17 New US Bars You Can't Miss In 2023

What's trending on the bar scene seems to change at the drop of a hat. Espresso martinis were hyped up from your aunt's go-to trattoria tipple to the cocktail perched in the Cartier bracelet-bedecked hand of every it girl. Biodynamic bottles went from a niche interest to a must-have on every wine list. And, recently, every watering hole has to be a speakeasy, hidden in an alleyway or behind a not-so-secret door.

All that said, it's difficult to nail down what kind of experience imbibers are looking for these days, but for these newcomers on the U.S. bar scene, the common thread is clear: A heavy pour of nostalgia with your Negroni cocktail. Whether it's a low-lit spot that recalls jazz-age NYC, disco ball-adorned digs, vinyl-stocked revivals of the Japanese listening bars of the '50s and '60s, or hideaways that look like your parents' basement in the best way, the spots on our list range from classy to cheeky. No matter what your preferred sipping style is, you'll find a bar where you'll want to pull up a stool.

When Vogue writes up a new bar, you know you're in for some eye candy along with your cocktail. Jac's on Bond exudes slick minimalism, quietly adorned with luxe materials like wood and stone in caramel and chocolate hues — all set against French vanilla walls and cloaked in glowy low light. The spot opened in mid-February in NYC's NoHo neighborhood and, despite sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with exclusive haunts where getting a reservation should be an Olympic sport, Jac's is a relatively low-key hangout (albeit, still stylish and scene-y).

The design was inspired by the minimalism of '90s fashion (think: original Calvin Klein). Specialty cocktails include multiple martinis, including a Caprese rendition made with tomato and basil-infused Grey Goose. Bites are tapas-style and a little whimsical — think crab and hot cheese dip and creamsicle pie for dessert. You'll see patrons enjoying both tucked into low-slung booths and between shooting straight shots at the world's chicest billiards table.

Brush off your bell bottoms — this new LA bar is made for boozin' and groovin'. Pops of shocking pink and sultry rose cloak the interior, which is anchored by cloud-like sofas and stools, a 30-foot-long jade marble bar, and a central disco ball that makes the whole joint sparkle with refracted light (with a little help from the sultry mirrored ceiling, of course).

It's everything you could want when it comes to '70s kitsch but with a sultry Italian discotheque vibe. Though it opens up a dance floor for patrons to shimmy and shake to disco sets from iconic LA music labels like Pleasure of Love on the weekends, the real goal of Let's Go! is to offer a place for folks to chat and connect. That is made better with elevated classic sips like margaritas crafted with two amaro concoctions and fresh ginger, as well as martinis made with sesame leaf-infused gin.

We can all agree that there's more to a great bar than just excellent drinks. Truly memorable bars need a unique atmosphere, one that makes you feel transported, but also that beckons you to settle in and stay for a while. That's what's so captivating about Philadelphia's Solar Myth — and it's just one of the many places you should try out when in Philly.

Opened in November, the spot spins an all-vinyl soundtrack through an analog sound system, featuring avant-garde and experimental jazz tunes. They somehow feel like the perfect thing to listen to while settled in a curvy booth and sipping on one of the choices from Solar Myth's thoughtful wine and amaro lineup. Or, noshing on a comforting tomato pie with tangy giardiniera. And there's another surprise beyond the walls of the main bar room (which also serves as a daytime coffee shop and boasts a few bins of records for sale): An intimate performance venue plays host to funky acts a few days a week.

Sure, this new East Village spot in NYC might look like a gussied-up version of your grandparent's house with its circa-1970 plaid carpets and fringed lampshades (okay, really gussied-up). But unlike the always-welcome energy of your favorite relatives' digs, it takes some planning to get a coveted spot here.

Reservations encouraged, HiLot is the cozy sister of Joyface (a dance, kitschy spot next door complete with a waterbed) that has no standing room. So while it's not the place to chat up the cutie that caught your eye while you're waiting for your dirty martini, its curved banquettes and ample pillows make it ideal for intimate date nights or catch-ups with friends. Other quirky touches include a doorbell you ring to enter and a glamorous clawfoot tub in the restroom that you shouldn't forget to take a photo in. And if you're not convinced yet, Vanessa Hudgens recently stopped by for a pretty pink drink.

Arrive at this jewel box of a Boston bar and you'll feel like you stepped into a sexy, romantic tavern in old Kyoto. The Koji Club is actually Boston's first and only dedicated sake bar (and, not to mention, a recent resident of Conde Nast Traveler's best restaurants in the world list). Don't expect any sake bombs here, though. The expert sake sommeliers behind the bar — led by owner Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale — make the Japanese fermented rice drink super accessible by guiding guests through any and all types of sake on offer. And if you'd like to learn even more, you can pick up a class or swing through one of their guided tastings.

The who's who of the cocktail and culinary scene will be here, along with young creative types looking for something different — if they can snag a coveted bar stool. There's more room for sitting and sipping on the disco-ball-laden, heated patio. Don't leave without sampling a limited-edition bottle, if it's in your budget. These varietals feature unique taste profiles (notes of banana bread, Laffy Taffy, fresh cut flowers), and will likely hit a three-figure price tag.

