Latest news with #cocktailbars
Forbes
6 days ago
- Forbes
From The Land Of Tequila, Guadalajara's Bar Scene Shines Brighter Than Ever
Jalisco is the heart of tequila production in Mexico, and Guadalajara is its capital. Tequila Cazadores Name a city known for its bar scene. If you answer with anything other than Mexico City, you likely haven't been paying attention. With a coterie of award-winning cocktail bars, and Handshake Speakeasy even earning this year's highest honor from The World's 50 Best Bars, it's the place to be for an inspired sip. But what about the bar scene closer to the source of Mexico's most iconic homegrown spirits? In the heart of tequila country, just a short drive from the town of Tequila itself, Guadalajara has its roots in the rich tradition of agave, literally and figuratively. Now, its bar scene is booming, growing big and buzzier yet with a distinct identity that blends tradition with innovation all its own. Historic Guadalajara, Mexico. Guadalajara Tourism Though Guadalajara is one of Mexico's biggest metropolises, it has just a fraction of the inhabitants of sprawling Mexico City, but remains a cultural cornerstone with a country-wide impact. "Guadalajara is considered the 'most Mexican' city as it is the birthplace of Mexican icons like mariachi and tequila," says Gustavo Staufert, CEO of Guadalajara Tourism. To drive just beyond the city limits of Guadalajara is to be surrounded by hillsides coated with the regal blue agave plants that offer such a rich bounty of now world-renowned spirits like tequila. Keep driving about an hour down the road and you'll hit the town of Tequila after which the country's most famous spirit is named. Here, visitors find the sprawling distilleries of big name brands like Jose Cuervo and Hornitos. Even so, small-batch, high-quality tequila, mezcal and other agave-based liquors felt hard to find in Guadalajara. "In terms of tequila brands, 10 years ago, you wouldn't find any good brands around... it was still considered very niche and something you really had to hunt for," says Freddy Andreasson, founder of El Gallo Altanero, the premier cocktail bar in Guadalajara. "The difference now is like night and day." Guadalajara's award-winning cocktail bar, El Gallo Altanero. El Gallo Altanero Behind the Bar An early champion of small-batch, local production over big name brands was Pare de Sufrir, a mezcalería dedicated to curating a collection of the world's best mezcals. Located in the heart of Guadalajara, this inspiring outlet has nearly 100 different types of locally-sourced mezcals to choose from. Pare de Sufrir is now a famous after-hours spot for local bartenders and visitors alike, but its mission runs deeper than just facilitating a good time. It works in tandem with founder Pedro Jiménez's other beloved brainchild Mezonte, a non-profit mezcal producers' organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional mezcal culture while supporting local communities that rely on the craft. Andreasson credits Pare de Sufrir with helping pave the way for El Gallo Altanero, now Guadalajara's most famous cocktail bar and number 48 on the list of The World's 50 Best Bars. Even with such award-winning mixology, it's the team's dedication to independent spirits that inspired it all and keeps them rooted even amidst such a spotlight. "The bar really exists because we wanted to highlight these independent spirits on a wider scale," says Andreasson. "That wasn't as sexy as it is now, you end up with quite a singular type of crowd... So we thought a cocktail bar is, you know, a great sort of mix and the perfect way to get people in the door." Now, to peruse the menu at El Gallo Altanero feels like picking up a bible dedicated to all things local liquors. Here, guests learn about lesser-known liquors that also derive from the agave, like sotol, raicilla, and pulque. It's a master class in Mexican spirits, met with a passion from Andreasson and his entire team to show off what they deeply love. Beginners mix with experts over a genuine love for the craft in a way that always feel authentic, and is always a good time. Freddy Andreasson behind the bar at El Gallo Altanero. El Gallo Altanero Next Gen The impact of elevating the profile of smaller, more local brands extends far beyond a single bar, affecting the city and region more broadly. "Guadalajara's bar scene has undergone dramatic changes in the last few years," says Guadalajara native Tania Oseguera, master tequilier at Tequila Cazadores, and one of the only female master tequiliers certified from the Mexican Tequila Academy. "When it comes to tequila cocktails, in the past, most restaurants would only offer 'palomas,' 'charro-negros (tequila, lime and coke), and neat tequila with 'sangrita' as a chaser. Now, upscale restaurants offer a wide variety of cocktail creations that would have been unimaginable in the past." Long-standing places are adapting to changing keep up with trends as new bars pop up