Cocktails are becoming more and more sophisticated and elaborate – and so are the places that serve them. Whether you're craving a classic, looking for something innovative, or want to sip on retro drinks in a fun, colorful setting, there are some great cocktail bars across the US. We've selected the best in each state, based on customer reviews, awards, and the overall quality of mixology, ingredients, and atmosphere.
From 'secret' speakeasies to bright and breezy distillery tasting rooms, click or scroll on to find out where you can get a brilliant cocktail in your state.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
A dimly lit, bustling bar in Birmingham's downtown Loft District, The Collins Bar is a relative newcomer to the scene but has already earned a reputation for its impressive bourbon selection, whimsical decor, and custom cocktails. Undecided? Bartenders will mix your perfect drink after asking you a few questions. Check out the funky retro furniture, paper planes on the ceiling, and periodic table of elements menu behind the bar.
Amalga Distillery in downtown Juneau has a lovely, light-filled tasting room that’s open daily and perfect for whiling away the hours. The gin and whiskey distillery has a rotating menu of draft cocktails, such as the gloriously green basil Gimlet. You can also order non-alcoholic cocktails and canned libations like Sea Donkey, a citrusy, spicy spin on a Moscow Mule that’s not too boozy.
Nautical-inspired cocktail bar Undertow takes you on a rum-fuelled voyage on a spice trader’s turn-of-the-century clipper through a tropical storm. No – really. Having a drink here is an immersive experience with wooden-barrel-lined walls, the scent of gunpowder in the air and portholes displaying a moving ocean scene designed to make you think you're passing pirate ships and tropical islands.
For cleverly concocted cocktails and the best bourbon selection in Arkansas, head to Vault, a sophisticated cocktail bar in an old bank vault. The color palette is dark and moody, with textures of concrete, wood, steel, and leather. Sip gems like the Martin Maraschino, which features Four Roses bourbon, lychee and pineapple liqueur, maraschino, and Angostura bitters.
When you want to push the boat out, book a table at Young Blood, an extravagant, all-inclusive cocktail experience that's well worth splashing out on. There’s no menu; instead, bartenders work out what to bring you based on the types of spirits and flavors you usually enjoy. And as the evening goes on, the drinks get heavier, creamier, and sweeter to mimic a three-course meal. The setting is outstanding. Think high ceilings, boldly patterned carpets, and a golden glow that illuminates the room.
Channelling the cocktail bars of the late 19th century, Union Lodge No.1 is a happening spot with wooden furnishings and a lengthy menu of classics like Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac, and a Julep made with whisky. Looking to try something out of the ordinary? The Union Gin Fizz, a riff on the 1888 New Orleans classic, is a light and creamy blend with sloe gin, lemon, sugar, soda, and egg white.
A charming tavern with a decidedly New England feel, Little River Restoratives is many people’s favorite spot for a strong drink in Connecticut. They mix a mean classic here, with timeless libations like the Sidecar, Sazerac, Paloma, Gin Fizz, and Aviation on the menu. Plus, for when you need to something lighter, there are some really well-priced beers.
In 1930, Texas senator Morris Sheppard famously said: “There is as much chance of repealing the 18th amendment as there is for a hummingbird to fly to the planet Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail.” Perfectly evoking the secret watering holes of the time, Hummingbird To Mars is reached via a secret door above Catherine Rooney’s Irish Pub. Sticking to its theme, it has Prohibition-era cocktails, slightly cramped seating, and live jazz music.
Sweet Liberty is an unusual combination of industrial style and tropical island decor. If you stay late enough, there’s even dancing. But that’s not surprising when it’s home to one of South Beach's best happy hours. Sink down Daiquiris, Margaritas, and Piña Coladas at great prices, then soak up the alcohol with Southern-style bar snacks including pickled devilled eggs and baked oysters.
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Inside the iconic Dailey’s building, Red Phone Booth is signposted by a London phone booth, and to gain access you need to get a code from a hotel concierge or someone who's already in. Once inside, prepare to have one of the best nights out of your life. The bar has absinthe drips and perhaps the best Old Fashioned you’ve ever had.
Cool new hangout EP Bar (a reference to an extended play music record) specializes in highball cocktails and vinyl. A favorite is the EP Highball, a citrusy blend of Japanese whisky, lemongrass, yuzu, and soda. But an unexpected standout is the Pauahi St. Highball with gin and lavender.
