Best steakhouse in America? 20 beloved local spots worth the road trip
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USA TODAY NETWORKDecember 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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After knocking out our nationwide roundup of America’s best dive bars — dim lights, cheap drinks and a fiercely protected sense of place — we decided to get dressed up a bit, head in the opposite direction, and chase down the country’s great steakhouses.
To find the very best, USA TODAY Network food writers fanned out across the map to find historic institutions that have fed generations to modern temples of beef redefining what a steakhouse can be. We ordered filets, ribeyes, Delmonicos and wagyu cuts that made us loosen our belts — and reach for another bite.
The result is a coast-to-coast list of 20 beloved local spots worth planning a road trip around — places where hospitality is warm, cuts are prime, sides are premium, the wine list is commendable, and dinner still feels like an event — the kind where lifelong memories are made.
The filet mignon is the restaurant's most popular dish at Carnevor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The filet mignon is the restaurant's most popular dish at Carnevor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Dry-aged New York strip au poivre served at the original Capital Grille in Capital Grille in Providence, Rhode Island is carved by the in-house butcher.
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Dry-aged New York strip au poivre served at the original Capital Grille in Capital Grille in Providence, Rhode Island is carved by the in-house butcher.
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A bite of the marinated skirt steak dish with crispy onions at Sugo Italian Steakhouse restaurant, located in the Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.
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Don’t let the Lone Star State name fool you. Texas Cattle Company, renowned for its hand-cut, seasoned USDA prime and choice aged steaks, is located in Lakeland, Florida.
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Don’t let the Lone Star State name fool you. Texas Cattle Company, renowned for its hand-cut, seasoned USDA prime and choice aged steaks, is located in Lakeland, Florida.
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1 / 15Best steakhouses in the U.S., from legends to newcomers. See photos
The filet mignon is the restaurant's most popular dish at Carnevor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Carnevor | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Details: 718 N. Milwaukee St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 414-223-2200
Carnevor's filet mignon is the restaurant's most popular dish.
It's not unlikely to catch a major sports star dining at downtown Milwaukee steakhouse Carnevor. LeBron’s been spotted there. MLB MVP Christian Yelich has too. Even non-sports celebs love it, like comedian D.L. Hughley, who regularly touted the modern steakhouse on his daily podcast.
So what makes it so special? Shining hospitality makes even regular people feel like stars. But its chef's reserve cuts of steaks are what truly set Carnevor apart, like the wagyu filet mignon from New South Wales, Australia, and the wagyu A-5 filet mignon from Hokkaido, Japan. Carnevor is the only restaurant in Wisconsin to carry MUSE Australian full-blood wagyu steak, produced by cattle with 100% Japanese genetics, but raised with Australia’s industry-leading care practices.
Sure, it’s swanky, but Carnevor’s come-as-you-are spirit means it’s just as comfortable as it is classy, whether you’re coming straight from the locker room or for an anniversary dinner. — Rachel Bernhard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
More: Stars think this is Milwaukee’s best steakhouse. What makes it special?
Bourbon Steak | Nashville, Tennessee
Details: 201 Eighth Ave. S., 629-208-8440, nashvillebourbonsteak.com
Angus filet mignon from Bourbon Steak in Nashville, Tennessee.
This excellent Michael Mina steakhouse is the highest restaurant in Nashville and boasts stunning city views. Instead of bread, you'll receive a complimentary trio of seasoned fries with dipping sauce. Try the tuna tartare, pore over the extensive whiskey selection and figure out which steak you want the kitchen to toss on the wood-fired grill. — Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean
More: Check out these 15 great steakhouses in the Nashville area
Capital Grille | Providence, Rhode Island
Details: 10 Memorial Blvd., Providence, Rhode Island, 401-521-5600, thecapitalgrille.com
Dry-aged New York strip au poivre served at Capital Grille is carved by the in-house butcher.
The Capital Grille is the grand dame of Providence steakhouses and has history on its side. Yes, there are many Capital Grilles today, but the Providence location was the original, opened 35 years ago. It moved from the former Union Station to sit above Waterplace Park at 10 Memorial Blvd. The lineup of fine cuisine and wine and top service has not changed.
