The World's Top 100 Dive Bars
Updated May 17, 2026
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Rank 1. Yacht Club
- James Beard Awards
- 2026 · Nominee · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright
- 50 Best
- 2026 · #67 · North America's 50 Best Bars
- Esquire
- 2023 · The Best Bars in America
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Rank 1. Machine Shop
- James Beard Awards
- 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bakery
- 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Emily Riddell
- Eater
- 2022 · The Best New Restaurants in America
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Rank 1. Bad Idea
A converted church sanctuary in East Nashville holds a 100-bottle wine program and a sprawling bar built for conviviality. The kitchen moves easily between playful appetizers—whipped pimento cheese, reimagined chicken nuggets—and more substantial plates of grilled steak and spinach-stuffed quail. The result is a place that takes wine seriously but doesn't take itself too seriously.
- Food & Wine
- 2025 · Colby Rasavong · Best New Chefs
- The New York Times
- 2024 · The Restaurant List
- Wine Enthusiast
- 2024 · Forward 50 Restaurants
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Rank 4. Bryant’s
- Punch
- Industry Icon
- James Beard Awards
- 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar
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Rank 4. Tiger Bar
Step into Tiger Bar's wood-paneled rooms and you're transported to speakeasy-era America, all dim lighting and period detail. The cocktails—gin-forward and playful—arrive with genuine craft and a sense of occasion. It's a place that commits fully to its theatrical premise without winking at it.
- The Pinnacle Guide
- 1 Pin
- Esquire
- 2024 · The Best Bars in America
- Nashville Scene
- 2024 · Best Theme Bar · Best of Nashville
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Rank 4. Anna's
- James Beard Awards
- 2024 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Restaurateur · Robert LeBlanc - LeBlanc + Smith
- Esquire
- 2023 · The Best Bars in America
- Spirited Awards
- 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Bar Team – U.S. Central
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Rank 4. The Butterscotch Den
- Esquire
- 2024 · Freezer Martini · The Best Martinis in America
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West *
- 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
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Rank 4. Pinto Bar
- MexBest
- 2025 · Mejor Wine Bar: Nominados · Premios MexBest
- 2024 · Mejor Wine Bar: Nominados · Premios MexBest
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Rank 9. Vaughan's Lounge
- Wildsam
- The 50 Most Essential Bars in America
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
- Eater
- These Are the Very Best Bars in New Orleans
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Rank 9. The Little Woody
- Foodist Awards
- 2025 · Winner: Genuine Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- 2024 · Winner · Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
- 2025 · Finalist · Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
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Rank 9. Otto’s High Dive
Otto's High Dive, a whitewashed rum bar with Cuban leanings, trades swagger for the kind of genuine service and unfussy cooking that makes a neighborhood place stick. The kitchen moves easily between shrimp cocktail with Bloody Mary sauce and ropa vieja, before cinnamon bread pudding closes the bill with a tangy cream cheese finish.
- The Pinnacle Guide
- 1 Pin
- Michelin Guide
- 2026 · Bib Gourmand
- Time Out
- The 20 best restaurants in Orlando
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Rank 9. Sousòl
- Bon Appétit
- 2023 · America's Best New Restaurants
- Esquire
- 2023 · The Best Bars in America
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Rank 13. Stoa
The narrow room holds a minimalist bar where the bartender builds cocktails with the precision of a craftsman setting stone. Small plates arrive as afterthought turned essential, each one calibrated to slip between sips without breaking the mood.
- Punch
- 2024 · Best New Bars
- Spirited Awards
- 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
- Eater
- Best New Bar
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Rank 14. Otro Bar
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New International Cocktail Bar – Latin America & Caribbean
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Rank 14. Atomic Liquors
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
- Eater
- The Best Bars in Las Vegas
- Time Out
- The best bars in Las Vegas
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Rank 14. Quema que Quema
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New International Cocktail Bar – Latin America & Caribbean
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Rank 14. Victor Audio Bar
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New International Cocktail Bar – Latin America & Caribbean
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Rank 14. Netsu Bar
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New International Cocktail Bar – Middle East & Africa *
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Rank 14. PS Lounge - Denver
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
- Eater
- The Best Bars in Denver
- The Infatuation
- The Best Bars In Denver
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Rank 14. Groov
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New International Cocktail Bar – Middle East & Africa *
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Rank 14. Diamono Bar
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best New International Cocktail Bar – Middle East & Africa *
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Rank 22. The Snug
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West
- 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Bar Team – U.S. West
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Rank 22. Gracie's Tax Bar
- Imbibe
- Where to Drink in Phoenix
- Eater
- The Best Bars in Phoenix
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
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Rank 22. Cosmo's
- D Magazine
- 2025 · Best Vietnamese · Best of Big D
- #44 · The 50 Best Restaurants
- Dallas Observer
- 2024 · Best Espresso Martini · Best of Dallas
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Rank 22. Valhalla
Chef Stephen Gillanders holds court at a dark Wicker Park counter, sending out a globe-trotting tasting menu that pivots between Filipino, Mexican, Chinese, and Indian without apology—lobster tsukune with smoked pimentón butter lands next to white curry noodles. Dessert pavlovas and a beverage program of real thoughtfulness suggest a kitchen that plays seriously.
- Michelin Guide
- 2026 · Selected Restaurant
- The Infatuation
- #16 · The 25 Best Restaurants In Chicago
- The Banchets
- 2025 · Winner · Sommelier of the Year · Jelena Prodan
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Rank 22. Double Wide
- Wildsam
- The 50 Most Essential Bars in America
- Dallas Observer
- 2025 · Best Happy Hour · Best of Dallas
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Rank 27. Sidewinder
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
- 2025 · Best Trendy Diner · Best of Phoenix
- 2024 · Best Trendy Diner · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 27. The Dirty Drummer
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
- 2025 · Best Bar Food · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 27. Trashhawk Tavern
- Eater
- The Best Bars in Denver
- Westword
- 2025 · The Top 50 Bars in Denver Right Now
- 2024 · Best Food Truck Lineup at a Bar · Best of Denver
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Rank 27. Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge
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Rank 27. The Jackrabbit Lounge
- Arizona Daily Star
- Munchies · Where should I eat in Tucson
- Tucson Foodie
- Where I Eat in Tucson
- The Ultimate Tucson Restaurant Bucket List
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Rank 27. The Starving Artist
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
- AZ Central
- 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix Magazine
- 2025 · Best Off-Label Use of Pickles: Dill Pickle Pizza · Best of the Valley
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Rank 27. Northside Tavern
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
- The Infatuation
- The 18 Best Bars In Atlanta
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Rank 27. Linger Longer Lounge
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
- 2025 · Chicken Tecolota @ Requinto · The 10 best bites we tasted at Phoenix restaurants
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Rank 27. Brother's Keeper
- Eater
- Miami’s 15 Essential Cocktail Bars
- Miami New Times
- 2025 · 100 Best Bars in Miami
- 2025 · Best Bar (Miami Beach) · Best of Miami New Times
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Rank 27. My Brother's Bar
- Eater
- The Best Bars in Denver
- Johnny burger · Denver’s 20 Most Iconic Dishes
- Westword
- 2025 · The Top 50 Bars in Denver Right Now
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Rank 37. The Goat
- D Magazine
- 2025 · Best Karaoke · Best of Big D
- 2024 · Best Place to Get a Beer Before 8 AM · Best of Big D
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Rank 37. Doc’s Green Door Lounge
A Junction corner spot that moves fluently between morning espresso and late-night wine, where the bartenders compose drinks with the precision of a jeweler—a Banana Daiquiri built from two rums, an Amaro Sour layered with egg whites and rhubarb bitters. The cellar runs deep with natural wines from cult producers, yet a neighborhood ease persists: pilsners and shot specials anchor the list alongside the theatrical "My Way" Martini.
- Canada's 100 Best
- 2026 · #25 · Best Bars
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Rank 37. Charles Village Pub
- Baltimore Beat
- 2023 · Best Place for a Random Conversation · Best of Baltimore
- 2025 · For the Good Days and Bad · Best of Baltimore
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Rank 37. Marie's Crisis Cafe
- Esquire
- 2025 · The Best Bars in America
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Rank 37. Poison Girl Bar
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
- Houstonia
- The Official 50 Hottest Bars in Houston
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Rank 37. The Dive
- Baltimore Magazine
- 2023 · Comfort Food · Best of Baltimore
- 2025 · Best Bars
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Rank 37. Club Frills
- James Beard Awards
- 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · Jesse Hedberg
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Rank 37. Crucible Bar
- Esquire
- 2025 · The Best Bars in America
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Rank 37. Armoury D.E.
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Rank 37. John Brown's Underground
- James Beard Awards
- 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar
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Rank 37. Lotties
- James Beard Awards
- 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Restaurateur · Mark Domitrovich, Brian Jupiter, and Aaron Torricelli - Pioneer Tavern Group
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Rank 37. Johnny's Gold Brick
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Bar Team – U.S. Central *
- Houstonia
- The Official 50 Hottest Bars in Houston
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Rank 37. The Contrary
- James Beard Awards
- 2026 · Semifinalist · Best New Bar
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Rank 37. Thunderbird Station
- Dallas Observer
- 2023 · Best Late-Night Grub · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine
- 2023 · Best Frozen Drink: The Peel Out · Best of Big D
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Rank 37. The Mothership
- James Beard Awards
- 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar
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Rank 37. Mac's Club Deuce
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
- Miami New Times
- 2025 · 100 Best Bars in Miami
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Rank 37. Jimmy's Corner
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
- Time Out
- #28 · The 30 best bars in NYC right now
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Rank 37. The Grapevine Bar
- D Magazine
- 2024 · BEst Bar Resurrection · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer
- 2024 · Best Come Back · Best of Dallas
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Rank 37. Bud Rip's
- Esquire
- 2025 · The Best Bars in America
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Rank 37. Jowong
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Rank 57. The Buffet Bar
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Rank 57. Fox’s Lounge
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Rank 57. Fox's Lounge
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Rank 57. 416 Snack Bar
A candlelit room where strangers eat with their hands and bartenders remember what you drink. 416 Snack Bar opened as a deliberate provocation—no reservations, no cutlery, no cocktail menu—and has only softened its stance slightly over the years, trading absolutism for a more forgiving pragmatism. The food remains casual, the beverage program remains fluid, and the place still feels like it knows exactly who it wants to be.
- Canada's 100 Best
- 2026 · #38 · Best Bars
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Rank 57. Sweaty Betty's
Sweaty Betty's wears its dive-bar roughness—red light, mismatched chairs, anarchic spirit—like armor against the Ossington strip's polish, a standby since 2004 that rewards those who look past the stumble-in allure. Cocktails are built with precision, beers span a thoughtful roster, and the kitchen moves beyond the usual with vegan options, all priced to encourage return visits.
- Canada's 100 Best
- 2026 · #50 · Best Bars
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Rank 57. The Captain's Cabin
- Eater
- The Best Bars in Phoenix
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
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Rank 57. Rain Dog Bar
A loft in Inglewood where Bill Bonar, Alberta's first Certified Cicerone, curates an obsessive list of natural wines and craft beers—Trappist rarities, local finds, global anomalies—organized by style and vintage. The charcuterie, preserves, and chef-driven plates match the kitchen's ambition for the glass.
- Canada's 100 Best
- 2026 · #36 · Best Bars
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Rank 57. Milly’s
- Spirited Awards
- 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West *
- Vogue
- 2026 · The 25 Best Restaurants in Brooklyn, According to Vogue Staff
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Rank 57. Don's Club Tavern
- Thrillist
- The Best Bars in Denver
- Westword
- 2025 · The Top 50 Bars in Denver Right Now
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Rank 57. Maps Bar
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Rank 57. Red Lion Lounge
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Rank 57. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
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Rank 57. The Plough and Stars
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Rank 57. Dave's Fox Head Tavern
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Rank 57. Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge
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Rank 57. Driftwood Room
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Rank 57. Double Standard
- Eater
- The Best Cocktail Bars in San Antonio
- San Antonio Current
- 2025 · The 50 best bars in San Antonio
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Rank 57. Blue Moon
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Rank 57. Nemo's
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Rank 57. Candlelight Tavern
- The Infatuation
- The Best Bars In Denver
- Westword
- 2025 · The Top 50 Bars in Denver Right Now
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Rank 57. Oscar’s Tavern
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Rank 57. The Cinema Bar
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Rank 57. Lion's Lair
- The Infatuation
- The Best Bars In Denver
- Westword
- 2025 · The Top 50 Bars in Denver Right Now
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Rank 57. Dawn Club
- Esquire
- 2024 · The Best Bars in America
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Rank 57. Green Parrot Bar
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Rank 57. Keg South
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Rank 57. Babes Bar
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Rank 57. The Bend Liquor Lounge
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Rank 57. Tony's Siesta
- Eater
- The Best Cocktail Bars in San Antonio
- San Antonio Current
- 2025 · The 50 best bars in San Antonio
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Rank 86. Sunny's Bar
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Inner Town Pub
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. The Original Pinkie Masters
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Showtime Bar
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Charlie's Phoenix
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 86. TT Roadhouse
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 86. Nutowne Saloon
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 86. Genoa Bar and Saloon
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Rank 86. B J's Lounge
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Donn's Depot
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Dickey's Lanes
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. The Thin Man
- Westword
- 2025 · The Top 50 Bars in Denver Right Now
- 2024 · Best Bar on a Snowy Night · Best of Denver
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Rank 86. Dirty Frank's
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Temple Bar
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Lakeview Lounge
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Rank 86. Bikini Lounge
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 86. Yucca Tap Room
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 86. Dixon Bar
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Dinty Moore's Bar
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Old Colony Tap
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Recovery Room Tavern
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. The Buffalo Chip Saloon
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 86. Sophie's Bar N.Y.C.
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Rainbo Club
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Owls Club
- Arizona Daily Star
- Date Night · Where should I eat in Tucson
- Tucson Foodie
- The Ultimate Tucson Restaurant Bucket List
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Rank 86. Posse East
- Eater
- Best Piece of Old Austin · The 2025 Eater Austin Award Winners
- The Best Classic Austin Restaurants
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Rank 86. Dean's
A British pub with the bones of a neighborhood haunt, Dean's lets you chase crispy fish and chips with either a proper Guinness or a wine list that refuses to apologize for its ambition. The effect is disarmingly unpretentious—tradition and curiosity sharing the same worn wood.
- The Infatuation
- The 21 Best New Restaurants In NYC
- Eater
- 2026 · The Best Restaurants in Soho
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Rank 86. The Heavy Feather
- The Infatuation
- The Best Cocktail Bars In Chicago
- Eater
- Chicago’s Best Speakeasies and Secret Bars
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Rank 86. The Alderman
- The Infatuation
- The Best Cocktail Bars In Chicago
- Eater
- Chicago’s Best Speakeasies and Secret Bars
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Rank 86. Coach House
- AZ Central
- 2025 · Best bars in metro Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
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Rank 86. The Riptide
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Red's Lounge
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. The Kraken
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Valentine Texas Bar
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America
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Rank 86. Irish Wolfhound Pub
- Phoenix New Times
- 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
- 2025 · Best Irish Pub · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 86. Deep Eddy Cabaret
- Huckberry
- The 50 Best Dive Bars in America