The best bars to eat at

Eating at the bar is one of our favorite things to do. The counters and bars around the world where the best seat is a stool. Checked November 2026.

20 places in New York City, London, Paris · by Chef Amazing · updated November 10, 2026
Photo: themodernnyc.com

1. 1

   Bar Room at The Modern

   French American · 9 W 53rd St, New York · New York

   Get: Tarte flambée, oysters

   A long marble bar that takes walk-ins, with Modern-level cooking à la carte.

   Critics: Read Eater New York (via OpenTable feature) 2024, Time Out New York.

   The crowd: 4.6 of 5 on Tripadvisor (2,208 ratings).

   Also on the list: The best bars to eat at in New York.

   9 West 53rd Street, 10019, New York · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
2. 2

   Scott's

   Seafood · 20 Mount St, Mayfair, London · London

   Get: Dover sole, oysters, a martini

   The crustacea bar is the best seat in Mayfair.

   Also on these lists: Romantic dinners in London, Where the famous eat in London.

   20-22 Mount Street, W1K 2ED City of Westminster · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
3. 3

   Rubirosa

   Italian-American pizza · 235 Mulberry St, New York · New York

   Get: Italian wedding soup and the Rubirosa salad

   Our standing weekday lunch at the bar for years.

   Critics: 78% liked it, from 8 reviews (2021 to 2026). Slipping: the recent write-ups are worse than the old ones. Read Michelin Guide (via Resy) 2022, Michelin Guide 2022, MICHELIN Guide 2021, Time Out New York 2026.

   The crowd: 4.4 of 5 on OpenTable (384 ratings).

   Also on these lists: B/J New York List, The best bars to eat at in New York, Where locals eat in New York.

   235 Mulberry Street, 10012, New York · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
4. 4

   Barrafina

   Spanish tapas · 26-27 Dean St, Soho, London · London

   Get: Tortilla, carabineros, croquetas

   Counter-only tapas. Every seat faces the cooks.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
5. 5

   Kiln

   Thai-inspired grill · 58 Brewer St, Soho, London · London

   Get: Clay-pot glass noodles, grilled meats

   Thai grill cooking a foot from your plate.

   Also on these lists: Long lines in London, Where locals eat in London.

   58 Brewer St · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
6. 6

   St John

   British · 26 St John St, Clerkenwell, London · London

   Get: Roast bone marrow, a madeleine, a glass at the bar

   The bar is walk-in and serves its own short menu.

   Critics: 85% liked it, from 4 reviews (2025 to 2026). Read Michelin Guide 2026, The Infatuation 2025, Time Out, The Good Food Guide 2025.

   The crowd: 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor (1,254 ratings).

   26 St. John Street, Smithfield, London, EC1M 4AY · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
7. 7

   Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill

   11-15 Swallow St, London · London

   Get: Native oysters, fish pie

   A century-old oyster bar with a proper counter.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
8. 8

   Clown Bar

   French bistro, natural wine · 114 Rue Amelot, Paris · Paris

   Get: Small plates from a serious kitchen, natural wine

   A belle époque bar next to the Cirque d'Hiver.

   Critics: Read World's 50 Best Discovery, Time Out Paris, Paris by Mouth.

   114 rue Amelot, 75011, Paris · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
9. 9

   L'Avant Comptoir

   French tapas, natural wine · 3 Carrefour de l'Odéon, Paris · Paris

   Get: Ham, croquettes, boudin, standing room

   A tiny standing bar where you eat elbow to elbow.

   Also on the list: Paris: what to eat and where.

   3 Carrefour de l'Odéon, 75006 Paris · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
10. 10

    Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina

    Roman · Via dei Giubbonari 21, Rome · Rome

    Get: Carbonara, burrata, the ham counter

    Sit at the deli counter and eat what's behind the glass.

    Via dei Giubbonari 21, 00186 Rome · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
11. 11

    Bar Cañete

    Tapas · Carrer de la Unió 17, Barcelona · Barcelona

    Get: Tapas from the open kitchen

    The long counter is the whole point.

    Critics: 81% liked it, from 4 reviews (2018 to 2025). Read Michelin Guide 2025, World's 50 Best Discovery, The Infatuation 2023, Time Out Barcelona.

    The crowd: 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor (3,406 ratings).

    Also on these lists: New and hot in Barcelona, Where locals eat in Barcelona.

    Carrer d'en Unió 17, Raval, 08001 Barcelona · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
12. 12

    Cal Pep

    Seafood tapas · Plaça de les Olles 8, Barcelona · Barcelona

    Get: Clams, tortilla, whatever they put down

    Counter seats only for the best of it. Let them choose.

    Also on these lists: Barcelona: what to eat and where, Long lines in Barcelona.

    Plaça de les Olles 8 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
13. 13

    El Xampanyet

    Tapas, cava bar · Carrer de Montcada 22, Barcelona · Barcelona

    Get: Anchovies, cava

    A tiled cava bar near the Picasso Museum.

    Also on these lists: Long lines in Barcelona, Where locals eat in Barcelona.

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing
14. 14

    Cervejaria Ramiro

    Seafood · Av. Almirante Reis 1, Lisbon · Lisbon

    Get: Garlic prawns, then a steak sandwich

    Lisbon's great seafood counter.

    Critics: 90% liked it, from 4 reviews (2023). Read World's 50 Best Discovery, The Infatuation 2023, Falstaff, AFAR.

    Also on these lists: Long lines in Lisbon, Where locals eat in Lisbon, Where the famous eat in Lisbon.

    Avenida Almirante Reis 1H, 1150-007 Lisbon · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
15. 15

    Sala de Despiece

    Creative tapas · Calle de Ponzano 11, Madrid · Madrid

    Get: Rolled carpaccio, cured meats

    A butcher-shop counter with theater.

    Critics: 79% liked it, from 5 reviews (2014 to 2021). Gone quiet: nothing new written in three years. Read World's 50 Best Discovery, Time Out Madrid 2021, Time Out Madrid 2014, The Infatuation.

    Also on these lists: New and hot in Madrid, Where the famous eat in Madrid.

    Calle de Ponzano 11, 28010 Madrid · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
16. 16

    Swan Oyster Depot

    Seafood counter · 1517 Polk St, San Francisco · San Francisco

    Get: Crab, oysters, sicilian sashimi

    Eighteen stools and a line out the door since 1912.

    Also on these lists: Long lines in San Francisco, San Francisco: what to eat and where, Where locals eat in San Francisco.

    1517 Polk St, San Francisco · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
17. 17

    Zuni Café

    California bistro · 1658 Market St, San Francisco · San Francisco

    Get: Oysters at the copper bar, the roast chicken

    The bar is where regulars eat.

    Also on these lists: Romantic dinners in San Francisco, San Francisco: what to eat and where, Where locals eat in San Francisco.

    1658 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
18. 18

    Pizzeria Mozza

    641 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles · Los Angeles

    Get: Pizza from the counter by the oven

    Sit at the pizza bar and watch the oven.

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing
19. 19

    Au Cheval

    Diner · 800 W Randolph St, Chicago · Chicago

    Get: The cheeseburger

    A diner counter with one of America's best burgers.

    Also on the list: Long lines in Chicago.

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing
20. 20

    Tonki

    Tonkatsu · 1-1-2 Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo · Tokyo

    Get: Tonkatsu

    A huge counter wrapped around the fryers since 1939.

    Also on these lists: The best tonkatsu in Tokyo, Where locals eat in Tokyo.

    1-1-2 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-0064 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing