An L.A. bar was just ranked as one of the best bars across the United States!
Food & Wine‘s 2026 list of Best Bars places Bar Next Door at No. 4 in the country.
The list provides “a snapshot of what best-in-class bar culture looks like right now,” according to Food & Wine. It also marks a move away from “fussy, speakeasy-style culture. Relaxed bars, many of them proudly channeling the energy of dive bars, are in vogue right now.
According to a press release, “Bar Next Door is featured as a standout example of that movement, recognized for its cinematic design, storytelling-driven menu, and high-energy but approachable vibe.”
Why Food & Wine ranked it at No. 4:
“In the late 1940s, this spot housed the offices of a talent agency that represented Marilyn Monroe, among other celebs. Today, this petite slip on the Sunset Strip offers drinks named for nearby L.A. icons, like the Chateau Marmont (a Cosmolike mix of vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, cranberry, and hibiscus, topped with edible flowers) and the Whisky A Go-Go (an Old Fashioned riff with a dramatic foamy top). Bar Next Door’s retro vibes extend to dark tile, leather booths, and a vintage reel-to-reel machine. In addition to the low-lit, noir-ish main room, a plush, private back room is available, too.”
Here’s the full list:
- schmuck. – NYC
- Anvil Bar & Refuge – Houston
- Best Intentions – Chicago
- Bar Next Door – Los Angeles
- Bar Miriam – Seattle
- La Factorîa – San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Owls Club – Tuscon
- Yacht Club – Denver
- Sweet Liberty – Miami
- Platypus – St. Louis
📍 Bar Next Door, 9159 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069
