The Resy Guide to Cocktails Across the Country: 40 Places to Drink Right Now

Oriole’s Noah Sandoval and Larry Feldmeier of are two of many chefs turning their focus from fine dining to bar food, and Chicagoans are benefitting. The team’s new spot does it all, with a progressive five-course tasting menu served in the dining room, while a bar-exclusive menu offers à la carte options like a mortadella sandwich (the “Ham Sandoval”) and a squash blossom quesadilla. Cocktails from director Maxx Kleiner round out the experience with similar nostalgia, tweaking classics with fresh flavors: the house Old Fashioned carries oolong, coconut, and black cardamom, and there’s a daiquiri with calvados and green olive. And in true bar fashion, All Well has rare-for-Chicago late-night hours (open until midnight!) so guests can truly savor the experience, and industry peers have a post-shift go-to.

Read more about All Well here.

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Pigeonhole opened in February and brings a more personal approach to Honolulu’s bar scene, providing contrast to its many hotel lounges and tropically-themed dives. It tells the story of owners Harry Chin and Theresa Kim, who met working at the local James Beard-awarded Fête. They maintain Fête’s fresh ingredient-first philosophy, wielding everything from passionfruit and honeydew to charred tortilla nectar and lychee-wasabi shrub in a menu of playful takes on modern classics. It celebrates local flavors and traditions without feeling contrived; hence, it’s full of laid-back vibes and youthful creativity that could only come from a pair of local industry vets.  

If you’re seeking a remarkable drink and some Italian American culinary nostalgia in Philly taken to the next level, it’s hard to miss the offerings of Joey Baldino. Known for his quality remix of red sauce classics at Palizzi Social Club, he’s now taken over this 90-year-old South Philly institution to revive it with a seafood-forward menu and his inimitable style of cocktails. It aims to bridge generations by balancing familiarity and creativity — the house martini is made Vesper-style and dirty with pepperoncini brine, and Galliano makes an appearance, but it’s served as a spritz with elderflower, grapefruit, and prosecco. In contrast to Palizzi, you don’t need to be a member to get in the door — vibes are “come one, come all,” and you’re sure to be surrounded by a lively mix of locals.

The backbar here makes an obvious case for drinking one of the many whiskey selections neat or on the rocks, but the cocktail list is where owner Tommy Klus’ keen palate really shines. It’s a thorough list ranging from fresh and fruit forward combinations, like the Sweet Darlin’ with banana, Thai tea, and pandan sweet cream, to richer and more complex like the Loch Stock with chile liqueur, lapsang souchong sweet vermouth, and mole bitters. It’s easy to lose yourself among the bottles — especially with offerings like a vintage boulevardier with I.W. Harper bourbon, 1960’s Campari, and vintage Torino vermouth — but there’s also a food menu that deserves equal attention, stacked with bites from fried brie, to pickle-spiced fries and pappardelle with candied duck.

Since 2017, this Mission District bar has been listed among the world’s best, and to no surprise — it comes from chef David Barzelay and bartender Nicolas Torres, the dream team behind the two Michelin-starred Lazy Bear. They maintain their hyper-focus on local ingredients, but tailor their approach to a more casual space. The cocktail menu reads like a botanical index, inspired by a walk through the Bay Area hills: The Laurel Martini involves a California Bay tincture, a paloma riff includes California guava and anise hyssop, and there’s house brewed green rooibos and marshmallow root kombucha. The complexities are discreet, though — cocktails are highly clarified and brightly hued — and Barzelay’s selection of seasonal small plates are fried, salty, and saucy and are basically impossible to say no to.  

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Semiprecious is staunchly a neighborhood bar, with a straightforward space on an otherwise quiet stretch of North Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood. But it’s also a draw for cocktail fanatics and destination drinkers almost as much as it is for locals. It’s the first foray outside of Los Angeles for acclaimed bar director Mike Capoferri, and guests can expect the same level of cocktail magic he developed at L.A.’s Thunderbolt. Drinks are complex, often clarified concoctions with flavors that range from pickled strawberry to radish gin and olive oil, but thanks to some serious work behind-the-scenes, the complexity stays in the glass — the only decision is whether you’re going carbonated, sour, or spirited.  

