Feeling thirsty? Come to Kingston! Few metropolises have as fun and diverse a bar scene as our fair city.
With so many choices, finding the best place to drink can be daunting for visitors. New transplants might be missing out on a great bar that’s right under their noses. And locals will endlessly debate where to find the best margarita, who has the best wine list, which spot has the best nightlife, and so on.
Lucky for them, I’ve haunted Kingston’s bars for over two decades to bring you the local’s guide to drinking in Kingston.
Take it with a rim of salt – every local is going to have a different group of favorites. My criteria: Can you expect to run into people who have been living and doing business here for many years? What’s the first place a longtime Kingstoner would think of when they hear the words “craft beer”, “craft cocktail”, “dive bar” or “ambience”? And having bellied up to just about every bar in the city, what would my recommendations be if a tourist stopped me to ask “what’s a good bar around here?”
These are only the suggestions that came off the top of my head and from the heart, I did not omit any business on purpose. In support of my opening assertion that we’re lucky to be in one of America’s great bar-hopping cities, there are too many great spots to drink in Kingston to list them all here. Leave that to Google and Yelp. My aim is to raise a glass to visitors, relative newcomers, and my fellow locals, and say “cheers”. Let’s share a drink and share a community. The bar is where we leave our politics and social status at the door to the commune as one unified crowd in revelry, celebration, connection and catharsis. Enduring bonds are built in bars. Communities are forged.
Kingston, let’s go to the bar.
Craft Beer
Local’s Choice: Keegan Ales is the birthplace of Ulster County’s microbrewery scene. Believe it or not, there was a time when Keegan’s (as locals call it) was the only craft brewery between Brooklyn and Albany. Dearly departed owner/brewer Tommy Keegan hosted exclusive tastings for locals when it first opened. You’d wait in a single-file line, get a small plastic cup of beer, then mill around with the other locals. Tommy sadly passed in 2021, but his legacy has been proudly upheld. In addition to a varied selection of unique and flavorful craft beers, you can still find live music and special events most nights, some cheap tasty eats are always nearby, the outdoor area is sprawling, and inside, tourists, visitors and locals all congregate in an atmosphere where everyone is welcome.
Also Recommended: West Kill Supply isn’t a brewery but does offer delectable craft beers made in its namesake hamlet. Its backyard space is a hang for all ages with a rotating cast of amazing local food and music popping up around the weekend. The interior feels like the tavern in an old-school Catskills hunting lodge.
Opened in 2019, Kingston Standard is also a popular spot, especially on nice days. You’ll find all ages lounging in the sun or shade at a picnic table, with the adults enjoying their easy-drinking in-house brews, friendly staff and delicious sourdough pizzas.
Craft Cocktails
Local’s Choice: Stockade Tavern, opened in 2010, was Kingston’s finest cocktail bar when it opened and remains so. It’s beloved by locals as much for its long history as a cornerstone of Kingston’s social scene as it is for top-shelf libations. Always assured are great company, good vibes, an intimate atmosphere and great cocktails prepared with love (along with some other great things to drink and eat).
Also Recommended: The most delicious cocktails in this local’s humble opinion are served on Fuschia Tiki Sunday at Lone Wolf. The craft cocktail outfit used to be housed by Asian Fusion in New Paltz, and now calls the new Kingston bar its current HQ. The inventive recipes and expert execution put the “craft” in “craft cocktail”.
Salt Box is the best late-night cocktail bar, often inhabited by a fun and interesting cross-section of locals from all walks of life. Wandering through the various unique interior rooms and outdoor areas feels like an adventure – every type of ambience is on offer.
Tubby’s, local favorite of the area’s more adventurous music fans, deserves an honorable mention as the spot for tequila lovers on a budget. There are also some cool Italian-inspired cocktails at A Slice of Italy.
Many Kingstoners are also looking forward to the Unicorn Bar, a queer-friendly space, which by the time you read this will have opened in the old Beverly location.
Wine Bars
Local’s Choice: Chleo is one of the newest wine bars in our city, so it might be surprising how quickly it’s been adopted by local wine lovers as the hottest spot to clink long-stem glasses. But Chleo was strong out of the gate – obviously the wine selection is superb and the food is high-end – but they also don’t take reservations, invite people to hang as long as they want, and do everything else they can to foster a welcoming atmosphere. That’s the kind of attitude that quickly endears a restaurant to locals. For those of us longtime locals that remember the magical days of Elephant, Chleo is the wine bar that brings Uptown together today in much the same spirit.
Also Recommended: Le Canard Enchaine is a beloved institution in Kingston, and the ambience of their small bar area is second to none. The wine list is everything you’d expect from French fine dining.
Mirador is another new kid on the block, more popular with recent transplants than longtime locals. Mirador’s popularity is undeniable, as is the quality of their wine and food curation and their intimate, upscale atmosphere.
Don’t sleep on Sonder, located further down Broadway. It’s about as intimate a wine bar as you can get, the drink menu is full of show-stoppers and the food is mouthwatering.
Brunette is also worth a trip to the Rondout, especially if you can snag an outdoor table on a nice day. A minimalist, unpretentious aesthetic, carefully curated wine list and expertly crafted food plates have made Brunette popular with locals for many years.
Dive Bars
Local’s Choice: Snapper Magee’s is the undisputed king of local dive bars. Unpretentious atmosphere? I mean, the urinals are cut-open beer kegs and the decor is decidedly punk rock. Is it affordable? No question. When was the last time you saw a $1 beer happy hour? Eclectic clientele are guaranteed. The last time I was at Snapper’s, a live band was playing to a mosh pit that contained several formally-dressed wedding guests, a few gutter punks, some hippies and a man wearing a large, fuzzy bear costume. Their jukebox hasn’t changed much in the many decades it’s been around. Snapper’s (as locals call it) can always be depended on as a place to cut loose and not give a damn what anyone else thinks.
Also Recommended: While Snapper’s draws the occasional curious tourist, Chic’s Sports Bar is pretty much a 100% locals-only bar. It’s often friendly and festive but can also be a bit rough and tumble, which keeps things interesting. Their karaoke nights are legendary. It’s up for sale, so enjoy it before this part of local lore disappears.
If you’re a morning drinker, Kelly’s Shamrock Tavern is open impressively early. It’s as no-frills as it gets, and people are only here to do two things: drink and socialize. Full of characters and boozy cheer, it’s the most divey dive bar in Kingston, and a local institution.
Ambience
Local’s Choice: Front Street Tavern has an incredible rooftop patio. It’s such an attraction, the restaurant is giving the rooftop bar its own brand name – Strega. On a warm summer night as the sun sets, there is no better place in Kingston to enjoy a beverage and some tasty tavern food.
Also Recommended: If waterfront dining is more your style, Ole Savannah and Mariner’s Harbor on the Rondout have that vibe locked down. During boating season, they become buzzing hotspots where locals and tourists celebrate together. Ship to Shore is another great Rondout option for more upscale drinkers looking for top-notch food, and the little bar at Savona’s Trattoria is a hidden gem (as are their garlic twists).
Back to Uptown: Stella’s Restaurant has served locals for decades. Their food is incredible and the lunchtime bar scene is as local as it gets. Go later for a classy dining and drinking experience. Hotel Kinsley’s bank-inspired bar feels so cool to sit at. The drinks are solid too. Seating is very limited and exclusive, so it’s not exactly a local haunt, but totally worth doing at least once for its one-of-a-kind ambience.
Rough Draft Bar and Books is an Uptown fixture. Drinking in a bookstore – what’s not to love? Their coffee fuels so many Uptown workers and residents, it’s easy to forget “bar” is right there in the name.
If you’re craving a margarita, let’s not forget our area’s many Latino establishments. Armadillo is famous for its exquisitely balanced take on the drink. If you seek a heavier pour and fishbowl-sized portions, try Casa Vallarta’s eponymously named margarita. For something more authentic and fresh, Sky View Mexican Restaurant knows what they’re doing with their tequila and fruit juices. Santa Fe Uptown is yet another fantastic choice, and sitting at their bar in the middle of everything gives the spot an electric atmosphere. The Tortilla Taco Bar down on the Rondout also makes a bangin’ cocktail, and the food makes you feel like you’re on the street in Mexico City.
Join the family! 