A relaxing retreat after a busy day, Press & Pony is a tiny speakeasy tucked behind a red curtain and connected to the Boise Fry Company burger restaurant in downtown. Its selection of drinks is really different as many are made from recipes created by the bartenders. For example, the popular Denim Blazer is a flaming whisky and coffee collaboration.
Dark and sultry Moneygun is your spot for classic cocktails and some devastatingly delicious drinks concocted in-house. For example, Pink Squirrel is an almond, chocolate, and cherry cocktail that you can barely believe contains alcohol. The bar is popular with the after-work crowd and has a trendy vibe thanks to the decor and DJs.
Within the boutique Bottleworks Hotel, which was previously owned by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Sundry and Vice has an Art Deco feel to its interiors, great music, and a surprisingly complex cocktail menu. Its Espresso Martini, with a vanilla and chocolate bitters twist, receives many compliments. The prices aren’t bad either.
For casual cocktails in downtown Des Moines, head to the playful Hello, Marjorie. As well as a dark and wintry Boulevardier and a sweet and sour Penicillin, it has some impeccably crafted house-made creations. A favorite is the strong and smoky Editor’s Note, featuring bourbon, apricot liqueur, Demerara sugar, and smoked apple bitters.
Mort’s Martini Bar is the place to go to party. It has a satisfyingly long Martini menu, including dessert Martinis, plus a cigar menu and small appetizers such as chips and salsa. There's live jazz and dancing too. The bar opened in the 1990s and it has barely changed in appearance. Non-smokers needn’t worry, as its patio is well-ventilated.
Light, bright and homely Trouble Bar specializes in whiskey flights, but its cocktail menu is also pretty exciting. Whisked up by 'Troublemakers', as the bartenders are dubbed, drinks like Stargazing – a bourbon, berry, walnut, and citrus bitters cocktail – are served as singles or in pitchers.
The antithesis of a dark and dingy dive bar, Jewel of the South is a beautiful space fit for fine dining. However, instead of food, you’re served some of the best cocktails in the country. Try the signature Brandy Crusta, a refreshing Cognac and lemon libation presented in a sugar-rimmed glass. Fancy nibbles such as caviar and foie gras parfait will help to soak up the booze.
At the small and intimate neighbourhood cocktail bar Cocktail Mary, the vibe is fresh and fun. The menu takes traditional cocktails, such as Negronis and Old Fashioneds, and puts an original spin on them. Many of its libations are available bottled, though they still taste wonderfully vibrant.
Though elegant and rustic Fadensonnen describes itself as a tavern serving beer, wine, and sake, its light and playful cocktails are also memorable. Where else will you find a Sbagliato (a Negroni with bubbles) on the same menu as post-war Japanese cocktails? If you fancy trying one of the latter, make it the Shochu Highball, named for its base of a white spirit made with rice, barley, or sweet potatoes.
Tucked-away Backbar is almost impossible to find, but it’s worth persevering to enjoy its whimsical cocktail themes. These have included countries of the world, Star Wars, famous films, and drinks named after birds. Whatever the inspiration, the drinks are thoughtfully crafted and moreish.
The Sugar House serves nearly every classic cocktail in existence plus seasonal specials – hence its menu is 21 pages long. Don’t bother flicking through it all or you’ll be here all night. Do yourself a favor and order the Pink Lady, a sour made with gin and applejack (brandy distilled from hard cider).
A posh Japanese whisky bar above fine-dining restaurant Sanjusan, Gori Gori Peku makes delicious drinks such as an Old Fashioned with fig. The presentation – for example short drinks poured over enormous engraved ice cubes – and the service elevate this to something truly special. It’s a tiny space, much like actual bars in Japan, and seating is on a first come, first served basis, so get there early.
At not-so-spacious Bar Muse, inside The Lyric Oxford, the excellent cocktail menu designed by co-owner (and James Beard Award nominee) Joseph Stinchcomb changes quicker than the weather. Whimsical, tongue-in-cheek themes have included the TV series Arrested Development, sparking the gin-based 'I’m Afraid I Just Blue Myself' with blueberry-balsamic, lemon, bitters, and egg white.