Dry-aged steaks, in-house butcher, secret menu items and the steady hand of Christopher Phillips, managing partner, are notable. Annual promotional events like a Wagyu and Wine, and the Generous Pour make it attainable to a wider market. —Gail Ciampa, Providence Journal
More: Best steakhouse in RI? 10 top spots for premium cuts and sides
The Top | Columbus, Ohio
Details: 2891 E. Main St., 614-231-8238, thetopsteakhouse.com
There are fancier places in town, for sure, but for an awful lot of central Ohio diners, The Top remains the first place they think of when the topic of local steakhouses comes up. Everything from its upholstered leather and wood-paneled walls to its classic apps and sides (oysters Rockefeller, au gratin potatoes) takes you back to a time when meat and potatoes ruled. Steaks run from $59.95 for a 14-ounce ribeye or New York strip to $61.95 for a 20- to 22-ounce porterhouse. —Bob Vitale, Columbus Dispatch
More: Best steakhouses in Columbus? Here are 13 for any occasion or budget
Losanti | Cincinnati, Ohio (Over-the-Rhine neighborhood)
Details: 1401 Race St., Cincinnati, Ohio, Over-the-Rhine, 513-246-4213, losantiotr.com.
The butter cake from Losanti, in Over-the-Rhine.
If you're looking for a modern take on a classic Italian steakhouse — something with a minimalist vibe and maximalist food — Losanti is your spot. Since 2019, it has been serving some of the best steaks, pastas, and shrimp scampi in town.
All of the pastas are made in-house and include spaghetti tossed with crab meat and lobster cream or rigatoni in creamy vodka sauce enlivened with a punch of Calabrian chiles and plenty of garlic. Steaks are cut to order and come with a head of slow-roasted garlic and charred lemon. With such a huge selection of rich and delicious food, Losanti can lead to a little belt busting if you're not careful.
That said, it's always wise to leave room for dessert as its butter cake is the stuff of legend.— Keith Pandolfi, The Cincinnati Enquirer
More: 5 essential steakhouses of Cincinnati
Sugo Italian Steakhouse | Wilmington, North Carolina
Details: 301 N. Water St., Wilmington, North Carolina, 910-834-5960, sugoitaliansteakhouse.com
A bite of the marinated skirt steak dish with crispy onions at Sugo Italian Steakhouse restaurant, located in the Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington, N.C.
Sugo is the Italian word for sauce. And classic tomato sauce is a signature of Sugo Italian Steakhouse. But in addition to Italian-American fare, there’s also a selection of steaks — from marinated skirt steaks to Japanese wagyu. And lots of beefy choices in between. The kitchen ages its own beef in-house for ribeyes, for example. You can also get 40 ounces of porterhouse or tomahawk-style steak.
There’s also a robust selection of “steak enhancements” like horseradish cream, a blue-cheese crust, truffle butter, or even a lobster tail. The menu is also modeled after those steakhouses where sides are served à la carte and family style. — Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews
More: This is the best steakhouse in Wilmington, according to locals
One Rare Italian Steakhouse | Scarsdale, New York
Details: 16 East Pkwy., Scarsdale, New York, 914-330-8488, oneraresteakhouse.com
A tomahawk steak at One Rare Steakhouse in Scarsdale, New York, Dec. 3, 2025.
The fact that One Rare Italian Steakhouse in Scarsdale is certified by the Japanese government to serve Kobe beef should be your first clue that this isn’t your everyday steakhouse. Add in the modern interior and whimsical centerpiece tree that changes with the seasons, and you’re in for a treat.
Executive chef and partner Admir Alibasic, who's been cooking for 19 years, talks about meat the way a seasoned reporter talks about a trusted source: with respect, knowledge and an obsessive need to get everything right. For him and his team, nothing is overlooked – from the amount of time a cut needs to age to the marbling that melts at just the right moment to the subtle minerality in the fat.
And that's just part of the story. Alibasic also likes to add a touch of playfulness to certain dishes like his mac and cheese trio (with four cheeses, truffle and short rib); wagyu sliders (caramelized onions, tomato, special sauce, Havarti cheese) and short rib brunch bowl (rice, cabbage slaw, sunny side egg, corn and avocado salsa and peanut sauce). — Jeanne Muchnick, lohud and The Journal News
More: 24 prime steakhouses in Westchester, Rockland to sink your teeth into
Redd Wood | Brighton, New York
Details: 1690 Monroe Ave., Brighton, New York, 585-319-4194, reddwoodroc.com.
Redd Wood, which opened in March, blends American steakhouse fare with a French influence, served in a dining room divided into intimate seating areas of booths and banquettes.
Steaks are brushed with rendered beef fat, seasoned, started on a wood-fired hearth, finished in a special oven and sliced to order. Be sure to order one with the decadent pommes aligot (cheesy mashed potatoes). — Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
More: Top 5 high-end Rochester steakhouses worth the splurge. See the list
The Butcher's Block | Long Branch, New Jersey
Details: 235 West Ave., Long Branch, New Jersey, 732-795-3903, thebutchersblocknj.com
At The Butcher's Block in Long Branch, diners can choose their steak from the restaurant's butcher shop.
Tom D'Ambrisi didn't seek out a high-profile location when he opened The Butcher's Block on a Long Branch, New Jersey, side street that runs along train tracks, next to his family's wholesale meat business. But the steakhouse quickly became one of the state's most popular restaurants, and D'Ambrisi has expanded and found new ways to keep things fresh — like last summer's live-fire outdoor dinner series.
The popularity of The Block, as it's known, is due in part to ambiance. The restaurant comprises multiple rooms indoors and a beautiful outdoor patio, all a mix of brick, wood and glass softened by chandeliers, fireplaces, plants and candles. The restaurant is rustic yet modern, both inside and out, and unlike any other at the Shore.
As for the food, the menu is built around the butcher shop, where diners choose their cut. Sides like garlicky broccoli rabe, hand-cut fries, and Brussels sprouts with hot honey and Cap'n Crunch cereal (a quirky but popular dish) round out the menu alongside pastas, small plates and entrees of meatballs and pork Milanese. — Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
More: Best Jersey Shore steakhouses? 9 top spots for premium cuts and sides
River Palm Terrace | Edgewater, New Jersey
Details: 1416 River Road, Edgewater, New Jersey, 201-224-2013, riverpalm.com.
Steak is front and center on the menu at The River Palm Terrace in Edgewater.
When it comes to North Jersey steakhouses, River Palm Terrace has become almost synonymous with the term. A 42-year-old special occasion spot with white tablecloths and fine wines, the upscale chophouse rolls off the tongue each time a local asks another where they can get a stellar cut of meat. Under soft lighting — and between classic green booths — the filet mignons and accompanying sides come seasoned with a taste of history and tradition.
Since Day One, River Palm has been wowing diners with dry-aged steaks (such as ribeyes and porterhouses) topped with house-made sauces (like cognac cream peppercorn) and preceded by seafood appetizers. Later, though, the team added elevated sushi rolls to the menu, which are now almost equally popular. Whether in search of a delicate slice of sashimi or a hearty bite of New York strip, eaters can find both at the timeless restaurant. — Kara VanDooijeweert, NorthJersey.com
More: Best steakhouses in North Jersey? 5 spots for premium cuts and sides
Rudy's Prime Steakhouse | Detroit, Michigan
Details: 9 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston, Michigan, 248-625-3033, rudysprimesteakhouse.com
Rudy's Prime Steakhouse merges old-world traditions with a modern approach.
Rudy’s Prime Steakhouse delivers a modern voice to Clarkston, a small Michigan city with old-world charm. The space itself is consistent with the Oakland County village’s overall vibe. A stone façade blends into the row of quaint boutiques and small dining establishments. Inside, vaulted ceilings and contemporary lighting create a warm and cozy but sleek feel.
As for the menu, chef Joshua Stockton has designed something entirely new. Sure, there are steakhouse classics — a range of prime meats in individual servings or large formats to share. But unlike most steakhouses, at Rudy’s, the menu is ever-evolving as Stockton cooks with the seasons. A fall salad features grilled radicchio, butternut squash and toasted pumpkin seeds. And in summer, a panzanella tossed heirloom tomatoes and juicy cucumbers in a roasted tomato vinaigrette.