Since 2022, Los Feliz’s Mírate has accrued an impressive list of accolades for both its creative fare and its in-depth beverage program that sources ingredients exclusively from Mexico. Daisy carries on the same philosophy, but this time, the team is zeroing in on the iconic margarita, specifically inspired by the cantinas of northern Mexico. And they weren’t kidding — there’s no less than 12 variations of the citrusy drink, from a classic Cadillac to the Baja Slaw with purple cabbage and pulque vinegar. Whether in classic or creative offerings, it’s a delicious celebration of Mexican-American culture. And for the rum-heads, the newly opened Gilbert Perez Bar marks the team’s expansion with a focus on a new spirit with the same expert hospitality. 

Read more about Daisy here. 

This neighborhood spot has been livening the Federal Hill area for nearly 10 years, and has continuously updated itself to remain an exemplary source of both entertainment and sustenance. A Beard nominee in 2024 for outstanding bar, Courtland Club is as much of a cocktail destination as it is a hub for live jazz music. It channels local supper club traditions with cocktails centered around housemade cordials, amaro, and dark spirits, tailored to complement Greek fare from the in-house Paula’s. Even with the heightened attention, it’s still an any-occasion space with food and drink as strong as its dedicated community.

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Following his award-winning Middle Eastern restaurant, Albi, chef Michael Rafidi brought La’Shukran to Union Market — a vibrant and boisterous celebration of Levantine drinking traditions. As such, the bar centers on arak — the anise-flavored distillate that’s been a popular pairing for Middle Eastern dinners for centuries, most commonly enjoyed simply with water and ice. The menu invites guests along for the ride with no less than 16 arak options from Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and the U.S., and bar maestro Radovan Jankovic curates a list of cocktails infused with imported ingredient like red shatta (pepper), cardamom, and ghee. It’s all a perfect complement to Rafidi’s smoky escargots with arak butter, spiced beef heart shawarma, or fried quail with Ramallah chile oil and tahini ranch.

Read more about La’ Shukran here. 

When the sun sets on the bright and cheery Xaman Café, it’s back room opens to reveal Ayahuasca Cantina, celebrating culinary traditions from ancient Mexico with a fine dining approach. The cocktail menu takes guests through historical eras from “Prehispanico”, featuring fermented options like tepache and pulque, to a “Revolucion” section incorporating smoky and bitter flavors, and “Era Moderna” with innovative drinks like the Nepantla with sake, charanda, horchata, and whey. And aside from the cocktails, the back bar is a thorough collection of Mexican ingredients from spirits to wine, making for a transportive experience through and through.  

We’ve got martini riffs galore these days — some that contain neither gin nor vodka, versions served straight from the freezer, and elaborate carts that roam dining rooms to serve tableside. And now, thanks to the team behind Causwells, San Francisco’s Marina District has a room dedicated entirely to the classic drink. The Martini Room goes-all in with a list of exclusively v-shaped drinks in three categories: dry, bright and juicy, and savory. There’s familiar favorites — a Vesper, an espresso martini, and one “filthy” with olive brine — and some that take liberties, like a clarified Cosmopolitan, and a lychee martini topped with foam. Perhaps the best part? It’s only open Tuesday through Thursday, making a case for regular mid-week cocktails.

While Bar 109 opened as a precursor to chef Brian Baik’s luxe tasting menu restaurant Corridor 109, it stands on its own as a destination worth traveling for. It matches Baik’s culinary philosophy with ingredients and heavy inspiration from Japan, spun into precise cocktails by bartender Kayla Garcia, who brings expertise from previous stints at Night on Earth and Chicago’s Kumiko. Similar to the dimly lit space, the drink list is minimal and well-edited: eight cocktails, including two non-alcoholic options, hit classic categories with complex flavors. There’s a Sichuan pepper-laced old fashioned, an oolong-infused boulevardier, and a spirit-free swizzle with coconut and chrysanthemum. All the while, Baik is in the back room serving elaborate multi-course meals, but also — fried fish sandwiches and wagyu beef hot dogs for the bar.

Walk-ins only.

Erik Hakkinen’s Frenchified Belltown cocktail bar has only improved since its 2019 inauguration, proven by recent industry acclaim — including a 2025 Beard nomination — and cocktails that continue to be some of the best in the country. The straightforward menu covers a smart balance of simple classic riffs and more experimental flavors, with Hakkinen drawing from his time at Zig Zag Cafe and folding in an added focus on Gallic ingredients and drinking traditions. The range is broad, spanning both a non-alcoholic Suze and tonic and the Tokyo Vice with Japanese whisky, eau de vie, chartreuse, and bergamot. Seven years in, it’s become both a reliable everyday spot for the local community and an innovative cocktail haven that regularly hosts some of the industry’s top talent.  

