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Read a full review of Paramita Sound.

The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs | Jackson, Mississippi

Details: 655 Duling Ave.; 601-366-3427, apothecaryjackson.com

The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs is one of USA TODAY’s Best Bars of 2024

The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs, seen on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Jackson, Miss., is one of USA Today’s Bars of the Year 2024.

Located in Jackson’s historic Fondren neighborhood, Brent’s Drugs is a classic drug store that’s been around since 1946 and serves ice cream favorites, milkshakes and diner comfort foods. But that’s not the only thing that’s special about the drug store. Toward the back is the entrance to a bar called The Apothecary, which occupies the space where the pharmacy storeroom used to be. The Apothecary is one of the most popular bars in Jackson and the place to be for a fun night out with friends or just a quick stop for an after-work drink. The bartenders specialize in classic-inspired cocktails such as the Adult Swim, a Caribbean Negroni with banana rum and coconut Campari. — Kiara Fleming, Clarion Ledger

Read a full review of The Apothecary.

Wonder Bar | Asbury Park, New Jersey

Details: 1213 Ocean Ave.; 732-455-3767, wonderbarasburypark.com

Asbury Park’s Wonder Bar named one of USA TODAY’s best bars of 2024 Video

Take a look inside Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ, named one of USA TODAYs best bars for 2024.

There are rock ‘n’ roll stars onstage, and dogs in the courtyard for Yappy Hour, but manager Debbie DeLisa says it’s the community that makes the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park so special. DeLisa and Lance Larson have been managing the Ocean Avenue watering hole for nearly 25 years, and they’ve solidified the Wonder Bar’s position as a city landmark. When music is not playing, customers sit at the big circular bar, built that way in the ’60s so folks can get to know each other across the room. The popular drink is the Debbie D, named after DeLisa. It has Ketel One Botanicals Cucumber and Mint with club soda and fresh muddled mint. “It’s really refreshing in the summer,” DeLisa said. One of the regulars is Bruce Springsteen, who has performed several times at the club but mostly he blends in as well as he can. He’s a fan of Yappy Hour, where customers bring their dogs to play in the adjacent courtyard. It’s unknown whether he’s tried a Debbie D. — Chris Jordan, Asbury Park Press

Read a full review of Wonder Bar.

Tierney’s Tavern | Montclair, New Jersey

Details: 136 Valley Road; tierneystavern.com

Tierney’s Tavern in Montclair named one of USA TODAY’s best bars

Tierney’s Tavern in Montclair is a long-time favorite for locals. Now USA TODAY has named it a 2024 Bar of the Year.

Vintage wooden architecture and secret-menu burgers are the name of the game at Montclair’s 90-year-old community center. Locals – from college kids to boomers – have gathered in the classic Irish bar for generations, often accompanied by family (and, sometimes, celebrities). At one point, “The Sopranos” filmed an episode in the nostalgic space, and at another time, William H. Macy and Emma Roberts enjoyed a drink among its twinkling green lights and hanging sports jerseys. The intrigue of the Hollywood elite, despite the tavern’s unassuming digs, comes as no surprise, though, in a place that has established itself as North Jersey’s “Cheers,” but with better food. — Kara VanDooijeweert, The Record and northjersey.com

Read a full review of Tierney’s Tavern.

Radio Social | Rochester, New York

Details: 20 Carlson Road; 585-244-1484, radio-social.com

Radio Social named one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year for 2024 – Video

Take a look inside Radio Social in Rochester, NY, named one of USA TODAYs best bars for 2024.

In a city that has a strong craft cocktail scene, the most weirdly wonderful place to drink is Radio Social. It’s a 42,000-square-foot mashup of two bars, an upscale Middle Eastern restaurant, a pizza/burger joint and a 34-lane bowling alley. You can play classic games like cornhole and shuffleboard both indoors and on a spacious back lawn. One cocktail bar features flavors that complement the Middle Eastern fare, while the other leans toward playful concoctions served in vessels compatible with swinging a ping pong paddle. You can also get a Genesee Light, the easy drinking local lager. The colorful, retro vibe is a nod to the building’s history of making radios during World War II. It has one of the best brunches in town. — Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Read a full review of Radio Social.

Saints and Scholars | Yonkers, New York

Details: 790 McLean Ave.; 914-457-5550, instagram.com/saintsandscholars

Saints & Scholars in Yonkers is one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year 2024 – Video

Take a look at creative cocktails are crafted with a playful twist at Saints & Scholars in Yonkers, named one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year in 2024.

There aren’t many bars in Westchester County with floral wallpaper, disco balls and chandeliers, including one in the ladies’ room. But Saints and Scholars, which opened in 2018, defies expectations. What looks like your typical Irish bar on the outside is full of surprises, starting with a black and white checkered floor, a red and purple backlit bar, a coffered ceiling and a vibrant atmosphere that changes from sedate to sultry as the night goes on. The cocktails are similarly unique (try the Porn Star Martini!) and can be served in a jumbo glass (which easily serves four) or in a miniature bathtub complete with a rubber ducky. Irish-born owner Aidan Loughran, who loves chatting with his customers, has also made elevated food a priority. Cash only. — Jeanne Muchnick, The Journal News

Read a full review of Saints and Scholars.

The Crow & Quill ∣ Asheville, North Carolina

Details: 106 N. Lexington Ave.; thecrowandquill.com

Crow and Quill named of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year for 2024 | Video

Take a look inside Crow and Quill in Asheville, North Carolina, named one of USA Today’s Bars of the Year for 2024.

Victorian meets gothic at the speakeasy-style bar and local haunt The Crow & Quill. The craft cocktail bar has an air of mystery with a door with no signage; guests must be in the know to know where to go. The eclectic array of antique decor and furniture, dark-wood fixtures and a flag emblazoned with the emblem of a fictitious secret society set the ambiance. Founder Casey Campfield opened the downtown bar in 2014 as a local hangout, and tourists who’ve stumbled upon its door have made it a favorite, too. The Crow & Quill offers intimate corners, rousing nights of live music with jazzy swing bands, and classic and signature cocktails made from a library of more than 800 whiskeys and 1,000 spirits. ― Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times

Read a full review of The Crow & Quill.

Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar | Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Details: 1211 S. Lake Park Blvd.; 910-707-0049, oceangrilltiki.com

Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar named a USA TODAY’s best bars of 2024 Video

Take a look inside Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar in Carolina Beach, NC, one of USA TODAY’S Bars of the Year for 2024.

Ocean views, salt air and tiki drinks? Yes, this spot has the laid-back, surf-inspired vibe you want in a beach bar. The restaurant side at the Golden Sands Motel has an upstairs dining room with panoramic views. But a mini vacation is a few steps away on the remnants of Center Pier, damaged by a hurricane in 1996. When it’s time for tiki business, bartenders open the hut’s plywood flaps to serve cold beer and cocktails such as a mojito, Dark ‘n’ Stormy or the house-favorite Noserider. And the staff will even bring you fish tacos or a sandwich from the restaurant. In the summer, the magical tiki shows bring both touring artists and local bands to the rock out on the end of the pier. — Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews

Read a full review of Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar.

Law Bird | Columbus, Ohio

Details: 740 S. High St.; 614-636-1053, lawbirdbar.com

Law Bird named one of USA TODAY’s best bars of 2024: Video

Law Bird in Columbus, Ohio, has been named a Bar of the Year by USA Today. The bar is known for a rotating menu of craft cocktails and pop-up themes.

Even as Law Bird introduces cocktails with pickled-carrot brine or seaweed-infused mezcal, curates Wednesday night hot dogs with the same finesse as its mixology and turns into a tiki bar in the middle of December, one thing stays constant. There’s a pink neon sign that says, “Not Governed by Reason.” Law Bird, a cocktail bar just outside downtown Columbus, remakes itself regularly through changes in drink menus, bar snacks and decor. In the past year alone, it has gone through five evolutions that include 1990s vintage, Japanese city pop and galactic disco. Customer favorites reappear, and classics such as $5 mini-martinis endure. It’s a small, never-crowded space that takes reservations but leaves half its seating open for walk-ins. — Bob Vitale, The Columbus Dispatch

Read a full review of Law Bird.