This newcomer to Portland, Maine's impeccable food and beverage scene is everything you'd want from a bar in Vacationland: divey, cozy, casual, and decked out with big wooden beams. Located in the historic Old Port neighborhood, Room for Improvement's subterranean interior feels like a mix between an old house's basement and the study of a cool Maine dad — complete with forest green walls, vintage pennants and posters, brick accents, and low lighting.

Co-owner Arvid Brown tells the Portland Press Herald that the bulk of the cocktail menu consists of takes on classics like Cosmos and Manhattans with recipes that are "slightly augmented or mildly reimagined to be something a little bit new." Think: an espresso martini topped with salty coconut foam. There's also a cheekily named "salad bar" section, where each drink features a different veggie component (bell pepper and tequila, anyone?). And the piece de resistance of the food menu is for sure the Maine red snapper hot dog served with locally made buns and pickles.

We don't know which part of Tweedy's we like better — between the wood-paneled interior decked out with colored Christmas lights and retro posters and the picnic table-peppered (and dog friendly!) patio. But no matter where you sit, you'll feel right at home at this quirky watering hole that feels quintessentially Austin.

Drink-wise, the menu touches all of the key categories, with a good amount of hipster specialty cocktails like the Violette Femme — which pairs Espolon Repo tequila with Creme de Violette — as well as a handful of classics like the aptly named House Party Marg (given the spot's close proximity to the University of Texas campus). Mocktails have good representation, too, along with a selection of draft cocktails. Eats come from the Golden Tiger food truck parked on the premises, which slings fried chicken sandos, chicken tenders, and fries that are smothered in house queso and chili before being crowned with a fried egg. It has the perfect munchies to nosh on with a can or cocktail.

Raise your hand if you've ever lost your voice just from trying to have a conversation at a bar. All of us, right? Brooklyn newcomer Eavesdrop is going against that stereotype, providing a chill, intimate space where you can — wait for it — actually hold a normal-volume tete-a-tete with your company or simply enjoy the relaxed energy sans speaking.

Adorned with light wood and soft orb lighting, the spot is inspired by the Japanese listening bars of the 1950s and 1960s, which sprung up after World War II when many music artists on tour weren't able to reach Japan. Folks would gather, enjoy a drink, and quietly appreciate whatever jazz record was spinning in the background. Though, with this modern NYC iteration, the team behind Eavesdrop knew complete silence wasn't an option. "New Yorkers, that whole rulebook is gonna be thrown away in five minutes," says the bar's designer, Danny Taylor in an interview with InsideHook. "So we thought, how can we preserve a space or environment that encourages listening but doesn't enforce it as a rule?" The result is a bar that evokes living room vibes, a living room serving up vermouth-spiked Rum & Cokes, and orange chicken wings.

"D.C. has had a vibrant underground dance scene for longer than many people realize," says Ken Brobeck, general manager of the city's groove-centric new nightlife spot, The Owl Room, to Eater DC. Geometric owl murals flank the double-height dance floor, which basks in the sparkling light of a big disco ball on the first level, where bargoers can shimmy and shake to genres spanning from house, to techno, to disco — just nothing too mainstream.

The second floor continues leaning into these retro vibes, with vintage radio and rave fliers as well as a tufted burnt orange banquette spanning the wall, encouraging patrons to take some time to kick back and rest their dancing feet. Better yet, they can do it while sipping on drinks like the banana-forward Banana Hammock — made with Bacardi light rum, lime, banana liqueur, and simple syrup — and the alcohol-free Solarizie, which reimagines a shrub with orange spice, club soda, and a gin alternative.

This Austin newbie is giving West Texas disco cowboy — adorned with cactus-like light fixtures, desert plants, crushed velvet touches, and sultry snakeskin upholstery. Oh, and plenty of disco balls, of course. Cocktails include local classics (hello, Ranch Water on tap) along with specialty tipples like the tequila-based, pisco-spiked La Pistola Rosa with hibiscus, lemon, pepper jelly, and cocoa. It sounds like the perfect classy sip to offset a Frito pie (taco fixings sprinkled into a bag of Frito corn chips), which is one of the only snack items the bar is slinging.

DJs spin sets and drag queens own the room at various events throughout the weekend, while guests bust a move across the retro-checkered linoleum floor. There's outdoor seating, too, as well as a private room clad in zebra stripes, which feels like the ideal venue for a bachelorette party or an extra special girl's night out.

Another moody spot designed after those aforementioned Japanese listening lounges, Miami Sound Bar boasts a hi-fi sound system customized in Japan alongside an extensive vinyl collection and a handful of specialty cocktails. Though it's not the first listening bar to grace the streets of Miami (its predecessors include digs like the ultra-cool Dante's HiFi in Wynwood), this downtown spot feels a little sexier, more intimate, and romantic — trading in the typical light wood and mid-century design elements for red bar stools, dark wood walls, and amber low lighting.