Situated on the state line, Goat & Rabbit is popular with residents of both the Kansas and Missouri sides of Kansas City. Its name is a reference to political tensions here in the early 20th century. Inside, the bar is chic and spacious and serves dangerously delicious cocktails like the black Manhattan with bittersweet Averna amaro, and a seasonal watermelon Margarita.
Old school, family-run O’Haire Motor Inn, less than a mile (1.6km) from the lush Gibson Park along the Missouri River, is home to a tiki bar of legendary status. Established in the 1960s, Sip ‘n Dip Lounge serves enormous fishbowl cocktails and has mermaids swimming behind glass beyond the bar, in its indoor swimming pool. They just don’t make bars like this anymore.
Hidden behind a secret door in the Hotel Deco, Wicked Rabbit is a speakeasy-style bar requiring a password for entry. Its interiors are dark and plush, as you would expect, and the drinks are next-level extravagant. Order the flaming Saturn if you're in the mood for a show with your cocktail.
The Laundry Room is a repurposed Las Vegas laundromat, though it's far more refined than that suggests. The Rat Pack, Howard Hughes and Liberace have all had their suits, silks, and sequins cleaned here. It’s not cheap, but it's a very intimate setting with room for around 20 plus a pianist – and the signature cocktails are truly magical.
Cute and colorful Industry East bar in downtown Manchester has a menu full of original tequila cocktails like the fizzy, fruity Peach Emoji and the spicy, cucumber-forward C.R.E.A.M.. Feeling indecisive? Just let the bartenders know and they’ll whip up something suited to your individual taste. The charcuterie boards are great too.
Another hidden cocktail bar, The Junto Attic Bar above the Franklin Social tavern has no signage, but it doesn’t really matter because word of mouth is enough. Inside, it’s calm, quiet, and lit by the glow of the amazing stained-glass windows. Seasonal cocktails, like the refreshing and minty Cool For The Summer, are simply stunning. The dealer’s choice is great for indecisive drinkers.
At glamorous Art Deco jazz bar Tonic, knowledgeable owner Winston has some really hard-to-find whiskies and is able to tell you the story behind them if you’re interested. He also whisks up top-notch drinks. The spicy Cactus Coke – a tequila, ginger, lime, and bitters highball – is one of a kind, and classics like the Penicillin are spot-on too.
Seriously cool Chez Zou, with its dramatic, retro interior and expansive outdoor terrace, is the most sophisticated place to be seen drinking in Manhattan West (part of the Hudson Yards redevelopment). The Dirty Zou, made with olive-oil-washed vodka and grape-leaf brine, is the ultimate Martini. The views across the city are pretty spectacular too.
A slice of history, The Cotton Room at Belfast Mill preserves many of the original features from the 1910s, when Brevard Court was a cotton market during the height of Charlotte's textile industry. Its cocktail menu is always changing, and includes classic and modern cocktails such as Palomas, Margaritas, and Moscow Mules made with local spirits. Everything is well-made and satisfyingly strong.
A dark, vintage-feel cocktail bar named after an imaginary collaboration between the father of American Bartending, Jerry Thomas, and Sherlock Holmes’ enemy, Professor Moriarty. At Thomas & Moriarty’s you can get delicious classics like the fizzy and refreshing Fish House Punch, a drink enjoyed by wealthy 18th-century Philadelphians at social club Colony in Schuylkill, as well as charcuterie boards and bruschetta.
Blurring the line light between outside and in with its huge windows, hanging plants, and patio-style furniture, light, bright, and simply wonderful Comfort Station is accessed by pushing the women’s restroom door in an old public bathhouse. Check out fresh and playful options like Natural Mystic, a creamy vodka, rum, sherry, lime, bison grass, and seltzer drink. This really is a special place.
Those looking to upgrade their drinks cabinet will find a visit to Barkeep essential. It’s a chic kitchen supplies store where you’ll find bitters, shakers, and sieves, as well as cocktail classes and a fabulous little bar. The menu changes often, and features drinks such as a hazelnut White Russian and a watermelon Caipirinha. Customers love it for an impromptu cocktail – it’s one of Oklahoma’s best kept secrets.
For an upscale whisky drinking experience, Scotch Lodge, whose interior is reminiscent of an old library or a university common room, has ultra-rare Macallans and creative, whisky-based cocktails. Ever had a Daiquiri made with smoky Scotch, pineapple rum, lime, and coconut-oolong Demerara? Probably not – unless you've been here, of course.
