Bar At Iconic Cape May, NJ, Hotel Is Named # 1 Bar In America

It’s been a very big past few weeks for Cape Resorts in Cape May, New Jersey. Now, one of their properties has just been named # 1 hotel bar in America.

Just a few weeks ago, Congress Hall was named as the 4th Best historic hotel in America by the voters of USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Awards.

Now, The Brown Room Has Been Voted As The # 1 Hotel Bar In America

It’s official, The Brown Room has been named as the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Hotel Bar.

The Brown Room Has Been Extensively Upgraded

Over the past several years, Cape Resorts has invested heavily in The Brown Room — which underwent elaborate renovations.

What USA TODAY Had To Say About The Brown Room

The Brown Room has earned its reputation as Cape May’s premier cocktail lounge.

It sits inside Congress Hall, which was the first legal bar after Prohibition ended in 1934.

USA TODAY voters and travel experts praised The Brown Room as follows:

• Craft Libations: A creative menu headlined by The Cape Resorts Barrel Select Patrón Añejo - a custom, single-barrel private selection of 100% Blue Weber agave tequila aged over 12 months in a hand-picked oak barrel exclusively for Congress Hall, along with Old Forester Cape Resorts Signature Bourbon - a custom, private barrel select single-barrel bourbon created exclusively for Cape Resorts. Some of the signature drinks include “The Cherry Bourbon Sour”—Redemption Bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and premiumLuxardo maraschino cherries with their rich syrup—and the classic "Congressional Cosmo"

• Elegant Bites: High-end, fresh options including tuna tataki, moules frites and Cape May crab dip

• Sophisticated Atmosphere: A cozy and yet exotic lounge with a stylish fireplace setting paired with live music every weekend to set the ultimate mood. The bartenders’ crisp white jackets also evoke 1920s Manhattan

• Historic Legacy: A rich past within a hotel that has stood since 1816 and hosted four U.S. Presidents over its 210-year heritage.

Congress Hall General Manager Billy Scott

We are absolutely thrilled and deeply honored that USA TODAY’s readers and our incredible guests have named the Brown Room the best hotel bar in America. To receive this crown right after being voted a top five historic hotel is an exciting milestone for our team. The Brown Room has not only history but magic within its walls. It’s a place where for generations families and friends have gathered to make memories. We cannot wait to raise a glass with our loyal guests and welcome new travelers to experience a space known as Cape May’s living room, the Brown Room, said Billy Scott, General Manager of Congress Hall.