The Best Bars In Bethesda Maryland

More than just serving drinks, if done properly, a good bar will make you feel welcome, isn’t stuffy or snooty, and is a place where regulars and newcomers can go for good conversation, to try new wines, sip a few brews, or try a few cocktails. There are wine bars, beer bars, cocktail bars, dive bars, and taverns and gastropubs; they are all variations on a theme. Some serve food and booze; others are just there for the liquid diversion. No matter what the genre, they exist in Bethesda in all their glorious varieties. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Mussel Bar and Grille

Chef Robert Wiedmaier has made a name for himself with his Belgian-inspired taverns, bars, and restaurants, and this old standby has been on Restaurant Row since 2010. For a while now, Mussel Bar and Grille is where expats and hipsters go to slurp bowls filled with moules et frites, sample Flemish waffles, eat carbonade, and drink from the extensive list of craft beer from Belgium and the United States.

Olazzo

Gringos & Mariachis

If you like Olazzo, the other restaurant owned by the Pietrobono brothers, this is a drastic departure, but the South of the Border menu is tasty. Think Mexican street food meets tequila, whiskey, and delicious cocktails. Exposed brick walls and shaded charcoal Mexican-themed murals reference Mexico City side streets, and at night, this is a taco-burrito-torta-fueled party for millennials. Gringos & Mariachis gets loud, but if you’re game, dive in, order one of the original margaritas, and go with the flow.

Vino Volo

Big screen TVs (lots of them), sports memorabilia on the walls, and a golf theme are what newcomers see, but regulars love Caddies on Cordell for the camaraderie with other sports fanatics and the stadium food that is just like being at the game. Order a burger or sandwich, but check out the drinks menu. The management knows it’s important to stay hydrated during long games, so they’ve stocked a full bar that includes terrific martinis, quenching shandy, beer on tap and in bottles, and a respectable wine list – this is a sports bar, after all.

TapaBar

TapaBar feels like it was plucked from Barcelona and dropped into Bethesda intact. The owners, the Roche brothers, have managed to capture the distinct Catalonian vibe that combines urban industrial chic with raw wood and stainless steel, and things are kept upbeat by the natural light that streams in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The food and the drinks menu exude the spirited flavors of Spain, with new twists on classic Spanish tapas served with inventive drinks. TapaBar is where you want to eat, see the beautiful people, watch the world go by, and sip on dreamy cocktails like the Ava Gardner, which is smooth and easy to drink thanks to an enticing blend of cava, vodka, framboise, cassis, and raspberries.

American Tap Room

Sit by the fireplace and drink a hearty red wine in winter, enjoy seasonal beers during summertime, and take part in the fall-favorite Oktoberfest by having brews until you snooze. American Tap Room is a rustic, friendly place for homestyle American comfort food complemented by 20 beers on tap, about 25 in bottles, and some in cans, mostly from America. American Tap Room celebrates the patriotic craft of brewing beer in America like they did back in Boston in the 1600s. The styles range from light and crisp lagers by Devils Backbone from Virginia to Bell’s hoppy Two Hearted American IPA from Michigan.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.