Bigger isn’t always better.
For me, nothing beats the joy of walking into a faraway bar that makes you feel, even on your first visit, like you’re home. Perched on that odd limb of familiarity and novelty is where we often find our most memorable nights.
When I first stumbled upon Beach Cafe on 70th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan, it was like slipping into my own living room. Since then, I’ve circled the globe on a mad dash to replicate that blurry warmth. Ultimately, I’ve found that such soul is best discovered in the tiniest of places.
What follows is a list of intimate venues seating 10 people or fewer. Some have unmarked entrances, others sit at the end of narrow alleyways.
Sidle up to any of these bar tops to soak up the contagious magic of pint-sized playrooms.
Chicago | Milk Room
Glide into the warm embrace of this eight-seat “micro bar” that captivates a select number of patrons (seats must be booked in advance) with an array of rare and vintage spirits and liqueurs. Housed in the Chicago Athletic Association’s hotel, the space once hosted a speakeasy used by members during Prohibition. Some standouts include American whiskies from the 1950s and ‘60s (many of which hail from the famed and now-shuttered Stitzel-Weller Distillery). If you can, raise a glass to Bardstown, Kentucky, and savor a craft whiskey from Heaven Hill Distillery, which was destroyed by a fire in 1996.
Turkey | thebarwithnoname
With whimsical plants spilling into the entranceway thanks to the florist next door, this intimate den is one of a handful of cocktail bars in Istanbul (no Web site, settle for the Instagram page above; Gönül Sokak, 7B, Beyoğlu). A tough fit for even a dozen guests, the 63-inch counter lures in passersby from a busy pedestrian street with its dapper barkeep and a teetering tower of Jenga. Sip on the Indian Summer, an herbal, jammy concoction where mulberry molasses and lemon juice shine, and watch the crowd swell with your blood alcohol levels — it sometimes overflows onto the sidewalk.
San Diego | Pop’s Liquor Cabinet
This homey dive welcomes you with lime green walls, kooky light fixtures and a delightful dearth of TVs. And while 180 square feet may be smaller than your college dorm, don’t underestimate the power of small spaces, especially in San Diego’s upbeat Gaslight District. Though you’ll quickly feel at ease in the basement-bar ambience, an artfully presented Rob Roy or Penicillin #2 (a riff on the original with tequila and mezcal) may help accelerate the process.
Jackson Hole | Bodega
This unassuming gas station — yes, it still has functioning pumps — gives visitors reason to venture inside beyond a bathroom break or rack of Slim Jims.
Located at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, fulfill your après-ski fantasies with hot cocktails (or boozy slushies in the summer) and a funky fried chicken shack outside.
Pair that bird with a local brew from Roadhouse Brewing Co., and belly up at the seven-seat bar to eavesdrop on locals gossiping about ski-bumming trustafarians’ trysts.
Portugal | Ginjinha Sem Rival
Nineteenth-century Lisbon was studded with ginjinha, closet-sized storefronts that sold the famous Portuguese sweet cherry liqueur of the same name.
This particular spot, in fact, has been operated by the same family since the 1840s (no Web site; Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, 7; 351-21-346-8231).
And with room for only two or three inside, it’s a great spot to rub elbows with travelers and Lisboetas alike. A drink will set you back around a dollar, so if you don’t like the liqueur, sling back a few more and reassess.
Asheville | Bar at Salsas
An alley bar unlike any other, this teensy-weeny spot in North Carolina is splashed with street art and the enticing smells of the Mexican-Caribbean restaurant next door (helmed by a godfather of the city’s farm-to-table movement, Hector Diaz). If you’re lucky enough to snag one of five stools, the people-watching is stellar. As are the talented barkeep, who transport you to your very own Tar Heel-esque Shangri-La with some help from some spicy tamarind margaritas.
Roanoke | Stellina
The hallmark of a good bar is its ability to make us feel a little less lonely by the time we leave. The hallmark of a good bartender is to bring that feeling to a simmer before sips meets lips. This little Virginian star achieves both. The playfully mysterious speakeasy (see if you can spy Andy Warhol in a mural of suited men) only opened this winter — hidden within Italian restaurant Fortunato — but word-of-mouth is quickly spreading praise for this unmarked, converted office space.
Hong Kong | Almas Caviar Bar
At the tallest hotel in the world, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, enjoy salmon roe 102 floors above where its life at sea. (Granted, that was in the Caspian Sea, but we digress.) In Almas, refined leather furnishings and dark wood set the backdrop for an intimate experience, limited to only seven guests — so you might as well befriend your fellow seatmates. And considering this bar drenches you in subtle chandelier light, the choicest caviar, and plenty of champagne, that shouldn’t be too lofty a feat.
Guatemala | Colorful Bar
It’s easy to get a buzz from the vibrant decor alone at this gem within hotel Casa Palopó on Lake Atitlán. It includes an old-school jukebox, hanging musical instruments and traditional artwork. But leave seeing double thanks to handmade libations with an emphasis on local ingredients (hibiscus and aged Guatemalan rum, anyone?). Worth noting: The establishment houses a lone table that seats four, but snag one of three antique barber chairs at the bar for a cushioned seat in rum-infused paradise.
New York | Copper & Oak
Forget any invite-only hoopla. This eight-stool locale in Manhattan extends the courtesy of a light-up sign that either alerts you it’s full or welcomes you with a neon “Come on in!” In lieu of cocktail menus, knowledgeable staff dole out one- or two-ounce pours of spirits (or a highball, if you must). Bathed in an inviting golden glow, the walls are lined to the ceiling’s edge in bottles of upmarket whiskey. Cheers!