A Respectable Guide To a Bar Crawl
Five Rules on Water Hole Hopping.
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I live in LA, so the idea of bar hopping doesn’t cross my mind all that often. Logistically, it’s a nightmare—between planning, traffic, and finding parking, it’s just not worth it in the City of Angels. And honestly, safety plays a factor, too. But on those rare occasions when I’m in a city where bars are within walking distance of each other, the allure of hop scotching from one spot to the next becomes irresistible. There’s something special about hitting a variety of places, soaking in different vibes, and having a drink here, another there. Each stop is a little adventure, a new environment, new faces, new conversations. It’s the perfect recipe for a night of exploration and spontaneity, and it’s just plain fun.
Now, I’ve done my fair share of bar crawls (or pub crawls, whatever you want to call them), and one thing I’ve learned is that you need a strategy. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or stuck in one place too long, but with the right approach, you can make the most of the night and discover new haunts along the way. After years of trial and error, I’ve come up with five solid rules for a successful bar crawl.
Rule 1: Pick a Walkable Neighborhood
The first and most important rule: keep it walkable. The magic of a bar crawl is the journey, the flow from place to place on foot. You want to be able to easily wander from one bar to the next without worrying about how to get there. Getting into a car, hailing a cab, or waiting for public transportation can totally kill your buzz. If you’re spending half your night navigating traffic or sitting on a stalled train, you’re missing the point of the crawl. Pick a neighborhood where the bars are clustered together, and if you’re feeling bold, you can stretch your radius to cover multiple nearby areas—but always within walking distance. The beauty of this rule is that it keeps the night spontaneous and the energy high. Keep it simple, keep it walkable, and let the night unfold as you wander.
Rule 2: Start with your Number-One Spot
If there’s a specific bar you’re dying to hit, start there. The last time I was back in New York after the pandemic, I had one place on my mind—Fanelli Café, for martinis. I knew that if we didn’t start there, we might never make it, and I wasn’t willing to risk that. The trick to a good crawl is starting strong and setting the tone for the night. You never know what might happen as the night goes on—maybe you end up at a great dive and lose track of time, or maybe a spot on your list gets too crowded, and the next thing you know, your dream bar is closing, and you missed your chance. By starting with your must-visit, you’re guaranteeing that you’ll make it to the place that’s most important to you. From there, the rest of the night can flow however it wants, and you’ll still feel like you checked off the main box.
Rule 3: Keep the Group Small
A small group is key to a smooth adventure. When you’re navigating crowded bars and trying to keep the vibe going, a big crew can become a logistical nightmare. Decision-making gets slower, opinions clash, and you’ll find yourselves standing on the sidewalk for way too long, debating where to go next. Ideally, you want one or two friends, maybe three or four max. It’s all about keeping the energy up and moving—there’s no time for endless discussions or trying to please everyone.
Rule 4: Mix it Up with Some Random Spots
One of the best parts of a crawl is the element of surprise. Don’t treat the night like a meticulously curated tour of the city’s hottest bars—where’s the fun in that? This is about discovery, stumbling into places you never knew existed. After your first or second planned stop, throw caution to the wind and hit some random spots. You never know what you’re going to find—maybe it’s a hole-in-the-wall with killer cocktails, or maybe it’s a dive with a jukebox and cheap beer. Either way, the unpredictability is part of the fun. It’s all about keeping things loose and adventurous, and who knows, you might just come upon a gem that becomes your new go-to spot.
Rule 5: Know When to Call it a Night
Here’s the thing about crawls: you’re not on your home turf. You’re likely exploring someone else’s local scene, which means you’re a guest in their favorite spots. Once you feel your social grace starting to fade, it’s time to call it. Know when you’ve had enough, and when the night has reached its perfect ending. Nothing’s worse than pushing it too far and souring the mood with a sloppy exit or awkward altercation. When the vibe starts to dip, grab a slice of pizza or some noodles, and head home. You can always have a nightcap in the comfort of your own place if you’re not quite ready to let the evening end. But remember, there’s nothing sadder than an unnecessary meltdown of what could’ve been a perfect night. Keep it tight, keep it smart, and end on a high note. That’s how you cap off a successful crawl. Santé!
Darin is in the DC / Virginia metro area for an all new episode. First up, he sits down with co-owner and executive chef of Amma, Johanna Hellrigl. She talks about being born into the restaurant industry, her coming up and cooking through the DC scene and how Italian love inspired her new restaurant. Then we head down to Virginia to hang out with Jeff and Jake of Illiterate Light, whose new album Arches will be out November 1st. They perform some live songs from the album, talk about the difference of their eating habits at home and recording in Hollywood and how they brought the community into their new recording session.
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Great 👍