The 29 best bars in America in 2025: See Paste BN's top picks
From dive bars to hidden speakeasies, swanky cocktail lounges to beachfront watering holes, the best bars tell a story — and often serve up something tasty to go with your drink.
Paste BN’s Bars of the Year 2025 celebrates the standout spots across the country that do more than just pour a stiff one. These are the places where locals and visitors alike gather for good conversation, warm vibes and a little slice of the city’s character – whether that means savoring a Rusty Nail aboard a simulated flight in Phoenix, chasing an Orange Crush down the beach in Delaware or pairing a salty margarita with a deep-fried hot dog at a Florida dockside bar.
Here are 29 of the best bars in America for 2025, as chosen by Paste BN Network journalists who know their hometown haunts inside and out.
Druid City Brewing Company Taproom | Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Details: 700 14th St.; 205-342-0051, facebook.com/DruidCityBrewingCompany
With its Leland Lanes bowling alley, Tuscaloosa Drug Co. salvaged furnishings, and chalk art honoring Crimson Tide legends, Druid City Brewing Company bucks the "I can't believe this is Tuscaloosa" upscale trend and emblazons crimson heart on rolled-up sleeves. Tuscaloosa's first brewpub, opening after Alabama passed a 2009 gourmet beer law, spotlights musicians, writers and other artists in its Moon Room, serves stylized pub food with indoor-outdoor dining and offers classic pinball, video and board games inside. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox has said he hopes to be DCBC owner/raconteur Bo Hicks when he grows up. — Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News
Read a full review of Druid City Brewing on tuscaloosanews.com.
Carry On | Phoenix, Arizona
Details: 2 N. Central Ave., Suite 101; carryonphx.com
Carry On is a trip. Literally. The 90-minute luxury cocktail experience begins when guests give pre-purchased tickets to a host dressed in midcentury-style flight attendant attire. Once seated in lounge chairs or booths, guests are presented with a complimentary welcome cocktail before “takeoff.” The captain announces the trip, vibrating chairs simulate the real thing while the plane windows offer views of the departure city (San Francisco), the sky and the tarmac upon landing in Mexico City. James Beard semifinalist Jax Donahue designed the menu with upgraded classics of the time and drinks inspired by the departure and arrival cities, such as a Rusty Nail, made with single malt scotch, rye, honey liqueur, peach, sesame paste and oregano. Shortbread and sea salt cookies dipped in Ghirardelli chocolate and rojo and verde peanuts are the elevated airplane snacks that round out the in-flight experience. — Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic
Read a full review of Carry On on azcentral.com
Gracie's Tax Bar | Phoenix, Arizona
Details: 711 N. Seventh Ave.; 602-793-1110, graciestaxbar.com
From the outside, Gracie’s Tax Bar doesn’t look like much. “Tax Service” is scrawled in faded, peeling paint on the brick facade. But inside, Gracie’s – which gets half its name from Grace Perry, a former metal singer and the bar's founder, and the other half from its original occupants – is one of the hippest dives in downtown Phoenix. On weekends, the line to get in often stretches around the block and is a preview of the cultural mixer that awaits inside, where barstools and high tops are filled with patrons sipping always affordable drinks – mostly beers, shots and basic liquor – and fried bar snacks like onion rings, fried pickles, cheese curds and a chopped cheese sandwich. The more spacious back patio hosts book club meetings, craft fairs, local bands and DJs. Even during quieter hours, Gracie’s feels quintessential to Phoenix, with bartenders in the know about all the happenings around town and enough regulars to make grabbing a seat at the bar feel like coming home. — Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic
Read a full review of Gracie's Tax Bar on azcentral.com
The Tiny Pony Tavern | Yucca Valley, California
Details: 57205 Twentynine Palms Outer Highway South; 442-205-0163, thetinypony.com
This colorful hangout near Joshua Tree National Park is in a town known for mountains and yucca-strewn high desert. But its menus instead proclaim that it’s home to Yucca Valley’s best view of the shoe store across the street. It’s a witty slogan that effectively sums up this haunt’s lighthearted, funky feel. The tavern was opened by four women who wanted to bring a dependable neighborhood spot to their heavily touristed town (and they say it’s the city’s only all-female-owned bar). The result is a great spot for a burger and beer. The welcoming atmosphere, famous karaoke nights and distinctive artsy aesthetic heavy on skeletons and cat-filled paintings fuel a cultlike devotion among fans, who can be seen donning the bar’s quirky T-shirts nationwide. — Paul Albani-Burgio, The Desert Sun
