Raise your glasses!
California has dominated a new list celebrating the finest bars in the Western United States.
The 2026 Spirited Awards, hosted by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, have recognized several bars across California for their outstanding craftsmanship in creating exceptional drink experiences.
California bars shone brightly in the Best U.S. Cocktail Bar in the West category, with winners including Baby Gee in Long Beach, Capri Club and Thunderbolt in Los Angeles, Tallboy in Oakland, The Snug in Sacramento, and True Laurel in San Francisco.
The West’s Best U.S. Bar Team accolade featured prominent spots from San Francisco’s Pacific Cocktail Haven and True Laurel; Los Angeles favorites Mirate, Real Charmer, and Thunderbolt; Real of the 52 Remedies in San Diego; and Oakland’s Tallboy.
In the category of Best U.S. Restaurant Bar in the West, Sacramento’s Kru and The Butterscotch Den were recognized, along with Bar Cecil in Palm Springs, Donna’s, Kato Restaurant, and Mírate in Los Angeles, as well as Oakland’s Viridian.
Among the honorees for for West’s Best U.S. Hotel Bar were San Franciscoâs Cavaña at LUMA Hotel and Starlite at the Beacon Grand Hotel; The Manor Bar at Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito; and Ponyboy at the Pearl in San Diego.
Rounding out the rankings, the Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar in the West featured winner Bar Maritime at the Palihotel in San Francisco alongside five buzzy LA spots: Daisy Margarita Bar, Damn I Miss Paris, Lucia, Not No Bar and Vandell.
The rankings spotlight the top bars across different U.S. regions before the field is narrowed down later this spring.
Meanwhile, two LA bars earned spots on the coveted ranking of North Americaâs 50 Best Bars for 2026.
LAâs Vandell and Thunderbolt were both named among the top 100 bars across the continent â a list voted on by more than 300 cocktail experts, bartenders, bar owners, and drinks writers.
