12 Places Where Eating at the Bar Is Better Than Getting a Table

The bar is usually where people are sent when a restaurant has no more tables available, but at certain specific spots, bar seating is actually far better than sitting at a table. According to Resy and other sources, the places we’re about to cover are spots where you’re better off at the bar, and we’ll explain why!

Balthazar – New York

Balthazar in New York City might seem like total chaos, but amidst all the noise, lights, and crowds, the best place to sit is at the bar. From there, bar seating lets you take in the whole room and see what others are ordering, from oysters to French onion soup, and decide which dish looks most appetizing to you.

Maison Premiere – New York

According to Resy, the dining experience at Maison Premiere in New York offers comfort in a bustling wine bar designed to be accessible to all, while serving as an ode to French haute dining. The bar is horseshoe-shaped, allowing you to watch the bartending theatrics and see the staff guide you through the rotating oyster selection. Bar seating is better because you can interact with the people shucking oysters and mixing cocktails, and ask for their recommendations.

Le Bernardin – New York

Le Bernardin is one of the most highly regarded fine-dining restaurants in the United States, yet diners don’t need to experience a formal dining atmosphere to enjoy it. Amidst options like oysters and the warm lobster and truffle roll, you should consider sitting at the bar. From there, bar seating lets you can enjoy Eric Ripert-level seafood in a considerably more relaxed setting.

Swan Oyster Depot – California

With nearly a century of experience in the restaurant business, Swan Oyster Depot features a small, 20-seat counter and a similarly compact space, leaving few options for table seating. This San Francisco institution combines pristine food with a family-run kitchen as dishes of cracked crab, oysters, chowder, and smoked salmon are served to customers. Bar seating at the counter offers an impressive view of the cooks in action.

Avec – Illinois

Not only is it better to eat at the counter at Avec restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, but this establishment was also a pioneer in promoting the idea that those seats offer a more exciting experience than a standard table. Upon entering, you’ll feel an energetic vibe; bar seating lets you watch the cooks in action, feeling as though you’re right in the middle of the kitchen and immersed in the restaurant’s rhythm.

Coda di Volpe – Illinois

The team behind the Coda di Volpe restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, has told Resy that the most sought-after seats are at the bar. This is because the pizzas are prepared just feet away, and diners can even cut their own slices with scissors, whether they choose Neapolitan-style pizza, or enjoy looking at pasta dishes or Friday specials.

Musso & Frank Grill – California

Of the restaurants on the list, Musso & Frank Grill boasts one of the richest histories. Resy recommends grabbing a stool at the bar to truly experience the restaurant’s Old Hollywood identity. The draw isn’t just the steaks or drinks like the Martini and Manhattan, bar seating also puts you close to the bartenders, who put on a quasi-theatrical show while mixing cocktails, and offers a prime view of the action.

Canlis – Washington

In Seattle, Washington, Canlis is often the go-to spot for a special occasion, and the bar offers a great way to experience it. There, bar seating lets can enjoy the signature Canlis service and setting without turning dinner into a formal, hours-long affair. The atmosphere at Canlis upholds a cocktail tradition dating back to 1949, when restaurants were once again permitted to serve liquor.

Albi – Washington

If you want to dine at Albi in Washington, you can make a reservation for the dining room or show up without one and sit at the bar. The restaurant features live-fire cooking, and you can choose between a set menu or à la carte options. Bar seating puts you close to the wood-burning hearth, where you can watch flatbreads and skewers come straight off the fire. The bar offers a more accessible dining option at Albi, while also giving you a front-row view of the kitchen specialists at work.

The Dabney – Washington

The Dabney is similar to Albi and is also located in Washington. It features open counter seating, allowing you to watch the kitchen action up close, with the flames right in front of you. Bar seating at the counter offers a real show, enabling chefs to interact with diners as they prepare dishes. Resy similarly describes The Dabney’s counter as a seat that turns dinner into a show.

Lutéce – Washington

With 12 seats at a marble bar, Lutéce in Georgetown, Washington, offers walk-in guests one of the best spots in the restaurant. Resy has ranked it among the best places to dine in Georgetown, and bar seating offers direct interaction with the bartenders at the kitchen, Current Resy listings show bar-seat reservations at Lutéce, although availability varies.

Zahav – Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the restaurant Zahav is one of the hardest places to get a reservation for a table, but sitting at the bar is easier because you don’t need to book it. In fact, Resy notes that bar seats are preferable because they are easier to secure, and you can watch the cooking process that has made Zahav so famous. The dishes available at the restaurant are hummus tehina with laffa, salatim, and the pomegranate lamb shoulder.

Conclusion

Securing a table reservation at these restaurants might be difficult, but if you are willing to sit at the bar, you can simply show up and enjoy the same food served elsewhere. A bonus is that, in many of these spots, bar seating puts you closer to the action. You can interact with the chefs and ask for the day’s best dish, or even judge for yourself based on how the food looks as it is brought out to other tables.