There are also creative sides that nod to the favorite pastimes of the standard steakhouse. In place of crab cakes, Stockton has crafted crispy arancini stuffed with blue crab meat and garlic confit for a gooey burst of flavor, and loaded potatoes are translated into creamy mashed potatoes topped with a sweet bacon jam and tangy sour cream. — Lyndsay Green, The Detroit Free Press
More: Best steakhouses in metro Detroit? 9 top spots for premium cuts, sides
The Roadhouse | Hyannis, Massachusetts
Details: 488 South St., Hyannis, Massachusetts, 774-810-8100, roadhousehyannis.com
New York sirloin is one of the steak choices served at The Roadhouse in Hyannis. These two steaks were served with creamed spinach, broccolini and mashed potatoes on Dec. 4, 2025.
The menu at The Roadhouse certainly doesn't skimp on steaks. Choose among prime cuts like steak au poivre, steak tips and Delmonico and complete your meal with a side, such as asparagus, broccolini or risotto. Owner Ricky Conrado takes special care to choose the highest grade possible and season it well for the best quality and most marbling and tenderness. — Jason Savio, Cape Cod Times
More: The Roadhouse steak menu in Hyannis includes a $54 steak au poivre
Le Moo | Louisville, Kentucky
Details: 2300 Lexington Road, Louisville, Kentucky, 502-458-8888, lemoorestaurant.com/louisville-steakhouse
If you can't tell by the complimentary glasses of Champagne near the entrance of Le Moo, you're walking into a party.
"We want people to feel special as soon as they walk in the door," Josh Vasko, Le Moo's beverage program manager, told the Courier Journal. "People are going to remember how we made them feel."
That goes for how Vasko makes Le Moo's most popular cocktail, a smoked Old Fashioned made with Woodford Reserve double oaked bourbon and an ice cube etched with the restaurant's logo.
Le Moo aims to spread more specialness with its eclectic decor, including lots of cow-themed artwork, chandeliers, and a Louis Vuitton booth. The upscale steakhouse goes hard for its chosen cuisine by offering a number of cuts and a 10-ounce Miyazaki, Japanese grade A5 wagyu filet. Priced at $259, the steak comes with a certificate of authenticity and is served tableside by the executive chef.
In 2016, just a year after Louisville restaurateur Kevin Grangier opened the grand spectacle, Food Network named Le Moo one of America's top 25 best places for steak in 2016 and it's still a go-to in town. It's also known for a lively weekend drag brunch. — Amanda Hancock, The Courier Journal
More: Best steakhouse in Louisville? 9 top spots for premium cuts and sides
Prime & Providence | West Des Moines, Iowa
Details: 595 S. 60th St., West Des Moines, Iowa, 515-644-6805, primeandprovidence.com.
The surf and turf at Prime & Providence features a 4-ounce cold-water lobster tail, two filet mignon medallions, and jumbo prawns with an emulsified white wine sauce on May 6, 2025, in West Des Moines.
Prime & Providence in West Des Moines is a steak lover’s dream. This modern steakhouse takes pride in sourcing premium cuts and cooking them over a coal-fired grill that imparts a rich, smoky flavor. The reserve menu reads like a global tour of beef excellence, featuring Kobe striploins, Shimane rib-eye and Kagoshima Ichibo — prized Japanese cuts known for their marbling and tenderness.
For those who prefer American classics, the grill turns out Delmonicos and New York strips with a char that steak aficionados crave. Every bite reflects the restaurant’s commitment to quality and technique, from the precise sear to the juicy center. And while steak is the star, don’t overlook the indulgent Black Label burger, layered with raclette cheese and mushroom relish for a decadent twist. —Susan Stapleton, The Des Moines Register
More: Best steakhouse in Des Moines? Top spots for premium cuts and sides
St. Elmo | Indianapolis, Indiana
Details: 27 S. Illinois St., Indianapolis, Indiana, 317-635-0636, stelmos.com
This bone-in “cowboy" rib-eye is one of the largest entrees on the menu.
The Indianapolis steakhouse, if not the Indianapolis restaurant, St. Elmo has been grilling up slabs of beef in the same corner of Circle Centre Mall since 1902. Founder Joe Stahr originally named the restaurant Stahr's Tavern, which featured the St. Elmo Buffet (the latter named for Erasmus of Formia, aka Saint Elmo, the patron saint of sailors and, incidentally, abdominal pain). Stahr would eventually drop the buffet operation — a devastating if ultimately necessary move — and trim the name to St. Elmo.Per the steakhouse's website, the first St. Elmo menu featured its now-famous shrimp cocktail, then available for 10 cents. Over the last nearly 125 years, St. Elmo has changed hands multiple times, eventually becoming one of the highest-grossing independent restaurants in the United States under the ownership of Huse Culinary. The Indianapolis institution has become a go-to hangout for several major sports figures including Peyton Manning, sports broadcasting icon Jim Nantz and several IndyCar drivers.