Longfellow | Cincinnati, Ohio

Details: 1233 Clay St.; 513-307-4379, longfellowbar.com

Longfellow in Over-the-Rhine named a 2024 USA TODAY Bar of the Year

Take a look inside Longfellow bar in Over-the-Rhine, named one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year for 2024.

Order a classic cocktail, an amaro or a pilsner at Longfellow, and it won’t take long to realize why this place is special. Your epiphany might come as your mind goes deep into an old song by Ralph Stanley or New Order playing on the well-curated playlist, when you strike up a conversation with a stranger (it’s rare to come here without making a new friend) or when you look outside the bar’s double-hung windows and fall in love with the Italianate townhomes and cathedrals that surround you. As the night wears on, the bar becomes a beacon for restaurant workers finishing up their shifts and looking for a shot and a beer, or couples out for a nightcap after dinner. You can eat here, too. A rotating menu features modern takes on old-school bar snacks, including radishes with salt and butter, German-style meat platters and tomato soup. All of them are wonderful.  — Keith Pandolfi, The Cincinnati Enquirer

Read a full review of Longfellow.

Edna’s | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Details: 5137 Classen Circle; 405-840-3339, ednasokc.com

Edna’s bar in Oklahoma City named one of USA TODAY’s best: Video

Take a look inside Edna’s in Oklahoma City, named one of USA TODAYs Bars of the Year 2024.

For 35 years, patrons have adorned the walls and ceilings of Edna’s with dollar bills. At this point, there are few spots remaining without colorfully decorated bills stapled to them. But when namesake Edna Scott opened her bar in 1989, there was no indication it would become so beloved or the origin point of a cocktail combining Coors Light, orange juice and amaretto – The Lunchbox – that many have tried to mimic. The bar was once the location of a Keith Urban music video, and Jimmy Fallon and Questlove were even served Lunchboxes by an Oklahoma chef on “The Tonight Show.” Still owned by Scott’s family, offering up a tasty bar menu and having served more than 2 million Lunchboxes, Edna’s remains a cornerstone of Oklahoma City’s bar scene. — JaNae Williams, The Oklahoman

Read a full review of Edna’s.

Hey Love | Portland, Oregon

Details: 920 E. Burnside St.; 503-206-6223, heylovepdx.com

Portland’s Hey Love is one of USA Today’s 2024 Best Bars of the Year

Hey Love in Portland is among those named to USA Today’s 2024 Bars of the Year list. See inside the cocktail lounge.

In a city of perpetual rain, Hey Love is Portland’s sunny escape. Fenced in by tropical plants creating a cabana-like ambiance, the bar inside the Jupiter Hotel encapsulates the city’s eclectic spirit. A funky, fresh playlist enlivens the space. The team of owners brings decades of experience in the industry and has crafted an experience that all can enjoy, including an ADA-accommodating bar top. There are food options for most dietary restrictions for happy hour, dinner and weekend brunch, plus an almost unending list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The bar continuously participates in fundraisers and causes, making it the community’s bar. — Em Chan, Salem Statesman Journal

Read a full review of Hey Love.

Bloomsday Cafe | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Details: 414 S. Second St.; 267-319-8018, bloomsdaycafe.com

Bloomsday named one of the USA Today’s best bars of 2024 Video

Take a look inside Bloomsday in Philadelphia, named one of USA Today’s best bars for 2024.

On a cobblestone street lined with old trees, this charming pub dresses like the hottest wine bar in town, but the staff will remember your name, your seating preference and your drink. Bloomsday has a long list of natural wines, ciders, orange wines and bubbly from the United States and abroad. If you’re not an oenophile, bartenders will be happy to offer their favorite vermouth from the marble and crystal bar, or make you the Bloomsday Citywide cocktail, a fun spin on the Philly classic that combines a different beer and vermouth each month. Wine clubs, book clubs, tea parties and a menu of brunch classics keep this wine pub filled with locals year-round. — Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY

Read a full review of Bloomsday.

