The Most Iconic Fictional Bars in TV History

“Archie Bunker’s Place,” which ran from 1979 to 1983, was the sitcom that succeeded the landmark comedy “All in the Family.” Carroll O’Connor reprised his role as TV’s most lovable bigot, who has purchased the bar – variously identified as Kelcy’s and Kelsey’s – that he frequented on the previous show. He changed its name to Archie Bunker’s Place.

And Jeremy Piven is a fictitious nightclub in Newport Beach, California, created by the showrunners of the comedy series “Arrested Development” (2003 -2019), to poke fun at the actor’s placement in the credits of his series “Entourage.”

One of television’s famous bars, where everybody knows your name, “Cheers” (1982 to 1993) won 28 Emmys and boosted the careers of Woody Harrelson, Ted Danson, and Kelsey Grammer, among others. The bar that inspired the television tavern is located in the Beacon Hill section of Boston; now rebranded as Cheers, it was originally the Bull and Finch Pub.

Molly’s Bar is where the firefighters from the fictional Firehouse 51 and Chicago’s paramedics gather to celebrate and mourn on the television series “Chicago Fire” (2012- ). Many of the scenes are filmed at an actual bar called Lottie’s Pub in Chicago’s Bucktown section.

Josie’s Tavern is a bar frequented by superhero Daredevil (2015-2018) in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. In actuality, the bar used as the location is Turkey’s Nest Tavern in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

A Western would be missing something essential if it didn’t have a saloon. Much of the plot in the Emmy-winning “Deadwood” (2004-2006), named after the South Dakota town steeped in corruption and violence, unfolds at the Gem Saloon.

The Boar’s Nest was a fictional bar on the series “The Dukes of Hazzard” (1979-1985), located just outside of town and the center of much of the social activity in the community. It was based on a now-defunct real bar with the same name. The bar also appeared in various “Dukes” spinoffs and in the film “Moonrunners.”

The Drunken Clam, with its signature animated neon sign, is where Seth McFarlane’s characters Peter Griffin, Glenn Quagmire, and even Peter’s dog Brian Griffin hang out in “Family Guy” (1999- ). In the show, the bar was destroyed by a hurricane, became a karaoke bar, and even an English pub.

The Emerald City Bar or “Joe’s Bar” on “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005- ) is located across from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Hospital workers and firefighters repair to the bar after shifts to decompress from work and meet for dates. During earlier seasons, the bar scenes were filmed at the former McMurphy’s Restaurant & Tavern.

MacLaren’s Pub on the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” (2005-2014) is based on four New York City bars where show creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas used to drink.

One of the earliest of the fictional drinking establishments on this list is The Tropicana, the night club where Desi Arnaz’ character Ricky Ricardo leads the orchestra and performs in the iconic sitcom “I Love Lucy” (1951-1957).

Paddy’s Pub of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2004- ) is a failing watering hole owned and operated by various members of the cast. The place has served as a boxing training room, child beauty pageant, and gun-shooting range. The location of the pub is actually the Nate Starkman & Son Building in Los Angeles.

Rosie’s Bar in the smash comedy series “M*A*S*H (1972-1983) was an off-base bar for irreverent but dedicated military doctors Hawkeye Pierce and Trapper John McIntyre and other characters in the series. A real Rosie’s Bar in Seoul inspired the TV version.

Running for one season (1954), “Duffy’s Tavern” was a televised extension of a long-running radio show and an all-star 1945 movie of the same name. Based around a fictional Irish pub, it centered around the adventures of the manager, Archie, who began every show by answering a ringing phone with “Hello, Duffy’s Tavern, where the elite meet to eat… Duffy ain’t here – oh, hello, Duffy.”

Members of the police department and their friends on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, focus of this comedy-mystery (2011- ), meet often for a beer or a rum at this bar owned by French expatriate Catherine Bordey. A real bar called La Kaz in the town of Deshaies on the island of Guadeloupe stands in for Catherine’s.

The Snakehole Lounge, dubbed Pawnee’s “sickest nightclub,” was an investment opportunity for Tom Haverford, one of the workers on the sitcom “Parks and Recreation” (2009-2015).

The Alibi Room on “Shameless” (2011-2021) was the go-to bar for the shiftless loser character Frank Gallagher, who rarely had money for drinks.

Ten Forward is the intergalactic watering hole for the crew of the USS Enterprise, located at the forward section of Deck 10, on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-1994). The mural of the Milky Way is cool, and the views of space are unmatched. Not much of an atmosphere outside though.

We first saw the Mos Eisley Cantina in the original “Star Wars,” where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker fended off easily insulted patrons. The bar with the dodgy creatures from all corners of space returned in the series “The Mandalorian” (2019- ).

Moe’s Tavern has been on the Emmy-winning animated series “The Simpsons” (1989- ) since the first episode. Though the state the show takes place in is never specified, creator Matt Groening has said that his Springfield is based on the one in his native Oregon. The bar received a nightly prank call from Bart Simpson in the early seasons. The dank and dreary watering hole for Homer and his pals has fought off numerous attempts to shut it down. In ral life, pop-up versions of the bar have appeared periodically at malls around the nation.

The Bada Bing was the strip club/bar run by the New Jersey organized crime family headed by Tony Soprano in “The Sopranos” (1999-2007). The name comes from a famous quote by the Sonny Corleone character in “The Godfather.” The actual place is a strip club on Route 17 in Lodi called Satin Dolls.

Kavanaugh’s Bar in “The Wire” (2002-2008) was the redoubt of cops who mourned their own at Irish wakes in Baltimore. The real bar that substituted for Kavanaugh’s was a punk club called The Sidebar.

Roommates Jack (John Ritter), Janet (Joyce DeWitt), and Chrissy (Suzanne Somers), as well as their landlord Stanley Roper (Norman Fell) met regularly at the Regal Beagle on “Three’s Company” (1976-1984).

The Bang Bang Bar, known by its local nickname The Roadhouse, was a popular tavern in the southern part of the mythical Twin Peaks. Bar shots were filmed in Fall City, Washington, at the Fall City Roadhouse Restaurant. “Twin Peaks” first aired in 1990-1991 and became a cult favorite. A feature film followed in 1992, and a third television season aired 25 years later.