across the city to meet growing demand. Three other Guadalajara bars, Pare de Sufrir included, made the most recent The World's 50 Best Discovery list, an extension of the traditional list of top spots that meet similarly high standards. Among Guadalajara newcomers is Mecenas, which recently opened its doors in the buzzy Colonia Americana neighborhood. Here, mixologists experiment with a cocktail menu that features all homemade liquors, wines and spirits. On the dream team behind the project are Nick Kendall, founder of Mira Earth Studios in Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe wine region, and Jose Luis Hinostroza, the renowned Mexican chef responsible for Tulum's award-winning restaurant and bar, ARCA. Tequila production calls on a long legacy, and the most rooted brands are dedicated to preserving it. Tequila Cazadores Rooted in Tradition Amidst so much innovation, there's a unifying thread among the leaders in the industry: a commitment to staying rooted in the traditions that are so important to the region. "As more people around the world embrace tequila, [we have] amazing opportunity to share the soul of our brand.... everything from where our tequila is made in the highlands of Jalisco and the artistry behind every bottle, to the passion that's been part of our story for many years," says Oseguera. "We don't want to change anything," says Andreasson of innovation at El Gallo Altanero, "just continue improving our craft but keeping true to our mission to highlight these small batch producers. I think that's part of being authentic and certainly part of our success." Because Guadalajara is much more than just a Mexico's second city, more than a copy-paste of the capital. It's been the beating heart of the development, growth and innovation of spirits in Mexico all along—even if others seem to just be starting to catch on.
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The 10 best bars in Hanoi
Hanoi fosters a bygone grace, so its nightlife scene tends to be more discreet than in Southeast Asia's younger, glitzier, more hedonistic capitals. The city excels in hushed speakeasy cocktail bars and intimate live music and entertainment venues. Unmissable city highlights include the various quan bia hoi, Vietnam's answer to a Spanish tapas bar, though instead of munching on papas bravas and sipping cañas, patrons wash down stir-fried greens and deep-fried tofu with fresh, locally brewed beer. From beer halls to cocktail and whisky bars, and live music to entertainment venues, here are the best places to go in Hanoi after dark. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best bars in Hanoi. Find out more below, or for more Hanoi inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, coffee houses and things to do. In this guide: Best beer bars Standing Bar Bia hoi reigns supreme in Hanoi, but craft beer has made serious inroads, with several local breweries popping up across Vietnam over the past decade. Standing Bar, a proud free house, pays allegiance to no one, which means they have one of the largest selections of beers in the country. While most are brewed in Vietnam, some come from further afield. For award-winning national brews, ask the knowledgeable bartenders for a recommendation from Pasteur Street Brewery or Heart of Darkness.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What are the best bars in the South? See USA TODAY's 2025 Bars of the Year
Retro vibes and au courant status come together at Mary Lou's with its combination of mixed cocktails and caviar-loaded bar bites. Chic decor attracts the celebrities of Palm Beach, Florida, with the Chainsmokers setting the tone on opening night. This is just one of the outstanding cocktail bars to make this list of best bars across the country. If you're a cocktail lover, you've also come to the right place: This list is a don't-miss read and includes cool bars you must visit. These 13 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 South. See last year's list The best bars in America in 2024: See USA TODAY's 27 favorite spots Druid City Brewing Company Taproom | Tuscaloosa, Alabama Details: 700 14th St.; 205-342-0051, With its Leland Lanes bowling alley, Tuscaloosa Drug Co. salvaged furnishings, and chalk art honoring Crimson Tide legends, Druid City Brewing Company bucks the "I can't believe this is Tuscaloosa" upscale trend and emblazons crimson heart on rolled-up sleeves. Tuscaloosa's first brewpub, opening after Alabama passed a 2009 gourmet beer law, spotlights musicians, writers and other artists in its Moon Room, serves stylized pub food with indoor-outdoor dining and offers classic pinball, video and board games inside. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox has said he hopes to be DCBC owner/raconteur Bo Hicks when he grows up. — Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News Read a full review of Druid City Brewing on The Old Salty Dog | Sarasota, Florida Details: 1601 Ken Thompson Parkway; 941-388-4311, Perched on Sarasota's City Island, The Old Salty Dog has been a beloved waterfront hangout since 1991, offering a brilliant blend of British pub and Florida beach bar. The open-air bar lets patrons belly up to the hull of a boat while overlooking dolphin-dotted waters and sipping a Boddingtons with some of the best fish and chips around. Three seats down, a group who just stepped off their boat at the next-door marina might be dining Jimmy Buffett-style – cheeseburgers and margaritas. And really, no day of drinking at The Old Salty Dog is complete without surrendering to its legendary deep-fried hot dog, featured on a classic episode of "Man v. Food." Laid-back, lively and loaded with charm, it's pure Gulf Coast. — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Read a full review of The Old Salty Dog on Mary Lou's | West Palm Beach, Florida Details: 250 Southern Blvd.; Can a bar simultaneously channel retro vibes and au courant status? At Mary Lou's – the new-ish glam spot where expertly mixed cocktails and caviar-loaded bar bites are par for the course – absolutely yes. If Apple TV+'s "Palm Royale" or FX's "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" transported its characters into today's world, this is where they'd go. Setting the tone: opening night's crowd included Bettina Anderson (Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend) and fashion designer Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia. Add The Chainsmokers as collaborators on live entertainment. The name honors the late Mary Lou Curtis, whose chic Worth Avenue boutique once attracted the likes of Jackie Onassis – and whose grandson is a co-owner of the bar. — Diana Biederman, The Palm Beach Post Read a full review of Mary Lou's on Darling's | Louisville, Kentucky Details: 1765 Bardstown Road; In one of Louisville's buzziest neighborhoods, an unassuming corner bar welcomes locals and tourists with a rusty neon sign for 'cocktails.' Once inside the dimly lit Darling's, the vintage-looking floral wallpaper, long bar, green leather seating and murals of fairylike ladies create a romantic, cozy vibe perfect for drinks before dinner or talking for hours. In a town where bourbon booms, this neighborhood joint stands out for its gin-forward menu, inventive craft cocktails and weekly tiki nights. It's the kind of place you might pop in for happy hour gin and tonics, regarded as the best of their kind in the city, and stay until the free late-night pizza arrives. — Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal Read a full review of Darling's on Tasting Room of Louisiana | Alexandria, Louisiana Details: 812 Third St.; 318-623-1935, The interior of this whiskey bar is reminiscent of a classic European pub, and the large, ornate wooden bar is the first thing that catches your eye as you walk in. Owner Melissa Scarborough, the only certified whiskey sommelier in Louisiana, has a refined palate that allows her to guide customers through the complex flavors of different whiskeys. It was while working as head bartender — back when it was known as Finnegan's Wake — that she developed her appreciation for the distilled spirit. The Tasting Room boasts the largest selection of whiskey in central Louisiana, along with a variety of beer, wine and craft cocktails. For those who've worked up an appetite, food is available from TROLA's kitchen. — Melinda Martinez, Alexandria Town Talk Read a full review of Tasting Room of Louisiana at Little Jumbo | Asheville, North Carolina Details: 241 Broadway St.; 828-417-4783, Little Jumbo, a craft cocktail bar housed in a former 1920s grocery store, stands out in Asheville's historic Montford and Five Points neighborhoods. Its original structure and accent details, like tin ceiling panels and entryway floor tiles spelling "Jenkins," pay homage to the grocer and the mountain city's history. Since 2017, Little Jumbo has become the quirky home of jazz nights, deejayed dance parties and literary soirees in a cozy space reminiscent of a Victorian parlor. In the winter, it transforms into the "Tropilachia Club" tiki-style pop-up bar. Little Jumbo's bartenders impress with their cocktail- and mocktail-making skills, ingenuity and in-depth training of a custom cocktail database, which stores nearly a thousand signature and classic recipes. — Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen-Times Read a full review of Little Jumbo at The Blind Elephant | Wilmington, North Carolina Details: 21 N. Front St., Unit F; 910-833-7175, Before opening The Blind Elephant in 2013, owner Ashley Tipper decided to make the most of the alleyway entrance among the historic buildings in downtown Wilmington. She worked with local film set designers to create a dark and cozy 1920s-style speakeasy where black-and-white movies are projected onto exposed brick walls. Entry is for members only but available for a nominal fee. Since then, Tipper has been growing the whiskey collection and her series of retro-themed annual events. Each season, the bartenders draw a spirit and spend weeks creating an of-the-moment cocktail around it. The Blind Elephant was also an early adopter of the cocktails on tap trend and offering a selection of imaginative mocktails. — Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews Read a full review of The Blind Elephant at Good for a Few | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Details: 1705 NW 16th St., Suite B; For some bars, a car crashing through your front door the morning before an event that's been months in the planning might cause people to rethink their plans. But for the team at Good for a Few, a little humor, a lot of positivity and the sheer willpower to keep the plan alive, showed the community what they were really all about. This neighborhood bar, hidden like a speakeasy but 'not a speakeasy,' as they warn on their social media, is consistently elevating their game with inventive cocktails. Whether it's taking unconventional ingredients and turning them into something spectacular, or redefining 'last call' for their patrons, Good for a Few delivers something truly unique in OKC's bar scene. — JaNae Williams, The Oklahoman Read a full review of Good For a Few at The Rabbit Hole | West Greenville, South Carolina Details: 1268 Pendleton St.; 864-214-1797, Storybook charm, mythical ambiance and a food and beverage menu shaped by its interior design, The Rabbit Hole is a bar in West Greenville that delights the five senses. Its design is inspired by a fairytale and is furnished with mossy interior walls, an upside-down two-top on the ceiling and award-winning bathrooms, among many other details. The Rabbit Hole has an elevated yet playful and whimsical approach to food and beverage and is complemented by the seasons and moods set inside of this unique bar. It also boasts a whimsical tapas bar, creative design and elevated themes in small plate food and beverages that are crafted to complement its decor. — A.J. Jackson, The Greenville News Read a full review of The Rabbit Hole on Brother Wolf | Knoxville, Tennessee Details: 108 W. Jackson Ave.; 865-247-4729, Brother Wolf brings Italian aperitivo culture to the Old City in downtown Knoxville with low-proof cocktails, from the Il Professore to the Il Dottore, along with a selection of small plates. Not that you can't also enjoy one of 200+ bottles of wine on the menu, curated by sommelier Aaron Thompson, who owns the bar with his seasoned partner, Jessica 'Rabbit' King. Together, Thompson and King have expanded Knoxville's palate at Brother Wolf while crafting an atmosphere that matches the intricacy of their beverages. Gold accents and marble tabletops complement the alabaster and exposed brick walls of Brother Wolf, which attaches to the partners' Italian restaurant, Osteria Stella. — Ryan Wilusz, Knox News Sentinel Fat Charlie's Speakeasy | Memphis, Tennessee Details: 107 Harbor Town Square; 901-896-5484, Tucked away in Memphis' idyllic Harbor Town neighborhood, Fat Charlie's Speakeasy is an intimate cigar bar where everyone can easily learn your name. Bar owners Will and LaTonia Richardson curate revelatory conversations and live musical performances in the cozy bar, where you may run into a neighbor, elected officials or celebrities. The Richardsons opened the bar as a community haven during the height of the COVID pandemic and, five years later, the community continues to grow. In addition to the charming teacups and mugs bartenders use for service, a nod to the Prohibition origins of the American speakeasy, the bar sells hearty snacks and bites of the gourmet variety. It's a laid-back space to escape the fast pace of the world. — Ellen Chamberlain, Memphis Commercial Appeal Read a full review of Fat Charlie's Speakeasy at Robert's Western World | Nashville, Tennessee Details: 416 Broadway #B; 615-244-9552, Robert's Western World is an icon among icons. Among the noise on Nashville's bright, boisterous Broadway, it stands alone. And it does so with a (relatively) quiet reverence for Nashville's spirit, the one that existed before the crowds. It's a shotgun shack of a place in a street full of multistory bars named after famed country music makers. At its barrel is a tiny stage where musicians play beneath the visages of long-gone country stars, while the masses whirl and two-step in front of them. Robert's is neon beer signs and crooked tile. It's fried bologna sandwiches and ice-cold PBRs. It's an Old Fashioned and a twang of real country music in the air. If the Ryman Auditorium is the Mother Church of Country Music, Robert's Western World, just a stone's throw from its back door, is the Holy Ghost. — Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean Read a full review of Robert's Western World at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Best bars in the South: 12 spots you need to visit in 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What are the best bars in the Northeast? See USA TODAY's 2025 Bars of the Year
Meet "the gay Cheers," a classic neighborhood dive bar welcoming to all with karaoke, trivia nights, drag shows, and brunches. Longtime bartender David Hoffman describes Georgies Bar as: "... all love from the beginning to the end." It's just one of the places to make this list of exceptional cocktail bars in the Northeast. If you're a cocktail lover, you've also come to the right place: This list is a don't-miss read and includes cool bars you must visit. 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 Northeast. See last year's list The best bars in America in 2024: See USA TODAY's 27 favorite spots The Starboard | Dewey Beach, Delaware Details: 2009 Coastal Highway; 302-227-4600, While Delaware's beaches have plenty of stand-out bars, The Starboard lives in a world of its own. With an old-school hodgepodge layout and must-have pounder Orange Crush drinks paired with beloved longtime bartenders and high-energy bands and DJs, the bar itself is a playground for locals and vacationers alike. The core following helps make the bar the best, a silly crew that likes to dress in costume and let loose like no one's watching. Highlights each year include laugh-out-loud events such as the Running of the Bull, with bargoers chasing two people in a bull costume down the beach (not exactly like they do in Pamplona), and Derby Day, a Kentucky Derby spoof with bar-goers running on broomstick horses around the block. There's a reason why The Starboard has three branded spin-offs in the tiny beach town, serving everything from seafood to pizza. — Ryan Cormier, Delaware News Journal Read a full review of The Starboard on Carrie Nation Cocktail Club | Boston, Massachusetts Details: 11 Beacon St.; 617-227-3100, Imagine a badass woman in 1900 who was so opposed to anyone drinking alcohol that she would barge into saloons with a hatchet, smashing liquor bottles and bar fixtures. This historic female figure is no longer alive, but her spirit shines on with her name in lights at Carrie Nation Cocktail Club. Nation's ironic presence is felt throughout the 1920's vibe venue offering two bars under one roof – a main bar and restaurant in the front and a hidden speakeasy in the back. Its interior decor offers an upscale, Victorian boudoir theme with dim, vintage chandelier lighting with beaded fringe trim and deep red tones on textured wallpaper. Hanging draperies, black leather seating, black-and-white checkered flooring and even an antique shoeshine chair complete the setting. The bourbon maple espresso is one of the most popular cocktails, and pan-seared branzini fillet and lamb shank are two of the many hearty entrees to try. — Joanna Tzouvelis, Wicked Local Read a full review of Carrie Nation Cocktail Club on Georgies | Asbury Park, New Jersey Details: 810 Fifth Ave.; 732-988-1220, Since 1999, Georgies Bar – affectionately known as "the gay Cheers" – has been a safe and welcoming place for members of the LGBTQ+ community. It's an atmosphere that honors the bar's founding as a place where people could just be themselves. This is not a pretty, polished Shore bar but a classic neighborhood dive bar where first-time visitors and regulars feel comfortable. Georgies is well-known for its karaoke and trivia nights and drag shows and brunches, and for its contribution to community groups. When the weather is warm, live music fills the patio, and hungry bar-goers dine on soft pretzels, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches and fries. "It's a bar for everyone. Everybody takes care of each other," longtime bartender David Hoffman said. "This place is all love from the beginning to the end." — Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press Read a full review of Georgies on Cowan's Public | Nutley, New Jersey Details: 229 Centre St.; 973-542-8151, From the outside, Cowan's Public is just another brick house in a quiet neighborhood on the edge of Nutley. Inside, though, is a celebration of community and libations. This bar and eatery – with a roaring fireplace, Art Deco bar, custom stained glass, Prohibition relics and expert mixologists – opened in 2015, but the building has been a pub since it was erected months after Prohibition ended in 1933. Elevated pub grub, a local craft beer taplist, events (including dinners and trivia) and an adjoining dining room with classic tin roofs and upholstered walls create an experience both lively and cozy. Cocktails are king. Get the velvety Half Lotus with Japanese whiskey and black sesame; the earthy, mezcal-based Pale Blue Dot; or the vibrant green Sea Foam with pisco, coconut and Chartreuse. Pair those with pub grub such as killer tempura-fried chicken lollipops in hot honey, Swedish meatballs with blueberry jam or simply some of the best deviled eggs around. Cowan's is not the 'speakeasy-style' pub so in vogue nowadays; it is a modern bar with boundary-pushing cocktails and an old soul. — Matt Cortina, Read