100 Best Bars in the South

By Stephanie Granada

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

In the South, there are plenty of places to pull up a barstool or sidle up to the counter for a cold one. Here is a list of the South’s best bars. Places like Napoleon House, Branch, and Taste are all places you’ll want to linger over that drink and really get to know the locals. If you choose a bar by its name, visit Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge in Houston, Texas. If you prefer a bar named after where you park your car, you’ll love the Garage Bar in Louisville, Kentucky. Imbibe and bowl at Pinewood Social. What the South’s best bars all have in common is great service, amazing drinks, and that sense of down-home welcome that makes you stay a little longer. You should. You won’t find the South’s best bars anywhere else.

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The Hound, Auburn, Alabama

Credit: Photo Courtesy of The Hound

You’re Having: The Cecil, a twist on a classic whiskey sour

124 Tichenor Avenue, thehound-auburn.com

Which of these bars have you visited? Share with us in 100 Places to Drink Now—The Checklist.

2 of 100

Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: Miss Fancy’s Tripel Belgian gold ale

201 41st Street South; avondalebrewing.com

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Good People Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

You’re Having: The Coffee Oatmeal Stout

114 14th Street South; goodpeoplebrewing.com

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The Collins Bar, Birmingham, Alabama

Credit: Photo Courtesy of The Collins Bar

You’re Having:

Honeysuckle Rose with Cathead vodka, Aperol, ginger liqueur, and egg white

2125 2nd Avenue North; collinsbirmingham.com

5 of 100

Carrigan’s Public House, Birmingham, Alabama

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: The Morris Avenue, a mix of single-malt Scotch, Campari, nutty Frangelico, and Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

2430 Morris Avenue; carriganspub.com

6 of 100

The Garage Cafe, Birmingham, Alabama

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

You’re Having: A from-scratch bloody Mary with eight different spices

2304 10th Terrace South; garagecafe.us

7 of 100

Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina, Orange Beach, Alabama

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Fisher's at Orange Beach Marina

You’re Having:

The Necessity, a citrusy vodka cocktail with cava and caviar pearls

27075 Marina Road; fishersobm.com

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The Gulf, Orange Beach, Alabama

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: A strawberry mojito

27500 Perdido Beach Boulevard; thegulf.com

9 of 100

The Hive, Bentonville, Arkansas

Credit: Photo: Ball & Albanese

You’re Having:

Arkansawyer with gin and lavender and ginger

200 Northeast A Street;
thehivebentonville.com

10 of 100

Capital Bar & Grill, Little Rock, Arkansas

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Capital Bar & Grill

You’re Having:

The Southern Comfortable with spiced-pear vodka, Yellow Chartreuse, and house-made pecan soda

111 West Markham Street; capitalhotel.com/cbg

11 of 100

2 birds 1 stone, Washington, D.C.

Credit: Photo: Courtesy Scott Suchman/2 birds 1 stone

You’re Having:

The Darkside made with gin, Barolo Chinato fortified wine, and Peychaud’s Bitters

1800 14th Street Northwest; 2birds1stonedc.com

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The Arsenal at Bluejacket, Washington, D.C.

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: The Cashmere—a Belgium quadruple that is rich, malty, and intense, yet silky on the palate

300 Tingey Street Southeast; bluejacketdc.com

13 of 100

Mockingbird Hill, Washington, D.C.

Credit: Photo: Courtesy Scott Suchman/Mockingbird Hill

You’re Having: The Carson—inspired by famed Columbus, Georgia, author Carson McCullers, who loved to drink sherry with tea

1843 7th Street Northwest; drinkmoresherry.com

14 of 100

The Passenger, Washington, D.C.

Credit: Photo: Courtesy Jim Webb/The Passenger

You’re Having:

The Scarlet Ibis with Rittenhouse Rye, Averna, dry vermouth, bitters, and an orange twist

1021 7th Street Northwest; passengerdc.com

15 of 100

The Rye Bar at Capella Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Credit: Photo: Courtesy Robert Reck/The Rye Bar at Capella Hotel

You’re Having:

A barrel-aged Manhattan

1050 31st Street Northwest; thegrillroomdc.com/rye-bar-en.html

16 of 100

Flora-Bama, Pensacola, Florida

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Flora-Bama

You’re Having:

The legendary Bushwacker—milk, rum, Kahlúa, Amaretto, and crème de cacao

17401 Perdido Key Drive; florabama.com

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2nd Street Speakeasy, Gainesville, Florida

Credit: Photo Courtesy of 2nd Street Speakeasy

You’re Having: Spaghetti Western—High West Double Rye, Fernet Branca, sherry, local honey, and bitters

21 West 2nd Street; 2ndstreetspeakeasy.com

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Dos Gatos, Jacksonville, Florida

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Dos Gatos

You’re Having:

Winter in Jalisco—reposado tequila and house-made spice syrup

123 East Forsyth Street; dosgatosjax.com

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No Name Pub, Big Pine Key, Florida

