Here’s Where to Drink Like a Local in the West

The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These 11 bars, lounges, restaurants, and markets are the 2026 winners of the Where to Eat & Drink: Dialed Up Drinks category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable travel directory to help you plan your next trip in the West, click here.

Call Me Pearl

Call Me Pearl

This cocktail lounge near Denver’s LoDo neighborhood continues to excel at narrative-driven craft cocktails, gracious hospitality, and seasonal menus in a room that channels the Gilded Age.

Oxbow Public Market

Oxbow Public Market

Part marketplace, part community gathering place, Oxbow Public Market brings together many of Napa Valley’s best flavors under one roof, from artisan food producers and local farmers to acclaimed chefs and winemakers. Whether you’re grabbing a bagel, sampling oysters, discovering an emerging chef, or stocking up for a wine country picnic, it’s a place to raise a glass to drinking in life.

The Lobby Bar & Emporium

Davenport Hotels

More than a century after opening its doors, the Davenport continues to find fresh ways to celebrate its history. The new Lobby Bar and Emporium transform Spokane’s grand hotel lobby into a lively gathering place where Prohibition-inspired cocktails, house-made peanut brittle demonstrations, and beautifully preserved architectural details invite guests to linger a little longer.

FiNO

Casey Wilson

FiNO is a restaurant and wine garden born from the convivial energy of the Mediterranean’s coastal cultures, and the effortless, time-honored ritual of aperitivo. With chef-driven shared plates, natural wines, and a zero-waste cocktail program, FiNO emerges as a living anchor of East Colfax’s revitalization in Denver, where nights are unhurried and connection is found in the joy of gathering. It is located inside of The All Inn Hotel. 

Marelle Santa Monica

Courtesy of Marelle Santa Monica

Just steps from the Santa Monica Pier, Marelle at Sandbourne Santa Monica is the city’s quintessential coastal dining destination. Helmed by celebrated Santa Monica native Chef Raphael Lunetta, Marelle blends fresh, seasonal California flavors with playful presentation in an eye-catching Gulla Jónsdóttir-designed space. Weekend brunch is a neighborhood ritual, with dishes like lemon ricotta pancakes, brioche French toast, and crispy chicken and pancakes drawing both locals and hotel guests to the sun-drenched patio. The cocktail scene at Marelle is buzzing, featuring TikTok-famous, seashell-served cocktails, craft classics, zero-proof creations, and trend-setting drinks like the Matcha Martini, a playful, contemporary twist that has quickly become a must-try. Indoors, floor-to-ceiling windows open to a breezy patio, creating a seamless flow between interiors and the coastal outdoors. With its elevated cuisine, design, and lively energy, Marelle delivers an immersive Santa Monica dining experience, perfect for brunch, celebratory cocktails, or a relaxed coastal lunch.

El Dorado Kitchen

El Dorado Hotel + Kitchen

Located on Sonoma Plaza, El Dorado Kitchen is a cornerstone of the region’s dining scene, offering seasonal, ingredient-driven California cuisine in a vibrant, welcoming setting. Led by Executive Chef Armando Navarro, the restaurant draws from Sonoma County’s rich agricultural landscape, with menus centered around fresh seafood, handmade pastas, and thoughtfully sourced meats and produce. Guests can dine in the lively main dining room overlooking the open kitchen or enjoy al fresco meals in the wisteria-draped courtyard. Known for its relaxed yet elevated approach, El Dorado Kitchen delivers a quintessential wine country dining experience that is approachable, flavorful, and quintessentially Sonoma. From leisurely breakfasts to golden hour cocktails and energetic dinners, it remains a beloved destination for both locals and visitors seeking a true taste of Sonoma.

Dom’s Taverna

Stan Lee

Opened in August 2025, Dom’s Taverna is Santa Barbara’s destination for Basque-inspired coastal cuisine, led by acclaimed chef Dom Crisp, known for helming celebrated Los Angeles restaurants Lonely Oyster, Saso, Blue Plate Oysterette, and L&E Oyster Bar. Drawing from his Pacific Northwestern roots, his coastal California home, and his experience cooking Basque cuisine, Crisp’s unwavering dedication to locally sourced, dock-fresh seafood and seasonal produce carries a menu that embraces the bold, convivial spirit of Spain’s Basque Country. The restaurant’s signature Josper oven—a charcoal grill and oven hybrid from Barcelona—infuses dishes such as white miso roasted oysters, Navarra-style Bone-in Wagyu cuts and Hope Ranch Mussels with a distinct wood-fired smokiness. Crisp, partner Raj Nallapothola, and designer Zlata Nikonovskaya have created a warm, inviting space in the former Trattoria Victoria space, preserving the original restaurant’s storied marble into a show-stopping bar, built by Sam Schick.   

Pig and Tiger

Casey Wilson

Nestled in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, Pig and Tiger marries Taiwanese-inspired cuisine with Colorado ingredients. Led by chef duo Travis Masar, a Top Chef alum, and Darren Chang, Pig and Tiger’s menu draws inspiration from the rich depth and complexity of Taiwan’s culinary heritage.

The Alchemists’ Garden

Sarah Kathleen Photo

Today, The Alchemists’ Garden restaurant and bar stands at the corner of Pine and 12th of Downtown Paso Robles, California, as a testament to that dream. Globally inspired dishes like bone marrow, duck bucatini, and tiger prawns invite sharing and delight. It’s where every cocktail unfolds like a story, with smoke, caviar, and botanical artistry weaving together in theatrical harmony. Here, imagination is as essential as the ingredients, and every moment, from a cocktail on the patio to a hushed revelry in The Remedy cocktail lounge, is crafted to ignite the senses, spark joy, and inspire dreaming anew.

Wild Rye

Scott Baird

Wild Rye is the signature culinary and cocktail experience at Brasada Ranch, defining Central Oregon’s high desert cuisine. Led by Executive Chef Karl Holl, every dish is tied to the land, the season, and the region, whether foraged from the surroundings or sourced from local farms. Strong flavors define this tough, arid habitat, with local offerings like elk, venison, rabbit, and buffalo alongside foraged juniper, sagebrush, elderberry, and huckleberry. Smoke and fire are the kitchen’s undercurrent, with dishes kissed by flame through smoking, grilling, spit-roasting, or torching. The cocktail list, curated by Scott Baird of San Francisco’s celebrated Trick Dog, highlights locally distilled spirits, Western whiskeys, and desert agave. The wine list features dynamic Oregon producers, from Walla Walla to the Willamette Valley.

99 Prince Bar

Spiegelworld

An unassuming door on the Las Vegas Strip opens into a vibrant world celebrating New York City’s cocktail culture, long a blueprint for today’s best bars. 99 Prince Bar, from Spiegelworld, is more than a venue, it’s a love letter to NYC’s golden era of mixology. Helmed by Executive Director of Hospitality Niko Novick, it offers an immersive journey honoring the bartenders who reshaped the craft. Designed as a subway bodega counter, the space celebrates early 2000s Manhattan. The menu pays tribute to icons like Dale DeGroff and Sasha Petraske, with cocktails that blend flavor, memory, and storytelling.