A few even have rather robust food menus. Some of these places may have a limited food menu. What we think of when hearing the term cocktail bar is a place you can walk into, get a seat at the bar (okay, sometimes standing room only works too), and be served drinks immediately. Our Pittsburgh wine bar guide doesn't highlight all of the Pittsburgh area wineries (even if they all, technically, have a bar), and in a similar vein, this cocktail bar guide will not feature restaurants that have a stellar cocktail program.
But, as is the case with most guides like this on our site, we have to make a distinction as to what that means for us in selecting spots to feature. On the surface, what makes a cocktail bar sounds pretty obvious- it is a bar with a strong cocktail menu.