One of my favorite things to do when I travel is try local bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. It truly helps you get a deeper insight into the area of the world you’re visiting. And if I’m being completely honest, a drink is just a great way to wind down after a day of walking 20,000+ steps. Over the years my taste buds have changed and I’ve realized I’ve become a whole lot less picky. I’m perfectly happy to grab a beer, glass of wine, or a fancy craft cocktail. But as much as I try, I haven’t quite gotten the taste for a straight martini yet. I’ve been to so many places, it was surprisingly difficult to narrow down my favorite bars. Whether I’ve only been once, or dozens of times, these are the bars and pubs that have really made an impression and stand out in my mind.
haley.henry
Wine Bar – Boston, Massachusetts.
Whenever I plan a trip to Boston, a stop at haley.henry is always part of the itinerary. This woman-owned wine bar in the Downtown Crossing area specializes in small production and natural wines that you’d likely not find otherwise. The wood-filled space has a quirky and eclectic vibe that is fun and inviting. It’s on the smaller side at just 700 square feet, but it feels cozy instead of overcrowded. In 2024 they were a James Beard semi-finalist for “Outstanding Wine Program” and in 2025 USA Today named haley.henry the 4th best wine bar in the country. They also have a sister wine bar, nathálie, over in Boston’s Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood.
haley.henry’s ever-changing wine list can be a little intimidating. But thankfully the staff is amazing at recommending the perfect option based on your preferences. You’ll notice that most of the menu is part of their “half bottle concept”. This means they’ll open any bottle you like, as long as you commit to at least 2 glasses (but if it’s already open, they’ll happily pour you a single!). This way you can try something new without buying an entire bottle, and they’re able to keep everything fresh. While it’s not necessarily a spot I’d go for dinner, they do have some solid snack plates to share. If you’re in town on a Wednesday, head over for their Weiner Wednesday series – featuring a different loaded hot dog special each week! They get pretty busy for happy hour and on the weekends, so definitely make a reservation.
Drink Kong
Cocktail Bar – Rome, Italy.
Located in the Monti district, Drink Kong is consistently ranked as one of the World’s Best Bars and for good reason. In the most recent rankings (2024 as of posting) they sat at number 33. Honestly I just felt cool sitting in there! The decor is Japanese street style-inspired, with neon lights and retro seating areas. One detail I really enjoyed was the complimentary glass of prosecco and light snacks we were given to enjoy while browsing the menu. Some may find the drink list a little pretentious, with each cocktail getting its own page. But I love the simplicity (and the fact that I know what glass to expect). The food list isn’t massive – think bao, dumplings, spring rolls – but they paired really well with our drinks.
Now be prepared, they are on the pricier side at €16+ per cocktail (about $19+ USD). But in my opinion it’s worth it for the quality and atmosphere – even if you just stop in for one drink! I highly recommend making a reservation, especially if you don’t plan to be there as soon as they open. The communal seating areas and bar stools fill up pretty fast, and from my experience having a table to yourself is just a nicer experience! They’re open until 2am every day, but don’t take reservations after midnight. Interested in the rest of our Rome trip? Check it out here.
Philadelphia Distilling
Distillery – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I could talk your ear off about Philadelphia Distilling, I just love it so much. It’s my favorite place in all of Philadelphia, so much so that I’ve already written an entire post about it! This distillery opened in 2005 in the Fishtown neighborhood and was the first distillery opened in Pennsylvania since Prohibition! They produce their signature Bluecoat American Dry Gin along with vodka, amaro, and absinthe. I was not a fan of gin at all (juniper isn’t my favorite flavor) before visiting Philly Distilling but they had such rave reviews that I thought I’d give it a shot. I’ve since learned that American-style gin is much less juniper forward than the traditional London-style, which is why I like it!
Inside of the converted factory space is modern, open and airy, while the outdoor patio area is perfect for sipping cocktails on warm summer days. The quality and variety of their cocktails, as well as the amazing small plates they pair with them, is what draws us back time and again. I do miss their gin for seltzer (RIP) and hope they decide to bring it back in the future. One thing I still have yet to do is take a distillery tour, but it’s on my list! Depending on the time of day you can often walk in without a reservation, but I usually make one for weekend nights just to be safe.
Bretto’s Bar
Distillery – Athens, Greece.
Unfortunately Brettos Bar is a spot I’ve only been to once but it left an impression! Located in the Plaka neighborhood, Brettos is the oldest distillery in Athens. They’ve been making ouzo and other spirits here since 1909! I will say that, like with gin, ouzo isn’t a flavor I normally enjoy as aniseed tastes like black licorice. But I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth and not overwhelming the flavor was. I even ordered a glass of straight ouzo to sip on after finishing my ouzo and limoncello cocktail! They have 5 different varieties – Blue, Gold, Green, Red and Black. Want to try them all? You’re in luck, because they also do tastings.
The colorful interior with its backlit bottle display is what initially drew me in, because I mean who doesn’t love an aesthetic or photo-friendly space? But it’s really the drinks and staff that would make me stop in again the next time I’m in Athens. The bar has seating both inside and out, but I personally prefer outside where you can people watch! If you’re like me and don’t usually check a bag on your trips, but still want to bring some ouzo home with you, they do ship all over the world. Check out the other stops I made during my Athens trip here!