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A self-proclaimed “love letter to the immigrant experience,” this small (22 seats) yet mighty bar celebrates the heritage of chefs Erik Bruner-Yang and Paola Velez and bartenders Pedro Tobar and Danny Gonzalez. The whole experience is a journey through Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors — from café de olla with Salvadorian rum, or salty and sweet pandan-coconut cocktails à la Taipei, to a house Michelada with chile paste, worm salt, and optional alcohol. Bites are an equally jubilant celebration of cultures (see: baked Alaska kakigori), and it’s all more than worthy of making some new dining and drinking traditions. 

The recent boom of apertivo bars and menus of “neo-Neopolitan” pizza has hit a new peak at this Downtown hot spot. Owner Valentino Longo, who hails from Rome, tells his story through a succinct menu of classic-ish cocktails — all tailored to meet the Miami energy at any hour of the night. That includes the signature Affogato Martini, an instant hit made of toasted coconut-infused vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso, with a generous scoop of pistachio gelato. And they’ve proven they can pretty much do anything right, with a weekly burger night that already has a cult following. Call it neo-Italian-Miamian.

Read more about ViceVersa here. 

Opening a bar on Pilsen’s Halsted street last summer was a full-circle moment for bartender Emidio Oceguera. Having grown up on that very street, and raised in his mother’s neighborhood taqueria, Oceguera is continuing his family’s Mexican American story with Cerdito Muerto. He pulled from his time spent bartending across Chicago to construct a menu that balances a modern approach with homey touches: Guests can order Mama Coco’s al pastor tacos, or Al’s tinga tostada, and to drink, there’s housemade “Squirt” on draft and served in Guillermo’s paloma, plus creative spins like the Pilsen Old Fashioned with tamarind, or the Espresso Martinez with banana-coconut cordial.

Read more about Cerdito Muerto here. 

Most bars do their best work at night, but at La Jefa, there’s exciting and original cocktails at pretty much every hour of the day. And it should be no surprise — owner Dan Suro is carrying on the legacy of his family, who founded the local favorite, Tequilas Restaurant, in 1986. He’s taken over the back of the space and transformed it into a cafe-by-day and cocktail bar-by-night, with menus that spotlight Mexican flavors: It celebrates Guadalajaran coffee traditions in the morning, alongside house fermented sodas, fresh green apple and grapefruit Garibaldis, bloody Marias, and “breakfast” old fashioneds. At night, the flavors are featured in more bold ways, building on a well-curated selection of agave spirits with fresh ingredients like squash, masa, and chamoy. 

Ten years in, The Loyalist is a heavily relied-upon West Loop fixture that refuses to be overshadowed by its sister and upstairs neighbor, three-Michelin-starred Smyth. Backed by the same team, it has accrued a serious following, particularly for its beloved cheeseburger, but also for a drink list that spins a highly technical approach with a bit of whimsy. Beverage director Chris Martin lets down his beard (so to speak), in drinks like the frozen dill pickle lemonade, a rye cocktail with root beer reduction and vanilla bean foam, and options garnished with Jello shots or accompanied by scoops of ice cream. With both ingredients and expertise coming from upstairs, The Loyalist punches well above its weight.

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You can’t fake charm like this: Weathered French Quarter digs with an airy patio, and refreshing tropical cocktails with bites to match. Local bar legend Kirk Estopinal pairs classics and rum-focused riffs to chef Alfredo Nogueira’s Cuban-meets-Cajun fare. Crab croquetas, grilled octopus, and Gulf shrimp criolla are ideal alongside daiquiris and shareable mai tais — the atmosphere is just the icing on the cake.   

It’s like a clubhouse for cocktails, from its storied 10-year history to the eclectic space itself, most often filled with a lively group of regulars and neighbors. There’s even a giant Ticonderoga pencil in the corner that apparently just showed up one day. The drinks evoke similar nostalgia, forgoing fussy frills to focus on carefully edited recipes that balance authority and approachability — the signature Ticonderoga Cup combines aged rum and French brandy with sherry, pineapple, and mint, and there’s a reserve version if you’re feeling fancy. The tavern-style food menu is also an adventure, with dishes from crispy sweetbreads to paella and a lamb burger, and it’s far beyond typical bar fare. 