St. Elmo boasts a roster of USDA Prime steaks ranging from the working man's $45 12-ounce flat iron to a $155 32-ounce dry-aged tomahawk ribeye. For what it's worth, Huse said in 2017 that Manning typically stuck to the 14-ounce New York strip, which now costs $72. But Manning was hardly a snob if his usual order is any indication; per Huse, he would wash down his order with a Bud Light. —Bradley Hohulin, Indianapolis Star
More: Sirloin and sports stars: Five of Indy's most celebrated steakhouses
Texas Cattle Company | Lakeland, Florida
Don’t let the Lone Star State name fool you. Texas Cattle Company, renowned for its hand-cut, seasoned USDA prime and choice aged steaks, is located in Lakeland, Florida.
Details: 735 E. Main St., Lakeland; 863-686-1434, texascattlecompany.net
Don’t let the Lone Star State name fool you. Texas Cattle Company is actually a Florida favorite planted firmly in the heart of the state. Originally opened as the Talk of the Town steakhouse in 1974, Lakeland’s Texas Cattle Company has been searing and serving ’em up since 1984. Bordering downtown Lakeland’s scenic and historic Lake Mirror and its promenade, the restaurant has become a go-to destination for local steak lovers — and a rewarding detour for vacationers visiting the Orlando area.
Owned by the Woodsby family, also behind the grills at Charley’s Steak House and FishBones, Texas Cattle Company has built its reputation on hand-cut, seasoned USDA prime and choice aged steaks. Each cut is aged four to six weeks, meticulously trimmed, and flame-broiled over a 1,200-degree citrus- and oak-wood-burning pit. Standout options include the ribeye — especially the signature Cattle Baron Ribeye — the buttered filet mignon, the classic New York strip, and the plate-filling T-bone/porterhouse, an ideal way to cap off a long, theme-park-heavy day with something unapologetically indulgent.― Paul Catala, Lakeland Ledger correspondent
More: Best steakhouses in Lakeland area? Here are 7 top spots for premium cuts
Bern’s Steak House | Tampa, Florida
Details: 1208 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, Florida, 813-251-2421, bernssteakhouse.com
The bone-in tenderloin at Bern’s Steak House in Tampa, a Florida legend open since 1956, where steaks are hand-trimmed and aged in-house.
Open since 1956 — with décor that has been likened to “Dracula’s bordello” — Bern’s Steak House has attracted everyone from mafiosos to at least one sitting U.S. president, thanks to its hand-trimmed, in-house–aged beef and legendary wine collection.
Must-try menu items include the Delmonico steak or the bone-in tenderloin and French onion soup au gratin. After dining downstairs, head upstairs to the cozy Harry Waugh Dessert Room to indulge in classics like Bananas Foster or Baked Alaska, both flambéed tableside. Serious steak enthusiasts and oenophiles may want to book a room at the Epicurean Hotel, Bern’s sister property just across the street.
One of Florida’s great culinary treasures, it’s the kind of pilgrimage every true steak lover should make at least once. — Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
More: Top 12 Florida steakhouses worth the road trip
Bardea Steak | Wilmington, Delaware
Details: 608 N. Market St., Wilmington, Delaware, bardeasteak.com
Bardea Steak in Wilmington, Delaware, was named as one of the 50 Best Steak Restaurants North America 2025. World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants reviews 1,200 restaurants globally, and only 50 are selected in North America.
A marble sculpture of a white Chianina bull, the oldest and biggest bovine breed in the world, rests near a fireplace in Bardea Steak's 120-seat main dining area. It perhaps best sets the tone for what James Beard-nominated chef/co-owner Antimo DiMeo has been working to accomplish — modernizing Old World tastes for today's memorable eating experiences at this downtown Wilmington restaurant.
The restaurant was just listed as one of the Top 50 Best Steakhouses in North America for 2025 (it placed No. 49) by the World's Best Steak Restaurants website. It's the only restaurant named in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Anonymous reviewers checked out 1,200 steakhouse restaurants globally and only 50 were selected in North America.
Bardea Steak's menu has undergone significant changes since its June 2022 opening. Small plates are listed as "snacks." Check out the creamed chipped beef croquette, $15, made with Wagyu Bresaola, truffles and sausage gravy. An excellent table-sharing option is the $180 steak tasting. Breed choices include Australian Wagyu, Holstein, Piedmontese, and Grassfed Angus. An 8-ounce filet is $59. Sides include loaded potatoes and mac and cheese. — Patricia Talorico, Wilmington News-Journal
More: Best Delaware steakhouses. 12 local favorites for great cooked meats
RARE Italian | Fort Collins, ColoradoA tomahawk steak at One Rare Steakhouse in Scarsdale, New York, Dec. 3, 2025.
Details: 101 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado, 970-294-4544, rareitalian.com
If you're looking for a standout steak for dinner, RARE Italian may surprise you. The restaurant focuses on local and farm-fresh ingredients across its pastas and entrées, with an emphasis on upscale, house-aged steaks served with chive potato purée and glazed baby carrots. According to the menu, its dry-aging process is done in-house and takes a minimum of 21 days. Menu highlights include carbonara, dry-aged New York strip, shrimp bruschetta, truffle fries, dry-aged bistecca alla fiorentina, surf & turf with scallops and brasato & polenta. —David Dishman, The Coloradan
More: Best local steakhouse in Fort Collins? These 5 are up there
The Stockyards Steakhouse | Phoenix, Arizona
Details: 5009 E. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona, 602-273-7378, stockyardssteakhouse.com.
The original sign, circa 1950s, at The Stockyards.
Established in 1947, this Old West-themed restaurant became part of the city of Phoenix Historic Property Register in 2004. Its original menu focused on steak, an homage to its roots as a cattle feed lot in 1919. Inside, wood tables and chairs, a natural stone fireplace, dark leather banquettes and bronze chandeliers with hurricane glass shades round out the ambience.
Today, menu highlights include pan-seared crab cakes, wild boar and venison sausages, calf's liver, grilled chopped steaks, grilled medallions of elk, pan-seared Tomahawk pork chop, 24-ounce bone-in ribeye, pecan pie, strawberry shortcake and Sonoran draft root beer floats made with Jack Daniels. — Bahar Anooshahr, Arizona Republic
More: These historic metro Phoenix steakhouses serve up Old West charm
America’s best dive bars offer something distinct — dim lights, cheap drinks and a fiercely protected sense of place that can feel like stepping back in time. From Florida’s beloved Bahi Hut in Sarasota, pouring potent tiki cocktails since the Eisenhower era, to Phoenix’s cash-only Bikini Lounge, a 1947 tiki landmark (pictured), to Detroit’s Post Bar, newly reborn on Broadway but still long, narrow and graffiti-covered like the original, these spots define their communities as much as they serve them. Read the story.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>America’s best dive bars offer something distinct — dim lights, cheap drinks and a fiercely protected sense of place that can feel like stepping back in time. From Florida’s beloved Bahi Hut in Sarasota, pouring potent tiki cocktails since the Eisenhower era, to Phoenix’s cash-only Bikini Lounge, a 1947 tiki landmark (pictured), to Detroit’s Post Bar, newly reborn on Broadway but still long, narrow and graffiti-covered like the original, these spots define their communities as much as they serve them. Read the story.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/QJGxZAWE4cqXByNnJ7zz9A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/68d45ea169dfc674b7b5ce8c54ab8417 class=caas-img data-headline="Best dive bars in America, from tiny taverns to tiki treasures. Photos" data-caption="
America’s best dive bars offer something distinct — dim lights, cheap drinks and a fiercely protected sense of place that can feel like stepping back in time. From Florida’s beloved Bahi Hut in Sarasota, pouring potent tiki cocktails since the Eisenhower era, to Phoenix’s cash-only Bikini Lounge, a 1947 tiki landmark (pictured), to Detroit’s Post Bar, newly reborn on Broadway but still long, narrow and graffiti-covered like the original, these spots define their communities as much as they serve them. Read the story.
