Eater Essential Cocktails
Anvil Bar & Refuge is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

1. Anvil Bar & Refuge

9.1
1424 Westheimer Rd (at Windsor St.), Houston, TX
Cocktail Bar · 183 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Emma Janzen writes, “Anvil was one of the first bars to put Texas on the map for craft cocktails, and since then, the standards have yet to dip.” Founder Bobby Heugel is the one to thank for that. Read more.

Arnaud's French 75 Bar is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

2. Arnaud's French 75 Bar

9.0
813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA
Cocktail Bar · French Quarter · 76 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The drinks here are among the best in the city, & show how to build on a classic,” says Wayne Curtis. Bartender Chris Hannah is a “gentleman & a true master of the form” according to Jordana Rothman. Read more.

The Aviary is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

3. The Aviary

8.8
955 W Fulton Market (at Morgan St.), Chicago, IL
Cocktail Bar · Fulton Market · 175 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Leslie Pariseau calls the drinks here "really beautiful, mindfuck cocktails." Not surprising considering Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas are behind the place, alongside beverage director Charles Joly. Read more.

The Broken Shaker is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

4. The Broken Shaker

9.2
2727 Indian Creek Dr, Miami Beach, FL
Cocktail Bar · Ocean Front · 239 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Nothing broken about this James Beard-nominated bar. Talia Baiocchi says, “It's one of those craft cocktail bars that is the modern imagination of what Miami must've been like in the deco days.” Read more.

Bryant's Cocktail Lounge is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

5. Bryant's Cocktail Lounge

9.2
1579 S 9th St (W Lapham Blvd), Milwaukee, WI
Cocktail Bar · Historic Mitchell Street · 70 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Cocktail expert David Wondrich is a fan of this Milwaukee bar, which is the city’s (and possibly the state’s) oldest—established in 1938. Wondrich says it was “cool before there were hipsters.”

Canon is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

6. Canon

9.2
928 12th Ave (btwn E Spring & Marion St), Seattle, WA
Cocktail Bar · 151 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Allecia Vermillion calls this the “brown liquor juggernaut of Seattle cocktail bars” with a massive (in the thousands) whiskey collection and back-to-back James Beard noms for outstanding bar program. Read more.

Clover Club is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

7. Clover Club

9.3
210 Smith St (btwn Baltic & Butler St), Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail Bar · Boerum Hill · 369 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Momofuku bar director John deBary credits it as a place “responsible for the current [cocktail] renaissance we’re enjoying” that’s also an incubator for some of the city’s best bartending talent. Read more.

Cure is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

8. Cure

8.4
4905 Freret St (Upperline St.), New Orleans, LA
Cocktail Bar · Freret · 93 tips and reviews

EaterEater: “It’s modern but it also honors the city’s amazing cocktail culture,” says writer Jessica Voelker of this off-the-beaten-path craft cocktail bar from Neal Bodenheimer, Kirk Estopinal & Matthew Kohnke. Read more.

Drink is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

9. Drink

348 Congress St (at A St), Boston, MA
Cocktail Bar · Seaport District · 234 tips and reviews

EaterEater: “The grandaddy of Boston’s modern cocktail bars, Drink has seen an era of incredible bartenders behinds its three-counter bar,” says Punch's Leslie Pariseau. Read more.

Fox Liquor Bar is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

10. Fox Liquor Bar

8.3
237 S Wilmington St (at E Martin St), Raleigh, NC
Cocktail Bar · 60 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The James Beard award winning chef is also serious about cocktails here with an extensive list of classic and original concoctions that are some of the best in NC, all priced at $11 including tax. Read more.

The Gin Joint is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

11. The Gin Joint

8.5
182 E Bay St, Charleston, SC
Cocktail Bar · French Quarter · 96 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The cocktails here are legit with a dedication to make everything just so, including a special ice machine, locally sourced ingredients and housemade syrups. Read more.

Kimball House is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

12. Kimball House

9.2
303 E Howard Ave (at N Candler St), Decatur, GA
Gastropub · 65 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Kimball House's devotion to the way dining (and drinking) used to be shines through in its craft cocktail menu, oyster offerings, and three-course steak dinner. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

Midnight Cowboy is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

13. Midnight Cowboy

8.6
313 E 6th St, Austin, TX
Speakeasy · Downtown Austin · 76 tips and reviews

EaterEater: What once was a seedy massage parlor is now a cocktail haven for Austin, brought to life and transformed by the founder of the movie theater/restaurant/bar chain known as Alamo Drafthouse. Read more.

Patterson House is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

14. Patterson House

9.1
1711 Division St (at 18th Ave S), Nashville, TN
Speakeasy · 178 tips and reviews

EaterEater: This softly lit, chandelier-bedecked gem attracts many an in-town celebrity looking to booze it up in a mellow atmosphere. There is an Old Fashioned here made with bacon-infused bourbon. Read more.

15. PDT (Please Don't Tell)

8.2
113 Saint Marks Pl (btwn 1st Ave & Avenue A), New York, NY
Speakeasy · East Village · 438 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Even though the acronym means “Please Don’t Tell,” word’s been out about modern speakeasy PDT for quite some time now. Momofuku bar director John deBary got his bartending start here. Read more.

Polite Provisions is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

16. Polite Provisions

8.8
4696 30th St (at Adams Ave), San Diego, CA
Cocktail Bar · North Park · 100 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The ambitious cocktail menu here uses lots of housemade mixers like tonic and grapefruit soda, bitters and more; plus spirits, already-mixed cocktails, beer and wine on draft. Read more.

Proof on Main is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

17. Proof on Main

8.5
702 W Main St (at S 7th St), Louisville, KY
Bar · Central Business District · 142 tips and reviews

EaterEater: While the reviews of the 30-foot-tall golden naked David in front of its entrance are mixed, new executive chef Levon Wallace's menu has drawn near universal praise. [Eater 18 Member]

Rob Roy is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

18. Rob Roy

8.6
2332 2nd Ave (at Battery St), Seattle, WA
Cocktail Bar · Belltown · 97 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Food and drink writer Jessica Voelker thinks that since then, it “seems to have transformed from the unofficial clubhouse for the serious cocktail kids to a high-volume bar with professional polish." Read more.

Smuggler's Cove is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

19. Smuggler's Cove

8.8
650 Gough St (at McAllister St), San Francisco, CA
Tiki Bar · Civic Center · 328 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Bet you never thought a crazy kitschy den of all things tiki could actually serve high-fructose-corn-syrup-free, all-natural drinks. This one can, and the cocktails hold up to the best in town.

20. The Sugar House

9.0
2130 Michigan Ave (btw 14th St & Wabash St), Detroit, MI
Cocktail Bar · Corktown · 103 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Its star spirit is rum and its cocktails are self-described as “traditional drinks of the Caribbean islands, classic libations of Prohibition-era Havana and exotic cocktails from legendary tiki bars." Read more.

Three Dots and a Dash is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

21. Three Dots and a Dash

8.5
435 N Clark St (btwn Illinois & Hubbard St), Chicago, IL
Tiki Bar · Near North Side · 223 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Emma Janzen says, "Modern tiki drinks featuring mezcal, genever and Scotch hold court against classics, which all taste fresh, balanced and totally on-point every time." Read more.

The Varnish is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

22. The Varnish

118 E 6th St (at Main St), Los Angeles, CA
Speakeasy · Fashion District · 124 tips and reviews

EaterEater: LA Mag blogger Caroline Pardilla says, "Your phone won't work here, so give yourself over to this bar from another era and enjoy live jazz and a simple but straightforward classic cocktail list." Read more.

Velvet Tango Room is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

23. Velvet Tango Room

8.6
2095 Columbus Rd, Cleveland, OH
Cocktail Bar · Tremont · 59 tips and reviews

EaterEater: In addition to the upscale atmosphere, the cocktail cred here includes specialty ice cubes that are frozen at -30-degrees Farenheit, cherries imported from Italy and housemade bitters. Read more.

24. Vesper

7.8
3708 Las Vegas Blvd S (in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas), Las Vegas, NV
Cocktail Bar · 105 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Ask for Roger Gillespie to shake up your drinks. Let him go off the menu with cocktails such as the Cross Stitch with a 12-year rum, whiskey, Benedictine and set on fire at the end.

25. The Violet Hour

9.0
1520 N Damen Ave (at Pierce Ave), Chicago, IL
Speakeasy · Wicker Park · 255 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Step inside the intimate space and peruse through an extensive handcrafted drink menu that includes vodka, tequila, rum, brandy and portable bitters creations. Try the Juliet & Romeo or the Sazerac.

26. Williams & Graham

8.8
3160 Tejon St (at 32nd Ave), Denver, CO
Cocktail Bar · Highland · 96 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Sean Kenyon's speakeasy joint is hidden behind a bookshelf. Between Kenyon's cocktails and food from former Squeaky Bean chef Max MacKissock, this remains the hottest place to go for drinks and food.

Windmill Lounge is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

27. Windmill Lounge

5320 Maple Ave (at Hudnall St.), Dallas, TX
Dive Bar · 28 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Feast Portland's Mike Thelin thinks "this place combines everything you love about classic cocktails and still manages to feel like the coolest dive bar you've ever been to." Read more.

The Esquire Tavern is one of Eater Essential Cocktails.

28. The Esquire Tavern

8.7
155 E Commerce St (at St. Marys), San Antonio, TX
Cocktail Bar · 185 tips and reviews

EaterEater: “This place is magic,” says Feast Portland’s Mike Thelin of this 1933-established bar on the San Antonio River Walk that feels like walking into an old saloon. Read more.