From dive bars to hidden speakeasies, swanky cocktail lounges to beachfront watering holes, the best bars tell a story — and often serve up something tasty to go with your drink.

USA TODAY’s Bars of the Year 2025 celebrates the standout spots across the country that do more than just pour a stiff one. These are the places where locals and visitors alike gather for good conversation, warm vibes and a little slice of the city’s character – whether that means savoring a Rusty Nail aboard a simulated flight in Phoenix, chasing an Orange Crush down the beach in Delaware or pairing a salty margarita with a deep-fried hot dog at a Florida dockside bar.

Here are 29 of the best bars in America for 2025, as chosen by USA TODAY Network journalists who know their hometown haunts inside and out.

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