Vacaville lost quite a bit in 2024. We lost that cozy corner pub to a chain pharmacy. We lost the perfect patio season—because who doesn’t want to leap from scorching heat to holiday rush? But we’d much rather remember 2025 by the excellent drinks gained, and this year, there was a lot of them. These spots range from craft cocktails with house-infused spirits to dive bars pouring perfect pints. We’re over you, 2024. These are the best parts of 2025.
Merchant & Main Grill & Bar
$$ | (707) 446-0368 | WEBSITE
You don’t need to travel to a coastal bistro or hunt for hidden gems to prove that comfort food can be extraordinary. Just show us the Monday pasta special Wharfs Penne from Merchant & Main instead. We’re convinced that this dish is actually a seafood symphony, complete with plump prawns, tender sea scallops, briny clams, and a luxurious white cream sauce. We find it hard to believe that something so decadent is served on a regular Monday night.
We could savor each creamy forkful like it was a weekend splurge, but not before dipping the excellent fried calamari appetizer into the homemade sauces that come alongside.
T j’s Tavern
$ | (707) 446-1224 | WEBSITE
Don’t you dare mentally check out at the mention of ‘doubles.’ T j’s Tavern pours some of the best drinks in town. They’re mixed with precision and served with genuine warmth, offered at reasonable prices, and accompanied by live music like ‘The Get Down’ with DJ OG. It’s lively and welcoming, backed by attentive service, and a superb way to get one of the five weekly recommended nights out with friends inside your schedule.
Nashville Kitchen
$ | (707) 660-8230 | WEBSITE
Nashville Kitchen specializes in Nashville chicken and creamy mac & cheese, and we’re here today to love on the loaded mac & cheese with chicken. Each bite has a crispy chicken exterior, tender interior, and creamy cheese sauce with just the right medium heat. That’s only half of the equation. On the side is a little ramekin of tangy aioli sauce that resembles a cloud, topped with a sprinkle of paprika. It’s so good that we dunk our chicken into it when the mac & cheese is gone. Just kidding.
We lick it.
Andy’s Pub
$ | (707) 474-5176 | WEBSITE
Burgers and ice-cold beer go together like Friday nights and good music, and when it comes to this Vacaville pub, you can’t get much better than the Aloha Burger. It’s simply a juicy, perfectly grilled patty with all the classic fixings, served alongside crispy, tender wings with hot honey and lemon pepper sauce for dipping. But there’s power in the simplicity of a well-made burger with a side of addictive wings—a soulmate for your frosty pint.
The Brass Tap
$$ | (707) 724-0634 | WEBSITE
This lively Vacaville spot loaded with craft beers, friendly faces, football games, and crispy cheese curds specializes in pub classics. But the standout dish is a perfectly battered riff on fish and chips. It tastes like someone is launching golden-brown cod at you with a deep-fryer cannon, which we promise is a great thing. And to temper all of that crunch, there’s creamy tartar sauce, splashes of malt vinegar, and a heavy hand of sea salt.
Essentially, if you wanted to know what would happen if that Taco Tuesday scene dumped beer-battered goodness instead of tacos, wonder no longer.
Judy’s Wild Wrangler Saloon
$$ | (707) 447-5541 | WEBSITE
Judy’s Wild Wrangler Saloon is a genuine Vacaville honky-tonk that’s very clearly devoted to country music. However, their finest feature is not the live bands at all—it’s the authentic cowboy atmosphere. Each night is a pouch of memory-making made even better by bartenders who are equal parts friendly, efficient, and skilled.
The Main Grape Vacaville
$$ | (707) 305-5332 | WEBSITE
The Main Grape’s poke tacos are delicious on their own. But served in warm tortillas, they’re even better. Between chunks of fresh tuna glossy with soy sauce and sesame oil, crisp cabbage, creamy avocado, tangy slaw, and soft tortillas, there’s plenty of texture to jazz things up while still letting the fish shine. It’s not only the best thing to order at this cozy wine bar, but it’s our favorite new casual dish of the year. Has a morsel of taco filling slipped out and onto our laps? Yes.
But it was worth it.
Cheers
$$ | (707) 451-4049 | WEBSITE
Sometimes, a bar comes along that really tugs at our heartstrings. This year, that bar is Cheers in Vacaville. Between the friendly bartenders, vibrant renovated interior with artwork, entertainment like bands such as Windstorm and Willie G, and drinks like the real espresso espressotini, we’ll always pick this over other spots. With wheelchair access to the dance floor, dart boards, and happy hour starting at 6:30pm, it’s the perfect place for socializing and enjoying time with friends.
Chili’s Grill & Bar
$$ | (707) 449-8072 | WEBSITE
This Vacaville restaurant serves food that pairs well with margaritas, be it burgers, boneless buffalo wings, or the 3-way combo special with ribs, sausage, and crispy Nashville chicken. But don’t ignore the chicken wings at Chili’s Grill & Bar. With an impeccable crispy coating and tender interior, they’re like edible delights that we would order every night if not for the fact that we’d prefer to eat them alongside a monthly special margarita instead.
Plus, they’re too small to share generously, and ranch dressing has no place in a cocktail.
Burger City
$ | (707) 448-3377 | WEBSITE
For those days when you just want to kick back at the bar with a cold beer and a plate of comfort food, this is where to go, and the Nutty Burger is what to get. Yeah, you don’t receive a massive patty in this one. But what a burger it is, stacked with creamy peanut butter and crispy fried onions lounging on a soft bun like toppings on a lazy afternoon.
The sweet potato fries on the side are golden and crisp, perfect for dipping, and the whole meal comes in at around $15—totally worth it for the flavor punch. The sports bar area has big screens and a laid-back vibe, with simple wooden tables and dim lighting that makes you want to stay awhile. Service is friendly and quick, so you can focus on the food and the game. It’s not fancy, but it hits the spot every time.