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USA TODAY named a Des Moines bar one of America's best. We wish these spots made the cut
The USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2025 list, released today, features bars from dive bars and LGBTQ-friendly places to speakeasies and chic cocktail lounges. USA TODAY Network food journalists across the country pooled their expertise and local dining experiences to select the bars, which includes the places they know, love and recommend. In Des Moines, The Bartender's Handshake with its midcentury modern style and refined list of cocktails on Ingersoll Avenue, was named one of best in the country. Last year, Hello, Marjorie made the USA TODAY list of Bars of the Year. But there are so many other bars serving exceptional cocktails and showcasing hospitality that deserve to be recognized. Here are six places from the Des Moines metro, in alphabetical order, that we wish had made the Bars of the Year list. If you need an excuse to grab a drink with a friend? Maybe you want to revisit the day in the office with co-workers with a night on the town. Or maybe you want to toast a new relationship, a birthday, or another big special occasion and want to perfectly executed cocktail to go along with the night. We also included a guide to speakeasies, restaurants with good cocktail programs, and wine bars. As always, our emails are open for your suggestions at sstapleton@ More: USA TODAY named its Bars of the Year. This Des Moines neighborhood favorite made the list Bellhop If the South Pacific vibe strikes your fancy, head to this tiki bar in the East Village. Bellhop specializes in the Painkiller and Mai Tai for tropical vibes, but consider ordering a punchbowl of drinks meant to share with friends. Cocktails such as the Funky Flamingo with strawberry-infused vodka and St Germain and the Polynesian Sling with Prairie Organic Gin and Creme De Cassis come in stunning glasses (a flamingo and a grinning fish) meant for selfies. Do ask about drinks made with hemp-derived THC. Location: 440 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines Contact: Hello, Marjorie 'The prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines,' boasts a pink LED sign hanging over a fireplace. The quote from Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel 'On the Road' defines Hello, Marjorie, a step back in time to the 1950s when midcentury modern decor ruled. The retro cocktail lounge in the former Des Moines Register & Tribune building from owner Nick Tillinghast serves some of the most creative cocktails in the Midwest. Tillinghast carved out conversational seating areas outfitted with retro couches in golds and hunter greens, low-slung chairs and buffets decorated with old books, globes and lamps. Order the namesake Marjorie, made with elderberry and spiced pear in vodka. A separate speakeasy, Good News, Darling, sits in the back of the space with its own distinctive menu and vibe. Hello, Marjorie was named one of the 27 top bars in America by USA TODAY last week. Location: 717 Locust St., Des Moines Contact: More: The best bars in America in 2024: See USA TODAY's 27 favorite spots HoQtail Lounge This small cocktail lounge requires reservations next door to HoQ, the farm-to-table mainstay in the East Village of Des Moines. HoQtail Lounge opened in the spring with a small space hiding a rich collection of high-end liquors that form the basis of the specialty menu, only available at HoQtail. Each drink comes with a bite, which could be a meatball or a sweet, specifically paired with the drink. Look for drinks such as the Burnt Passion Fruit, a Casamigos mezcal drink that leans on Bauchant orange liqueur, and a Clarified Negroni with McQueen and the Violet Fog gin, Cappelletti vino aperitivo, Muz vermut natural, and grapefruit juice in a milk-washed glass. Location: 303 E. Fifth St., Des Moines Contact: More: Meet HoQtail, the new cocktail lounge in the East Village, where drinks come with a bite The New Northwestern Cocktail & Wine Bar On the southern side of the East Village, find The New Northwestern Cocktail & Wine Bar in the historic building from 1916. The décor here celebrates the railroad and rail travel. At one time, the hotel catered to the employees and passengers of the C&NW railroad, legislators, and state fairgoers, according to the cocktail lounge's website. Try a gin and tonic flight with three gins to discover a new favorite or order a martini such as the Northwestern Railway with a basil- and tomato-infused vodka with giardiniera and olive brine. Location: 321 E. Walnut St., Des Moines Contact: More: Hungry? Check out these 31 essential restaurants in the Des Moines metro for 2025 Secret Admirer This gem is known for its patio that looks north toward the Des Moines skyline. Secret Admirer, also from Tillinghast, offers drinks such as the Nice Rum Cocktail, blueberry version, as well as the Daydream with vodka and Earl Grey tea. Grab a seat on the patio and order at the window. Look for a pop-up bar for the holidays called The Nice List, when the bar gets decorated and offers specialty cocktails for the holidays. Location: 110 S.W. Fifth St., Des Moines Contact: Winchester Public House The cocktail game got serious in West Des Moines when the Winchester Public House opened in Valley Junction in 2016. Think of this as a 'Prohibition-style pub with a signature line of cocktails while focusing on a modern twist on the classics.' Try the Butterfly Effect with Revelton honey vodka and a butterfly pea flower syrup or a Mango en Fuego with mezcal, tequila and ancho reyes. Location: 224 Fifth St., West Des Moines Contact: Where to find speakeasies in the Des Moines metro Black Sheep; Dugan's Hideaway; Good News, Darling; In Confidence; Ken's — A Not So Secret Speakeasy; The Red Monk; Revival House; Shorty's Somewhat Fancy Bar Your guide to speakeasies: Want in on a secret? Here's where to find hidden speakeasy bars in Des Moines An incomplete list of local restaurants with great cocktail programs 801 Chophouse, Alba, Aura, Bar Nico, Bubba, Centro, Ceviche Bar, Cheese Bar, Clyde's Fine Diner, Continental, Cooper's on Fifth, Django, Fresko, Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster, Harbinger, Oak Park, Prime & Providence, Republic on Grand, RoCA, Stuffed Olive, Table 128, Trostel's Greenbriar More: He goes to Asia every year for inspiration. Now his restaurant was named tops in the US Excellent wine bars in the metro The Cave, The Cork 50131, The Purveyor, WineStyles (West Des Moines and Ankeny) More: This Des Moines restaurant with innovative dishes named one of the best by USA TODAY Sign up for our new dining newsletter, Table Talk, which comes out on Wednesday mornings with all the latest news on restaurants and bars in the metro. You can sign up for free at If you see a new restaurant opening or a beloved place closing, send me some details at sstapleton@ Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@ This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Where to find the best bars in the Des Moines metro, 2025 guide Solve the daily Crossword
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What are the best bars in the Midwest? See USA TODAY's 2025 Bars of the Year
If it's history and a gun fight you like, South Dakota has the bar for you. Saloon 10 in Deadwood, South Dakota, not only serves killer drinks, but dishes on the history of the gold mining town where Wild Bill Hickok played his aces over eights — known as the "dead man's hand" — poker hand before he was shot. And if you're a cocktail lover, you've also come to the right place: This list is a don't-miss read. These six cocktail bars — the swankiest, most creative, coolest in the nation — are among the selections in our second USA TODAY Bars of the Year list. The USA TODAY Best Bars in America: The 29 best bars in America in 2025: See USA TODAY's top picks More: Best Bars in America: How USA TODAY picked the 2025 finalists Selected by our network of food writers across the nation — from The Arizona Republic to the Palm Beach Post — these bars represent the best neighborhood taverns, the coziest wine bars and the beachiest beach bars. But for lovers of cocktails, and the bars that serve them, we've created a special sublist here. Here they are, the USA TODAY Bars of the Year in the Midwest. See last year's list The best bars in America in 2024: See USA TODAY's 27 favorite spots The Bartender's Handshake | Des Moines, Iowa Details: 3615 Ingersoll Ave.; 515-630-3008, Midcentury modern decor comes together with a neighborhood bar at The Bartender's Handshake, with its stellar lineup of elevated craft cocktails and three renditions of its namesake drink. Dave Murrin-von Ebers opened this gem in 2019 in a former stained-glass store, adding a curved banquet, two booths for seating and a long bar for slinging modern renditions of classic drinks. Step outside for a patio open year-round with fire pits for the cooler months and apres ski parties, and shade and bocce ball for the sunny days. Order the Prairie Rose – with gin, Campari and raspberry syrup, topped with egg whites – for a nod to the bar's logo and Iowa state flower, or try the Karate Kick – a vodka drink with Ancho Reyes, carrot and ginger – for something that feels healthy with a kick. — Susan Stapleton, The Des Moines Register Read a full review of The Bartender's Handshake on Gabe's | Iowa City, Iowa Details: 330 E. Washington St.; Fifty years of history hangs on the wall at Gabe's. The two-story Iowa City institution pulses with strong pours, cold beer and the gasp of raspy vocals and distorted riffs that rattle the floorboards. Gabe's is a lighthouse of nostalgia, and band posters tell the story, from Nirvana to Danny Brown. Stay downstairs for a no-frills dive bar experience made for a sitcom, with eccentric characters spilling stories of their memories that leak into the urban beer garden in the back. Upstairs, audience members crowd the edge of the stage to see their underground favorites from EDM DJs to hardcore punks. A night at Gabe's is a night of rock 'n' roll history. — Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen Read a full review of Gabe's on Ghost Baby | Cincinnati, Ohio