Credit: Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: Anheuser-Busch’s “No Name Amber” on draft

30813 Watson Boulevard; nonamepub.com

20 of 100

The Regent Cocktail Club, Miami, Florida

Credit: Photo: Diana Zalucky

You’re Having: A classic sidecar

1690 Collins Avenue; galehotel.com/nightlife/regent-cocktail-club

21 of 100

The Broken Shaker, Miami, Florida

Credit: Photo: Diana Zalucky

You’re Having:

A Capirihna de Guayaba with fresh guava, lime juice, herbs, and Leblon Cachaça

2727 Indian Creek Drive; thefreehand.com/venues/the-broken-shaker

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Restaurant Michael Schwartz, Miami, Florida

Credit: Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: The Jack Rudy with Charleston-made Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. tonic, Jack Daniels, and cardamom

1775 Collins Avenue; raleighhotel.com/dining

23 of 100

Ice Plant, St. Augustine, Florida

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ice Plant

You’re Having: A Lincolnvillan with bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and mole bitters

110 Riberia Street; iceplantbar.com/ice/

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Normal Bar, Athens, Georgia

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Normal Bar

You’re Having:

Killer Bee—Bulleit, lavender, honey, lemon juice, and soda

1365 Prince Avenue; 706/548-6186

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The World Famous, Athens, Georgia

Credit: Photo Courtesy of The World Famous

You’re Having:

The bright Robert Van Winkle with Prairie hand-crafted gin, Madagascar-vanilla simple syrup, and Prosecco

351 Hull Street; theworldfamousathens.com

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The National, Athens, Georgia

Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

You’re Having: Cold Weather Mojito—Prichard’s Tennessee rum, Steen’s cane syrup, mint, and ginger beer

232 West Hancock Avenue; thenationalrestaurant.com

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One Flew South, Atlanta, Georgia

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: A Georgia Brown with rum, toasted anise, and honey syrup, topped with Sweetwater 420 beer

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport/Terminal E; oneflewsouthatl.com

28 of 100

The St. Regis Bar, Atlanta, Georgia

Credit: Photo: Southern Living

You’re Having: The Piedmont with Woodford Reserve St. Regis Atlanta Special Selection bourbon, Bar Keep Baked Apple Bitters, and a Laphroaig wash

88 West Paces Ferry Road; stregisatlanta.com/the-st-regis-bar

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The Bookhouse Pub, Atlanta, Georgia

Credit: Photo Courtesy of The Bookhouse Pub

You’re Having:

Audrey Horne with Yerba Mate tea and mint-infused gin

736 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE.; 404/254-1176

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Monday Night Brewing, Atlanta, Georgia

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: The bright and spicy Fu Manbrew Belgian-Style Wit

670 Trabert Avenue NW.; mondaynightbrewing.com

31 of 100

Argosy, Atlanta, Georgia

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Argosy

You’re Having:

New Holland Brewing Company’s Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout

470 Flat Shoals Avenue SE.; argosy-east.com

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H. Harper Station, Atlanta, Georgia

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having:

A Stinger with Pierre Ferrand cognac and Marie Brizard white mint

904 Memorial Drive SE.; hharperstation.com

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Kimball House, Decatur, Georgia

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Kimball House

You’re Having:

Pecan Old Fashioned with Medley Brothers Heritage bourbon and Elliott pecans

303 East Howard Avenue; kimball-house.com

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Paper Plane, Decatur, Georgia

Credit: Photo: Rob Culpepper

You’re Having: The Permanent Collection—Fernet-Branca, cognac, Bénédictine herbal liqueur, and bitters

340 Church Street; the-paper-plane.com

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The Sparetime, Savannah, Georgia

Credit: Photo: Imke Lass

You’re Having: The Caucasian, a coffee cocktail with vodka, Leopold Bros coffee liqueur, and espresso syrup

36 MLK Jr. Blvd.; sparetimesavannah.com

This bar has since closed.

36 of 100

Pinkie Master’s Lounge, Savannah, Georgia

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Pinkie Master’s Lounge

You’re Having: A PBR

318 Drayton Street; pinkiemasters.net

37 of 100

Bluegrass Tavern, Lexington, Kentucky

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Bluegrass Tavern

You’re Having:

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

115 Cheapside;
thebluegrasstavern.com

38 of 100

St. Charles Exchange, Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Photo: Ryan Kurtz

You’re Having: A Van Dyke Parks Swizzle with 12-year El Dorado rum, Oloroso sherry, and coconut liqueur

113 South Seventh Street; stcharlesexchange.com

39 of 100

The Silver Dollar, Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Photo Courtesy of The Silver Dollar

You’re Having:

Hello Trouble—Buffalo Trace, St. Elizabeth Allspice dram, green Chartreuse, Angostura bitters, and house-made vanilla syrup

1761 Frankfort Avenue; whiskeybythedrink.com

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Garage Bar, Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Garage Bar

You’re Having:

Bourbon-spiked pumpkin cream soda

700 East Market Street; garageonmarket.com

41 of 100

Bourbons Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: Manhattan, straight up

2255 Frankfort Avenue; bourbonsbistro.com

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MilkWood, Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Photo Courtesy of MilkWood

You’re Having:

The MilkWood with nigori sake and chartreuse

316 West Main Street; milkwoodrestaurant.com

43 of 100

Proof on Main, Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Proof on Main

You’re Having:

The Bulleit-Vardier—Bulleit bourbon, Fonseca port, Aperol, and bitters.