a full review of Cowan's Public on Horsefeathers | Tarrytown, New York Details: 94 N. Broadway; 914-631-6606, In business since 1981 – and now owned by the original owner's niece, Julia McCue – Horsefeathers prides itself on its familiarity. Its history is woven into the community: Menus are filled with details about local attractions and the decor is filled with witty touches, including a large mural depicting famous authors. McCue grew up in town so she knows what the neighborhood wants: A casual, burger-and-beer spot where you can always grab a seat at the bar. Her goal when she bought it seven years ago was to keep it the same, yet enhance it. That means more creative cocktails, often in funky glassware. Try the Cosmo – all cocktails are served tableside and often come with an extra sidecar. Burgers, wings and chicken parm are other popular favorites. You'll love the all-out-decor come the holidays. (This being Sleepy Hollow country, Halloween is the craziest.) Still, the old-time charm remains. — Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News Read a full review of Horsefeathers on Marge's Lakeside Inn | Rochester, New York Details: 4909 Culver Road; 585-323-1020, A city with all-too-brief summers, Rochester has precious few places to head to for a drink in your hand and your toes in the sand. That's why Marge's Lakeside Inn has been a quintessential part of summertime for the past 65 years. Legend has it that Magin's, its predecessor, was a speakeasy until it opened legally after Prohibition. Marge Beth opened her eponymous bar in 1960, and it's been run by family members since then. Now, Francine Beth carries on the legacy in a building with squeaky floors, a vintage jukebox and a swath of beach out back. Marge's isn't about bougie craft cocktails; order a boozy slushy or its own Marge's Tiki Blonde Ale. There are food carts where you can grab a hot dog, burger or a platter of charcuterie, and you'll find live music most summer nights. Bands play early enough that you can catch the sun setting over Lake Ontario. Clouds, after all, make for glorious sunsets. — Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Read a full review of Marge's Lakeside Inn on This article originally appeared on Best bars in the Northeast: Six spots you need to visit in 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
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The Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
U.S city tops Time Out ranking of the 20 best places in the world for nightlife
Las Vegas has suffered a drop in visitor numbers recently, with " ridiculous prices" to blame. But there's more than one reason to go against the grain and book a vacation there. For one, we revealed insider tips for enjoying Sin City on a budget, from the best-value hotels to book to a pro tip for getting a discount after you've checked in. Secondly, it's just been crowned the global nightlife capital. It tops Time Out's 20-strong ranking of the best cities in the world for nightlife for 2025. The list was compiled by a survey of 18,500 people around the world, who were asked about nightlife and going out in their city. Each city was ranked according to how locals rated the quality and affordability of the nightlife scene, from clubbing to entertainment, coupled with the thoughts of Time Out city editors, and arts and culture writers. Las Vegas is lauded by Time Out for its DJ-oriented raves and hidden speakeasies. Las Vegas expert Ryan Slattery says: "Nightlife in Las Vegas famously centres around top DJs spinning EDM or hip hop in enormous resort nightclubs. "But in recent years, there's been a shift to a more low-key nightlife venue: the cocktail bar." He continues: "Many of these cocktail lounges – Stray Pirate, Doberman and Nocturno, to name a few – can be found in the city's thriving Arts District, a walkable downtown neighborhood of vintage shops, breweries and restaurants. "Vegas also has a slew of tiki bars and dozens of speakeasies; spots hidden inside a working barbershop, behind a bookcase of a Mamak stall at Resorts World or in the basement of the Mob Museum. There's even one called The Lock that you crawl into through a safe door." Second place in the ranking goes to Madrid, "home to an incredibly diverse nightlife scene with outstanding bars and clubs". In third place is Paris, which Time Out acknowledges is expensive, but declares that going out there is "worth every penny". The guide adds: "Parisian nightlife is going through a new golden age right now with Queer collectives like La Créole, Divin0 and Le Bunker lighting up the city with joyous, inclusive and intersectional parties where dancehall, perreo and afrobeats ring out, proving that techno no longer has a monopoly on the dancefloor." World's Best Cities for Nightlife in 2025 Las Vegas Madrid Paris Shanghai Berlin Melbourne Brighton Mexico City Dubai Mumbai Cape Town Warsaw Bangkok Lagos Cairo Riyadh Amsterdam Medellin Marrakech Athens
