Unmasking the Ultimate Starship Bars in Star Trek

Summary

Starfleet recognizes the importance of providing a bar on starships, offering a comforting location for socializing and relaxation between missions.

Both Ten Forward on the USS Enterprise-D and the bar on the USS Cerritos have experienced their fair share of incidents, such as bar brawls and riots. Similarly, the bars on the USS Discovery and the USS Enterprise-G are equipped with ample supplies, serving as spaces where crew members can relax and seek solace during difficult moments.

The life of serving with Starfleet can be incredibly stressful, but luckily there are a number of iconic Star Trek bars where officers can unwind after a challenging day of protecting the galaxy. Alcohol, as well as its more responsible synthetic alternative, has always been a significant aspect of Star Trek culture, from Romulan ale to Chateau Picard. New starships were traditionally christened with a bottle of champagne, and toasts were made in honor of absent friends in locations such as Ten Forward or Captain Jean-Luc Picard's Ready Room.

One of the most significant bars in Star Trek history is Quark's Bar on Deep Space Nine, which served as a meeting place for various new species from the Gamma Quadrant, fostering diplomatic and commercial relations.

Though Quark's Bar was independently operated, Starfleet recognized the importance of having a bar on their starships. Throughout various series, from Star Trek: The Next Generation to Star Trek: Lower Decks, the starship bar has been a comforting venue for crew members to socialize and unwind between missions. Synthehol was typically stocked in these bars to prevent the negative effects of excessive drinking, although characters like Guinan from TNG and Lieutenant JG Beckett Mariner from Lower Decks kept a secret stash of stronger drinks for special occasions. Regardless of whether it was alcohol or synthehol, the starship bar remains a vital component of the Star Trek starship experience.

5 Ten Forward In Star Trek: The Next Generation

Located on deck 10 in the front section of the USS Enterprise-D's saucer, Ten Forward was a lounge and recreational facility managed by Guinan. In addition to a well-stocked bar offering a variety of alcoholic and syntheholic drinks, Ten Forward also featured a bank of replicators to accommodate the crew's personalized requests. Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation's seven seasons, Ten Forward served as the venue for Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Keiko O'Brien's (Rosalind Chao) wedding, as well as various musical performances ranging from classical symphonies to jazz quartets. The bar in Ten Forward was operated by the ship's civilian crew, distinguished by their pastel green uniforms.

Like any establishment, Ten Forward occasionally encountered disturbances. During Spock's father's battle with Bendii syndrome, the uncontrolled emotions of Sarek (Mark Lennard) unintentionally led to a bar brawl in Ten Forward. Another potential altercation arose during the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Night Terrors," but Guinan had learned from past experiences and equipped herself with a weapon from Magus III. Furthermore, Ten Forward was designated as an emergency shelter to provide refuge for the Enterprise's civilian residents and crew members in the event of shipwide emergencies.

4 The USS Cerritos Bar In Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Lower Decks takes inspiration from the Star Trek: The Next Generation era, so it's no surprise that the USS Cerritos has its own bar. Similar to Ten Forward in TNG, the bar on the USS Cerritos serves a similar purpose. However, things tend to get more rowdy and chaotic compared to the USS Enterprise-D. In a particular episode of Lower Decks season 4, episode 5, called "Empathological Fallacies", the visit of Betazoid diplomats led to a wild party in the Cerritos bar. The party quickly spiraled out of control due to Provisional Lieutenant T'Lyn's Bendii syndrome, which heightened her Vulcan emotions. The crew, influenced by their emotions, discarded their uniforms and engaged in building a massive crewmate pyramid.

The bar on the USS Cerritos is manned by civilians wearing green uniforms, including the bartender Honus. Known for his tendency to engage in gossip, Honus doesn't shy away from scandalous conversations with his customers. He once revealed to Ensign Bradward Boimler about Mariner's questionable past. Like Ten Forward, the USS Cerritos bar has also experienced its fair share of bar brawls. However, the chaos was caused by Commander Jack Ransom's infection with a rage virus, rather than Mariner's supply of real alcohol.

3 USS Discovery’s Bar In Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: The Original Series occasionally showcased the recreation room, or as it was properly known, the bar of the USS Enterprise. Fast forward 900 years to the 23rd century, and the USS Discovery received a futuristic refurbishment, complete with its own well-appointed bar. Making its debut in season 4 of Star Trek: Discovery, the bar replaced the more functional mess hall with a lavish recreation facility. Considering the high-stakes universe-threatening situations that frequently ensnare Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her crew on the USS Discovery, it's only logical to provide them with a space to unwind. Evidently, the triumph of Ten Forward on the USS Enterprise-D ensured that Starfleet equipped all starships with a fully-stocked bar well into the 32nd century.

2 Ten Forward In Star Trek: Picard Season 3

Unlike the USS Enterprise-D, the USS Titan-A did not have a dedicated bar. Instead, Admiral Picard preferred to relax in the holodeck. In particular, he chose a holodeck replica of Guinan's Ten Forward bar in Los Angeles, where he could have a heart-to-heart conversation with his son Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). This replicated sanctuary served as a source of comfort for the Titan crew during their intense battle with Captain Vadic (Amanda Plummer) and the Shrike. For the young members of the crew, who may have doubted they would ever return to Earth, this taste of home was truly reassuring.

Now that the USS Titan-A has undergone a transformation into the USS Enterprise-G, it remains uncertain whether it will include its own version of the renowned Ten Forward bar from the original Star Trek: The Next Generation, or if it will maintain its holodeck simulation. Enhancing the Enterprise-G with a holodeck bar could present an exciting opportunity to uphold the esteemed legacy of Picard, Guinan, and the crew of the Enterprise-D. This notion gains particular significance as the revered Starfleet figures continued to engage with the Earth-based original, as evidenced by their last sighting enjoying a lively game of poker long after closing time.

1 Port Galley In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the USS Enterprise finally obtained its own bar known as Port Galley, resembling Ten Forward, but set a century earlier. Alongside a wide array of alcoholic beverages - synthehol wouldn't be introduced until the 24th century - the Enterprise bar featured recreational amenities such as three-dimensional chess. It became the venue for a grand song and dance routine in which Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) expressed her longing to depart from Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and the USS Enterprise. From a Star Trek standpoint, Port Galley holds historical significance as the initial place where renowned Starfleet officers Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) and Lt. Spock shared their first drink.