posted Aug 25, 2023

Best Cocktails in Lancaster, PA

Cheers! Countless spots to sip unique cocktails.

A night on the town or a memorable dinner starts with a cocktail – especially one with pizzazz and character, artfully crafted at one of Lancaster, PA’s restaurants. Drinks go beyond your standard rum and coke and classic martini, combining local ingredients with hard-to-find or locally made spirits. Some bartenders are reviving and reinventing the classics, while others are putting new flavors together to create signature concoctions.

Many of these spots have fantastic cuisine to go along with the cocktails for a one-stop-shop for a perfect evening. When you enjoy, please do so responsibly. Learn more about Lancaster's alternate transportation.

Pictured: The Exchange Lancaster

Credit: Gabe McMullen

401 Prime
401 N Prince St, Lancaster | 717.606.1515
Guests can sip everything from smoky rye creations and absinthe-kissed classics to chili-spiced tequila cocktails and vibrant zero-proof options at 401 Prime. And don’t forget an espresso martini to top off the night!

Annie Bailey's
28-30 E King St, Lancaster | 717.393.4000
At Annie Bailey’s, you’ll find the beer and cider selection you come to expect at an Irish pub – but what about cocktails? Well, you’re in luck because they’re doing those well, too! Their seasonally rotated cocktail menu has included drinks such as brambling through thyme, Irish coffee, watermelon mojito, and more. They also offer cocktails specifically crafted for brunch!

Belvedere Inn
402 N Queen St, Lancaster | 717.394.2422
Their mixologists are known for incorporating local spirits into inventive seasonal cocktails and creative twists on familiar classics. Try one of their signature drinks like the “Blue Rose,” made with a local rosé-geranium gin, or the “Catcher in the Rye,” featuring local rye whiskey and fresh grapefruit—and don’t miss the live music upstairs in their cozy jazz lounge.

Conway Social Club
28 E King St, Lancaster | 717.393.4446
Conway Social Club is downtown Lancaster's speakeasy. Check that the light is on, knock on the door, and enter a beautiful space with delicious drinks. The drink menu is split into five categories: pantry, garden, meadow, forest, and library, offering specialty drinks with absinthe, rosemary gin, and many more.

Decades
438 N Queen St, Lancaster | 717.282.1421
Decades is a six lane bowling alley, arcade, and full service restaurant and bar. Dine at a table or at the bar, or enjoy food and drinks at your lane! Decades also offers deliciously crafted cocktails, among beers on draft and wines.

Double C
220 N. Prince Street, Lancaster | 717.874.4184
Mules, Mezcal, Margaritas - oh my! Double C is known for having some of the best margaritas and cocktails around. They serve unique drinks to beautifully compliment their Mexican cuisine. They offer single-serve or three servings of their amazing margaritas in a mason jar.

The Exchange
25 S Queen St, Lancaster | 717.207.4096
Enjoy delicious food and drink, and outdoor or indoor dining at this amazing rooftop space overlooking Lancaster City. Their cocktail menu includes drinks such as a spring toddy, a blackberry cucumber cooler, and more!

Horse Inn
540 E Fulton St, Lancaster | 717.392.5528
The vintage vibes at the Horse Inn will take you back to the 1920s as it is an old stable that served as a speakeasy during Prohibition. When you make your way to one of their two bars, you’ll be greeted by a bartender and cocktail menu inspired by the past. Must-tries include the Pistol Under the Pillow (gin, pressed lemon & grapefruit, vanilla, lavender and egg white) and the Old Fashioned #2 (whiskey of your choice, brandied cherry, orange zest, Angostura & tiki bitters, and demerara).

John J. Jeffries
300 Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster | 717.431.3307
John J. Jeffries focuses on sustainable and seasonal food, and drinks! Cocktail menus will shift through the seasons with what's fresh. Offerings include basil lemondrop, lavender sidecar, and many more.

Josephine's Downtown
50 W Grant St, Lancaster
Josephine’s channels a Golden Age of Hollywood vibe with live music and a cocktail list themed around classic film icons. Signature sips like the Marilyn Monroe (elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, lychee, raspberry) and Frank Sinatra (bourbon, sweet vermouth, black walnut bitters) show off their creative style, plus there are thoughtful zero-proof options like the Betty Ford mocktail.

Kōle Chophouse
52 N Broad St, Lititz | 717.625.2100
Kōle Chophouse pairs its wood-coal–fired cuisine with cocktails that highlight seasonal ingredients and elevated classics. Guests can expect expertly crafted drinks that complement the restaurant’s bold, flame-driven menu.

Lancaster Distilleries
23 N Market St, Lancaster
While not its own cocktail bar, Lancaster Distilleries creates gins, vodkas and rums in Lancaster City! They also offer craft cocktail recipes on their website, and are used in the cocktails at Zoetropolis. You can find their stand at the Lancaster Central Market too!

Mad Chef Craft Brewing
2023 Miller Road, East Petersburg | 717.690.2655
While Mad Chef Craft Brewing is known for their beers, they also offer signature cocktails made with local ingredients! Mad Chef will please any crowd that you are dining with.

Per Diem
50 Rock Lititz Blvd, Lititz | 717.500.3436
Per Diem offers delightful dinner and brunch offerings in a modern space. They also offer cocktails specially for dinner and brunch. Dinner cocktails include bramble on, negroni, and more. Brunch cocktails include the classic mimosa, caffe tonico, and more. They also offer crafted mocktails!

Plough
Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, 25 South Queen Street, Lancaster | 717.207.4095
Plough features an upscale bar and dining room that is sure to enhance your next dining experience. Their rotating menus feature sweet, fruit-infused cocktails and delicious concoctions that take your taste buds on an adventure.

Proof of Lancaster
30 North Queen Street (Lower Level), Lancaster | 717.925.7770
Spend an evening in this classy eatery and enjoy an extensive menu of wines and spirits, shareable plates, and elevated desserts. Sip fresh, flavorful cocktails and mocktails—perfect for a date or a sophisticated night out with your friends.

Stoll and Wolfe Distillery
35 N Cedar St, Lititz | 717.799.4499Stoll and Wolfe is celebrating local distilling traditions that date back to 1753 by distilling Pennsylvania rye whiskey and bourbon & rye blend. Be sure to try one of their creative cocktails like the Rock & Rye and the Sazerac. Not a whiskey or bourbon lover? Their vodka and gin drinks are just as good. Try the Hold Fast or the Negroni.

Thistle Finch Distillery
417 West Grant St, Lancaster | 717.947.7342
Head into downtown Lancaster and check out Thistle Finch Distillery! Thistle Finch offers distillery tours and tasting, a bar with delicious craft cocktails, and specialty spirits to purchase such as various Penn Square vodkas, Market Alley gins, and more.

Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse
112 N Water St, Lancaster | 717.208.6572
Zoetropolis is a unique spot in Lancaster, where you can watch an independent film in the cinema or get a bite to eat in the restaurant. Zoetropolis also offers craft cocktails made with Lancaster Distilleries' spirits. With drinks named after some of the wacky Lancaster County town names, among many others.

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Author

Tori•

Marketing Coordinator

Having lived in Lancaster for 3 years, Tori has a fresh perspective on the county and its experiences. She enjoys spending time outdoors, enjoying various international cuisines and participating in the many creative outlets Lancaster provides. Tori wants visitors to visit all the small towns that Lancaster County has to offer and find hidden gems along the way. Outside of work, Tori enjoys visiting unique coffee shops and cafes across the county.

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