21 Best Bars in Kingston

“Really? It took me this long to give Stockade Tavern a review? That’s crazy, given how important a fixture it’s been for its entire 16 year tenure. From day 1, Paul and Jenny and their rotating crew of amazing bartenders and bar backs (you guys! 🙏🙏) made it cool to visit Uptown. Keep rocking it for another 16 please!!“

“Amazing creative space, people and energy.“

“I recommend EVERYTHING!! Just go! RUN, don't walk! Phenomenal!“

“lovely atmosphere and Kate the bartender is wonderful!!“

“I recently stopped into Kelly’s Shamrock Tavern, and let me tell you—this place is everything a real neighborhood bar should be. As soon as I walked in, it felt like I had stepped into a warm memory. No frills, no fake smiles—just good people, cold drinks, and an atmosphere you can’t fake.

The bartenders are the kind of folks you instantly feel comfortable talking to—friendly, attentive, and they know how to pour a perfect drink. The crowd? A great mix of locals, regulars, and folks just there for a good time. Everyone’s chill, no egos, no drama.

I played a few games of pool, caught some laughs with people I’d never met before, and genuinely didn’t want to leave. There’s just something about Kelly’s—it’s got soul. You can feel the history in the walls, and it’s still alive and thriving today.

If you’re in Kingston and want a break from the trendy spots or overpriced cocktails, come to Kelly’s. It’s authentic, it’s welcoming, and honestly, we need more places like this. I’ll definitely be back—and I’m bringing friends next time.“

“Love the atmosphere at this bar. The staff is super friendly and fills your drinks quickly. The food is the star to the show. The wings are brined and made in house. The Parmesan and garlic fires are the perfect accompaniment to the drinks. Definitely a must visit when in town.“

“Great hamburger and tater Tots. Intimate performance space in the back.“

“The desserts we had were exceptionally good. This was the best part of the meal. The scallop crudo was small, boring and expensive. The half-chicken main course was very good, and was enough to split between 2 people, but required at least one of them to be good at disassembling a chicken. The atmosphere was very loud. The place is toddler friendly, which is great if you have a toddler, and not so great if you do not. The restaurant is very popular, so reservations are a must. If you are hip and cool, you will probably enjoy it more than I did. It was not bad, but IMO it is a bit over-rated, as the only truly standout dishes we had were the desserts, and they were fantastic. Also, the bread was very very good. The drinks were OK. The price was a bit too high for what were served, in general. Mostly, it was just too loud for eating, for me. I am glad we tried it. 4 stars because- why not? I do not run down a decent restaurant with excellent service that is trying very hard just because it does not suit me.“

“This has become a beloved date night spot in my household and a place we credit with getting us so into sherry (and vermouth!) that we’re basically preaching to all our friends about it. If you’re worried about how expensive it is - which it is, no doubt! - at least stop in for happy hour and try the drinks. Last night was actually the first time I’ve had a full meal here and it really felt like a special occasion. I thought the bacalao was perfection and the tapas were yummy too - the custard dessert made me scream the first time I tried it (in a good way).
It’s definitely become more busy and more scene-y, but it still feels welcoming and intimate. From what I can tell everyone who works here is so passionate about the food and drinks they serve. Their service has always been so warm, fun, attentive, and knowledgeable. Shout out to you guys for helping us make any random night feel special! I’ve never been to Spain, but I’m lucky to live in Kingston and have spots like this to return to. Bonus points for having a dj last night who played great music and not too loud to have dinner with!“

“Delicious. My favorite is the curry lentil soup and bahn mi sandwich. Everything I’ve had here is delicious. It is expensive tho and the kitchen isn’t the fastest. But for a nice lunch and hang, this place is great. Excellent coffee as well.“

“OMG Eva at the bar, punk rock on the juke box, I love it“

“Saltbox is the bar where you go in for one drink and suddenly it’s three hours later.

Molly, the GM, bartender, event coordinator extraordinaire, is an absolute angel. I’ve done pop-ups there and she has always been ridiculously supportive, cool and easy to work with. The whole staff is great and you can tell they care about making Saltbox a community space.

Basically, Saltbox has no business being this charming and cute.

10/10. Would accidentally stay all night again… I’m honestly probably there right now..“

“Nice spot! The atmosphere is super welcoming, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I don’t drink alcohol but hubby thought their craft beers are top-notch, with Hurricane Kitty and Mother's Milk being my favorites. They also have live music events that make the place even more fun. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area!“

“I’ve struggled with finding really delicious wings in the area. It seems like Buffalo was the only place to go-until now. I was recommended to this place and I’m very happy with the quality of the wings. I had Thai and extra hot wings. The only thing is that the extra hot wasn’t hot at all to me. But that’s just me and that certainly doesn’t take away from the quality of the food and the excellent service. Next time I’ll just specify exactly how hot I want the wings. I highly recommend Hickory to anyone who is looking for delicious smoked food.“

“we had sooooo much fun at the arcade!!! definitely recommend, we love PatelsKingston Lanes for the holiday season!!“

“So many community members, businesses, friends & family, came together to support the Gribbon family in their recent renovation at the new location. The new High Falls Cafe is beautiful! It has the same welcoming atmosphere as its previous location, but this is so much better! Food and service are great, and they have been very busy since opening a few weeks ago. If you want to ensure that you can get a table, make a reservation in advance!“

“Great food service. I have never found a place that makes a better margarita. Most places make what I call “girly” margaritas. A true margarita is like a martini or manhattan. With the liquor the # 1 ingredient. Santa Fe makes a true margarita. The food is also very fresh and made to offer. Never found a place that makes better tacos.“

“What a great little find in Kingston. My wife and I had a delightful dinner on the patio. Thursday was half-price margarita night and I had the opportunity to enjoy a perfectly prepared frozen margarita. The guacamole was among the best I’ve had and the quesabirria was meaty and cheesy and just delicious. Great vibe. Great food. Great people.“

“We came for a late lunch and left completely stuffed! The food was delicious. Every dish was cooked perfectly. Service was prompt and efficient also!“

“Was ok. Nothing terrible about the food but not out of this world broth 🤷🏻‍♀️ . Nice atmosphere. Decently priced. Staff was friendly. Maybe if I tried something other than the noodle bowl ( was just too bland for me) .“