Awards News
Let's raise a glass to the 9 best bars in Fort Worth
The coronavirus may currently have bars in limbo, but hopefully Fort Worth bars will survive. As part of our Tastemaker Awards, CultureMap's annual event honoring the best in local food and drink, we pay tribute to Fort Worth's bar scene by spotlighting nine of the best bars in town.
In a different twist from previous years, the 2020 Tastemaker Awards — Virtual Edition will bring bring the party to your home. But one thing that hasn't changed is our editorial series highlighting this year's nominees. We'll announce the winners at our July 30 event.
Here are the nine finalists for Best Bar of the Year:
38 & Vine
Intriguing wine bar in the revitalized Foundry District offers 42 rotating wines dispensed by the ounce at the touch of a button. Unique self-serve concept offers customers the opportunity to sample and discover wines with just a taste.
Blackland Distillery
Full-service, upscale cocktail lounge and tasting room produces four sophisticated spirits: vodka, gin, bourbon, and rye whiskey. You can get a cocktail, tour the distillery, and enjoy a tasting flight of all four spirits for $20.
Free Play
Retro arcade in the former home of the Fairmount Music Hall, just off Magnolia Avenue has plenty of games. But the surprise is their extensive beer list, with seasonal, limited-run, and exclusive beers, with something new always in the wings. They also offer wine, liquor, ciders, and even spiked sodas.
Grandma's
New Southside bar takes over the old Off The Record space at 715 W Magnolia Ave., adding food service (lunch and late night bites), a back patio, an extended front patio, plus weekday events and entertainment. But they stake a claim that they are "still the best damn late night dance floor in Fort Worth."
Locust Cider
Locust was founded in Washington state in 2015 as a hard cider producer, and has expanded with a few taprooms across the country, including Fort Worth, where a taproom and production facility opened on South Main Street in 2019. They serve hard cider plus flatbread pizzas, with rotating food trucks and video games to keep all entertained.
The Amber Room
Tucked inside Wishbone & Flynt, the South Main district restaurant, is this speakeasy-esque cocktail lounge. Just past the bar, you'll find a passageway to their gold door, behind which you'll find a nicely appointed space with charming living-room furniture and ornate rugs. Their cocktails are totally craft, and they also offer a selection of small bites.
The Moon Bar
Originally open from 2004-2011, the Moon Bar re-opened in 2019, bringing back its celebrated live music along with sporting events on multiple TVs, a dog-friendly patio outdoor festival space slated for intramurals and other events for the surrounding TCU neighboorhood. (The Moon Bar has closed permanently due to COVID-19.)
Thompson's
Downtown craft cocktail lounge pays homage to the real-life Thompson's Book Store, which occupied this historic 1910 building from '73 to '93. Inside, the vibe is quiet and friendly — perfect for those who want to chat and slowly appreciate every last drop of their $10 craft cocktails.
Ye Olde Bull & Bush
British pub is open 365 days a year with spirits, excellent beer, and a cozy atmosphere. They regularly rotate in cool European beers, feature darts, and live music — everything you could want in a pub.