Read a full review of The Tiny Pony Tavern on desertsun.com
Odell Brewing Co. | Fort Collins, Colorado
Details: 800 E. Lincoln Ave.; 970-498-9070, odellbrewing.com/locations/fort-collins
Walk past its busy bike racks into its unpretentious taproom and onto its sprawling patio and you’ll understand why Odell Brewing Co. is oh-so-Fort Collins. As a pioneer of Fort Collins’ now-buzzing craft beer scene, Odell Brewing Co. has grown into Fort Collins’ biggest craft brewery without losing its local flavor. Its laid-back taproom is an ideal landing spot for after-work happy hours and visits with out-of-town friends alike. Stalwart flagship brews and inventive seasonals line its taps. And, weather permitting, there’s no better place than Odell Brewing Co.’s patio, which offers shady respite, occasional live music and daily food trucks. — Erin Udell, The Coloradoan
Read a full review of Odell Brewing Co. on coloradan.com
The Starboard | Dewey Beach, Delaware
Details: 2009 Coastal Highway; 302-227-4600, thestarboard.com
While Delaware's beaches have plenty of stand-out bars, The Starboard lives in a world of its own. With an old-school hodgepodge layout and must-have pounder Orange Crush drinks paired with beloved longtime bartenders and high-energy bands and DJs, the bar itself is a playground for locals and vacationers alike. The core following helps make the bar the best, a silly crew that likes to dress in costume and let loose like no one's watching. Highlights each year include laugh-out-loud events such as the Running of the Bull, with bargoers chasing two people in a bull costume down the beach (not exactly like they do in Pamplona), and Derby Day, a Kentucky Derby spoof with bar-goers running on broomstick horses around the block. There’s a reason why The Starboard has three branded spin-offs in the tiny beach town, serving everything from seafood to pizza. — Ryan Cormier, Delaware News Journal
Read a full review of The Starboard on delawareonline.com
The Old Salty Dog | Sarasota, Florida
Details: 1601 Ken Thompson Parkway; 941-388-4311, theoldsaltydog.com
Perched on Sarasota’s City Island, The Old Salty Dog has been a beloved waterfront hangout since 1991, offering a brilliant blend of British pub and Florida beach bar. The open-air bar lets patrons belly up to the hull of a boat while overlooking dolphin-dotted waters and sipping a Boddingtons with some of the best fish and chips around. Three seats down, a group who just stepped off their boat at the next-door marina might be dining Jimmy Buffett-style – cheeseburgers and margaritas. And really, no day of drinking at The Old Salty Dog is complete without surrendering to its legendary deep-fried hot dog, featured on a classic episode of "Man v. Food." Laid-back, lively and loaded with charm, it’s pure Gulf Coast. — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Read a full review of The Old Salty Dog on heraldtribune.com
Mary Lou's | West Palm Beach, Florida
Details: 250 Southern Blvd.; marylouspb.com
Can a bar simultaneously channel retro vibes and au courant status? At Mary Lou’s – the new-ish glam spot where expertly mixed cocktails and caviar-loaded bar bites are par for the course – absolutely yes. If Apple TV+’s "Palm Royale" or FX’s "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" transported its characters into today’s world, this is where they’d go. Setting the tone: opening night’s crowd included Bettina Anderson (Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend) and fashion designer Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia. Add The Chainsmokers as collaborators on live entertainment. The name honors the late Mary Lou Curtis, whose chic Worth Avenue boutique once attracted the likes of Jackie Onassis – and whose grandson is a co-owner of the bar. — Diana Biederman, The Palm Beach Post
Read a full review of Mary Lou's on palmbeachpost.com
The Bartender’s Handshake | Des Moines, Iowa
Details: 3615 Ingersoll Ave.; 515-630-3008, thebartendershandshake.com
Midcentury modern decor comes together with a neighborhood bar at The Bartender’s Handshake, with its stellar lineup of elevated craft cocktails and three renditions of its namesake drink. Dave Murrin-von Ebers opened this gem in 2019 in a former stained-glass store, adding a curved banquet, two booths for seating and a long bar for slinging modern renditions of classic drinks. Step outside for a patio open year-round with fire pits for the cooler months and apres ski parties, and shade and bocce ball for the sunny days. Order the Prairie Rose – with gin, Campari and raspberry syrup, topped with egg whites – for a nod to the bar’s logo and Iowa state flower, or try the Karate Kick – a vodka drink with Ancho Reyes, carrot and ginger – for something that feels healthy with a kick. — Susan Stapleton, The Des Moines Register
Read a full review of The Bartender's Handshake on desmoinesregister.com
