The best bar near you is rarely the first one on the list. With three filters and two quick looks you still find it in five minutes.
"Bars near me" is one of the most common searches of the evening, and map apps reliably return results. The skill lies in choosing: the top of the list often shows places with lots of reviews, not automatically the ones with the best drinks. Know a few things and you will find a bar that fits your night within minutes of where you are.
Step one: radius and time
A radius of about 400 metres, or a quarter of a mile, is a smart choice: roughly a five-minute walk, a distance you will happily cover even in the rain. The "open now" filter helps, but do not trust it blindly. On public holidays, in winter and for small bars, the listed hours are not always right. To be sure, open the bar's website or social profile; short-notice changes usually appear there first.
Step two: read reviews the right way
- Newest first: reviews from the last few weeks say more than a ten-year average.
- Look at guests' photos: fresh citrus, clear ice and nicely garnished glasses are good signs.
- Search for words: "bartender", "recommendation" and "signature" point to a cocktail bar that takes its craft seriously.
- Read the replies: bars that answer reviews kindly usually look after their guests well, too.
Step three: pick the right kind of bar
Fun drinks can mean many things. For a conversation, choose a cocktail bar with seats; for a quick drink, a pub; for wine and small plates, a wine bar; for a warm evening, a beer garden or a rooftop. Not sure what you feel like? Let the drink match suggest a drink, then look for the bar that makes it.
Cocktail bar near me, open now
Cocktail bars usually open between 6 and 8 pm, some in the afternoon. If you are out early, look specifically for bars that start early. In Berlin, 100 GRAMM Bar near Rosenthaler Platz is one of them: according to its website it opens daily at 4 pm and stays open until 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Late at night, pure bars are the best bet, because restaurants with a bar often close earlier.
Bars with live music nearby
Live music is hard to find on a map because it is not a fixed feature but an event. Three routes work better: the city's event listings, the programme pages of jazz clubs and bars with a stage, and searching for "jam session" plus the day of the week. Many bars have regular music nights, every Wednesday or Saturday for example.
At the door: the five-minute test
A look through the door tells you a lot. Is someone behind the bar greeting guests? Are there free seats at the counter? Does it smell of fresh citrus? Then stay. If in doubt, order a classic, a Daiquiri or an Old Fashioned: it quickly shows how well a bar knows its craft.
In an unfamiliar city
In a city you do not know, search for a neighbourhood rather than a single bar. Where several good bars are close together, you can switch if the first one does not suit you. Our city guides show the neighbourhoods and bars of twelve cities on the map, and the night planner turns them into a route.
Try it
Night PlannerChoose city, mood, budget and start time: the Night Planner builds a route of three to five stops with times, drinks and the way between them.Drink MatchFour sliders for sweet, sour, bitter and strong, plus spirit and occasion: Drink Match finds the cocktail that suits you, with the recipe and the bars where it is best.Bar RouletteChoose city and category, spin, be surprised: Bar Roulette draws a bar from this guide and shows you why you should go exactly there.Frequently asked questions
How do I find a good bar near me?
Search for "bar" or "cocktail bar" in your map app, switch on "open now", limit the radius to a five to ten minute walk and check the newest reviews and guests' photos.
How far is 400 metres on foot?
About five minutes at a normal pace, roughly a quarter of a mile.
How do I find a bar with live music nearby?
Use the city's event listings, the programme pages of jazz clubs and bars with a stage, or search for "jam session" plus the day of the week.
