New York still runs the show, but Boston is finally getting some love.
The 2025 Spirited Awards just dropped their picks for the best cocktail bars on the East Coast, and for once, it is not all about Manhattan. A Boston bar made the cut, and that changes the tone a bit.
Most of the names on the list are exactly what you would expect-places that have been perfecting every drink and every detail for years. But seeing Boston show up feels like a real shift. It is not just background anymore. It is part of the main conversation now.
If you care about great cocktails, good atmosphere, and bars that actually get it right, this list is worth a look.
10. Superbueno – New York, NY
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 13 First Avenue, New York, NY |
| Specialty | Mexican-American flavor cocktails |
| Atmosphere | Relaxed, stylish, thoughtful without fuss |
| Signature Drink | Taco Truck Margarita |
| Crowd | Cocktail heads, food lovers, New York nightlife regulars |
Superbueno never feels like it is forcing culture into cocktails. It just lives it. Every drink reflects the flavors and textures of Mexican-American life in a way that feels real, lived-in, and personal. You feel it the second you crack open the menu.
Why it made the list
Superbueno did not settle for doing good Mexican drinks. They invented their own lane. Every drink ties back to memory, place, and flavor in a way that feels honest but still hits hard. It is personal without being precious.
What to drink
The Taco Truck Margarita blows up everything you expect-fresh masa flavors, real citrus, just enough salinity to make you want another. The Elote Old Fashioned folds roasted corn and bourbon into something weirdly smooth and haunting. Every drink tells a full story without ever getting heavy-handed.
9. Service Bar – Washington, DC
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 926-928 U Street NW, Washington, DC |
| Specialty | Clever twists on classics |
| Atmosphere | Energetic, casual, no pretense |
| Signature Drink | Fried Chicken Cocktail (yes, really) |
| Crowd | Locals, bartenders, late-night crews |
Service Bar figured out how to mix real cocktail craft with a neighborhood bar vibe-and they never watered down either side. You can walk in wearing a hoodie and still drink something that would win awards at places with $25 dress codes. That tension makes Service Bar different.
Why it made the list
The energy stays high, the drinks stay smart, and nobody ever acts like they are doing you a favor by serving you. Technique hides underneath the casual surface, but it is there. Every drink lands, no matter how weird or classic the order.
What to drink
The Fried Chicken Cocktail sounds like a joke but drinks like a perfect salted caramel whiskey sour, slick with fat-wash magic. If that feels too risky, the Tequila Martini shows pure technical precision with none of the usual DC stiffness.
8. Pearl Diver – Nashville, TN
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 1008 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, TN |
| Specialty | Tropical cocktails, tiki revival with craft |
| Atmosphere | Bright, colorful, casual tropical |
| Signature Drink | Pearl Diver (house version) |
| Crowd | Local explorers, cocktail hobbyists, casual vacationers |
Pearl Diver gave Nashville something it did not have before-a tropical escape that takes craft cocktails seriously without acting like a museum. It brings the fun of tiki bars into a sharper, modern frame. No dusty parrots or over-sugared drinks here.
Why it made the list
Pearl Diver balanced fun with execution. Every drink reads light-hearted but tastes smart. The space feels open and easygoing, but the cocktails prove that someone in the back cares a lot about what you are sipping.
What to drink
The Pearl Diver house cocktail (yes, their own version) wraps rich rum, citrus, and a custom butter-spice mix into something smooth and punchy without being heavy. The Missionary’s Downfall refreshes with mint and pineapple, cut perfectly so it never gets cloying.
7. Overstory – New York, NY
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 70 Pine Street, New York, NY (63rd floor) |
| Specialty | Elegant high-concept cocktails |
| Atmosphere | Upscale, panoramic views, polished |
| Signature Drink | Jasmine Gimlet |
| Crowd | Celebrations, cocktail tourists, New York lifers on a good night |
Overstory feels like entering another world. Perched high above the Financial District, it delivers that old-school thrill of taking an elevator to somewhere that matters. The space is sleek but never sterile, and the cocktails match the view without trying too hard.
Why it made the list
Some bars feel fake when they chase glamour. Overstory owns it. Staff stays sharp without acting snobby. Drinks are complex without being confusing. The experience feels complete from the minute you step onto the terrace to the last sip of whatever is in your glass.
What to drink
The Jasmine Gimlet hits clean and floral without going perfumy. Also try the Champagne Negroni-a sparkling, bittersweet bomb that feels tailor-made for a night that deserves remembering. Every drink shows a deep respect for balance.
6. Milady’s – New York, NY
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 160 Prince Street, New York, NY |
| Specialty | Nostalgic cocktails, reimagined |
| Atmosphere | Fun, casual, bright |
| Signature Drink | Boozy Snow Cone |
| Crowd | Local crowds, nostalgia seekers, casual drinkers who still want quality |
Milady’s came back swinging. A reboot of the old Soho dive, the new version kept the soul but upgraded everything else. It feels familiar without feeling tired. High-level bartending meets casual, kick-back-and-relax energy.
Why it made the list
Milady’s brought serious skill to a laid-back vibe, and that takes guts. You can walk in for a frozen drink and still get something crafted with real intent. It is a bar that refuses to take itself too seriously without lowering the standard.
What to drink
Start with a Boozy Snow Cone-yes, a real shaved-ice, colorful, spiked masterpiece. Dig into the Frozen Dirty Martini after that. Fun on the outside, serious technique under the hood. Every drink tastes better than you expect.
