Best bars in Florida? Why these 2 SWFL bars made the list
Some of the best bars in Florida aren’t what you'd expect. Some are old, popular mainstays while others have emerged after just a few years.
Two Southwest Florida bars recently made the list of the top bars in the state, chosen by USA TODAY Network reporters who live in — and yes, drink in — these spots.
Rebecca's Wine Bar, East Naples
Even so, it's become a popular place in the Bayshore Arts District, across the street from the food truck Celebration Park Naples, just south of U.S. 41 East.
Inside Rebecca's on Bayshore Drive.
When our previous Naples food writer Diana Biederman wrote about Rebecca's a couple years ago, she referred to entering the wine bar as a "Zen-like experience for potent potables and gourmet sharable snacks ― think caviar service starting at $80 and decadent charcuterie boards ..."
The story also mentioned Rebecca's "1,140 wine bottles that ... comprise 32 rows on shelves aligning the walls." 2955 Bayshore Drive; 239-799-1801; rebeccasnaples.com
Escondido Lounge, downtown Fort Myers
The bar at Escondido Lounge in Fort Myers bar is simply stunning.
This 8-month-old speakeasy quickly caught our attention for being as fun as it is gorgeous. The fun begins by just finding it. The entrance is hidden away inside Taco Works on Hendry Street. Work your way back to the nondescript freezer door marked “Restricted area, employees only.” Be brave, ignore the sign and enter.
Inside, a soothing red glow washes over lush velvet love seats backed by an immense wall of backlit mirrors. A sleek baby grand piano rests on a platform overhead. An elaborately stunning 6-foot-tall red chandelier watches over the room's focal point — a lusciously inviting U-shape bar. The intimate, loungy Safari Room is in the far back corner. And that's just the downstairs.
Escondido Lounge brought its speakeasy vibe to downtown Fort Myers in December 2024.
The classic and signature cocktails match the vibe. The historic Richards Building once housed a pharmacy and soda bar, reportedly frequented by baseball legends Ty Cobb and Connie Mack, inventor Thomas Edison and others. Now you’ll find cocktails named after them. Order one, sit back and enjoy the ambiance. After all, you found the Escondido Lounge. 1617 Hendry St., Unit 102 (enter through Taco Works), Fort Myers; 239-898-7410; escondidolounge.com
Other bars to see in Florida
St. Augustine's Chez L'Amour known for its Bites, Bubbles offers live jazz along with the elegance of a Baby Grand Piano.
Chez L'Amour, 45 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine; 904-481-8117; bitesbubblesandjazz.com. Patrons can enjoy a decadent imbibe against the musical backdrop of a grand piano hosting world-class jazz musicians such as Joshua Bowlus and Linda Cole, niece of Nat King Cole.
Hardwick's Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Jacksonville; hardwicksbarjax.com. The first major LGBTQIA+ club open in the city in decades, it's named for architect Taylor Hardwick, who designed the distinctive former library building just across the street.
Books sit on a shelf at Hardwick's Bar in Downtown Jacksonville.
Liberty Bar, 1307 N Monroe St., Tallahassee; 850-354-8277; libertytlh.com. Enjoy excellent drinks and bar food in a sparsely decorated, not too brightly lit atmosphere. The food is exceptional with some pleasant twists on comfort food, like the duck confit mac ’n’ cheese and a Scotch egg.
Mary Lou's, 250 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, marylouspb.com. This bar with glam speakeasy vibes made USA TODAY's Bars of the Year 2025 list of the country's 29 best. The space is peppered with sexy velvet booths that shimmer under seductive lighting in a room that feeds off the collective, almost communal, energy of other people.
Convex mirror behind the bar at Mary Lou's in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Mainstreet Pub, 705 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne: 321-723-7811: www.mymainstreetpub.com. With three bars under one roof, nightly live music, cold drinks and darn good food, it’s the kind of place where grandpas, middle-aged women and college kids share bar space.
Ocean Deck,127 S. Ocean Ave., Daytona Beach; 386-253-5224, oceandeck.com. This quintessential beach bar has been feeding Daytona Beach visitors for more than 65 years. This “no shirt, no shoes, no problem” eatery has been named the best beach bar in the U.S. by USA TODAY readers, and sits directly on The World’s Most Famous Beach.
The Old Salty Dog, 1601 Ken Thompson Parkway; 941-388-4311, theoldsaltydog.com/city-island. Perched on Sarasota’s City Island, The Old Salty Dog has been a beloved waterfront hangout since 1991, offering a brilliant blend of British pub and Florida beach bar. The open-air bar lets patrons belly up to the hull of a boat while overlooking dolphin-dotted waters. Laid-back, lively, and loaded with charm — it’s pure Gulf Coast.
