Top 150 Bars and Cafés in U.S.A, Canada and Mexico
"The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind." - Humphrey Bogart.
"A woman drove me to drink and I didn't even have the decency to thank her." - W. C. Fields.
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway.
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." - Dean Martin.
A BAR (also called a pub, tavern, saloon, or taproom) is an establishment that serves drinks, especially alcoholic beverages such as beer, liquor, and cocktails, for consumption on the premises.
Bars provide stools or chairs for their patrons along tables or raised counters. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go dancers, a floor show or strippers (see strip club). Bars that are part of hotels are sometimes called long bars or hotel lounges.
There have been many names throughout history for establishments where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages. Even when an establishment uses a different mane such as a tavern, the area of the establishment where the bartender serves the alcoholic beverage is normally called "the bar".
There are many types of bars, which can be categorized according to the types of entertainment provided at the bar and by their clientèle.
A COCKTAIL LOUNGE is an upscale bar that is typically located within a hotel, restaurant, or airport.
WINE BARS put a new spin on wine tasting. They seek to remove the association of wine with upscale clientèle and overwhelming wine lists and replace it with a more casual and relaxing atmosphere. Many of these bars are furnished with nooks and booths encased in rich colors and plush surroundings in hopes their guests will linger. Wine bars look to embrace the intellectual stimulation linked to wine and offer an alternative to the bar scene. The laid-back environment lends itself to a good socializing setting with a less crowded feel and more intimate appeal.
A CAFÉ is an informal restaurant offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches. Depending on the jurisdiction, a café may be licensed to serve alcohol. The term can also refer to bistro or a restaurant facility within a hotel.
A Public House, informally known as a PUB, is a drinking establishment which is part of British, Irish, Australian, and New Zealand culture. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller villages no longer have a local pub. In many places, especially in villages, a pub can be the focal point of the community.
A TAVERN is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging.
A tea house or TEA ROOM is a venue centered on drinking tea. Its function varies widely depending on the culture, and some cultures have a variety of distinct tea-centered houses or parlors that all qualify under the English language term "tea house" or "tea room."
- 5 New York Hotel Bars That Melt Away the Winter Blues - The New York Times.
- 6 Ways to Drink Like a Local on Vacation - The New York Times.
- APRÈS-SKI - Wikipedia.
- BAR - Wikipedia.
- CAFÉ - Wikipedia.
- Difford's Guide - since 1997. "For Discerning Drinkers." Aims to inform and inspire discerning drinkers with engaging and impartial information on cocktails, beers, spirits & liqueurs, as well as the best bars around the world to enjoy them.
- Drinking culture - Wikipedia.
- English coffeehouses in the seventeenth & eighteenth centuries - Wikipedia.
- FIND ALL BARS - "World Bar Guide. Guide to the best bars in the World." Reviews from more than 1400 bars around the world.
- HAPPY HOUR - definition & explanation.
- How to Get & Keep a Bartender’s Attention - The New York Times.
- More Than Coffee: New York’s Vanishing Diner Culture - The New York Times.
- neknomination - definition & explanation.
- Nineteenth hole - slang term used in golf, generally referring to a pub, bar, or restaurant on or near the golf course, very often the clubhouse itself.
- PUBLIC HOUSE - Wikipedia.
- Skimpy - definition & explanation.
- Social drinking - definition & explanation.
- Shots, Shots, Shots! Why Tiny Drinks Are on the Rise - "Bartenders are shrinking their pours with variety and festivity in mind."
- TAVERN - Wikipedia.
- TEA ROOM - Wikipedia.
- The 50 greatest bars on earth - Sunday Times.
- THE WORLD'S FINEST CLUBS - since 2003. "Discover the world's best dance clubs, supper clubs, beach clubs and parties. Access The World's Finest Clubs like a VIP with the benefits of our Member Card."
- World’s 44 Best Hotel Bars - "Being named one of Forbes Travel Guide’s Best Hotel Bars wasn’t just a matter of serving top-notch drinks or having a certain atmosphere. The best-of list comes from comprehensive data gathered by the company’s inspectors, who stay at nearly 1,100 hotels anonymously and evaluate them based on up to 900 standards for the guide’s annual Star Ratings, which were unveiled in February."