The Dead Rabbit
Irish Pub – New York, New York.
If you’ve watched Gangs of New York, the Dead Rabbit name probably sounds familiar! Named after Manhattan’s infamous Irish-American gang from the 1850’s, this bar in the Financial District is known for its Irish coffee and great vibes. They were even named the Best Bar in the World back in 2016! The space is actually 2 bars in 1 – on the main floor you’ll find a traditional Irish pub and upstairs is a craft cocktail parlor. The decor and cocktail menus in both spaces are totally different, making it a great one-stop bar crawl! While I haven’t gotten anything to eat here, yet, the menu is full of classics like fish and chips, bangers and mash, and even an all-day Irish breakfast.
The pub can get pretty packed, but as someone who isn’t great in crowds I surprisingly don’t feel overwhelmed here. And service is much quicker than you’d expect from a place that gets so busy. They’ve started to expand over the last few years, with a new location opening in Austin, TX in 2024 and another in the works for Washington, D.C. Unfortunately I haven’t been back since pre-Covid, which is something I need to rectify asap (if for no other reason, I need to get some better photos!).
Jigger & Spoon
Cocktail Bar – Stuttgart, Germany.
I’m a sucker for a unique space and experience, and Jigger & Spoon certainly has both. This speakeasy in Stuttgart’s Hospitalviertel district is located in a former bank vault, and getting in can be a little tricky if you don’t know what to do! Follow your GPS to a nondescript office building where you’ll find no signage outside except for a little placard on the intercom. Hit the button to be buzzed inside, then take the elevator down to the basement. Inside you’ll find a dark and moody 1930’s-themed space, which also has a small cigar lounge and live music on the weekends.
These were easily the best cocktails we had during our trip to Germany. The flavors were on point, nothing overly strong or sweet, and I really appreciated how every drink was served paired with a glass of water. It might seem like a silly little detail, but I hate having to ask for water when I’m drinking! Just keep in mind that it can get a little warm in here, even on colder days, so dress accordingly. If you’re looking for a more laid-back experience, visit on a weeknight when it’s significantly less crowded.
Room for Improvement
Cocktail Bar – Portland, Maine.
I’m not going to lie, I honestly was expecting a dive bar when I walked into Room for Improvement and I was pleasantly surprised to be proven (slightly) wrong. Their slogan is ‘a halfway decent bar’, but in actuality this is my favorite bar we visited while in Portland. While they’re not on the 50 Best Bars list, they did make the 50 Best Discovery list meaning they received a significant amount of votes for best bar! The bar is situated on Wharf Street in the Old Port area which is saturated with a variety of other bars, but they still manage to stand out. Everything feels very contradictory, from the neighborhood bar feel to the moody cocktail bar-esque lighting.
The contradictions continue on the menu, where you’ll find both typical bar staples like beer, picklebacks, and hotdogs, as well as a rotating list of classic cocktails that they put their own twist on. My personal favorite was the white negroni, which you should 100% order if you see it on the menu. It was SO GOOD and would be my go-to. Like most of the bars on this list, the later you go the more likely it is this place will be packed. So just keep that in mind since they don’t take reservations.
Bar Raval
Tapas/Cocktail Bar – Toronto, ON, Canada.
Located in Toronto’s West End is the lively Spanish tapas bar Bar Raval. From the outside, you might not guess that this unassuming corner bar is one of the best places for a drink in the city. However in 2024, 50Best named the bar one of the most beautiful in the world! And it truly deserves it, the gorgeous space is full of sweeping mahogany decor and the perfect amount of moody lighting. Michelin Guide Toronto also recently named one of the mixologists here with the 2025 Exceptional Cocktails Award.
The bar serves pinxtos, northern Spain’s version of tapas, aka small snacks to pair with your drinks. My husband and I practically inhaled the jamon croquettas and pitatas bravas, they were delicious. Their cocktail menu changes with the seasons, focusing on fresh ingredients and twists on classics. I never would’ve thought to pair pistachio vodka and limoncello, but it was amazing! I should note that besides at the bar, there aren’t any seats – it’s all standing-room only. We stopped in on a Friday night and based on reviews online expected a wait, but we were able to get a spot immediately! Open daily, they don’t take reservations but they do have the option to join a waitlist on their website.
Charlie was a sinner.
Cocktail Bar – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
While I’m not a vegan myself, I still LOVE Charlie was a sinner. This wonderful (totally vegan) cocktail lounge can be found nestled into Philly’s Midtown Village neighborhood. If you’re looking for great vegan food and strong craft cocktails, this is the spot for you. While I haven’t actually eaten here yet, they’re said to have one of the best vegan small plate menus in the entire city. But don’t take my word for it – a few famously vegan celebrities like Anya Taylor-Joy and Billie Eilish have both name dropped the bar in interviews!
Every cocktail I’ve tried here has been top tier. If I had to choose a favorite, it’d probably be the Black Pearl which is a mix of rum, Italian vermouth, and Amari. In the front you’ll find a few cocktail tables, with the bar and some larger tables in the back. It’s not a very large space, so if you plan to visit on a weekend night I’d probably recommend making a reservation. I love stopping in here for a quick cocktail (or two) before heading to dinner.
What’s your personal favorite bar in the world? Let me know in the comments!
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