100 Best Bars in the South

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

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.

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Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

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

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

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

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Carrigan’s Public House, Birmingham, Alabama

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

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The Garage Cafe, Birmingham, Alabama

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

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

2304 10th Terrace South; garagecafe.us

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

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

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: A strawberry mojito

27500 Perdido Beach Boulevard; thegulf.com

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The Hive, Bentonville, Arkansas

Photo: Ball & Albanese

You’re Having: Arkansawyer with gin and lavender and ginger

200 Northeast A Street;
thehivebentonville.com

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Capital Bar & Grill, Little Rock, Arkansas

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

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2 birds 1 stone, Washington, D.C.

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.

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

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Mockingbird Hill, Washington, D.C.

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

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The Passenger, Washington, D.C.

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

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

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

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Flora-Bama, Pensacola, Florida

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

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

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

Photo: Getty Images

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

30813 Watson Boulevard; nonamepub.com

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The Regent Cocktail Club, Miami, Florida

Photo: Diana Zalucky

You’re Having: A classic sidecar

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

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The Broken Shaker, Miami, Florida

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

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

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Ice Plant, St. Augustine, Florida

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

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

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

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

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

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The St. Regis Bar, Atlanta, Georgia

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

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

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

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

670 Trabert Avenue NW.; mondaynightbrewing.com

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Argosy, Atlanta, Georgia

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

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

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

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

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.

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Pinkie Master’s Lounge, Savannah, Georgia

Photo Courtesy of Pinkie Master’s Lounge

You’re Having: A PBR

318 Drayton Street; pinkiemasters.net

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Bluegrass Tavern, Lexington, Kentucky

Photo Courtesy of Bluegrass Tavern

You’re Having: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

115 Cheapside;
thebluegrasstavern.com

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St. Charles Exchange, Louisville, Kentucky

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

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The Silver Dollar, Louisville, Kentucky

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

Photo Courtesy of Garage Bar

You’re Having: Bourbon-spiked pumpkin cream soda

700 East Market Street; garageonmarket.com

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Bourbons Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky

Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: Manhattan, straight up

2255 Frankfort Avenue; bourbonsbistro.com

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MilkWood, Louisville, Kentucky

Photo Courtesy of MilkWood

You’re Having: The MilkWood with nigori sake and chartreuse

316 West Main Street; milkwoodrestaurant.com

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Proof on Main, Louisville, Kentucky

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

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Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, Louisiana

Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: Jameson Hot Toddy

215 East Convent Street; bluemoonpresents.com

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

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

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Napoleon House, New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo Courtesy of Napoleon House

You’re Having: Pimm’s Cup—a classic for the 217-year old bar

500 Chartres Street; napoleonhouse.com

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French 75, New Orleans, Louisiana

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

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Cure, New Orleans, Louisiana

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

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Cane & Table, New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

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

1113 Decatur Street; caneandtablenola.com

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Brothers III Lounge, New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo: Getty Images

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

4520 Magazine Street; 504/897-9912

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Maurepas Foods, New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo Courtesy of Maurepas Foods

You’re Having: The Swallowtail with Pisco, Hum liqueur, lime, and fennel

3200 Burgundy Street; maurepasfoods.com

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Shoo-Fly Diner, Baltimore, Maryland

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

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Branch, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

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

3810 Hardy Street; branchcocktailbar.com

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The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs, Jackson, Mississippi

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

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

655 Duling Avenue; apothecaryjackson.com

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Altamont Brewing Company, Asheville, North Carolina

Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: The winter seasonal Altamont Stout

1042 Haywood Road; altamontbrewing.com

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Blood & Sand, St. Louis, Missouri

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

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

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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Taste, St. Louis, Missouri

Photo Courtesy of Taste

You’re Having: The savory Like a Thief with gin, grapefruit, celery shrub, and green pepper

4584 Laclede Street; tastebarstl.com

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Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville, North Carolina

Photo: David Hanson

You’re Having: A hoppy Freak of Nature IPA

91 Biltmore Avenue; wickedweedbrewing.com

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Ben’s Tune Up, Asheville, North Carolina

Photo Courtesy of Ben’s Tune Up

You’re Having: The full-bodied Kikusui yellow-can sake

195 Hilliard Avenue; benstuneup.com

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The Crunkleton, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Photo Courtesy of The Crunkleton

You’re Having: The Roycroft with rye whiskey, Benedictine, Chartreuse liqueur, Cherry Heering, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and sugar cane syrup

320 West Franklin Street; thecrunkleton.com

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Mateo Tapas, Durham, North Carolina

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: The Ferdinand with Maker’s Mark, ginger-apple shrub, and ginger beer over crushed ice

109 West Chapel Hill Street; mateotapas.com

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Poole’s Downtown Diner, Raleigh, North Carolina

Photo: Jennifer Davick

You’re Having: The Sir Isaac Newton—house-made apple-cinammon syrup, lemon, Angostura bitters, and apple brandy

426 South McDowell Street; ac-restaurants.com/pooles

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Valkyrie, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Photo Courtesy of Valkyrie

You’re Having: A Buenos Aires Mule—an Argentinian take on the Moscow Mule with Fernet Branca

13 East M.B. Brady Street; valkyrietulsa.com

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Básico at Mixson Bath & Racquet Club, Charleston, South Carolina

Photo: Courtesy Peter Frank Edwards/Básico at Mixson Bath & Racquet Club

You’re Having: Spicy Grapefruit Margarita with Charleston hot peppers grown in-house

4399 McCarthy Street; basicombrc.com

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The Bar at Husk, Charleston, South Carolina

Photo Courtesy of The Bar at Husk

You’re Having: The Copperhead—whiskey-based with absinthe, fresh lemon juice, wormwood bitters, and a muddled sugar cube

76 Queen Street; huskrestaurant.com

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The Gin Joint, Charleston, South Carolina

Photo Courtesy of The Gin Joint

You’re Having: A Bittered Holland Sling with barrel-rested Cardinal Gin, Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey, finished with Ron Zacapa 23-year-old rum

182 East Bay Street; theginjoint.com