- world's 50 best bars 2019 - "Discover the 2019 list."
- world's best bar for 2019 revealed - CNN travel.
- WORLD'S BEST BARS - since 2009. "Bars, Cocktail Lounges and Cool Pubs around the World." Reviews of over 2,000 of the world's most prestigious places to drink and be seen in.
Canada
Montreal
- A GOGO LOUNGE
- TOKYO BAR
Mexico
Mexico City
- W HOTEL LOUNGE - "Step into a masquerade at The Living Room, W Mexico City's bar. Enjoy our vibrant atmosphere featuring sharp, contemporary lines, bright colors and natural light."
U. S. A.
- 42 Best Bars in America 2024 - "From glamorous hotel bars in New York to cocktail dens in San Francisco, here are the very best new spots to grab a seat and start a tab."
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Aspen, CO
 - 39 Degrees Lounge - at Sky Hotel. "Hailed as the hippest lounge in town."
- JIMMY'S - "An American Restaurant & Bar.
- LIBRARY LOUNGE - at Hotel Jerome.
- VICTORIA'S ESPRESSO | WINE BAR & GOURMET GRAZING - "We deliver the true aussie style cafe experience in the USA - one that respects its european heritage, not only in our coffee, but also the quality of our food and wine."
Boston, MA
 - Cheers Beacon Hill - founded in 1969 as the Bull & Finch Pub, the bar is known internationally as the exterior of the bar seen in the NBC television sitcom Cheers which ran from 1982 to 1993. The show used the Bull & Finch exterior for the series' establishing shots of the namesake bar Cheers. No interior shots were used, and the interior does not resemble that of the Cheers bar. 84 Beacon St.
- The Whiskey Priest - 150 Northern Ave,
Chicago, IL
 - CAFE SPIAGGIA
- GREEN MILL COCKTAIL LOUNGE - since 1907. (Or Green Mill Jazz Club) is an entertainment venue on Broadway in Uptown, Chicago. It is known for its jazz and poetry performances, along with its connections to Chicago mob history. During the Prohibition era, "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn of Al Capone's Chicago Outfit became a part-owner. Al Capone's favorite booth is still in the establishment located directly west of the short end of the bar. Capone and his men would sit here because it afforded clear views of both the front and back entrances to the establishment.
- Old Town Ale House - since 1958. 219 W. North Avenue. "The best bar in the world that I know about." - Robert Ebert.
- PRIVÉT - nightclub & lounge.
- THE DRAWING ROOM
Key West, FL
 - Sloppy Joe's Bar - 201 Duval Street. "A Key Est Tradition." Founded on December 5, 1933, the bar's most famous patrons were Ernest Hemingway and the infamous rum runner Habana Joe. The bar is the site of the Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest, started in 1981. It is well known as a tourist attraction, with live bands and slushy drinks. On November 1, 2006, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
New Orleans, LA
 - Carousel Piano Bar & Lounge - the only revolving bar in New Orleans, Louisiana. The bar is inside the Hotel Monteleone and overlooks Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Installed in 1949.
- PAT O'BRIENS - "Pat O'Brien's motto since 1933 has been "Have Fun!"
 - The Sazerac - "Any Bar can Make a Drink. Few Make History." At The Roosevelt hotel, 123 Baronne St.
- WHISKY BLUE - 333 Poydras St.
New York City, NY
 - The oldest, most iconic bars in New York City - CNN travel.
- 1 OAK - rated #1 celebrity hotspot.
- 40/40 CLUB - an all-American sports bar and lounge owned by hip hop mogul Jay-Z and partner Juan Perez.
- 230 FIFTH ROOFTOP GARDEN
- ABOVE ALLEN
- APOTHEKE
- AVA LOUNGE - rooftop lounge at the eclectic Dream Hotel.
- AVENUE - gastro-lounge located in Chelsea.