">America’s best dive bars offer something distinct — dim lights, cheap drinks and a fiercely protected sense of place that can feel like stepping back in time. From Florida’s beloved Bahi Hut in Sarasota, pouring potent tiki cocktails since the Eisenhower era, to Phoenix’s cash-only Bikini Lounge, a 1947 tiki landmark (pictured), to Detroit’s Post Bar, newly reborn on Broadway but still long, narrow and graffiti-covered like the original, these spots define their communities as much as they serve them. Read the story.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/QJGxZAWE4cqXByNnJ7zz9A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/68d45ea169dfc674b7b5ce8c54ab8417 class=caas-img>Egan's Irish Pub is a shotgun-style space in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/WJH7OizJhmhWUKhR0trT3Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NTc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/054537d4738233539c8f9c84522569c2 class=caas-img data-headline="Best dive bars in America, from tiny taverns to tiki treasures. Photos" data-caption="
Egan's Irish Pub is a shotgun-style space in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
">Egan's Irish Pub is a shotgun-style space in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/WJH7OizJhmhWUKhR0trT3Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NTc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/054537d4738233539c8f9c84522569c2 class=caas-img>
Manager Jill Marcin stands outside the Red Lion Inn & Liquor Store in Bear, Delaware on Nov. 1, 2025. The Marcin family owned Red Lion for decades before a recent change in ownership.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7E71k2_Ad0vs3DY6qmMolA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/09f1cc7046e7fff4ffa9da7427b290a3 class=caas-img data-headline="Best dive bars in America, from tiny taverns to tiki treasures. Photos" data-caption="
Manager Jill Marcin stands outside the Red Lion Inn & Liquor Store in Bear, Delaware on Nov. 1, 2025. The Marcin family owned Red Lion for decades before a recent change in ownership.
">Manager Jill Marcin stands outside the Red Lion Inn & Liquor Store in Bear, Delaware on Nov. 1, 2025. The Marcin family owned Red Lion for decades before a recent change in ownership.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7E71k2_Ad0vs3DY6qmMolA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/09f1cc7046e7fff4ffa9da7427b290a3 class=caas-img>Bahi Hut is located at 4675 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Open since 1954 and proudly billed as Florida’s oldest tiki bar – and the country’s longest-running “tiki treasure” – Bahi Hut is located at 4675 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IXW.q7Wb8FmbeTqxUw.QBA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02NDI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/85e8a9c31de19f000e3927cf35d3358f class=caas-img data-headline="Best dive bars in America, from tiny taverns to tiki treasures. Photos" data-caption="
Open since 1954 and proudly billed as Florida’s oldest tiki bar – and the country’s longest-running “tiki treasure” – Bahi Hut is located at 4675 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
">Open since 1954 and proudly billed as Florida’s oldest tiki bar – and the country’s longest-running “tiki treasure” – Bahi Hut is located at 4675 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IXW.q7Wb8FmbeTqxUw.QBA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02NDI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/85e8a9c31de19f000e3927cf35d3358f class=caas-img>
A variety of flags from around the world hang from the ceiling of Wolski's, 1836 N. Pulaski St., Milwaukee. Many are gifts from patrons.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/LBJCkFz_oMtiH39vbqlg5w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c0a527d6ff1dbe12b5a44259089c385b class=caas-img data-headline="Best dive bars in America, from tiny taverns to tiki treasures. Photos" data-caption="
A variety of flags from around the world hang from the ceiling of Wolski's, 1836 N. Pulaski St., Milwaukee. Many are gifts from patrons.
">A variety of flags from around the world hang from the ceiling of Wolski's, 1836 N. Pulaski St., Milwaukee. Many are gifts from patrons.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/LBJCkFz_oMtiH39vbqlg5w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c0a527d6ff1dbe12b5a44259089c385b class=caas-img>
1 / 24Best dive bars in America, from tiny taverns to tiki treasures. Photos
America’s best dive bars offer something distinct — dim lights, cheap drinks and a fiercely protected sense of place that can feel like stepping back in time. From Florida’s beloved Bahi Hut in Sarasota, pouring potent tiki cocktails since the Eisenhower era, to Phoenix’s cash-only Bikini Lounge, a 1947 tiki landmark (pictured), to Detroit’s Post Bar, newly reborn on Broadway but still long, narrow and graffiti-covered like the original, these spots define their communities as much as they serve them. Read the story.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best steakhouse in America? 20 beloved local spots worth the road trip
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
