3 Sacramento bars tapped as top 10 in the West. See which ones made the list
Three popular Sacramento bars have just been named in the Tales of the Cocktail 2026 Spirited Awards among its U.S. West region Top 10 in their category.
The regional nominees “represent the best in the industry, leaving a lasting impact on their local cocktail communities and beyond,” according to the Spirited Awards website.
Downtown’s The Snug was recognized in the Best U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. West category. Two other watering holes, East Sacramento’s Kru and Butterscotch Den in North Oak Park, made the list for Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West.
All three bars take their places alongside other luminary bars in the Bay Area, Southern California, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix and Maui.
An interactive map allows users to navigate to each region and see where honorees, nominees and awardees are. Only one California bar was selected in 2025, San Francisco’s Trick Dog.
Honorees were selected by a panel of more than 250 industry experts, including bartenders, bar owners, educators and writers. They evaluated the bars based on “structured criteria,” according to the website.
The regional winners will be whittled down to the U.S.’s top 10 in each category in May. The overall winners will be announced at the 20th annual Spirited Awards ceremony on Thursday, July 23 at The Fillmore New Orleans during the Tales of the Cocktail conference.