- BAR AND BOOKS
- BAR BLANC
- BAR BOULUD
- BAR MASA
- BAR ROOM - the heart of '21' is its legendary Bar Room. The watering hole of celebrities, captains of industry, world leaders and dignitaries of every order.
- BARCADE
- BEAUTIQUE LOUNGE F
 - Bemelmans Bar - at The Carlyle. "Named in honor of Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the classic Madeline children’s books, Bemelmans Bar is a timeless location that continues to attract socialites, politicians, movie stars and moguls with its extensive drink menu and nightly live entertainment."
- BLUE BAR AT THE ALGONQUIN HOTEL - try the 'Martini on the Rocks': world's most expensive drink at US$10,000.
- Blue Bottle Coffee - cafés: Bay Area & New York City.
- BOWERY ELECTRIC
 - CAFÉ CARLYLE - at The Carlyle hotel, 35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10075. Woody Allen and his jazz band have been playing weekly each Monday at the café since 1996.
- CafÉ Grumpy - independently owned and operated café, bakery, and roastery with four locations in New York City.
- CALVISIUS CAVIAR LOUNGE - at Four Seasons Hotel.
- CHLOE
- CIPRIANI
- COPENHAGEN / AAMANN - "Exclusive cafe with a modern funky yet classic and warm feel. Introducing traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches (smørrebrød) with an elegant contemporary twist."
- COSTELLO'S - once one of the most storied saloons in New York history. Haunt in the 1940s and '50s of New Yorker writers. Was at Third and 44th. It's long gone, torn down in the early '70s to make way for a skyscraper.
- COYOTE UGLY SALOON - 153 First Avenue. "The Most Famous Bar on the Planet."
- CV - located within Hotel on Rivington.
 - Dante NYC - since 1915. 79-81 Macdougal St, New York, NY 10012, U.S.A. "Aperitivo bar celebrating the Italian heritage of a New York institution. Proudly serving New Yorkers since 1915." Dante NYC is a legendary circa-1915 cafe serving small plates & cocktails in an updated historic setting. Number 1, Worlds 50 Best Bars 2019.
- DARK ROOM
- Dorrian's - Dorrian's Red Hand, also known simply as Dorrian's, is a famed Irish-American bar located at 1616 Second Avenue at East 84th Street, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Started by Irish immigrant James "Red Dog" Dorrian in 1960 and operated by his son Jack, the popular hangout became a social pillar for preppy Upper East Side teenagers, college students, and young urban professionals. It is known for its "old time" atmosphere and the chummy and clubby demeanor of its patrons.
- FASHION FORTY LOUNGE - located steps from Times Square in the heart of the Fashion District, Fashion 40 Lounge is an intimate Bar/Lounge/Restaurant with a full service kitchen and a fully stocked bar.
- Ferrara Bakery & Café - "America's First Espresso Bar - Since 1892." 195 Grand Street (between Mulberry Street and Mott Street), New York City, NY 10013, U.S.A.
- FLÛTE BAR
 - Fraunces Tavern - since 1762. Located at 54 Pearl Street at the corner of Broad Street. Tavern, restaurant and museum housed in a conjectural reconstruction of a building that played a prominent role in pre-Revolution and American Revolution history. Claims it is Manhattan's oldest surviving building. The building is a tourist site and a part of the American Whiskey Trail and the New York Freedom Trail.
- Gimme! Coffee - locations in New York City and Upstate New York.
- GOLDBAR
 - Harry's Cafe & Steak - "Originally established in 1972 by its namesake, Harry Poulakakos, the bar at One Hanover Square quickly became a Wall Street institution as well as a favorite haunt for financiers who came to celebrate or commiserate over the state of the market."
- HIGHBAR - "A chic rooftop oasis in the heart of Manhattan’s bustling West Side."
- HUDSON TERRACE
- HURLEY'S - located in the heart of the theatre district, Times Square and steps away from Radio City Music Hall.
- Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee - since 2003. "Voted America's Best Coffee." New York City coffeehouse located in the historic Greenwich Village and South Street Seaport, as well as in Amagansett, NY. Opened by owner Jack Mazzola in 2003 it was the first Organic, Fair Trade, Shade-Grown coffeeshop in the city. The coffee is prepared using the patented Stir Brew method.