Details: 1314 Republic St.; 513-381-5333, It's four stories underground. It occupies a 19th-century lagering tunnel. And it's rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a toddler. Welcome to Ghost Baby, Cincinnati's very subterranean cocktail bar. Opened in 2019 by former nightclub promoter Josh Heuser, the bar makes imaginative use of the tunnels once used as storage for saloons and breweries before the days of refrigeration. The aesthetic is 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald meets 1980s Bret Easton Ellis. There are disco balls and chandeliers, bistro tables and classic cocktails. The entertainment might be an out-of-town jazz band or the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Since it opened, Ghost Baby has received several accolades from national press. In 2022, Esquire included Ghost Baby on its list of the Best Bars in America, describing it as a 'Babylon Berlin-feeling nightclub.' — Keith Pandolfi, The Cincinnati Enquirer Read a full review of Ghost Baby on Threes Above High | Columbus OH Details: 2203 N. High St.; 614-732-4404, The off-campus area around Ohio State University has changed dramatically over the past decade. Modern high-rise apartment buildings and national retail and restaurant chains have replaced the old, quirky (and cheap!) local places that were a common thread in the memories of generations of college students at one of the nation's largest universities. Threes Above High is a survivor, though, along the High Street corridor that runs through Columbus' University District. When the wrecking ball came in 2017 for its predecessor, an equally divey place called Too's Spirits Under High, owner Scott Ellsworth opened Threes Above High a few blocks north. And not that anyone's counting, but he has since opened Fours on High and Fives Up High, too. — Bob Vitale, The Columbus Dispatch Read a full review of Threes Above Ground on Saloon No. 10 | Deadwood, South Dakota Details: 657 Main St.; 800-952-9398, Wild Bill Hickok leaned forward from his chair while playing poker at Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood. 'The old duffer, he broke me on the hand!' said the outlaw legend before he was shot in the back of the head by 'Crooked Nose' McCall on Aug. 2, 1876. The chair in which Hickok sat still hangs on the wall of the sawdusty 'ol watering hole on Main Street today. South Dakota's 150-year-old bar and social club in the rowdy valley of the Black Hills has been owned by the Lew and Marion Keehn family since 1963 and is famous for its award-winning whiskey collection, the Butcher's Block steak special and relics from the Old West that hang above the bar and all the way toward the dance floor in the back. Stick around for one more nip to deal your own hand at poker in the gambling hall – just keep your back to the corner. — Angela George, Argus Leader Read a review of Saloon 10 on Agency | Milwaukee, Wisconsin Details: 819 N. Marshall St.; 414-409-5399, Agency is a cocktail lounge in the heart of downtown Milwaukee that lives up to its name: Every patron has the agency to choose whether they drink alcohol or not that night, no matter which cocktail on the menu catches their eye. Owner Ryan Castelaz opened Agency with the goal of providing an elevated drinking experience for both drinkers and nondrinkers, and every drink can be made in nonalcoholic and alcoholic form. Patrons can further customize their drinks with the bar's dealer's choice cards, which are used to custom-make a drink based on a patron's preference, including everything from spirit choice and flavor profile to alcohol content. Agency is a 2025 James Beard Award finalist for best new bar. — Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Read a full review of Agency on This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Best bars in the Midwest: Six spots you need to visit in 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
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5 Jersey Shore bars we wish made USA TODAY's Bars of the Year list
No one knows bars and restaurants like food and entertainment writers, and the USA TODAY Network has more than 100 across the country. For the 2025 USA TODAY Bars of the Year list, we collaborated to nominate honorees nationwide. The bars did not have to be the fanciest, the most well-known, or be led by award-winning mixologists. They needed to be the type of place we recommend to friends or bring out-of-town guests to visit. How many have you been to? The 29 best bars in America in 2025: See USA TODAY's top picks The final list includes more than two dozen bars across the country, but many more deserve to be recognized. If we had a chance to nominate more, here are five Shore bars we would have chosen. The Ark Pub & Eatery, Point Pleasant Beach Swing open the wooden door of The Ark and step inside, and you know right away you are in a place with some miles on it. The proof is written — literally — on the walls. And the tables, and the booths. Names, dates and symbols have been scratched into the wood, evidence of guests who have come before. In addition to being a comfortable place to sit and have a drink — they boast a selection of more than 100 beers — The Ark also serves great food. They use local produce and fish when possible, and will grill, broil or fry a customer's freshly caught fish if the kitchen's not too busy. Another thing we love about this place? They don't give out their WiFi password. "So many times, we all get caught up in (using phones instead of talking)," co-owner Tony Bartone once told The Asbury Park Press. "Talk to each other." Go: 401 Route 35 North, Point Pleasant Beach; 732-295-1122, See last year's list: The best bars in America in 2024: See USA TODAY's 27 favorite spots Asbury Park Brewery This is where the smart — and friendly — set of the Asbury Park arts scene meets. Look to your right at the bar and it's Cookman Avenue in all its glory. Behind you, it's a mural by city art artist Porkchop of the greats who have played city the decades. That's everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to the Clash. The Asbury Park Brewery shares one thing with the noted Georgies of Asbury Park: Comedian Jon Stewart has played drums in both spots. Go: 614 Cookman Ave., Suite 1, Asbury Park; 732-361-0481, EJ's Tap House, Seaside Heights What's not to love about this Jersey Shore institution? There's no dress code, lots of pool tables and it's dog friendly, plus you have a great view of the Seaside Heights boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. There have been no bougie makeovers for EJ's. Instead, the dive bar carries forth, decade after decade, with the classic Jersey Shore concept that there's magic when cold beers, hot lights and loud music meet on a warm summer night. Go: 919 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights; 732-250-2801. Nip N Tuck Bar & Grill, Long Branch This female-owned dive bar has been a favorite in Long Branch for more than half a century, its name dedicated to a Prohibition practice of sneaking sips of liquor from hidden flasks. Customers flock to Nip-n-Tuck for craft beer, burgers grilled behind the bar, live music and boozy bingo brunches. When the the weather is nice, visitors can take a seat in an outdoor beer garden. Also, the bar gives a discount to veterans and active duty members of the armed forces every day. Go: 23 Norwood Ave., Long Branch; 732-222-0023, Parker House, Sea Girt Restaurant by day, bar by night, the seasonal Parker House has been a Shore mainstay since the late 1800s, Its summers are filled with lobster dinners, live music and DJs, a raw bar serving steamed clams and peel-and-eat shrimp, and the chance to dine and drink on a wrap-around porch a block from the beach. Want to skip the inevitable line? Try to nab a coveted Parker House VIP card, which lets you bypass lines and cover charges. Go: 290 1st Av.e, Sea Girt; 732 449 0442, Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@ follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to her weekly newsletter. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore bars we wish made USA TODAY's Bars of the Year list Solve the daily Crossword
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Best Bars in America: How USA TODAY picked the 2025 finalists
Surely you have a memory of your favorite bar. Was it the one where you first discovered a pre-Prohibition-era cocktail, shaken by a bartender who figured out your tastes? Or was it the one where you slid onto your favorite barstool and ordered your favorite draught beer? Maybe it's the one where you watched the sun set over the water, margarita in hand. Our USA TODAY Network food writers have these favorite bars, too. And we are sharing them with you. With more than 200 sites in 42 states, the experts at our publications nominated the best bars where they live. We gathered their suggestions – speakeasies and honky tonk joints, cocktail meccas and neighborhood dives – to create the 2025 USA TODAY Bars of the Year, a companion to our Restaurants of the Year list published earlier this year. More: What's the best restaurant near you? Check out USA TODAY's 2025 Restaurants of the Year. We realize other 'best bars' lists exist. What makes our list different? Our writers are not flying into a city for a weekend to check out what others have already reported or posted on Instagram. They work for our newspapers and websites across the country. They live in these communities. And the bars they recommend are spots where they have spent more than a few late nights. "Great bars – the best bars – can mean different things to different people," said project leader Liz Johnson, senior director for and the USA TODAY Network. "Delighting in an inventive new cocktail in a sleek setting might be the bee's knees for some. Others might love to chill out with a whiskey and listen to some great music. This list has the best of all worlds." Whether you want to sip whiskey in South Dakota, dance the night away in Nashville or soak up the sun in Florida, our writers can show you where to go. We asked for their favorites, and then a team of experienced editors narrowed that list down to 29 bars, ranging from humble dives to high-end lounges. We present them to you here. Now, raise a glass and savor our USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2025. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best Bars in America 2025: How USA TODAY picked the finalists
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10 Knoxville bars we wish made USA TODAY's bars of the year list
Knoxville knows a thing or two about drinking culture, whether it's a local dive where you become part of the bar family or a trendy cocktail sport perfect for a first date. The Scruffy City has it all, and its bars are garnering national recognition as must-try places on a national scale. Brother Wolf, an aperitivo bar in the Old City, was among 29 bars in the country that made the 2025 USA TODAY Bars of the Year list. It was chosen for its low-proof cocktails that have worked to expand Knoxville's palette, an atmosphere that uniquely matches the intricacy of the drinks and decor that is a nod to the Italian cocktail bars that directly inspired Brother Wolf. Not every local bar could make this year's list, curated by USA TODAY Network food writers across the country, but there are plenty of places in Knoxville that should be considered next time. Here are 10 Knoxville bars we wish made the list. Bernadette's Crystal Gardens Bernadette's Crystal Gardens is truly one of a kind and shares its roof with Preservation Pub, which made last year's USA TODAY list. Just like Preservation Pub, it's also owned by Scott and Bernadette West, whose reputation for the eclectic helps explain why other West concepts could be considered. Bernadette's has three levels, all offering a different experience. The first level is intricately designed with crystals on the ceiling, walls, bar tops and booths that transport you to a magical place. The second level often has international dance nights, but the roof is here the bar really shines with an other-worldly vibe. Here you will find even more crystals, flowers and a perfect view of Market Square Info: | @bernadettescrystalgardens | 865-524-2224 | 26 Market Square Fiori Bar & Lounge From the outside looking in, Fiori Bar & Lounge looks like the perfect cocktail lounge for an Instagram story. It's trendy and has an aesthetic that matches what most people look for at cocktail lounge: beautiful decor and beautiful drinks. The best part about Fiori is that it actually lives up to the hype, with faux blossom cherry trees, pink neon lights and intimate booths providing a quality drinking atmosphere. Fiori provides an extensive menu of classic and creative drinks, from the perfect dirty martini to a crisp pinot grigio. Among its signatures is the "Violet Whisper" (Empress gin, St. Germain, Creme de Violette and lemon). Fiori also has a full dinner menu that features appetizers like lobster rolls, oysters and duck wings, along with entrees such as an eight-ounce filet, seasonal gnocchi and scallops romesco. Info: | | 865-200-4928 | 111 E. Jackson Ave. Five Thirty Lounge Five Thirty Lounge is 10 levels above the rest, literally. This bar is on the rooftop of the Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Knoxville and offers a full view of the city's growing landscape that reaches nearly as far as the eye can see. Five Thirty Lounge has both outdoor and indoor areas, with interior seating along floor-to-ceiling windows that allow East Tennessee sunsets to pour into the space. At night, enjoy the twinkling lights of the downtown skyline. Five Thirty Lounge has a list of signature cocktails, including a few mocktails, to lift your spirits. There is also a full list of beer, including a rotating selection of local craft options, along with wine and whiskey. Some small plate options include prime angus sliders, teriyaki chicken skewers and an alder-smoked salmon dip. Info: | @fivethirtylounge | 865-544-9977 | 530 S. Gay St. Fly by Night If you're longing to return to the good vibes and great style of the 1970s − or to experience the iconic decade for the first time − the answer is Fly by Night, a '70s cocktail bar that opened in South Knoxville in 2023. Whether you're dropping in after a hike at nearby Ijams Nature Center or dressing up for date night, the atmosphere is for everyone. The cocktail bar hosts a variety of events, including karaoke nights, DJ sets and trivia. Fly by Night also has a popular brunch menu that includes a "Brunch Smorgasbord" with jammy eggs, local babka and bialy, sourdough, speck ham, avocado, whipped butter, cheese, fruit and pickled vegetables. Signature cocktails include the "Godfather Part II" (blended and Islay scotch, amaretto, Fernet Branca, extra dry vermouth, Pernod and cherry wood smoke) and the "Nite Lite" (bourbon, campari, hisbiscus grenadine, passionfruit, vanilla and lemon). Info: | @flybynightknox | 865-247-5022 | 906 Sevier Ave. Monkey's Bar Monkey's Bar is a cozy spot on the edge of the charming Old City neighborhood. Its website highlights the prominence of the apostrophe in the unique name, saying the bar has nothing to do with either monkeys or monkey bars, but rather the name of the founder's golden