You could say any bar that can serves beer after work is a thing of beauty. You wouldn’t be wrong. But some places are just a bit nicer than others. Here are the 21 in the Orlando area that look good without any beer goggles.

Aku Aku Tiki Bar 431 E. Central Blvd.; 407-839-0080 It’s a dark, intimate lounge ripe for a takeover – a group of a dozen could own the place. Comfy 1950s rattan furniture, a giant tiki idol, leaning surfboards, and hanging blowfish and glass floats set the scene for sweet-but-not-too Zombies, Singapore slings and Volcano bowls. Try (not to fall over after finishing) the Tigerfucker, built from 44 North huckleberry vodka and house-made blackberry-jalapeño syrup, topped with a flaming sugar cube and served in a huge glass goblet. Photo by Rob Bartlett
The Boathouse 1620 E. Buena Vista Drive; 407-939-2628 The Boathouse is stunning in its attention to detail – the interior and exterior flow together seamlessly (as Schussler Creative creator/CEO Steven Schussler points out, you can see the water from the moment you walk into the bar), and while there’s something new to look at anywhere you let your eye fall, the space never feels cluttered or chaotic. Photo by Rob Bartlett
The Courtesy Bar 114 N. Orange Ave.; 407-450-2041 One of the first Orlando bars to kickstart the craft-cocktail movement here, the Courtesy is a don’t-miss on any true connoisseur’s barhop. Truly creative drink recipes are tested exhaustively before hitting the menu – no “hey, this might be good” sloppiness here – and only a few customer favorites stick around through the menu’s seasonal updates. In addition to the delicious drinks, the vibe is sophisticated without being stuffy: Lighting and sound levels are both pleasingly low, while style points for the vintage furnishings and long banquette are high.
Eden Bar 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; 407-629-1088 It’s a place that can make a couple looking for craft cocktails just as happy as a crowd who just want to split a few pitchers of beer. The splashing fountain and tropical landscaping make it picturesque (when the weather’s nice), the menu is a good balance of satisfying bar snacks and more upscale fare, and the best movies in town are screening inside, just steps away. Unbeatable. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Hanson’s Shoe Repair 27 E. Pine St., 407-476-9446 The speakeasy theme has been done to death, but Hanson’s does it right – you have to call ahead to get a password; only a limited number of people are allowed into the dim, narrow, impeccably designed space; and the craft cocktails are out of this world. No vodka served here – vodka wasn’t part of the American cocktail lexicon during the Prohibition era – but the bartenders will be happy to mix you something that’ll prove even more satisfying than that Cosmopolitan you may have had in mind. Photo by Facebook
Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill 9840 International Drive With its Caribbean-inspired menu, Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill is the perfect destination for a sunny day. Chalk it up at the beautiful blue bar or kick it by the pool with your frozen beverage of choice. Photo via harryspoolside.com
Hooch 25 Wall St.; 407-849-9904 If you’re not into the heavy-duty party scene that is Wall Street Plaza after hours, but you dig the idea of drinking in what kind of looks like an old auto-repair shop mashed up with a moonshiner’s basement, this is a perfect place during happy hour. Or, really, up until about 10 p.m., when it starts to fill up with the party-hopping crowd. If you are into the party scene, you’re at Wall Street Plaza – by midnight, all of the bars around you will be bumpin’. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Minus5 Icebar 9101 International Drive; 407-704-6956 More of a tourist experience than a straight-up bar, Minus5 is a great place to escape from the Orlando summer heat. You’ll get tons of selfies (you in a fur-trimmed parka! you in an ice cave!), plus other shots of the chiseled-from-ice wintry wonderland, to post on social media. And the shots of the liquid variety? Those come in glasses made of ice. Which you can drink while sitting on a bench made of ice. Chillax! (Sorry.) Rob Bartlett
The Imperial Wine Bar and Beer Garden 1800 N. Orange Ave.; 407-228-4992 Sneak out to the patio at The Imperial at Washburn Imports for cozy seating and twinkly lights. Photo via Facebook
Little Fish Huge Pond 401 S. Sanford Ave, 407-221-1499 This bar might have more character than any other watering hole in Central Florida. The entire bar is furnished with all kinds of art and trinkets. There’s usually live music on the weekends. It’s also a great place for picky beer lovers looking for something new. Photo by Yelp