The coolest part? The record player is flaked in clear glass and built right into the bar, so you can watch the DJs in action and chat with them about their favorite tracks, just as you might shoot the breeze with a bartender. We can't forget about the spirits, though: The menu is only five drinks deep (not including beer and wine), but feels super thoughtful, with sophisticated sips incorporating tropical flavors like coconut, agave, and honeydew.

So you've finished up a scrumptious pasta dinner at Faccia a Faccia — a trendy Italian spot on Boston's bustling Newbury Street. Now what? Make your way through the inconspicuous door on one side of the restaurant (or take the back way in from Public Alley 442) and down a few sets of stairs. Before you open the second door at the bottom of the landing, you'll already hear the buzz of conversation and the delicate clink of glasses. Bar Pallino is a speakeasy wine bar that focuses on organic, natural, and biodynamic bottles.

The cozy L-shaped interior is lit mostly with flickering candles and some amber-colored uplighting that illuminates both the impressive vinyl record collection decorated the walls as well as the well-stocked wine wall where you can admire a bottle before you bust it open. Sip on one of over 70 varietals or complementary cocktails. And though the vibe at the restaurant upstairs is all coastal Italy, Bar Pallino channels the je ne sais quoi of modern Parisian wine bars.

Come for the awesome selection of natural wine, and stay for the stripper pole. Besides being about drinking the good stuff, this cheeky San Fransisco spot represents pushing the limits in the male-dominated beverage biz and is complete with a pink neon "Yeast" sign hanging on the wall.

No surprise here: The space is just as bold and sultry as the name, with purple walls, blue dim lighting, and a few sexy Grecian statues here and there, as well as provocative neon signs asking bargoers if they "spit or swallow." Stand-out bottles to us include options from Everwild and Tyty Wines, while the food side of things offers what can only be categorized as sleepover snacks. Goodies like Chips Ahoy cookies, Lunchables, and Pizza Rolls are likely to make a welcome appearance on your plate — who doesn't love some nostalgic snacks at a bar that lives up to the cheekiness of its name?

Rustic, cozy, and a little quirky, Chicago's Quality Time looks like the funky living room you wish you had. The walls are covered in retro patterned wallpaper and feature a near-hilarious amount of taxidermy deer heads, which — you know — pair just perfectly with the luxe olive leather banquettes and boho rattan light fixtures. It's a mishmash that totally works, you'll want to settle in and stay awhile.

The neighborhood hangout boasts a rotating cocktail list that riffs on classics (which clocks in at a very reasonable-for-the-city $11 each), with a whole lot of on-tap and canned beers. When available, you can sip the Rachel Goes to Saturn — blending Bison Grass Vodka, Navy strength rum, velvet falernum, passionfruit, and lemon — while noshing on hot tamales or a bag of chips (what more could you need than that?). Plus, they've got resident DJs on the weekends to get the crowd going. All of that sounds like a real quality time to us.

The crown jewel of boutique hotel Life House in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, this rooftop bar in Miami might just be the city's coolest rooftop. The space is swathed in Spanish tile and comfy rattan chairs, with lots of tropical plants and string lights, and moody candles that make it feel like a real oasis. And we can't forget to mention the impeccable city skyline views.

Though technically this spot isn't new new, it's just recently reopened after a nearly year-long hiatus, and Miami residents are ecstatic to have this swanky spot back. Cocktails include options like a fresh herb-infused Gin and Tonic and a few Cuban-inspired tipples that nod to the neighborhood, like the Ay Mamay! which blends Havana Club rum with coconut cream and pineapple. For bites, you can snack on things like pollo tacos and plantain chips — but, honestly, we're still too distracted thinking about that city view at sunset to eat.

Ambar is known for bringing Balkan dining to D.C. Inside the restaurant's newest location in the hip, nightlife-y Shaw neighborhood, it's topping off the eatery with a second-floor cocktail bar, which features a retractable roof and blooms with pink streamers of petals hanging from the ceiling during cherry blossom season.

With mint green accents and whimsical wallpaper, the space is cheery, yet still swanky. And though we can't get enough of that cherry blossom installation, the real star here is the extensive selection of Rakia — a brandy-like Balkan liquor that's crafted from fermented stone fruits. Sip them straight or mixed into a creative cocktail, like the smoky Skoplje with pear Rakia, Mezcal, spiced pear purée, and house sour mix. Unique wines from across Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia shouldn't be missed, either. The bar will also serve a small-plate menu influenced by Belgrade street eats until the wee hours.

Step into the European-inspired interior of Grace & Proper and you won't feel like you're in Philly anymore — like, at all. Black and white hexagonal tile floors, sage green touches, high tin ceilings with vanilla-hued paint that's chipped just enough to look like it has stories to tell make the space shine. Every element feels romantically well-worn in the best way. The building was a former corner drug store in the 1920s and you can still see many of its original features alongside the charming additions.

Now that it's patio season, score a spot outside, sip on a Porto Tonico — the bar's house cocktail and Portugal's answer to the Italian-created Aperol Spritz — and snack on as much cured meat and cheese as you can handle. It's Europe brought right to the Italian Market, and we think Philadelphians will be ecstatic to try this new hot spot out.