The Big List

A colorful, plant-strung cocktail room where you can design your own drink and zero-proof orders get the same exquisite respect. From the Bittersweet crew, with a cozy patio.

Ashley Christensen's flagship in a 1945 pie-shop space, menu chalked on the wall and the famous macaroni au gratin worth planning around. Grab a seat at the double-horseshoe counter if you can.

A stone-walled basement under Fayetteville Street pouring bourbon and craft cocktails since 2009. Rotating pop-up kitchens, moody lighting, open until 2am every night.

Duck downstairs off Blount Street into a candlelit, 6,000-square-foot ode to the Prohibition speakeasy. Leather chairs, serious cocktails, live jazz nights, open late.

More than 300 whiskeys at the foot of Glenwood, across from the original Char-Grill. Locally owned, patio out front, open until 2am — a whiskey nerd's living room.