Gabe's | Iowa City, Iowa
Details: 330 E. Washington St.; icgabes.com
Fifty years of history hangs on the wall at Gabe’s. The two-story Iowa City institution pulses with strong pours, cold beer and the gasp of raspy vocals and distorted riffs that rattle the floorboards. Gabe's is a lighthouse of nostalgia, and band posters tell the story, from Nirvana to Danny Brown. Stay downstairs for a no-frills dive bar experience made for a sitcom, with eccentric characters spilling stories of their memories that leak into the urban beer garden in the back. Upstairs, audience members crowd the edge of the stage to see their underground favorites from EDM DJs to hardcore punks. A night at Gabe's is a night of rock 'n' roll history. — Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen
Read a full review of Gabe's on press-citizen.com
Darling’s | Louisville, Kentucky
Details: 1765 Bardstown Road; darlingsbar.com
In one of Louisville’s buzziest neighborhoods, an unassuming corner bar welcomes locals and tourists with a rusty neon sign for “cocktails.” Once inside the dimly lit Darling’s, the vintage-looking floral wallpaper, long bar, green leather seating and murals of fairylike ladies create a romantic, cozy vibe perfect for drinks before dinner or talking for hours. In a town where bourbon booms, this neighborhood joint stands out for its gin-forward menu, inventive craft cocktails and weekly tiki nights. It’s the kind of place you might pop in for happy hour gin and tonics, regarded as the best of their kind in the city, and stay until the free late-night pizza arrives. — Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal
Read a full review of Darling's on courier-journal.com
Tasting Room of Louisiana | Alexandria, Louisiana
Details: 812 Third St.; 318-623-1935, tastingroomla.com
The interior of this whiskey bar is reminiscent of a classic European pub, and the large, ornate wooden bar is the first thing that catches your eye as you walk in. Owner Melissa Scarborough, the only certified whiskey sommelier in Louisiana, has a refined palate that allows her to guide customers through the complex flavors of different whiskeys. It was while working as head bartender — back when it was known as Finnegan's Wake — that she developed her appreciation for the distilled spirit. The Tasting Room boasts the largest selection of whiskey in central Louisiana, along with a variety of beer, wine and craft cocktails. For those who've worked up an appetite, food is available from TROLA's kitchen. — Melinda Martinez, Alexandria Town Talk
Read a full review of Tasting Room of Louisiana at thetowntalk.com
Carrie Nation Cocktail Club | Boston, Massachusetts
Details: 11 Beacon St.; 617-227-3100, carrienationcocktailclub.com
Imagine a badass woman in 1900 who was so opposed to anyone drinking alcohol that she would barge into saloons with a hatchet, smashing liquor bottles and bar fixtures. This historic female figure is no longer alive, but her spirit shines on with her name in lights at Carrie Nation Cocktail Club. Nation’s ironic presence is felt throughout the 1920’s vibe venue offering two bars under one roof – a main bar and restaurant in the front and a hidden speakeasy in the back. Its interior decor offers an upscale, Victorian boudoir theme with dim, vintage chandelier lighting with beaded fringe trim and deep red tones on textured wallpaper. Hanging draperies, black leather seating, black-and-white checkered flooring and even an antique shoeshine chair complete the setting. The bourbon maple espresso is one of the most popular cocktails, and pan-seared branzini fillet and lamb shank are two of the many hearty entrees to try. — Joanna Tzouvelis, Wicked Local
Read a full review of Carrie Nation Cocktail Club on wickedlocal.com
Georgies | Asbury Park, New Jersey
Details: 810 Fifth Ave.; 732-988-1220, georgiesbarap.com
Since 1999, Georgies Bar – affectionately known as "the gay Cheers" – has been a safe and welcoming place for members of the LGBTQ+ community. It's an atmosphere that honors the bar's founding as a place where people could just be themselves. This is not a pretty, polished Shore bar but a classic neighborhood dive bar where first-time visitors and regulars feel comfortable. Georgies is well-known for its karaoke and trivia nights and drag shows and brunches, and for its contribution to community groups. When the weather is warm, live music fills the patio, and hungry bar-goers dine on soft pretzels, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches and fries. "It’s a bar for everyone. Everybody takes care of each other," longtime bartender David Hoffman said. "This place is all love from the beginning to the end." — Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
Read a full review of Georgies on app.com
Cowan’s Public | Nutley, New Jersey
Details: 229 Centre St.; 973-542-8151, cowanspublic.com
