34 Best Cocktail Bars near West Haven

“I’ve been a regular here since Day 1 and I can’t believe I didn’t post a review until NOW!! What can I say, it’s the best seafood in West Haven HANDS DOWN! The oysters are fresh, the lobster rolls are the best, and the mussels for 2 is so flavorful. The staff are like family and welcome you with open arms. For drinks, I recommend the manhattans, old fashioned, espresso martinis and dirty martini with the blue cheese stuffed olives (YUM!). Their Moby’s lager is delicious and there’s a great selection of tequila. The bartenders are the best around! My favorite dishes are the lobster Mac, Lobster Rolls, Tuna Sushimi Oysters, Oysters Rockefeller, and tuna tartare. Trust me, you will not be disappointed with your dining experience! Nick and the crew will take good care of you. I’m a customer for life ❤️“

“This location has a wonderful atmosphere, everyone so friendly, respectful the owner rocks-very cordial, And does not mind getting his hands dirty if need to. Yesterday he was greeting, setting up tables everything- this is establishment gives you that cultural vibe and home feeling atmosphere“

“Excellent for a night out with friends!“

“Love it !! Unique experience“

“Good food.and friendly staff.“

“The staff was incredible! The food was amazing and the drinks were very tasty. Most definitely recommend and will be back.“

“Excellent cocktails. One of very few places I can get excellent vegetal cocktails.“

“The food is exceptional…creative and delicious. Great drinks as well. Awesome place.“

“First time checking out Spruce Coffee and overall it was a good experience. I got a drink from the fall menu and it was really good. The vibe is chill, super cute decor, and the staff was friendly.

Only downside is the space is pretty small, it can feel tight if it’s busy. I was also a little confused where to order since the register is right by the main door. On a crowded day I could see the line being out the door with not much room to wait.

Still, worth a visit for the good coffee and cozy atmosphere.“

“Went to SaltBrick Prime Steakhouse there. Lovely, delicious, great unique atmosphere. Love their $59 special dinner w multiple great choices. I had a very tasty onion soup, a perfectly prepared prime rib w high end fries (could have been a huge potato), a Yorkshire pudding bread, and a dark dark chocolate cake dessert w real whipped cream. Relaxing and satisfying, has become a favorite.“

“cool vibes and good food !“

“We ate here last night and the food and service were wonderful! What was even more wonderful was the customer service when I left my purse at the restaurant. I called later that night to see if it was there. They were so kind and kept my bag and made arrangements to get it to me this morning before they opened. Would definitely go back!“

“Very intimate setting. The wait staff were very friendly. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and the manager came over to congratulate us as well as give us a complimentary toast.“

“I love everything about El Barrio. The food is outstanding as is the atmosphere. Eldar makes amazing cocktails! Highly recommend.“

“Catering Party @ Sally’s Apizza Fairfield On Saturday September 13, 2025, we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary. The food, service and staff were phenomenal. We all know how great the pizza is, but the appetizers and salads were equally great. I can’t say enough about the wonderful servers, Dan and Brandon. There were efficient, kind, friendly and polite. They went out of their way to insure everyone was having a great time. The bartenders and other staff went a long way to help make everyone enjoy the party. I also want to thank the General Manager, James Layfield and the Catering Manager, Helen Blanchard for their exceptional service and hospitality. Sally’s Apizza @ Fairfield deserves a 5 star rating for making our event the success it was. Thanks so much“

“Food is DELCIOUS AND SERVICE IS GREAT!!“

“Amazing food and service in a lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend!“

“Good food, service and prices. Love the tacos 🌮“

“Nice couple of hours there today on a rainy Sunday. Delicious food, awesome staff!!!!“

“Best restaurant ever. Every visit was great! Food Great! Service great! Atmosphere great ! This is our go-to restaurant. Highly recommend !“

“Very quiet restaurant in hotel lobby. Service was very friendly and attentive. Slightly overpriced for quality of food. Menu was very limited, with really the option for dinner being a burger, taco, or turkey sandwich. Food was very good and not greasy. However, it was expensive for the quality.“

“This local spot is cozy and welcoming. We were seated at the bar for most of the night and saw the place quickly fill up. Even though the bar became very busy as the night went on, Mike our bartender made time to check in with us and the couple seated nearby to make sure we had everything we needed. Highlights include an extremely well made old fashioned, a delicious gin drink that was recommended to us by Mike, and the free popcorn for snacking. We’ll definitely be returning!“

“10/10 as a first impression dinner. took my wife here for her birthday and she's deciding if it's top 3 or top 5 of restaurants we've been to. will be back. great service and extremely tender and flavorful dishes.“

“Drinks were good. Food was delicious. Great atmosphere.“

“Excellent food. Highly recommend“

“Enjoy their happy hour, and lunch on the patio in nice weather, their friendly, personable staff, and warm interior space. Most recent visit we ordered their mushroom pizza (Portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, goat cheese, garlic, truffle oil)…absolutely delicious (thank you Amy)“

“Every single time we go to Encore the experience is impeccable. The food the service and the ambiance. Chef Gerry and Andrea thank you for your hospitality and always making the experience amazing .“

“We always love coming here! Jose Luis and his team, especially the wonderful female bartender, always make us feel so welcome. The service is top-notch — friendly, attentive, and accommodating. The food is consistently great every time, and the drinks are just as good. It’s one of our favorite spots because we know we’ll always leave happy and full. Highly recommend!“

“Delicious drinks and wonderful friendly service. ❤️“

“Top notch food and cocktails in a relaxed environment with reasonable prices.“

“Simply put, the food, staff and restaurant are nothing short of amazing. My husband and I hosted an event this past weekend (~100 guests) and it was a literal dream! THE FOOD! I was a little nervous when we settled on a buffet-style for the main entree but that worry was immediately thrown out the window when the first person up said, wait when can I get seconds?! EVERYONE has commented on how much they loved the food. Many of our guest list is from out of town, but are petitioning that a open a location opens in Northern New Jersey The staff was just amazing during the event; almost every single person I have spoken to since Saturday has brought up an interaction where 'the staff clearly cares' ::insert story of staff member just actually giving a heck about a situation:: from a question answered, to a compliment given, and everything in between, the people who worked the event were rockstars. Brittney, their catering & event manager, is worth a million dollars; she cares, she's passionate, she is kind, attentive (she definitely works 24/7 as she emailed/ texted back no matter the day or time), & is just all around an amazing person. I will never not include her and working with her in my memory of our Reception. She and Deon will not steer you wrong in making selections that will work and will be memorable. All-in-all, if you are looking to host your event in a place where people take pride in their work, are dedicated to the customer and the food is real, feel it in your soul food, then Olives and Oil is your place!!“

“Frozen margarita and street corn were awesome! Service was also fantastic!“

“We loved this place when it first opened, but it seems like it’s under new ownership. It’s not necessarily “bad” now, but they have removed a lot of the aspects that gave it its charm (eg. visible guac bar, frequent mariachi band is now only Friday nights). Service is hit or miss but the food usually comes fast. It’s great that they seat you with chips and two dips to choose from. The food is good.

Beware if you have small children, I was informed that *none* of the high chairs in the building have working lap belts. If you have a rambunctious boy like we do, that makes enjoying the meal challenging. It’s too bad that this gem seems to be going downhill.“