This year, USA TODAY highlighted 29 of the best bars across America in its latest USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2025 project, homing in on the expertise of food writers within the network nationwide.
Last year, Perdido Key received a shout-out for beloved coastal honky-tonk Flora-Bama, which earned a coveted spot on the list on USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2024.
While there weren’t any local favorites on the list this year, we know the Pensacola area has a rich variety of bars to love, ranging from toes in the sand beach bars, divey pool halls, to high-end, upscale speakeasies, whiskey rooms and cocktail bars.
We want to know – which one would you put on the list for 2025?
We have gathered 15 of the Pensacola area’s favorites, compiling reviews from websites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google to narrow it down and allow our readers to cast a vote.
We will close the poll to our readers at midnight on July 30 and reveal who our readers’ favorite at noon on July 31. Make sure to check back on PNJ.com for the results.
Let’s take a closer look at the list:
Old Hickory Whiskey Bar
123 S. Palafox St.
Old Hickory leads the way in whiskey, offering over 750 varieties in a dim-lit, sexy and sleek bar in the heart of downtown Pensacola. Seasonal drinks are supreme at Old Hickory, whether it’s their peach tea-infused Summer Old Fashioned or a Christmas pop-up drink when the bar transforms into a hauntingly whimsical Nightmare on Palafox.
Garden & Grain
50 E. Garden St.
This open-air cocktail garden Garden & Grain is part of Perennial Hospitality Group, which offers a collection of bars, including swanky Old Florida cocktail bar The Well, Perfect Plain craft brewery, and Perennial cocktail bar inside The Garden food park. Their refreshing, seasonal drinks are perfect for the summer, including their famous margarita.
Seville Quarter
130 E. Government St.
Seville Quarter is the star of nightlife, due to its seven unique rooms of fun, including their famous dueling pianos inside of Rosie O’ Grady’s. Open into the wee hours of the morning, Seville offers everything from loud and lively karaoke to a peaceful courtyard.
Intermission
214 S. Palafox St.
Fan-favorite downtown Pensacola bar, Intermission, is the sure-fire place to run into someone you know, play a round of pool, or score a drink at an affordable price. Locals will defend this tried-and-true dive to the death for its friendly crowd and energetic atmosphere.
The Kennedy
1 S. Palafox Place
From the makers of Old Hickory comes The Kennedy, an upscale, old-school cocktail bar inspired by 1950s and 1960s drinking culture. The Kennedy specializes in “mid-century cocktails meet 21st century libations” perfect to enjoy in a corner booth under the glow of the disco ball.
O’Riley’s Irish Pub Downtown
321 S. Palafox St.
Once the sun goes down, O’Riley’s is the place to party with an upstairs billiards bar, lots of HDTVs for sporting events, and steel-tip darts downstairs. They have an expansive selection of libations, including Guinness to fit with the overall Irish theme.
Sister Hen
415 N. Alcaniz St.
While Sister Hen soars under the radar as Pensacola’s sole speakeasy, its brother, Brother Fox restaurant, was awarded as USA TODAY’s Restaurant of the Year in 2024. Here, the bar experience is a class act with cocktail menus illuminated under candlelight, stamped square ice cubes and an enticing red telephone that waits outside for guests to pick up to enter.
The Grid
2414 N. Pace Blvd.
The Grid is a westside dive that does “so nerdy it’s cool” authentically. The bar’s owner, Daniel Demeter, is hands-on doing the restoration work himself, offering now hard-to-find nostalgic arcade games at affordable prices to play. Not to mention, they have over 90 different alcoholic beverages to wash down while you play, including six draft beer selections rotating every week.
The Cabaret
101 S. Jefferson St.
The Cabaret is a LGBTQIA+ owned and operated bar in the heart of Pensacola beloved for live piano nights, karaoke, friendly patrons, exceptional bartenders and drag show performances.
Wisteria Tavern
3808 N. 12 Ave.
East Hill’s Wisteria Tavern, affectionately known by locals as “The Wis,” has a storied past dating back to the late 1920s, when it was a grocery and supply store. While its indoor area is small in size, it boasts a massive outdoor seating area nestled under the trees, as well as over 100 beer options to choose from, all in a laid-back, relaxed environment.
Azalea Cocktail Lounge
810 N. Davis Highway
While Pensacola frequents the bar from lunch time to early morning, Azalea Cocktail Lounge still fits the dive bar bill due to its dim lighting, strong pours and local artwork. The Azalea, nicknamed “the Z,” made Pensacola history as the city’s first cocktail bar after it opened in 1947 and has been at the center of late nights and fond memories for locals ever since.
Bamboo Willie’s
400 Quietwater Beach Road Suite 14
Bamboo Willie’s is a go-to place to party on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, with bands rotating on the regular, frozen drinks spinning and waterfront views. There is always something happening, whether it’s a crawfish boil or a bikini contest. When the band’s playing, you’re sure to find dancing and hands clapping.
The Handlebar
319 N. Tarragona St.
Debuted in 1983, The Handlebar became a hub for inexperienced but charismatic aspiring musicians to take the stage for the very first time and for seasoned area artists to cement their legacies as local legends. Now, fully restored, The Handlebar still serves as a hub for live music, but with a more impressive craft beer lineup.
Paradise Bar & Grille
21 Via De Luna Drive
Paradise is another local secret where the music flows on the open-air stage, the views of the Santa Rosa Sound are immaculate, and the people are friendly. Paradise is a beloved piece of Pensacola Beach history, with its inn established the 1950s, with the bar and grill following in 2003. The bar is unassuming and well-suited for everyday folks, adding to what has made it such a tried-and-true fan-favorite.
Sandshaker Lounge & Package Store
731 Pensacola Beach Blvd.
The Sandshaker is one of Pensacola’s most historic beach bars and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. It has become a local hot spot for its live music, Pensacola memorabilia and its famous Bushwhackers. When then-bar owner Linda Taylor came back from the Virgin Islands in 1975 with a recipe for a certain frozen Kahlua coffee cocktail, the bar would never be the same.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: VOTE: Which Pensacola-area bar should have been one of USA TODAY Bars of the Year 2025?
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