702 West Main Street; proofonmain.com

44 of 100

Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, Louisiana

Credit: Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: Jameson Hot Toddy

215 East Convent Street; bluemoonpresents.com

45 of 100

Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, Louisiana

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone

You’re Having: A Vieux Carre, said to have been invented at the Carousel

214 Royal Street; hotelmonteleone.com

46 of 100

Napoleon House, New Orleans, Louisiana

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Napoleon House

You’re Having:

Pimm’s Cup—a classic for the 217-year old bar

500 Chartres Street; napoleonhouse.com

47 of 100

French 75, New Orleans, Louisiana

Credit: Photo: Courtesy Jenn Farrington/French 75

You’re Having:

The Contessa, a gin-based cocktail with house-made cranberry cordial

813 Rue Bienville; arnaudsrestaurant.com

48 of 100

Cure, New Orleans, Louisiana

Credit: Photo: Courtesy Kevin O'Mara/Cure

You’re Having:

Madame Devalier, a reimagined Negroni with hints of rose petal, pine, and quinine

4905 Freret Street; curenola.com

49 of 100

Cane & Table, New Orleans, Louisiana

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: A Derby Daiquiri with spiced rim, orange juice, simple syrup, and lime

1113 Decatur Street; caneandtablenola.com

50 of 100

Brothers III Lounge, New Orleans, Louisiana

Credit: Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: A High Life and a shot of Jameson

4520 Magazine Street; 504/897-9912

51 of 100

Maurepas Foods, New Orleans, Louisiana

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Maurepas Foods

You’re Having:

The Swallowtail with Pisco, Hum liqueur, lime, and fennel

3200 Burgundy Street; maurepasfoods.com

52 of 100

Shoo-Fly Diner, Baltimore, Maryland

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: A Black Russian with Green Mountain organic vodka, house-made coffee liqueur, pecans, brandy, and rum

510 East Belvedere Avenue; shooflydiner.com

53 of 100

Branch, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: The Necessary Means with rum, citrus, curacao, cinnamon, and Cherry Heering

3810 Hardy Street; branchcocktailbar.com

54 of 100

The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs, Jackson, Mississippi

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: A Doc Noble cocktail, named after a 1960s Brent’s pharmacist

655 Duling Avenue; apothecaryjackson.com

55 of 100

Altamont Brewing Company, Asheville, North Carolina

Credit: Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: The winter seasonal Altamont Stout

1042 Haywood Road; altamontbrewing.com

56 of 100

Blood & Sand, St. Louis, Missouri

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Blood & Sand

You’re Having:

The No Rain with gin, Velvet Falernum, Champagne, fresh grapefruit, and orange cream bitters

1500 St. Charles Street; bloodandsandstl.com

57 of 100

Bullock Room at Planter’s House, St. Louis, Missouri

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Bullock Room at Planter’s House

You’re Having:

The Ghost Ships with El Dorado 15 Year Old Rum, El Maestro Sierra Oloroso sherry, plum shrub, and Scrappy’s Lime Bitters. Pair it with the truffle popcorn

1000 Mississippi Avenue; plantershousestl.com

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More

100 Best Bars in the South

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The Hound, Auburn, Alabama

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Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

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Good People Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

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The Collins Bar, Birmingham, Alabama

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Carrigan’s Public House, Birmingham, Alabama

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The Garage Cafe, Birmingham, Alabama

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Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina, Orange Beach, Alabama

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The Gulf, Orange Beach, Alabama

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The Hive, Bentonville, Arkansas

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Capital Bar & Grill, Little Rock, Arkansas

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2 birds 1 stone, Washington, D.C.

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The Arsenal at Bluejacket, Washington, D.C.

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Mockingbird Hill, Washington, D.C.

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The Passenger, Washington, D.C.

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The Rye Bar at Capella Hotel, Washington, D.C.

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Flora-Bama, Pensacola, Florida

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2nd Street Speakeasy, Gainesville, Florida

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Dos Gatos, Jacksonville, Florida

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No Name Pub, Big Pine Key, Florida

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The Regent Cocktail Club, Miami, Florida

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The Broken Shaker, Miami, Florida

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Restaurant Michael Schwartz, Miami, Florida

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Ice Plant, St. Augustine, Florida

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Normal Bar, Athens, Georgia

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The World Famous, Athens, Georgia

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The National, Athens, Georgia