Looking for a big night? Booming jazz and blues bar Con Alma has you covered with its bold cocktail menu, featuring creations like the Carrot Sangrita (a sour, mezcal-based cocktail), Café Cubano (an aromatic take on an Espresso Martini), and Banana Sazerac. It also offers a zingy menu of vegan bites like patatas bravas and Korean-style fried tofu.
Pretty and playful Tiny Bar truly is tiny. There’s no space indoors for seating but the patio outside the colorful jewel-box of a building is delightful. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy a refreshing, lilac-hued Amethyst (a lavender and tequila drink), or a whisky-based Peanut Butter Cup.
Like nowhere else in the area, kitsch, poolside Little Palm at the Ryder Hotel is a scene straight out of LA or Palm Springs. Everything is just delightful. Join the crowds and chill out with one of the fruity, summery cocktails and frozen refreshments. Riptide, with Grand Marnier, Scotch, ginger, honey, blueberry, and lemon, packs quite a punch.
An offbeat bar with a somewhat tropical theme, The Hello Hi is not the place for a plain old highball or Martini glass. Instead, drinks arrive in puffer fish and peacock-shaped vessels with curly straws, floral garnishes, and (in some cases) actual flames flickering above the rim. Customers recommend the Beetle in a Haystack with whisky, pineapple, and cranberry.
Nashville isn’t short of venues for a raucous night out, but the laid-back and dimly lit Patterson House is a favorite for a grown-up drink. It serves a great bacon bourbon Old Fashioned and small bites like baked oysters and devilled eggs. It’s walk-in only and can get quite busy, so try to arrive early.
So much more than a cocktail bar, Diversión Cocktails serves drinks that are edible, interactive, and entertaining. For example, Movie Night, with Madeira, Cognac, citrus bitters, and strawberry, comes with a bucket of popcorn and a tablet playing a movie. It's the perfect spot for something different, or if you want to really impress someone.
This cool bar was once an actual speakeasy. Now it’s a modern, industrial-style venue with live music and great cocktails, though customers love how the building's history is preserved. If you like sweet drinks, check out house specialty Bluebell, with vodka, blueberry basil, and citrus. Another winner is the intriguing Pearly Gates, with gin, bergamot, activated charcoal, and egg white.
If you’re a fan of craft spirits, a trip to the Mad River Distillers tasting room is a no-brainer. Here you can try its whiskey, rum, and brandy in fabulous cocktails such as the punchy Paper Plane (made with bourbon, the Italian bitter Amaro Nonino, red bitter liqueur Luxardo Bitter Rosso, and lemon). You can also stock up on bitters, mixers, and apparel for your home bar. There's a sister venue in Waitsfield.
Connected to the sushi restaurant The Handover in old town, King’s Ransom is a funky Japanese cocktail bar serving really exciting and unusual drinks. There are highballs, Martinis, sours, and Old Fashioneds made with Japanese whisky, gin, shochu ,and sake. You can also order poke bowls, sushi rolls, and ramen.
A drink at stylish Roquette, a chilled bar with palm trees painted on the wall and Latin jazz as the audio backdrop, is just the ticket for days when you need a little boost. Panic Button (gin, grapefruit, lemon, Szechuan pepper, and egg white) is a local favorite and an experience in itself. The bartenders are good at giving recommendations too; if you’re hungry, they might even rustle you up an off-menu snack.
The Jockey Club is a horse racing–themed bar that’s as good for a quiet drink as it is for mingling with strangers. The bar claims its Mojitos, Caipirinhas, and Mint Juleps are the best around. House specialties include the Cucumber Mintini, Jacuzzi (peach schnapps, gin, orange, and champagne), and White Chocolate Martini.
One of the few bars that actually dates back to the 1930s (rather than just reflecting the era in its decor), Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge stands out with its genuine vintage feel. There's also no menu – just a roster of around 450 cocktails that bartenders have printed on their memories. Instead of browsing, you simply have a short discussion with the bartender about what you’re in the mood for. The custom drink they create won’t disappoint.
A calm and quiet wine and Martini bar next to the family-run Poplar Wine and Spirits, Vintage Fine Wine and Martini Bar was opened by brothers Mike and David Reid so that patrons could enjoy more of their spirit collection. Customers love the classic Martini and the oysters, cheese plate, and fruit plate.
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