- JADE BAR - at Gramercy Park Hotel.
 - KING COLE BAR - upscale cocktail lounge in The St. Regis Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Many mixologists believe the Bloody Mary made its first U.S. appearance in the King Cole Bar. The drink was then called "The Red Snapper," after originally being invented by Fernand Petiot at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, France. Others contend that the iconic drink, now one of the Official Cocktails of the International Bartenders Association, was indeed invented in the King Cole Bar. The lounge has a large mural valued at US$10 mio. by artist Maxfield Parrish hanging behind the bar, from which the venue derives its name. It features "Old King Cole" who was a "merry old soul" calling for his 'fiddlers three' and some other musicians.
- LE SOUK BISTRO / HAREM LOUNGE
- Lion's Head - (1958-1996). The legendary "Writers' Bar" at 59 Christopher Street, West Village.
- M2
- MARQUEE - "The quintessential ultralounge, Marquee possesses the appeal of both an intimate boîte and a high-energy nightspot."
- Maxwell's Plum - (1966-1988). "Flamboyant restaurant and singles bar that, more than any place of its kind, symbolized two social revolutions of the 1960s – sex and food", at 1181 First Avenue (64th and 1st Avenue) in Manhattan. At its peak it served over 1,200 customers a day, including such celebrities as Richard Rodgers, Cary Grant, Bill Blass, Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty, and becoming what The New York Times called " a favorite watering hole for the 'swinging singles' set."
- McSorley's Old Ale House - the oldest "Irish" tavern in New York City established in 1854. Located at 15 East 7th Street in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, it was one of the last of the "Men Only" pubs, only admitting women after legally being forced to do so in 1970.
- Michael’s Pub - 211 W 55th Street, Midtown East (between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave). Though Michael's Pub has featured some of the biggest names in jazz, to most New Yorkers, the name is synonymous with Woody Allen, who has regularly used the Monday night sessions to pick up his clarinet and blow some New Orleans jazz from his Manhattan soul. Closed 1996.
- MICKEY MANTLE'S BAR RESTAURANT
- MILK & HONEY
 - Monkey Bar - bar/restaurant: Manhattan's Hotel ElysÉe boasts one of the hottest and most world renowned restaurants, the Monkey Bar, which has been featured on 'Sex in the City" as well as "Mad Men".
- NUBLU
 - P. J. Clarke's - since 1884. Specialties: hamburgers, pub food. Notable guests over the years include: Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Ernest Borgnine, Nat King Cole, Johnny Depp, Richard Harris, Buddy Holly, Ted Kennedy, Hedy Lamarr, Jake LaMotta, Brooke Shields & Frank Sinatra, among many others.
- PM LOUNGE
- POLAR LOUNGE - arctic-inspired subterranean lounge beneath Hotel Marcel at Gramercy.
- POP BURGER
- QT AT THE STANDARD
- RARE BAR & GRILL
 - ROSE BAR - at Gramercy Park Hotel.
- SIMYONE LOUNGE
 - Smith's Bar - (1954-2014). Was on the corner of 44th and 8th. One of the late John Lennon's hangouts.
- STAR LOUNGE
- SUBMERCER
- TENJUNE
- THE AINSWORTH
- THE ANCHOR
- THE BOATHOUSE LOUNGE - Central Park.
- The Bourgeois Pig
- THE BOX
- THE CAMPBELL APARTMENT
- THE CHAMPAGNE BAR - at The Plaza hotel. "New York's preferred choice for tasting the world's finest champagne, caviar, and wines."
- THE ELDRIDGE - VIP lounge.
- THE EMPIRE POOL DECK
- THE FIVE LEADING NYC LOUNGES
- THE GATES
- THE GRIFFIN - upscale cocktail lounge inspired by the Gilded Age of the late 19th century.
- THE GUTTER - Bowling & Beer.
- THE MONKEY BAR - established 1936.
- THE RAINBOW ROOM
- THE SUBMERCER
- The Winslow Gin House and Eatery - 243 E 14th St. "The Winslow offers the East Village and Gramercy area a fresh take on the traditional public house."
- WHITE STAR
- ZINC BAR
Newport, RI
- Newport Rhode Island Bars - Newport-Discovery-Guide.com.
 - Brick Alley Pub - 140 Thames St.
 - The Black Pearl Waterside Patio & Bar - 10 1/2 W Pelham St., Bannister's Wharf.
 - The Sky Bar - 26 Bannister's Wharf. "The favored spot for an intimate cocktail before dining on the Porch. Hidden away on the top floor, it's small scale attracts those "in the know" as well as those fortunate enough to discover its charm perhaps quite by accident."
 - Yesterday's - 28 Washington Square. "A Newport Tradition Since 1974."
Palm Beach, FL
- Au Bar - 336 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach. Closed, now Palm Beach Grill. (Of Kennedy fame).
- Bliss - 313 Clematis St., West Palm Beach.
 - Blue Martini - 550 S Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach.
 - CafÉ Boulud - at The Brazilian Court, 301 Australian Avenue, Palm Beach.
- CAFÉ L'EUROPE - since 1980. The only champagne / caviar bar in Palm Beach. 331 South County Rd., Palm Beach.
- Canteen - 1 North Clematis Street, West Palm Beach.
- Club 109 - 109 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach.
- Dempsey's CafÉ - 400A Clematis St., West Palm Beach.
 - HMF - at The Breakers, One South County Road, Palm Beach. "Glamour Is Back." A place for social drinking and eating. This thrillingly glamorous retreat is an ode to golden era Palm Beach, with all of its high style and unapologetic decadence.
- Jové Bar - at Four Seasons Resort, 2800 South Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach.
 - Leopard Lounge Bar - "Palm Beach's Hottest Night Spot." At The Chesterfield hotel, 363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach.
- Michael R. McCarty's - 50 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach.
- Monarchy - 221 Clematis St., West Palm Beach.
- STIR BAR & TERRACE - at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, 100 South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach.
- Ta-boÓ - "Palm Beach's Legendary American Bistro & Bar." 221 Worth Avenue, Palm Beach.
- Testa's Bar - since 1921. Palm Beach's oldest restaurant. 221 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach.
San Francisco, CA
- CAVA 22
- FARM TABLE - "The best local coffee, breakfast and lunch in San Francisco."
- TARTINE BAKERY & CAFE - 600 Guerrero Street San Francisco, CA 94110, U.S.A. Rated in the Zagat Survey as Best Bakery and Best Breakfast in San Francisco.
 - Top of the Mark - since 1939. "Soak in spectacular breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline, Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge from our amazing rooftop lounge, Top of the Mark. Located on the 19th floor of InterContinental Mark Hopkins, this San Francisco restaurant with a view provides a 360-degree panorama along with a dance floor, signature martini menu and exciting events schedule that includes live music and performers several nights of the week."
- WISH BAR & LOUNGE
Washington, DC
 - Busboys and Poets - since 2005. "Tribal Statement: Busboys and Poets is a community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted...a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul...a space for art, culture and politics to intentionally collide...we believe that by creating such a space we can inspire social change and begin to transform our community and the world."
- KABIN LOUNGE F 1337 Connecticut Avenue NW, 2nd floor.
 - Old Ebbitt Grill - since 1856. 675 15th Street NW. It is Washington's oldest bar and restaurant. Since 1970, Old Ebbitt grill has become the site of political scandals and parties hosted by famous actors and singers. For many years, it has been the restaurant with one of the highest amount of sales in the United States.
- POV - "W Washington’s DC iconic rooftop lounge." 515 15th Street NW, F St. Between 14th and 15th Street.
West Palm Beach, FL
- Bliss - 313 Clematis St., West Palm Beach.
- Blue Martini - 550 S Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach.
- Canteen - 1 North Clematis Street, West Palm Beach.
- Club 109 - 109 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach.
- Dempsey's CafÉ - 400A Clematis St., West Palm Beach.
- Monarchy - 221 Clematis St., West Palm Beach.
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