Bar · Google
Philadelphia 1 pick
McGillin's Olde Ale House
Philadelphia · On our Capital Cities Corridor route + 1 more
Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern, open since 1860.
Tip: Try the house ales brewed for the bar.
Photo: IBLB · CC BY-SA 4.0
Santa Barbara 1 pick
Potek Winery
Santa Barbara · On our Pacific Coast Highway route
Single-vineyard Santa Barbara County wines in a lounge at The Mill, with a patio shared with Third Window Brewery.
Tip: Reserve the lounge for a seated tasting; walk-ins fine on the patio.
Photo: Potek Winery · Google
Seattle 1 pick
Zig Zag Café
Seattle · On our Pacific Northwest route + 1 more
Classic cocktail bar tucked down the Pike Street Hillclimb steps below the market.
Tip: Arrive at opening to get a bar seat.
Photo: Zig Zag Cafe · Public domain
Seneca Lake 1 pick
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
Seneca Lake · On our Finger Lakes Wine Trail route
Pioneering 1979 Riesling estate on the west shore, one of the region's top producers.
Tip: Book a seated tasting on weekends.
Photo: Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard · Google
The Gulch 1 pick
The Bluebird Cafe
The Gulch · On our Nashville Music Weekend route
Small songwriter room where hit writers play in the round.
Tip: Tickets release online about a week ahead and go fast.
Photo: venessa coates · Google
Traverse City 1 pick
Chateau Chantal
Traverse City · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route
Hilltop winery-inn with views over both bays.
Tip: Go before sunset for the terrace view.
Photo: Chateau Chantal · Attribution
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. Our routes include 243 bars & cafés here; to keep the list readable we show 40, keeping those featured on the most routes and those with an insider tip, and spreading the rest across destinations. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in the United States?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. Our routes through the United States include 243 bars & cafés; we show the 40 featured on the most routes, spread across destinations. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of the United States has the most bars & cafés on this list?
East Nashville has the most (2 of 40), followed by Asheville (1) and Astoria (1).
Are any of these free?
1 pick on this list is marked free in our route notes: Buffalo Trace Distillery. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for United States
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- East Nashville 2 on this list
- Asheville 1 on this list
- Astoria 1 on this list
- Austin 1 on this list
- Bardstown 1 on this list
- Beale Street & Downtown Memphis 1 on this list
- Breckenridge 1 on this list
- Cherokee 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.