Preservation Pub | Knoxville, Tennessee

Details: 28 Market Square; 865-524-2224, scruffycity.com/preservation-pub

Preservation Pub in Knoxville a USA TODAY’s best bars of 2024 Video

Take a look inside Preservation Pub in Knoxville, Tenn., named one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year for 2024.

There are two kinds of “Pubby Buddies.” There’s the signature $5 menu item at Preservation Pub – a shot of whiskey and a PBR – and then there are the friends you make while dancing to jam band music in the smoke-filled first floor and while sharing drinks from the rooftop “shot shack” trailer (or the magic beer tree). Owner Scott West, whose career is back on track after a money laundering conviction, considers the divey Preservation Pub and its nightly live music to be the “heart of the heart” – that is, the pulse that makes Knoxville’s Market Square pedestrian plaza come alive as one of the most-visited parts of the Scruffy City. — Ryan Wilusz, Knox News

Read a full review of Preservation Pub.

The Lipstick Lounge | Nashville, Tennessee

Details: 1400 Woodland St.; 615-226-6343, thelipsticklounge.com

Lipstick Lounge named one of USA TODAY’s best bars of 2024: Video

Take a look inside East Nashville’s Lipstick Lounge, an LGBTQ+ haven open to all, named one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year for 2024.

Lipstick Lounge is an icon of once-gritty East Nashville. Now pricey homes surround it. But the bar, which opened in 2002, serves as a reminder of when the neighborhood was less polished. When it was a haven for artists and musicians who hadn’t yet struck it big. When it was proudly home to a come-as-you-are attitude. Lipstick Lounge is still that. It’s a colorful, raucous good time, with thumping music and costumes everywhere, even on a Sunday afternoon. Customers come for a huge menu of hangover drinks like the peach schnapps-based Flying Phyllis Diller, an ode to the queen of one-liners whose gay fan base is immense. Yes, Lipstick Lounge is a gay bar, but foremost it’s “a bar for humans,” its owners are fond of saying. It’s a bar for anyone who likes to have fun in a welcoming but wild atmosphere. — Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean

Read a full review of The Lipstick Lounge.

Sahara Lounge | Austin, Texas

Details: 1413 Webberville Road; 512-927-0700, saharalounge.com

Sahara Lounge named one of USA TODAY’s best bars of 2024 Video

Take a look inside the Sahara Lounge in Austin, Texas, named one of USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year for 2024.

Sahara Lounge sits at the eastern edge of Austin and at the heart of a community that still represents Austin at its best: funky, soulful, eclectic and diverse. The ramshackle bar owned by musicians Eileen Bristol and her son, Topaz McGarrigle, sometimes feels like it might fall down when regular Africa Night or Body Rock ATX parties pump at full throttle. Bartenders quench the thirst of clubgoers with cold Sahara Slants, the house’s namesake cocktail made with the Ghanaian spirit akpeteshie. Looking for a beer without the bass drop? Before the show, you can soak in the space’s musical history, documented with old concert posters, or head to a table out back, where the conversation flows like the Quan Yin fountain honoring the Bodhisattva of Compassion. — Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman

Read a full review of Sahara Lounge.

Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Details: 1579 S. Ninth St.; 414-383-2620, bryantscocktaillounge.com

Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge named one of USA TODAY’s bars of the year: Video

Take a look inside Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge in Milwaukee, named one of USA TODAY’s bars of the year in 2024.

At Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, owner John Dye is most proud when customers liken his bar to a museum. It first opened in 1937 and serves drinks from every decade it has been open: Depression-era cocktails like rail splitters and sidecars, hurricanes made popular during World War II and colorful cosmopolitans popular in the 1990s. The bar’s bestsellers are ice cream drinks like pink squirrels (rumored to have been invented at Bryant’s) and grasshoppers, along with the Wisconsin old-fashioned. The bar’s interior was well preserved until a fire destroyed it in 1971. The owner at that time rebuilt it as a dimly lit, vintage 1950s cocktail lounge sparing no expense, according to Dye. The lounge has been preserved since, giving Bryant’s its historic charm today. — Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Read a full review of Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge.