Las Almas Rotas

This “shrine to the spirits of Mexico” recently contended for a James Beard Award for best bar in the United States, a recognition of its extraordinary library of tequilas, mezcals, sotols, raicillas, corn whiskeys and more. You could nerd out over a specific rare liquor from the list of specials, or you could sit on the patio, order a margarita and jam out to one of the city’s best bar playlists. Lots of good stories start at Las Almas Rotas, like the rumor about the back room being haunted, or the time that its owners smuggled a smoked brisket into Mexico to help distill the world’s first pechuga de brisket mezcal. Do any of the other bars on this list get involved with international barbecue smuggling? We doubt it. Their tacos come four to a plate and are all swaddled in Molina Oloyo Heritage corn tortillas. We're partial to the chicken tinga - chipotle and tomato stewed chicken - and the roasted carrots and cauliflower vegetable options. The chicharrones con cholula is a perfect bar snack.