From the outside, Cowan’s Public is just another brick house in a quiet neighborhood on the edge of Nutley. Inside, though, is a celebration of community and libations. This bar and eatery – with a roaring fireplace, Art Deco bar, custom stained glass, Prohibition relics and expert mixologists – opened in 2015, but the building has been a pub since it was erected months after Prohibition ended in 1933. Elevated pub grub, a local craft beer taplist, events (including dinners and trivia) and an adjoining dining room with classic tin roofs and upholstered walls create an experience both lively and cozy. Cocktails are king. Get the velvety Half Lotus with Japanese whiskey and black sesame; the earthy, mezcal-based Pale Blue Dot; or the vibrant green Sea Foam with pisco, coconut and Chartreuse. Pair those with pub grub such as killer tempura-fried chicken lollipops in hot honey, Swedish meatballs with blueberry jam or simply some of the best deviled eggs around. Cowan’s is not the “speakeasy-style” pub so in vogue nowadays; it is a modern bar with boundary-pushing cocktails and an old soul. — Matt Cortina, NorthJersey.com
Read a full review of Cowan's Public on northjerseay.com
Horsefeathers | Tarrytown, New York
Details: 94 N. Broadway; 914-631-6606, horsefeathersny.com
In business since 1981 – and now owned by the original owner’s niece, Julia McCue – Horsefeathers prides itself on its familiarity. Its history is woven into the community: Menus are filled with details about local attractions and the decor is filled with witty touches, including a large mural depicting famous authors. McCue grew up in town so she knows what the neighborhood wants: A casual, burger-and-beer spot where you can always grab a seat at the bar. Her goal when she bought it seven years ago was to keep it the same, yet enhance it. That means more creative cocktails, often in funky glassware. Try the Cosmo – all cocktails are served tableside and often come with an extra sidecar. Burgers, wings and chicken parm are other popular favorites. You'll love the all-out-decor come the holidays. (This being Sleepy Hollow country, Halloween is the craziest.) Still, the old-time charm remains. — Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Read a full review of Horsefeathers on lohud.com
Marge’s Lakeside Inn | Rochester, New York
Details: 4909 Culver Road; 585-323-1020, margeslakesideinn.com
A city with all-too-brief summers, Rochester has precious few places to head to for a drink in your hand and your toes in the sand. That’s why Marge's Lakeside Inn has been a quintessential part of summertime for the past 65 years. Legend has it that Magin’s, its predecessor, was a speakeasy until it opened legally after Prohibition. Marge Beth opened her eponymous bar in 1960, and it’s been run by family members since then. Now, Francine Beth carries on the legacy in a building with squeaky floors, a vintage jukebox and a swath of beach out back. Marge's isn't about bougie craft cocktails; order a boozy slushy or its own Marge’s Tiki Blonde Ale. There are food carts where you can grab a hot dog, burger or a platter of charcuterie, and you'll find live music most summer nights. Bands play early enough that you can catch the sun setting over Lake Ontario. Clouds, after all, make for glorious sunsets. — Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Read a full review of Marge's Lakeside Inn on democratandchronicle.com
Little Jumbo | Asheville, North Carolina
Details: 241 Broadway St.; 828-417-4783, littlejumbobar.com
Little Jumbo, a craft cocktail bar housed in a former 1920s grocery store, stands out in Asheville's historic Montford and Five Points neighborhoods. Its original structure and accent details, like tin ceiling panels and entryway floor tiles spelling "Jenkins," pay homage to the grocer and the mountain city's history. Since 2017, Little Jumbo has become the quirky home of jazz nights, deejayed dance parties and literary soirees in a cozy space reminiscent of a Victorian parlor. In the winter, it transforms into the "Tropilachia Club" tiki-style pop-up bar. Little Jumbo's bartenders impress with their cocktail- and mocktail-making skills, ingenuity and in-depth training of a custom cocktail database, which stores nearly a thousand signature and classic recipes. — Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen-Times
Read a full review of Little Jumbo at citizen-times.com
The Blind Elephant | Wilmington, North Carolina
Details: 21 N. Front St., Unit F; 910-833-7175, blindelephantspeakeasy.com
Before opening The Blind Elephant in 2013, owner Ashley Tipper decided to make the most of the alleyway entrance among the historic buildings in downtown Wilmington. She worked with local film set designers to create a dark and cozy 1920s-style speakeasy where black-and-white movies are projected onto exposed brick walls. Entry is for members only but available for a nominal fee. Since then, Tipper has been growing the whiskey collection and her series of retro-themed annual events. Each season, the bartenders draw a spirit and spend weeks creating an of-the-moment cocktail around it. The Blind Elephant was also an early adopter of the cocktails on tap trend and offering a selection of imaginative mocktails. — Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews
Read a full review of The Blind Elephant at starnewsonline.com
Ghost Baby | Cincinnati, Ohio
Details: 1314 Republic St.; 513-381-5333, ghost-baby.com
It’s four stories underground. It occupies a 19th-century lagering tunnel. And it’s rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a toddler. Welcome to Ghost Baby, Cincinnati’s very subterranean cocktail bar. Opened in 2019 by former nightclub promoter Josh Heuser, the bar makes imaginative use of the tunnels once used as storage for saloons and breweries before the days of refrigeration. The aesthetic is 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald meets 1980s Bret Easton Ellis. There are disco balls and chandeliers, bistro tables and classic cocktails. The entertainment might be an out-of-town jazz band or the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Since it opened, Ghost Baby has received several accolades from national press. In 2022, Esquire included Ghost Baby on its list of the Best Bars in America, describing it as a “Babylon Berlin-feeling nightclub.” — Keith Pandolfi, The Cincinnati Enquirer
Read a full review of Ghost Baby on cincinnati.com
Threes Above High | Columbus OH
Details: 2203 N. High St.; 614-732-4404, threesabovehigh.com/threes
The off-campus area around Ohio State University has changed dramatically over the past decade. Modern high-rise apartment buildings and national retail and restaurant chains have replaced the old, quirky (and cheap!) local places that were a common thread in the memories of generations of college students at one of the nation’s largest universities. Threes Above High is a survivor, though, along the High Street corridor that runs through Columbus’ University District. When the wrecking ball came in 2017 for its predecessor, an equally divey place called Too’s Spirits Under High, owner Scott Ellsworth opened Threes Above High a few blocks north. And not that anyone’s counting, but he has since opened Fours on High and Fives Up High, too. — Bob Vitale, The Columbus Dispatch
Read a full review of Threes Above Ground on dispatch.com
Good for a Few | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Details: 1705 NW 16th St., Suite B; goodforafew.com
For some bars, a car crashing through your front door the morning before an event that’s been months in the planning might cause people to rethink their plans. But for the team at Good for a Few, a little humor, a lot of positivity and the sheer willpower to keep the plan alive, showed the community what they were really all about. This neighborhood bar, hidden like a speakeasy but “not a speakeasy,” as they warn on their social media, is consistently elevating their game with inventive cocktails. Whether it’s taking unconventional ingredients and turning them into something spectacular, or redefining “last call” for their patrons, Good for a Few delivers something truly unique in OKC’s bar scene. — JaNae Williams, The Oklahoman
Read a full review of Good for a Few at oklahoman.com
Lemon & Olive | Eugene, Oregon
Details: 50 E. 11th Ave.; 541-968-2218, lemonandolivecocktailbar.com
Lemon & Olive, if it were a person, would be a cross between Ernest Hemingway and the family-friendly crowd at the local farmers market: It’s a dark, moody bar with funky, fresh pops of color. There are dark green walls, golden accents and a huge stuffed giraffe head jutting out of the wall. The drinks behind the bar follow suit, with classics that have a farm-to-glass twist, using seasonal produce. The early summer drinks menu is ripe with flavors of rhubarb, lemongrass and fresh pea juice. And it includes both low-proof and non-alcoholic options on top of the main cocktails. The food menu is equally creative: cacio e pepe chicken nuggets, savory Worcestershire-and-garlic popcorn and a variety of caviar are all available to pair with cocktails. — Samantha Pierotti, Eugene Register-Guard
Read a full review of Lemon & Olive on registerguard.com
The Rabbit Hole | West Greenville, South Carolina
Details: 1268 Pendleton St.; 864-214-1797, therabbitholegvl.com
Storybook charm, mythical ambiance and a food and beverage menu shaped by its interior design, The Rabbit Hole is a bar in West Greenville that delights the five senses. Its design is inspired by a fairytale and is furnished with mossy interior walls, an upside-down two-top on the ceiling and award-winning bathrooms, among many other details. The Rabbit Hole has an elevated yet playful and whimsical approach to food and beverage and is complemented by the seasons and moods set inside of this unique bar. It also boasts a whimsical tapas bar, creative design and elevated themes in small plate food and beverages that are crafted to complement its decor. — A.J. Jackson, The Greenville News