5. Martiny’s – New York, NY
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 121 East 17th Street, New York, NY |
| Specialty | Japanese-influenced elegance |
| Atmosphere | Quiet luxury, upstairs loft vibe |
| Signature Drink | Martiny’s Martini |
| Crowd | Industry pros, date nights, travelers who know their stuff |
Martiny’s feels like a secret you want to keep. Tucked upstairs in a Gramercy townhouse, it dials everything back-lower lights, hushed conversations, and drinks that land like a quiet flex. Every detail gets touched with Japanese precision but New York confidence.
Why it made the list
Martiny’s proved that polish does not have to mean pretentious. Glassware, ice, dilution, garnish-everything gets handled with care. Staff reads the room perfectly. Drinks come out at the right pace. No rush, no drag.
What to drink
The Martiny’s Martini carries weight. Cold, clear, perfectly cut with a whisper of housemade modifiers. Try the Ume Old Fashioned too-stone fruit and oak hit perfectly without muddying each other. Every drink reminds you why details matter.
4. Double Chicken Please – New York, NY
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 115 Allen Street, New York, NY |
| Specialty | Food-inspired cocktails |
| Atmosphere | High-energy, sleek, creative |
| Signature Drink | Cold Pizza (Cocktail) |
| Crowd | Cocktail nerds, foodies, locals who chase flavor |
Double Chicken Please is one of those rare places where every crazy idea somehow works. Drinks take cues from food-you can order a drink that tastes like cold pizza, and it will blow your mind. The space buzzes with real energy without tipping into chaos.
Why it made the list
Creativity alone does not cut it. Technique has to match, and it does here. Every drink lands clean, even when it sounds ridiculous. No one else is blending textures, savory notes, and unexpected flavors with this much control.
What to drink
The Cold Pizza cocktail mixes tomato water, parmesan, and basil in a way that feels surreal but tastes dead-on. The Japanese Cold Noodle cocktail brings sesame and cucumber into a crisp, clear glass. You leave smiling because the risk pays off every time.
3. Birds of Paradise – Boston, MA
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 234 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA |
| Specialty | Tropical flavors with clarity |
| Atmosphere | Clean, unfussy, bright |
| Signature Drink | Jasmine Rum Spritz |
| Crowd | Locals, cocktail heads, off-duty pros |
Birds of Paradise did something rare for Boston. It skipped the overbuilt bourbon menus, avoided the speakeasy tropes, and focused on clean, colorful drinks that actually taste good and make you want another round. It looks like a beach bar but thinks like a lab.
Why it made the list
The team respects structure. Sour drinks have lift. Bitter ones have patience. The balance across the menu is obvious. You do not need to be a cocktail nerd to notice the difference. Boston usually plays it safe-this bar did not.
What to drink
Start with the Jasmine Rum Spritz. Floral without being perfumy, light without being watered down. The Clarified Papaya Daiquiri is sharp and bright, with no sugar fog. Every drink shows thought, but none feel like homework.
2. Bar Kaiju – Miami, FL
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 83 NW 23rd Street, Miami, FL |
| Specialty | Anime-inspired cocktails, tropical flavors |
| Atmosphere | Neon, creative, underground |
| Signature Drink | Matcha Piña Colada |
| Crowd | Local misfits, creative types, curious tourists |
Bar Kaiju is Miami without the bottle service cliché. It breaks away from the polished hotel bar routine and creates something that feels alive and weird in all the right ways. Giant monsters on the wall, Japanese arcade sounds in the background, and drinks that lean hard into flavor.
Why it made the list
It earns points for personality, but it stays on the list because of real technique. The team actually understands texture, acidity, and the kind of flavor layering that keeps you sipping to figure it out. The fun never gets in the way of the skill.
What to drink
The Matcha Piña Colada sounds like chaos. It drinks like a masterpiece. Earthy matcha, rich coconut, pineapple that tastes like it was squeezed five minutes ago. Also try the Oolong Mai Tai-dark, smoky, and surprisingly dry.
1. Bar Americano – Brooklyn, NY
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 180 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, NY |
| Specialty | Aperitivo cocktails, custom vermouth |
| Atmosphere | Intimate, understated, euro-style |
| Signature Drink | House Americano |
| Crowd | Neighborhood regulars, bartenders off shift |
Bar Americano does not chase the spotlight, but it earns it anyway. Tucked away in Greenpoint, this place sticks to its lane-Italian aperitivo culture-and delivers clean, low-proof cocktails that actually show restraint. No showmanship. No liquid nitrogen. Just balance, confidence, and the kind of detail that never yells.
Why it made the list
The judges noticed the execution. Every pour feels intentional. Every table gets attention. You could order the same drink three nights in a row, and it would taste identical each time. That kind of consistency sets this place apart.
What to drink
The House Americano is the backbone. Built with their own blend of vermouth, it is sharper than most and never flat. The Negroni Bianco hits with citrus and clarity. Even the non-alcoholic options have structure. Nothing feels like filler.
Bottom Line
The East Coast cocktail scene is deeper and sharper than ever.
New York still owns most of the list, but it is not a one-city show anymore. Boston showed up with real strength. Miami brought its own weird genius. Nashville proved tropical drinks can have real backbone. DC kept it honest without trying too hard.
Every bar here earned its spot by doing something a little different, but doing it with real skill.
