National Bar Recognition
Canal Fulton's Sully's Speakeasy Earns Prestigious Spot on USA TODAY's 2026 Best Bars List
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Sully's Speakeasy in Canal Fulton, Ohio, has been named one of USA TODAY's 2026 Bars of the Year, joining 38 bars across the country on the prestigious list Canton Repository. The recognition highlights the bar's vintage atmosphere and creative cocktail program, putting a small Ohio canal town on the national drinking map.
USA TODAY's list, published July 29, was compiled by food journalists from across the country Courier Journal. It spans everything from dive bars to high-end cocktail lounges.
A Speakeasy Above the Ohio and Erie Canal
Sully's Speakeasy opened in 2022 above the Barrel Room on Canal in Canal Fulton Canton Repository. The bar offers a lounge-style setting with views of the Ohio and Erie Canal and a nearby park. The vibe is vintage — think Prohibition-era atmosphere with a modern twist.
The name "Sully's" is a nod to Irish immigrants who helped build the Ohio and Erie Canal Canton Repository. That history gives the bar a sense of place that goes beyond just drinks.
Cocktail Menu Mixes Old and New Classics
The cocktail list at Sully's covers a lot of ground Canton Repository. It includes Prohibition-era classics, modern standards, and rotating seasonal specials. That mix of old and new is a big part of what caught USA TODAY's attention.
The seasonal specials keep regulars coming back. The bar updates its menu to reflect what's fresh and current, making it a destination rather than just a neighborhood spot.
Owner Keri Sullivan Builds a Small Bar Empire
Sully's is owned by Keri Sullivan, who also runs the Barrel Room downstairs in Canal Fulton Canton Repository. She has a second location too — the Barrel Room Wine Bar in North Canton. That's three distinct concepts under one owner.
Sullivan's venues share a focus on atmosphere and craft. The speakeasy format fits that vision well. It creates an intimate, curated experience that stands out in a crowded bar market.
Canal Fulton Joins a National List of 38 Top Bars
The USA TODAY Bars of the Year list features 38 spots from across the U.S. Courier Journal. It includes honky-tonks, dive bars, and fancy cocktail lounges. Sully's sits alongside bars from much larger cities.
Other cities also celebrated their picks. Knoxville's Fly by Night, a retro 1970s-inspired cocktail bar, also made the list Knox News. The recognition shows that great bars can be found far beyond major metro areas.
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