Read a full review of The Rabbit Hole on greenvilleonline.com
Saloon No. 10 | Deadwood, South Dakota
Details: 657 Main St.; 800-952-9398, saloon10.com
Wild Bill Hickok leaned forward from his chair while playing poker at Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood. “The old duffer, he broke me on the hand!” said the outlaw legend before he was shot in the back of the head by “Crooked Nose” McCall on Aug. 2, 1876. The chair in which Hickok sat still hangs on the wall of the sawdusty ’ol watering hole on Main Street today. South Dakota’s 150-year-old bar and social club in the rowdy valley of the Black Hills has been owned by the Lew and Marion Keehn family since 1963 and is famous for its award-winning whiskey collection, the Butcher's Block steak special and relics from the Old West that hang above the bar and all the way toward the dance floor in the back. Stick around for one more nip to deal your own hand at poker in the gambling hall – just keep your back to the corner. — Angela George, Argus Leader
Read a review of Saloon 10 on argusleader.com
Brother Wolf | Knoxville, Tennessee
Details: 108 W. Jackson Ave.; 865-247-4729, brotherwolf.com
Brother Wolf brings Italian aperitivo culture to the Old City in downtown Knoxville with low-proof cocktails, from the Il Professore to the Il Dottore, along with a selection of small plates. Not that you can’t also enjoy one of 200+ bottles of wine on the menu, curated by sommelier Aaron Thompson, who owns the bar with his seasoned partner, Jessica “Rabbit” King. Together, Thompson and King have expanded Knoxville’s palate at Brother Wolf while crafting an atmosphere that matches the intricacy of their beverages. Gold accents and marble tabletops complement the alabaster and exposed brick walls of Brother Wolf, which attaches to the partners’ Italian restaurant, Osteria Stella. — Ryan Wilusz, Knox News
Read a full review of Brother Wolf at knoxnews.com
Fat Charlie’s Speakeasy | Memphis, Tennessee
Details: 107 Harbor Town Square; 901-896-5484, fcspeakeasy.com
Tucked away in Memphis' idyllic Harbor Town neighborhood, Fat Charlie's Speakeasy is an intimate cigar bar where everyone can easily learn your name. Bar owners Will and LaTonia Richardson curate revelatory conversations and live musical performances in the cozy bar, where you may run into a neighbor, elected officials or celebrities. The Richardsons opened the bar as a community haven during the height of the COVID pandemic and, five years later, the community continues to grow. In addition to the charming teacups and mugs bartenders use for service, a nod to the Prohibition origins of the American speakeasy, the bar sells hearty snacks and bites of the gourmet variety. It's a laid-back space to escape the fast pace of the world. — Ellen Chamberlain, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Read a full review of Fat Charlie's Speakeasy at commercialappeal.com
Robert’s Western World | Nashville, Tennessee
Details: 416 Broadway #B; 615-244-9552, robertswesternworld.com
Robert’s Western World is an icon among icons. Among the noise on Nashville’s bright, boisterous Broadway, it stands alone. And it does so with a (relatively) quiet reverence for Nashville’s spirit, the one that existed before the crowds. It’s a shotgun shack of a place in a street full of multistory bars named after famed country music makers. At its barrel is a tiny stage where musicians play beneath the visages of long-gone country stars, while the masses whirl and two-step in front of them. Robert’s is neon beer signs and crooked tile. It’s fried bologna sandwiches and ice-cold PBRs. It’s an Old Fashioned and a twang of real country music in the air. If the Ryman Auditorium is the Mother Church of Country Music, Robert’s Western World, just a stone’s throw from its back door, is the Holy Ghost. — Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean
Read a full review of Robert’s Western World at tennessean.com
Agency | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Details: 819 N. Marshall St.; 414-409-5399, welcometo.agency
Agency is a cocktail lounge in the heart of downtown Milwaukee that lives up to its name: Every patron has the agency to choose whether they drink alcohol or not that night, no matter which cocktail on the menu catches their eye. Owner Ryan Castelaz opened Agency with the goal of providing an elevated drinking experience for both drinkers and nondrinkers, and every drink can be made in nonalcoholic and alcoholic form. Patrons can further customize their drinks with the bar’s dealer’s choice cards, which are used to custom-make a drink based on a patron’s preference, including everything from spirit choice and flavor profile to alcohol content. Agency is a 2025 James Beard Award finalist for best new bar. — Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Read a full review of Agency on jsonline.com