Cape May's Brown Room Named Best Hotel Bar in America

CAPE MAY - South Jersey has another reason to celebrate this week as a beloved Cape May establishment has been recognized as the finest hotel bar in the entire country.

The Brown Room at Congress Hall claimed the number one position in USA TODAY's reader poll of America's best hotel bars, with winners announced August 19 following the conclusion of public voting on August 10. The recognition places our Jersey Shore destination ahead of acclaimed establishments in major cities from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Nestled within what's widely regarded as America's oldest seaside resort, The Brown Room carries significant historical weight. The space now occupied by the bar became Congress Hall's first legal cocktail bar following the end of Prohibition, connecting today's patrons to nearly a century of hospitality tradition.

A USA TODAY panel initially evaluated 20 hotel bars nationwide, assessing them on their atmospheres and the skill of their mixologists. The Brown Room made the cut and was then put to a public vote to determine the final top 10 rankings. USA TODAY described the venue as "one of Cape May's most sophisticated drinking venues."

What sets The Brown Room apart is its commitment to craft cocktails that showcase creativity and quality. The signature menu features inventive drinks like The West Wing, which combines mezcal, lime, pineapple and Pinot Noir, alongside a Congressional Cosmo crafted with vodka, orange liqueur, lime and white cranberry.

Beyond the drinks, the bar offers an upscale culinary experience with small plates that include seafood towers, oyster platters and tuna crudo. Live music performances enhance the atmosphere every weekend, creating an experience that clearly resonated with voters across the nation.

The competition was fierce, with The Brown Room edging out notable establishments including The Aviator at The Hotel Polaris in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which took second place, and Magnum Speakeasy at Hotel Vin in Grapevine, Texas, which finished third. Other top 10 finishers included Andy's Beeline Rooftop Bar in Healdsburg, California; Off the Record at The Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C.; and Mai Tai Bar at The Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Rounding out the rankings were The Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, California; Juniper Lounge and Garden in West Hollywood, California; The Maker Lounge in Hudson, New York; and Travelle Lounge at The Langham in Chicago, Illinois.

The recognition adds another accolade to Cape May's reputation as a premier destination, proving that our local establishments can compete with—and surpass—venues in the nation's largest metropolitan areas. For residents and visitors alike, The Brown Room offers a taste of sophistication rooted in Jersey Shore history.