15 Best New US Bars To Visit In 2023
Three years after the pandemic, the bar industry is back in full swing. Innovative new lounges are opening all over the United States. However, these are not your old, boring drinking holes. Bar patrons are tired of the same old places and spaces. And while it was difficult enough for these establishments to open in the first place, a new generation of imbibers wants something more creative.
The best new bars across the U.S. are shaking things up. These creative endeavors make a night out fun and interesting, featuring uncommon cocktails, unique themes, and eclectic decor.
The real stars of the show are, of course, those cocktails! Launched by experienced owners and mixologists, these new bars offer exceptional, one-of-a-kind drinks and unique atmospheres.
Ideal for group evenings, date nights, or after-work gatherings, the hottest new bars offer something for everyone. Here are the best bars in the U.S. in 2023.
Dad's: Atlanta
Do you like dad jokes and board games? Do you like to kick back with a good drink and fried food? Then Dad's may be the place for you. "I love nostalgia," says owner Randy Pechin. "It's that warm hug you get from something with an emotional response."
Decorated with film posters from the '70s to '90s, Dad's serves up its nostalgia with just a bit of kitsch. One wall sports a wood-paneled built-in loaded with classic board games and tchotchkes that would make the dad from "That '70s Show" proud and the old plaid sofa will have you remembering your childhood. Dad's also features a vintage jukebox loaded with selections from that era and an old-fashioned projector playing classic movies.
The drink menu features a unique spin on classic cocktails, like a Gin Highball with Pamplemousse, a citrus fruit, or the Seasonal Mule, which comes with biscotti. Eater Atlanta reports they keep nitro espresso martini on draft if you need an extra kick.
As for food, don't look for healthy items on the Comfort Food menu. Instead, you can fill up on Dad-friendly classics, like Meatloaf Sandwiches or Fried Bologna Sandwich. You can visit Dad's in your comfy clothes, but try not to show up in socks and sandals!
Code Red: D.C.
If you'd like to go back further in history, Code Red invites patrons to enjoy a night at a bygone era speakeasy. Replete with a steel-grated locked door, this intimate bar is decorated right out of the Roaring '20s.
Their website boasts about their New Prohibited Imbibing Experience that lets patrons feel like they have stepped back in time 100 years. Local Today recommends trying their Old Fashioned for four. The drinks are delivered in a Cartier crystal pail and set on fire before being served.
Code Red also shines a spotlight on Hemingway, with a cocktail named for him and a dedicated area decorated with his quotes, a vintage typewriter, and other reminders of the legendary writer.
Offering a night on the town like no other, Code Red has a small but decadent menu, featuring the mouth-watering Charred Madagascarn Prawns or the Smoked Bone Marrow platter. With its intimate yet upscale vibe, Code Red is the perfect choice for a night out with your closest band of troublemakers!
Farmacia: Boston
With only nine seats, Farmacia in Boston's historic North Square district provides a private and unique night out. The name comes from one of the space's former incarnations as a bootleg apothecary.
Farmacia's bar director Phillip Rolfe crafts a one-of-a-kind experience for his patrons. He does everything, from menu creation and food sourcing to drink crafting and serving. He even oversaw the bar's design.
Farmacia runs about $50 to $70 for a 60- to 75-minute experience of three or more cocktails. You can count on exceptionally crafted cocktails as Rolfe makes his own mixer components, like juice, infusions, and simple syrups. There is no formal menu to distract you from savoring the memory of your drinks, only bar snacks.
Rolfe rotates a small drink menu based on the season, but don't worry about the taste. Rolfe states, "Each visit includes an initial consultation regarding your preferences." If you are fussy about your cocktails or have very discriminating tastes, a night at Farmacia promises to be an incredible experience you won't soon forget.
Roots Wine Bar: Houston
There's nothing better than a great bottle of wine, but most people hesitate to send a bottle back even if it is not up to standards. Wine novices tend to stick to what they know rather than risk trying something new.
Roots Wine Bar solves that problem by allowing patrons to sample wine selections before they order a bottle. This bar is home to several credit card-activated machines that help you to choose a sample-sized serving (1 to 5 ounces) from a selection of 50 wines.
If you're seeking a great bar in Houston, Roots stands out from its competitors thanks to its culture of sustainability and inclusivity. In addition to offering eco-friendly wines, they feature wine from vineyards owned by women and support brands that work with their favorite causes. As a way to support their community, Roots features a rotating menu from local suppliers. Creative items include Patata Bravas, crispy potatoes with manchego fondue and chorizo, and Mushroom Toast, with whipped ricotta and pickled kabocha squash.
With a welcoming indoor space that can accommodate events — along with an inviting outdoor space — Roots is the perfect bar for a warm-weather outing or a ladies night out event.
Heartwood: San Francisco
San Francisco's bars were hit hard by the pandemic. The nightlife is still not what it used to be, but Heartwood Bar in the Financial District wants to change that. Managing partner Tristen Philippart de Foy is part of the city's Public Realm Action Plan, which aims to transform the district into a cultural center. "Building these hot spots of culture around downtown is going to be a critical part of recovery."
Located by Transamerica Redwood Park, Heartwood is a nature lover's delight, and perfect stop after a day of admiring those majestic trees. Decorated in bold browns and reds, the design and renovation of this building preserved most of the original brick walls and wood floors, lending it a cozy and earthy ambiance. Even the bar top is made of silver oak.
Cocktails are also themed to match, with names like Leaf Water, Against the Grain, and Apple Propaganda. Because of the location, Heartwood also features a weekday lunch menu rather than dinner and offers small plates and bar fare through most of the night.
Jelas: New York City
When you think of cocktails, you normally don't think of milk as a key ingredient. Jelas wants to change that, with its creative menu that consists solely of clarified cocktails. Using a process called milk washing, these drinks are crafted by first blending milk and alcohol, then processing using a cheesecloth or centrifuge to remove the cloudiness. This results in a clear drink that you'd never know was created with milk.
According to co-founder and head bartender Colin Stevens, the process of milk washing originated in Great Britain but was mastered and refined more recently in Singapore. Stevens launched this enterprise for "the exciting, dynamic Southeast Asian flavors that are emerging from award-winning distilleries in the region."
The menu includes a Clarified Pinot Noir, the Whiskey Cloud featuring lemon and pinot noir foam, and Vietnamese Coffee made with vodka. Keeping in line with clear items, the menu features items like Glass Noodles in Chili Oil and Har Gow Crystal Dumplings.
The decor in this intimate space is bold and sensuous, the ceiling dripping with crystal chandeliers. Red walls and brass fixtures complete the look, with cocktails served up in crystal glasses, creating a luxurious atmosphere in this intimate, gorgeous space.
The Admiral Benbow Room: West Seattle
The Admiral Benbow Room in West Seattle lets you indulge your pirate fantasies while you imbibe a pint. The dining area is designed to emulate the inside of a 16th-century galleon. First opened in the '50s, this bar was frequented by eclectic figures like actress Frances Farmer and activist Charlie Chong. The site has been through numerous owners, with its last incarnation as an arcade, but now Mark Fuller has relaunched the Benbow Room embracing its roots as a pirate-themed bar.
This new Benbow Room still features a few arcade games, but the entertainment includes weekend DJs and Wednesday night karaoke. If you need to fortify yourself, check out the hot dog menu featuring the Sea Dog, which is loaded with cream cheese and jalapeños. The real stars, though, are the cocktails. The Pi Yi Cocktail and the Pearl Diver each feature two types of rum combined with syrups and juices. But for a good time, choose one of their cocktail slushies, like, Grape Nehi. Of course, the bar offers a full line of beer, wine, and spirits.
Secret Seattle reported that service industry professionals get a discount, but check first before showing up with your hearties or you might be accused of hornswoggling the owners!
Let's Go! Disco & Cocktail Club: Los Angeles
If you love to dance but don't like nightclubs, Let's Go! is the place to be. More of a cocktail bar than a disco, this club's intimate dance floor opens up at 8 p.m.
Owners Jose L. Cordon, Lee Zaremba, and Patrick Costa hail from the bar and restaurant industry, running the successful De La Nonna pizza restaurant. They took a different direction for Let's Go! by creating the ambiance of an Italian nightclub circa the '70s. Cordon says, "If you had dinner in this little (Italian) town, you'd probably walk down the street and run into a discoteca in a space that's a dancier cocktail club."
With crimson-colored décor throughout, glass block walls, and a disco ball suspended over the dance floor, the European disco effect is complete. Drinks are also inspired by Italian cocktail favorites, such as Aperol and Negroni. The next time you want a cocktail in Los Angeles, bring your dancing shoes for a great night at Let's Go!
Triumphs Espresso & Whiskey: Dallas
A new bar recently opened in Dallas' Design District, but is it a coffee bar or a drinking bar? The answer is both. Owner Mike Mettendorf specializes in coffee bars, but Triumphs Espresso & Whiskey is not his first foray into cocktails. In 2019, he and his partners opened La Reunion, which serves coffee, wine, cocktails, and a diverse menu.
Triumphs, however, is a full coffee bar during the day that serves whiskey and cocktails at night. Mettendorf's expertise ensures patrons get a world-class cup of Joe from local and guest roasters that coffee lovers can top off with handmade syrups. They also serve tea and matcha selections.