retriever. The spot has a beautiful bar top, plenty of indoor seating and a few outdoor seats to take in a warm Knoxville evening. Monkey's Bar also duals as a rentable event space. It has a full drink menu, as well as a long list of creative mocktails like the "Hot Boyfriend" (NKD whiskey, giffard aperitif, orange juice and orange peel) and "The One for Matthew Perry" (NKD gin, lyres Italian orange, giffard aperitif with a dehydrated orange). Info: | @monkeysbarknox | 103 W. Depot Ave. The Public House The Public House is a true neighborhood bar near the Old City. Its bright yellow exterior starkly contrasts its dimly lit bar area, where you'll find deep booths and quiet corner seating perfect for catching up with old friends. But where The Public House really shines is a few more steps toward the back exit. Just outside is a patio space that opens up to the Knoxville sky, filled with long picnic tables for big groups and two-person tables conducive for an after-work date. The bar has a full list of beer, wine, seltzers and ciders, as well as signature cocktails like the "JazzMaster" (Suntori Toki Japanese whiskey, jasmine, orange bitters, lime and Amaro Montenegro) and the "Sage Advice" (Letherbee gin infused with sage, Jack Rudy tonic concentrate, lemon, citrus-rose bitters and sparkling wine). The Public House has a tasty food menu that features pretzels, dips, cheese boards and seven different hot dogs. The out-of-the-box hot dog toppings include shredded gruyere, roasted corn, bacon pimento cheese, jalapenos and caramelized onions. Info: | @knoxpublichouse | 865-247-4344 | 212 W. Magnolia Ave. Tern Club Tern Club is the firstborn child of owners Jocelyn Morin and Ryan Shanley, who later opened Fly by Night. Tern Club is a tiki-themed cocktail bar in downtown Knoxville, located in the 100 block of Gay Street. It is a cocktail oasis − an escape from the bustling city − with an array of plants hanging on the ceiling and creeping over the walls. Tern Club has a cozy outdoor patio surrounded by greenery in the center of the city. A few of the bar's quirky cocktails include the "Tamela Anderson" (blanco tequila, tamarind, Sfumato Rababaro, pamplemousse liquor, cinnamon and lime) and the "Bubble Buddy" (vodka, lemon, cucumber, cardamon syrup and soda). Communal drinks also are available. Info: | @ternclub | 865-312-5530 | 135 S. Gay St. Urban Bar & Corner Cafe Urban Bar & Corner Cafe may not have the same kind of glitz and glam that the other bars on this list provide, but this Old City bar is a comfortable go-to all the same. Urban sits on the busiest corner of the Old City, just down the road from the newly built stadium for Knoxville Smokies baseball and One Knoxville soccer. A massive front patio sits under the shade of surrounding trees, and seating galore is available inside the smoke-filled dive. Urban can be a reliable start to a night out, with cheap food and even cheaper drinks, but is an even better finish to a long night, whether you're looking to shoot pool, play darts or listen to some tunes on the jukebox. If anything, Preservation Pub making the USA TODAY list in 2024 proves that a grungy place like Urban deserves a shoutout. Info: | @urbanbarknox | 865-546-2800 | 109 N. Central St. The Vault The Vault is an upscale cocktail lounge built inside the former Holston Bank. History seeps through the building itself, as part of the lounge includes a real bank vault. It leans into a classic 1930s theme, paying homage to Old Hollywood. The lounge is open to the public, but what really sets The Vault apart is its exclusive membership program that grants keyholder perks, concierge service and unparalleled access to the lounge. There is a list of classic cocktails like a negroni, Manhattan and old fashioned, as well as a unique "Build Your Own" martini list and lounge-specific creations. Some of the creative cocktails include the "Italian Brad Pitt" (Singani 63, bitter fusetti, acid of lemon and mandarin, egg whites, essence of saffron and vanilla) and the "Full Irish Breakfast" (Teelings small batch whiskey, Wiseacre stout cordial, acid of lemon and orange, maple, bacon fat wash, whole egg and essence of coffee). Info: | @thevault_knoxville | 865-544-9564 | 531 S. Gay St. Zero/Zero Wine Bar Zero/Zero Wine Bar was the first of its kind in Knoxville. Zero/Zero is a natural wine bar in the Happy Holler neighborhood about a mile north of downtown The bar sells wine by the glass, cheap beer and delicious snacks. The bartenders have extensive knowledge of the offerings and are eager help you navigate the menu to find a perfect match. You can order a snack platter with something pickled, two meats and two cheeses of your choosing. Also on the menu is assorted tinned fish served with focaccia crisps. Zero/Zero also has a few non-alcoholic options. Info: | @zerozeroknox | 865-985-0743 | 1211 N. Central St. Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email: Support strong local journalism by subscribing at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 10 Knoxville bars we wish made USA TODAY's bars of the year list Solve the daily Crossword
