Ryan F.
Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the largest cities in Texas and the United States. It is home to numerous universities like Texas Christian University and the Texas A&M Law School. Additionally, the Dallas-Fort Worth airport serves the region, so lots of travelers visit the area.
The combination of students and out-of-state visitors creates the perfect situation for an eclectic and vibrant bar scene.
From locally distilled spirits to craft cocktails to cold beer, finding a drink in Fort Worth, regardless of the type of experience you’d like, is not only possible, but the options are plentiful.
Here are more details on the nine best bars in Fort Worth, Texas.
Best Bars in Fort Worth
- Thompson’s Bookstore
- The Amber Room
- Blackland Distillery
- Whiskey & Rye
- The Basement Bar
- Billy Bob’s Texas
- The Usual
- Stockyard Saloon
- Proper
Thompson’s Bookstore
900 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 817-882-8003
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Located in downtown Fort Worth, Thompson’s Bookstore is a cocktail bar with a classic vibe. The cocktail lounge and speakeasy create a distinct feeling that the roaring ’20s might indeed be returning. Thompson’s Bookstore is open every day with extended hours on the weekend. The bar requires a smart casual dress code, meaning patrons should lean toward a fashionable blouse or button-up rather than athleisure.
Cocktails are certainly on the menu – try the Old Fashioned and visit on Wednesday when the bar offers a special for “Whiskey Wednesday.” The bar offers signature cocktails as well – try the Maize Runner, a blend of infused whisky, mezcal, and corn cob syrup.
The Amber Room
334 Bryan Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Phone: 817-945-2433
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A traditional speakeasy with tons of whiskey varieties, the secret of the Amber Room is spreading across Fort Worth. Entering the bar is tricky since interested guests will need to find one of two entry points either through a large gold door hidden in the restaurant, Wishbone & Flynt, or from an unmarked wooden door on Bryan Avenue. Like a scene out of Mad Men, the speakeasy has a decoration with jewel tone furniture and large patterned rugs that suggest age, class, and intrigue.
Professional bartenders give classic cocktails a unique spin. Try the Aztec Old Fashioned with chocolate bitters and cherry syrup or the Scarlet Letter with mezcal, Aperol, and fresh lime.
Blackland Distillery
2616 Weisenberger St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: 682-268-5333
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The distillery borrows its name after the Blackland prairie, which runs through Fort Worth. The founder of Blackland Distillery, Markus Kypreos, is a Fort Worth native, attorney, and certified sommelier. The lead distiller, Ezra Cox, has been crafting spirits for more than twenty years. The distillery offers weekly tours and tastings of the entire operation, and the bar and lounge are open Wednesday through Saturday.
The bar offers classic cocktails like a mint julep or Moscow mule and tasting flights of all spirits created within the Blackland Distillery. The distillery partnered with the Culinary School of Fort Worth to serve cultivated charcuterie boards.
Whiskey & Rye
1300 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 817-350-4105
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Inside the Omni Hotel, Whiskey & Rye is a southern-style sports bar offering craft beers, cocktails, and bar food. The Fort Worth Magazine named Whiskey & Rye one of the best places to watch sports in the city. The hotel and bar’s location is in a historic neighborhood known as Hell’s Half Acre due to the neighborhood’s long history of saloons, dance halls, and gambling tables.
If you are hungry, try the Texas pimento cheese, the chicken tortilla soup, or the Fort Worth brisket dip. For drinks, the chipotle Paloma with tequila, lime, grapefruit, and tajin spice is refreshing, and the untraditional Manhattan with High West American Prairie Bourbon and cedar smoke are delicious choices.
The Basement Bar
105 W Exchange Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76164
Phone: 800-328-7448
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The Basement Bar is open all week long in the Historic Stockyards community. Each week the bar hosts live music and dancing for visitors to enjoy while they sip a cold beverage. The bar is quite dark because it is located in a basement – a “drive bar” in the truest sense that people can duck under into a hidden establishment for a secret drink. Keep your eyes peeled for the bright neon sign that marks the entrance to the bar!
Known as “The World’s Smallest Honky Tonk,” you can expect to get a cold beer while visiting. Local and domestic cans and bottles are on the menu, so try a local beer or a classic pilsner.
Billy Bob’s Texas
2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, TX 76164
Phone: 817-624-7117
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The building that now houses Billy Bob’s Texas served as a stockyard, then an airplane hanger, and now is one of the hottest bars in Fort Worth. The biggest names in country-western music have visited Billy Bob’s from Garth Brooks to ZZ Top in the past two decades. For a fun night out, Billy Bob’s is a great place to experience Fort Worth nightlife.
The Executive Chef Alex Walters is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and focuses on traditional western cuisine. Try the salt-crusted baked potato, the cowboy Cubano sandwich, the chopped brisket with fried okra. Wash it all down with a frozen margarita!
The Usual
1408 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Phone: 817-810-0114
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The Usual aims to bring a modern twist on the classics and serves innovative and fresh cocktails. The bar offers discounted “happy hour” drinks every day of the week. The bartenders have years of experience, and the menu highlights these skills by building flexibility within the drinks menu – like the seasonal daiquiri, which shifts every few months.
The signature cocktails are diverse! For a gin drink, try the “Rose on Rose on Rose” made with gin, rose liqueur, and rosemary, and for a bourbon-based beverage, try the “Vieux Carre” mixed with rye, cognac, vermouth, and bitters. The bar also serves beer, cider, and seltzer.
Stockyard Saloon
2409 N Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76164
Phone: 817-624-3811
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The Stockyard Saloon is open until 2:00 am every day and boasts special event nights like ladies’ night and karaoke nights! With western-style swinging doors at the entrance, you certainly get old-school watering hole vibes from this bar. The bar has a pool table and dartboards for guests to use.
The Stockyard Saloon is a place to grab a beer or order a well drink. The bar does not serve food but allows guests to order food delivered right to the bar. This bar is for everyone – even horses who sometimes pop in with their owners!
Proper
409 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Phone: 817-984-1133
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Proper is a contemporary bar with an all-day happy hour on Sunday. Located near the Fairmount-Southside Historic District, it is part of the strip of restaurants and bars along Magnolia Street.
The signature cocktails are the focal point of this establishment. Try the “tropic like its hot” made with pineapple-infused vodka or “Hemingway’s brunch” made with all of the famous writer’s favorites: bourbon, banana liqueur, lime, maple orange marmalade, and egg white. Try some of the great bar snacks while you are here, like the spicy goldfish. Notably, the bar is partnering with Fixture restaurant to provide additional food to patrons.
Final Thoughts
Fort Worth is a growing and lively metropolis with a vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene. If you are wondering where to get a drink in Fort Worth, any of these nine bars are excellent options. From modern cocktails in contemporary settings to a cold beer in a dive bar, the Fort Worth bar scene has something for everyone in the space.
Many bars have happy hours during the week and some nightly specials for ladies’ nights, karaoke events, and live music. Fort Worth bars are an exciting combination of the old and the new and bring a new life into the Texas dining and drinks scene.
Don’t see anything you like on this list? Check out some of Fort Worth’s top places to eat right here!
Did we miss one of your favorite bars? Leave a comment and let us know so we can put it on the list!