The evening cocktail menu features seasonal cocktails, whiskey classics, traditional drinks, and an extensive spirits list. Triumphs also offers a lunch and dinner menu. This little spot has already earned recognition as one of the hottest nine cocktail bars in Dallas. When visiting, wake up to a latte from Triumphs and come back for dinner and drinks.
Bar Kaiju: Miami
If you haven't seen "Pacific Rim," you might not know what a kaiju is. Then again, you might not want to go to a bar themed around these giant monsters famous for destroying cities. But owner Derek Stilmann claims this is not just about sci-fi creatures. "We often create these monsters to symbolize indescribable moments, lessons, cultures, terrors, and dreams ... We want to celebrate that collective creativity that's been built over time."
Bar Kaiju does that in high style. Tucked away like a speakeasy, the red lighting and monster posters will make you believe you're on the set of "Godzilla." A comic-styled drink menu features cocktails that are crafted and inspired by kaiju. These are not your everyday booze-and-soda drinks. For example, their take on the traditional Cuba Libre (rum and coke) is called the Chupacabra, which contains soda made from homemade snake bark tea, sugar, and spices.
Afraid of monsters? There's nothing to fear at Bar Kaiju except the drinks going down too quickly!
Francis: Minneapolis
It's shocking that (in 2023) even when bars offer vegan menus, many cocktails have non-vegan ingredients or processing agents.
But if you're visiting the Twin Cities, you're in luck. The bar Francis features food and cocktails that are completely vegan. According to co-owner Lindsey Johnston, "A lot of people don't realize that some of the coloring, sweeteners, or fining agents in their alcohol aren't vegan."
At Francis, the owners have done the difficult work of weeding out the culprits, including dyes made from bugs, egg-or casein-filtered alcohol, or processing that relies on chitosan, honey, lactose, and gelatin. And yet, they still offer a full range of cocktails, beer, wine, spirits, and even non-alcoholic drinks.
Johnston and the other owners consulted with experts to seek out animal-friendly spirit and mixer options that taste good. For example, they use methylcellulose to create white foam for cocktails, which has a more appealing smell and flavor than traditional aquafaba.
Francis has a vegan menu, but don't expect boring salads. Mouthwatering burger options include a Juicy Lucy and the Baconator. For comfort food, try the Spicy Fried Brussel Sprouts. Go ahead and indulge! You're still eating your vegetables, right?
Rice Vice: Nashville -- Koji Club: Boston
Sake bars are few and far between in the United States. That makes Rice Vice and Koji Bar notable for being the first ones to open in two major cities.
In Nashville, Rice Vice is one of the few sake breweries in the country. Byron Stithem's prior brewing experience includes a beer, Koji Gold, available at many stores. After his first sake bar, Proper Sake, closed due to the pandemic, Stithem threw himself into creating his dream bar, Rice Vice. He calls it "an ode to all my favorite spots."
The bar features Stithem's fermented sake, made onsite, alongside a menu of other sake options and cocktails. Esquire Magazine named Rice Vice one of the best bars in America in 2023 so you're sure to enjoy a exceptional night.
On the East Coast, Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale (who holds an Advanced Sake Professional certificate) was also impacted by the pandemic. When Boston locked down in 2020, she started a virtual sake subscription service. Her recently launched sake bar, Koji Club, doesn't replace that service but brings it to life. DiPasquale created it to be a place where patrons learn about the varieties of sake, so they can order on their own when they're out and about.
So far, it's been a hit! Koji Club has already earned recognition in 2023 as one of the best new restaurants in the world by Condé Nast Traveler and a best new bar in America by Esquire.
Quartz Bar and The Cave: Phoenix
A cocktail bar inside a cocktail bar? That is exactly what you will experience in our last two entries. First up is Quartz Bar. Both the name and the decor were inspired by co-owner Chuckie Duff's childhood, which he spent looking for rocks and polishing gemstones in the desert.
The geological theme continues with the cocktail menu, where drinks are named for birthstones. The ingredients are just as colorful. For example, the Anahata Emerald contains Irish whiskey, apple brandy, green ghee, and fenugreek to name just a few of the ingredients.
In the back of this bar, you'll find The Cave. This reservation-only section has private booths and an entirely different feel than Quartz. Book your 90-minute stay to try drinks inspired by the landscapes of the world's desert-like regions, such as the Penguin Suit or the Polar Puppy.
These drinks are imaginative in ingredients, taste, and presentation to make patrons take notice and appreciate the beauty of deserts. Co-owner Maxwell Berlin says, "All of it is highly curated, but in the most fun way possible."
Today's best new bars offer something imaginative and creative for everyone. Check out a few of these for a unique and enjoyable night on the town.