Best Neighborhood Bar in South Palm Beach County

A good neighborhood joint should alternately extend a hospitable hand to strangers while giving regulars a bit of a favored place at the bar. Music, decent food, tunes, and cheap drinks all are requirements. As part of a countdown to the Best Of Broward/Palm Beach 2012, coming in June, here is a list of five of the best neighborhood bars in South Palm Beach County. As always, let us know in the comments if we missed a worthy contender. 

1. The Irishmen

Somewhere between "exclusive club for regulars only" and "howdy, stranger" hospitality, this regular hangout for the nearby FAU students is a comfortable spot for newbies and old hats alike. With more than 30 brews on tap and cheap-ass drink specials, this is a casual place to do some serious drinking. Live music on the weekends and a full menu with traditional Irish fare and lots of bar munchies round out the offerings.

Click here for a full list of Best Of winners and finalists and to download our Best Of app.

2. Kevro's Art Bar

Adults deserve a space where they can play with paint, hit a Ping-Pong ball around for a few hours, and make new friends with ease. Kevro's has all this with the benefit of access to a full bar of grownup beverages and live music, plus a studio space. Far enough off Delray's main drag to break away from the tourist/weekend warrior crowds, this is the kind of spot that was made for regulars.

3. The Duck Tavern

This is a decidedly low-rent bar, with a mix of populist and craft beers on tap and coolers stocked with dozens of brews from around the world. The cocktails are cold (and cheap as hell), and the wings are hot; the music is loud, and the crowd is friendly and familiar. A Boca must for pretense-free drinking.

4. Nippers

Gregarious bartenders give a generous pour at this bar that welcomes patrons to stick around until the wee hours of the morning. Bar munchies help to soften the blow of all of the cheap alcohol that's necessary to muster the courage for karaoke. People-watching is practically a bar sport, and you'll have an easy time striking up a conversation with bartenders and regulars alike.

5. Funky Buddha Lounge

A neighborhood bar must be able to lay claim to a tight-knit group of familiar faces, and this stylish lounge/bar/brewery can do just that. With a rotating list of house-brewed beverages -- the peanut-butter-and-jelly inspired American brown ale No Crusts is among the all-time favorites -- and craft brews from around the world, this has become the go-to for Boca beer hounds and anyone else looking for a cool place to chill with a good beverage.

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