New York City · Where to Drink
Best Bars in NYC
New York City's bar scene is one of the greatest in the world. The city essentially invented the modern craft cocktail movement, and the concentration of talent and creativity in its bars, from speakeasies and rooftops to century-old taverns, is unmatched anywhere. Whether you want a bespoke cocktail from a world-renowned bartender, a cold beer in a bar that hasn't changed since 1854, or a rooftop drink with the Empire State Building in the background, New York delivers.
Top Bars in NYC
Death & Co (East Village)
The bar that defined the modern American cocktail movement.
Death & Co opened in 2006 on East 6th Street and became one of the most influential cocktail bars in the world. The menu rotates seasonally and every drink is carefully composed. The room is intimate and dark, with a serious but welcoming atmosphere. Reservations recommended for weekends.
$18 to $24 per drink
PDT (Please Don't Tell) (East Village)
New York's most famous speakeasy, entered through a phone booth.
PDT is accessed through a working phone booth inside Crif Dogs hot dog joint on St. Mark's Place. Pick up the phone, press the button, and the door swings open. Inside is one of the best cocktail bars in the city, precise, inventive drinks in a small wood-panelled room. Reservations open at a specific time each day and fill within minutes.
$18 to $24 per drink
The Dead Rabbit (Financial District)
Multi-award-winning Irish bar with exceptional cocktails.
The Dead Rabbit has been named the best bar in the world multiple times. The ground floor is an Irish tavern serving craft beers and Irish whiskey. Upstairs is the Parlour, a Victorian-style cocktail bar with a drinks menu designed as a graphic novel. The food is also excellent.
$16 to $22 per drink
Attaboy (Lower East Side)
No-menu bespoke cocktails made exactly to your taste.
Attaboy has no menu. You tell the bartender what spirit you like, what mood you're in, and how sweet or sour you want your drink, and they build something for you. The bar occupies the former space of Milk & Honey and maintains the same ethos of hospitality and craft.
$18 to $22 per drink
Employees Only (West Village)
Late-night cocktails with legendary late-night service.
Employees Only is a West Village institution open until 4am every night. The bar serves serious cocktails and a full kitchen menu until closing. The room has a 1920s feel with a genuinely warm atmosphere. Popular with industry workers after their shifts end, which tells you everything.
$16 to $22 per drink
The Wayland (East Village)
Neighbourhood cocktail bar with a relaxed, local feel.
The Wayland is one of the best neighbourhood bars in Manhattan, a place where you can get an excellent craft cocktail without the theatre and waiting list of more famous spots. The back garden is excellent in summer. The kind of bar you wish was on your street.
$14 to $18 per drink
Leyenda (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn)
Latin-inspired cocktails and the best mezcal selection in NYC.
Leyenda in Brooklyn focuses on Latin American spirits and flavours. The mezcal and pisco selections are extraordinary, and the cocktails draw from Mexican, Caribbean, and South American traditions. One of the most creative and interesting bars in New York.
$14 to $18 per drink
230 Fifth Rooftop Bar (Midtown)
Rooftop bar with Empire State Building views.
230 Fifth is one of New York's most popular rooftop bars, with an outdoor terrace offering direct views of the Empire State Building. The cocktails are straightforward rather than exceptional, but the setting is genuinely spectacular. Go at sunset for the best light. They provide blankets in winter.
$15 to $20 per drink
McSorley's Old Ale House (East Village)
New York's oldest bar, open since 1854.
McSorley's has been serving beer since Abraham Lincoln was alive. They only serve two things: light ale or dark ale, both brewed exclusively for the bar. The floor has sawdust on it, the walls are covered in memorabilia, and the atmosphere is completely unlike any other bar in the city. One of the great NYC experiences.
$6 to $8 per drink
Quick Picks
What to Drink in NYC
Manhattan
NYC's most iconic cocktail. Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters.
New York Sour
Whiskey sour with a red wine float. A classic of the American cocktail canon.
Aperol Spritz
Ubiquitous on NYC rooftops and terraces in summer.
Craft beer
Brooklyn Brewery and Other Half are two of the most celebrated local breweries.
Mezcal
New York has embraced mezcal more enthusiastically than almost any other city.
Best Areas in NYC for Bars
East Village
The heart of NYC's cocktail scene. Death & Co, PDT, McSorley's, and dozens more.
Lower East Side
Attaboy, late-night spots, and the city's best dive bars side by side.
West Village
Classic neighbourhood bars, Employees Only, and a more relaxed evening atmosphere.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Rooftop bars, craft breweries, and creative cocktail spots with Manhattan skyline views.
Local Tips for NYC's Bar Scene
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