The Brown Room at Congress Hall has officially won the No. 1 spot in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Hotel Bar.
This victory follows hot on the heels of another national honor. Just last week, travel experts and public voters named Congress Hall the No. 4 Best Historic Hotel in the United States. This double recognition highlights the oceanfront resort’s dual status as both a premier national historic destination and a top-tier hotel with modern amenities.
The Brown Room is widely celebrated as Cape May’s premier cocktail lounge. It sits in the exact historic spot where Congress Hall unveiled the resort’s very first legal bar after Prohibition ended in 1934. Today, USA TODAY voters and travel experts praised the lounge for its striking blend of historic charm and masterfully curated features:
- 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”—Bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and premium Luxardo 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
“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,” said Billy Scott, General Manager of Congress Hall. “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.”
For travelers in New Jersey, the Greater Philadelphia region, and Delaware, Congress Hall provides a world-class, award-winning getaway just a short drive from home. Guests visiting for spring getaways, summer beach vacations, fall escapes, or winter holiday festivities can experience the country’s best hotel bar alongside premier resort amenities. The resort offers luxury Sea Spa treatments, oceanfront dining with Blue Pig Tavern and the Boiler Room, and fresh ingredients grown sustainably right down the road at Cape Resorts’ own 62-acre Beach Plum Farm.
To book a stay or learn more about the Brown Room, please visit caperesorts.com
