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.

Start Slideshow

1 of 101

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.

2 of 101

Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

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

201 41st Street South; avondalebrewing.com

3 of 101

Good People Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

You’re Having: The Coffee Oatmeal Stout

114 14th Street South; goodpeoplebrewing.com

4 of 101

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

5 of 101

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

6 of 101

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

7 of 101

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

8 of 101

The Gulf, Orange Beach, Alabama

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

You’re Having: A strawberry mojito

27500 Perdido Beach Boulevard; thegulf.com

9 of 101

The Hive, Bentonville, Arkansas

Photo: Ball & Albanese

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

200 Northeast A Street;
thehivebentonville.com

10 of 101

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

11 of 101

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

12 of 101

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

13 of 101

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

14 of 101

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

15 of 101

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

16 of 101

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

17 of 101

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

18 of 101

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

19 of 101

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

20 of 101

The Regent Cocktail Club, Miami, Florida

Photo: Diana Zalucky

You’re Having: A classic sidecar

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

21 of 101

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

22 of 101

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

23 of 101

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/

24 of 101

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

25 of 101

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

26 of 101

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

27 of 101

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

28 of 101

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

29 of 101

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

30 of 101

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

31 of 101

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

32 of 101

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

33 of 101

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

34 of 101

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

35 of 101

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.

36 of 101

Pinkie Master’s Lounge, Savannah, Georgia

Photo Courtesy of Pinkie Master’s Lounge

You’re Having: A PBR

318 Drayton Street; pinkiemasters.net

37 of 101

Bluegrass Tavern, Lexington, Kentucky

Photo Courtesy of Bluegrass Tavern

You’re Having: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

115 Cheapside;
thebluegrasstavern.com

38 of 101

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

39 of 101

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

40 of 101

Garage Bar, Louisville, Kentucky

Photo Courtesy of Garage Bar

You’re Having: Bourbon-spiked pumpkin cream soda

700 East Market Street; garageonmarket.com

41 of 101

Bourbons Bistro, Louisville, Kentucky

Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: Manhattan, straight up

2255 Frankfort Avenue; bourbonsbistro.com

42 of 101

MilkWood, Louisville, Kentucky

Photo Courtesy of MilkWood

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

316 West Main Street; milkwoodrestaurant.com

43 of 101

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

44 of 101

Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, Louisiana

Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: Jameson Hot Toddy

215 East Convent Street; bluemoonpresents.com

45 of 101

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

46 of 101

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

47 of 101

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

48 of 101

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

49 of 101

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

50 of 101

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

51 of 101

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

52 of 101

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

53 of 101

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

54 of 101

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

55 of 101

Altamont Brewing Company, Asheville, North Carolina

Photo: Getty Images

You’re Having: The winter seasonal Altamont Stout

1042 Haywood Road; altamontbrewing.com

56 of 101

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

57 of 101

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

58 of 101

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

59 of 101

Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville, North Carolina

Photo: David Hanson

You’re Having: A hoppy Freak of Nature IPA

91 Biltmore Avenue; wickedweedbrewing.com

60 of 101

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

61 of 101

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

62 of 101

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

63 of 101

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

64 of 101

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

65 of 101

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

66 of 101

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

67 of 101

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

68 of 101

The Belmont, Charleston, South Carolina

Photo Courtesy of The Belmont

You’re Having: Belmont Manhattan with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Czech Republic Fernet, and house-made coffee-pecan bitters

511 King Street; thebelmontcharleston.com

69 of 101

The Griffon, Charleston, South Carolina

Photo Courtesy of The Griffon

You’re Having: A PBR and a shot of whiskey

18 Vendue Range Street; griffoncharleston.com

70 of 101

Fig, Charleston, South Carolina

Photo: Andy Cebulka

You’re Having: The Guest Room with Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, The Rare Wine Co. Charleston Sercial Madeira wine, Cardamaro, and grenadine

232 Meeting Street; eatatfig.com

71 of 101

The Velo Fellow, Greenville, South Carolina

Photo Courtesy of The Velo Fellow

You’re Having: A Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

1 Augusta Street, Suite 126; thevelofellow.com

72 of 101

The Cove, Memphis, Tennessee

Photo Courtesy of The Cove

You’re Having: A Mai-Tai with rum, curacao, Pama liqueur, and orgeat

2559 Broad Avenue; thecovememphis.com

73 of 101

Mollie Fontaine Lounge, Memphis, Tennessee

Photo Courtesy of Mollie Fontaine Lounge

You’re Having: The Violet Velvet cocktail

679 Adams Avenue; molliefontainelounge.com

74 of 101

Music City Tippler, Nashville, Tennessee

PHoto Courtesy of Music City Tippler

You’re Having: Mule Variations—a refreshing mix of vodka, fresh lime, and ginger beer

1922 Adelicia Street; musiccitytippler.com

75 of 101

Robert’s Western World, Nashville, Tennessee

Photo Courtesy of Robert’s Western World

You’re Having: A local Yazoo Pale Ale

416 Broadway;
robertswesternworld.com

Account

More

100 Best Bars in the South

1 of 101

The Hound, Auburn, Alabama

2 of 101

Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

3 of 101

Good People Brewing Company, Birmingham, Alabama

4 of 101

The Collins Bar, Birmingham, Alabama

5 of 101

Carrigan’s Public House, Birmingham, Alabama

6 of 101

The Garage Cafe, Birmingham, Alabama

7 of 101

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

8 of 101

The Gulf, Orange Beach, Alabama

9 of 101

The Hive, Bentonville, Arkansas

10 of 101

Capital Bar & Grill, Little Rock, Arkansas

11 of 101

2 birds 1 stone, Washington, D.C.

12 of 101

The Arsenal at Bluejacket, Washington, D.C.

13 of 101

Mockingbird Hill, Washington, D.C.

14 of 101

The Passenger, Washington, D.C.

15 of 101

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

16 of 101

Flora-Bama, Pensacola, Florida

17 of 101

2nd Street Speakeasy, Gainesville, Florida

18 of 101

Dos Gatos, Jacksonville, Florida

19 of 101

No Name Pub, Big Pine Key, Florida

20 of 101

The Regent Cocktail Club, Miami, Florida

21 of 101

The Broken Shaker, Miami, Florida

22 of 101

Restaurant Michael Schwartz, Miami, Florida

23 of 101

Ice Plant, St. Augustine, Florida

24 of 101

Normal Bar, Athens, Georgia

25 of 101

The World Famous, Athens, Georgia

26 of 101

The National, Athens, Georgia

27 of 101

One Flew South, Atlanta, Georgia

28 of 101

The St. Regis Bar, Atlanta, Georgia

29 of 101

The Bookhouse Pub, Atlanta, Georgia

30 of 101

Monday Night Brewing, Atlanta, Georgia

31 of 101

Argosy, Atlanta, Georgia

32 of 101

H. Harper Station, Atlanta, Georgia

33 of 101

Kimball House, Decatur, Georgia

34 of 101

Paper Plane, Decatur, Georgia

35 of 101

The Sparetime, Savannah, Georgia

36 of 101

Pinkie Master’s Lounge, Savannah, Georgia

37 of 101

Bluegrass Tavern, Lexington, Kentucky

38 of 101

St. Charles Exchange, Louisville, Kentucky

39 of 101