Mucho Tequila and Tacos (and Mucho Liquor Store) 101 S. Eola Drive; 407-843-9676 This Thornton Park staple is loosely themed on the Quentin Tarantino movie From Dusk Till Dawn. Photo via Yelp
NV Art Bar 27 E. Pine St.; 407-649-0000 A night at NV is like drinking at a pop-up gallery – the art on the walls is always changing, the booze is a nice selection of whatever they have available and it’s just so damn chill. The downstairs bar area is a dimly lit main gallery of sorts and features a new local artist every month. Upstairs has more of a lounge feel; there are retro arcade games like Ms. Pacman and Street Fighter and there’s even a cool little library – you know, for late-night studying … or waiting to get your shoes repaired (wink). Photo by Colin Wolf
Park Social 358 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, 407-636-7020 Walk up a flight of stairs on Park Ave and you’re suddenly hanging out in a bar suitable for Austin Powers. 60s-style furniture and decor furnish this hidden Winter Park gem. They have a nice selection of fancy cocktails and beers. and if you’re into cutting a rug, this place goes off here weekends. Photo by Yelp
Parliament House Resort 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail; 407-425-7571 This sprawling gay (and straight-friendly) resort doesn’t have one specific theme, unless that theme is partying it up. There’s usually so much going on you’re not likely to get bored here. Have dinner at the Rainbow Cafe, catch a show at the Footlight Theater, have a drink by the pool, dance in the club, repeat. Party too hard? There’s also a motel on site so you can get a room and stay over. Photo by Marissa Mahoney
CityWalk’s Rising Star 6000 Universal Blvd.; 407-224-4233 If you’re into karaoke, check this out – rather than singing along to a pre-recorded track, at Rising Star you get a backup band and singers so you can really show people how good (or bad) you are. Photo via universalorlando.com
Shark Bar inside the T-Rex Cafe 1676 E. Buena Vista Drive At the Shark Bar inside the T-Rex Cafe, which probably attracts more extended families with kids (drawn, no doubt, by the animatronic dinosaurs and mammoths that roar and crane their necks at diners) than single people headed out for drinks, the bar is neither childish nor cheesy – rather, it’s stunning and graceful, with its massive saltwater fish tanks tucked into the arms of a giant octopus. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Sideshow 15 N. Orange Ave.; 407-420-1515 You don’t go to a carnival to drink hoity-toity craft beer – you want to get drunk on the classics and ride some rides. In this case, the ride is your own class-act drunkenness. It’s a trip to see passers-by stop mid-stride and soak in the ambience. Can you blame them? The place is a visual marvel. The Sideshow is in town, and we’re the freaks – act accordingly. Photo by Rob Bartlett
Stardust Lounge 431 E Central Blvd, 407-839-0080 It’s easy to walk right by this bar, which is situated underground near Central Blvd and Osceola Ave. Once inside, you’ll find a swanky speakeasy-style lounge with a fun dance floor, stiff drinks and there’s even a damn gold tiger down there. Photo by Orlando Weekly
Stigma Tattoo Bar 17 S. Orange Ave.; 407-615-6926 Though it’s not usually advisable to mix drinking and tattooing, you can do so at this downtown Orlando nightspot, which is home to five dancing poles, a trapeze swing, cages (for dancing in) and multiple tattoo stations. As the bar states clearly on its website, it doesn’t condone getting wasted and tattooed – but you can certainly have a drink to calm your nerves before going under the needle. Photo via Facebook
The Lodge 49 N. Orange Ave.; 407-650-8786 For you northerners who miss hanging out après ski at the bars near the slopes, the closest thing you’ll find in Orlando is the Lodge, where you can sip whiskey (or whatever) in a rustic lodge-themed setting. If you’re freaked out by taxidermy, beware: The walls are festooned with mounted animal heads. Photo via Yelp
The Woods 49 N. Orange Ave., 407-203-1114 The Woods is one of the linchpins of the craft cocktail scene in downtown. Accordingly, there’s very little in the place to distract you from the business at hand: trying new cocktails. Though the menu they had when we stopped by for happy hour skewed a little sweet for our tastes (is that just a downtown thing?), the list of interesting ingredients will bring us back. (There was cachaça, apple bitters and poblano pepper syrup in the Raising Cane we tried.) Check out their website to stay informed of Iron Bartender competitions or other distillery- or brewery-sponsored events, often with complimentary booze for attendees. Photo by Jessica Bryce Young