Having introduced Boston to his elaborate tasting menu-style cocktail experiences at Farmacia, bartender Phillip Rolfe has expanded his reach. Extra Dirty takes a similar approach as its sister, with a slightly secretive space — this one tucked inside Italian restaurant The Red Fox — that centers around coursed cocktail and food pairings with seasonal themes like the current, “From Harvest to Hearth: A New England Story.” For 20 seats per service, bartenders maneuver through a choregraphed sequence of cocktails like the Pumpkin Pie with spiced pumpkin and pepita orgeat, tailored to dishes from Red Fox’s kitchen for an intimate and adventurous experience.

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This Jewish lehrhaus, or “house of learning,” is a vibrant celebration of culture through and through, from its kosher tavern-style menu to frequent community programming and, a compellingly creative list of cocktails woven with global Jewish flavors. Drinks at Lehrhaus gracefully balance familiarity with unexpected pops of fresh flavors: Find s’chug and sumac in a spicy (or “harif”) margarita, challah-infused bourbon makes for a savory New York sour, and ghee, fenugreek, and Brovo amaro come together in a rich old fashioned. And for drinkers looking for non-alcoholic options, Lehrhaus has gone above and beyond with a selection of drinks featuring their housemade NA spirit.

This new all-day spot is full of surprises. Building on the popularity of sister spots Met Him at a Bar and The Night We Met, Met Her at a Bar is many things at once: Breakfast service starts at 8 a.m. with serious coffees and mimosa flights, lunchtime is lively with locals, and later in the day, the lights dim and the bar brims with cocktails and Italian-ish eats. And the space doesn’t speak all-day cafe, instead offering a sprawling dining room, chic patio, and generous bar that sparkles when the sun’s out and glows at night. The cocktail menu is built to work for any time of day, carrying a heavy dose of fresh seasonal flavors like watermelon or cucumber, and a workhorse espresso martini that provides a powerful through-line. 

For over a decade, the Golden Tiki has held down the fort as Las Vegas’ favorite tropical escape. It goes all-in on the pirate-inspired theme with an immersive space filled with everything from skeletons to a wall of animatronic shrunken heads, with dim lighting that’s only a little disorienting. The cocktail menu features the expected amount of rum and fruit juices, plus private barrel spirits, shots topped with Dole soft serve, and the option to add fire to any drink for an extra $1 — a steal, in our book. Situated just off-Strip, there are few better places in the city to experience the full spectrum of Vegas action. Did we mention it’s open 24 hours a day? 

Bar-going in NOLA often involves historical spaces and locally invented cocktails (in other words, Sazeracs or bust), but this is where you go to experience contemporary Big Easy cocktailing at its finest. Since 2009, Cure has been a sparkling spot in the residential Freret neighborhood — welcomingly off the beaten riverside paths. It feels like the best kind of neighborhood bar, but with cocktails worthy of grander attention — proven by their 2018 Beard award. The menu is generous, with riffs that lean into fresh flavors and pantry additions: A caipirinha with bitter orange and cardamom; an old fashioned with yuzu, gentian, and sarsaparilla; and here, the Sazerac-inspired Dutch Angle carries flavors of mango and ylang-ylang. 

This one’s for an unsung hero: This Fox Point bar takes inspiration from the colorful, frilly fringed toothpicks most often seen piercing those teetering club sandwiches. It’s a celebration of nostalgia in both food and beverage, with chef Robert Andreozzi and bartender Jesse Hedberg (both of the locally beloved Pizza Marvin) leading the charge. While there is a stellar club sandwich on offer, the cocktails take center stage here. Hedberg leans into his well-edited style for a menu of drinks that take a party in the front, business in the back approach: He relies on a tech-forward cocktail lab in the back of the space to infuse, clarify, and carbonate cocktails like the High Horse with apple, “hydro-horseradish,” and “strange-flavored” vodka, or the Clarisa with mezcal, beet, raspberry, and goat milk. Up front, it all makes sense in the dark, neon-lit space. 

For nearly a decade, Felix Cocktails et Cuisine has been a King Street go-to for French-ish brunch and dinner, plus a highly coveted espresso martini. La Cave, its younger next-door sister, is where the team narrows the focus, taking inspiration from the French countryside for an intimate lounge-style experience. Beverage director Hailey Knight encourages leisurely sipping with a selection of cocktails that complement French flavors with local ingredients: of course, there’s an espresso martini, but also the La Cave Martini, slightly sweet with pamplemousse liqueur, or Le Soleil Rounge with Tequila, beet juice, ginger, and celery bitters. It’s a fittingly-named space that feels like a European escape, and you’ll want to settle in for a while.