Staring at endless lists of the best bars in NYC? Pick the night you want first, then the bar: a historic cocktail room, a playful tiki den, or a skyline view. Picks for each are below.
This guide is part of a wider look at new york nightlife, so treat it as a starting point before you choose a neighborhood.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| McSorley’s Old Ale House | Operating since 1854 |
| Milk & Honey | Opened in 2000 |
| Oddball (East Village), price per drink | $18 |
| Undercurrent (Williamsburg), size | 20 seats |
| Sunken Harbor Club (Downtown Brooklyn) | Seven tables, walk-in only |
These figures come from Tasting Table’s cocktail bar guide and The Infatuation’s cocktail bar guide. Prices, seat counts and house rules can change, so check the source and the bar before you rely on them.
How do you pick the right bar in New York?
Start with the occasion, not a ranking. The Infatuation notes that some top cocktail bars are loud, others are perfect for dates, and a few are still doing the speakeasy thing.
A few questions narrow the field quickly:
- Mood: do you want a quiet room, a lively one, or a party?
- Access: can you walk in, or do you need to book ahead?
- Spend: are you after a couple of classics or an ingredient-heavy tasting?
Prices vary, but they are not always steep. The Infatuation says every drink at Oddball in the East Village costs $18, which it calls a good deal for ingredient-heavy experimental drinks (source).
Classic cocktail bars with real history
New York has been a place to drink for a very long time. Tasting Table says McSorley’s Old Ale House has been operating since 1854, and it points to Milk & Honey, which opened in 2000, as one of the bars that reshaped modern mixology.
Milk & Honey’s founder is tied to a bar you can still visit. Tasting Table says LB, the West Village speakeasy formerly known as Little Branch, was founded by the late Sasha Petraske, and that its piano frequently welcomes a live jazz trio (source).
More established names worth knowing:
- Dante (Greenwich Village): Design My Night says it has been keeping New Yorkers well-fed and well-watered since 1915, and Feastio notes it was awarded “World’s Best Bar” in 2019.
- Death & Company (East Village): Devour Tours says it opened in 2006, takes no reservations, and charges around $20 for a cocktail.
- Employees Only (West Village): Devour Tours says this speakeasy-ish bar opened in 2004 and pairs its drinks with meaty small plates.
- PDT (East Village): The Infatuation describes the bar hidden behind a phone booth in Crif Dogs, around since 2007.
- The Dead Rabbit (Financial District): Design My Night says it has been open since 2013 and is part Irish pub, part cocktail bar.
The Raines Law Room takes its name from history too. Tasting Table explains that the Raines Law, passed in 1896, prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays except for hotels, which pushed many bars to add small bedrooms and apply for hotel licenses.
Playful bars for when you want more than a martini
Not every great bar is dark and serious. The Infatuation describes Sunken Harbor Club as a walk-in-only, seven-table tiki bar above the Gage & Tollner steakhouse in Downtown Brooklyn, where the classic mai tai arrives with a bouquet of mint.
In the East Village, Superbueno takes a neon, party-like approach. The Infatuation counts about 10 “Mexican American” cocktails on its menu and suggests trying the green mango martini with drops of chili oil (source).
Other bars with a distinct personality:
- Katana Kitten (West Village): a bi-level, Japanese-inspired bar, according to Feastio.
- Bar Kabawa (East Village): The Infatuation says it focuses on daiquiris and patties.
- Schmuck (East Village): martinis served with personal droppers of olive oil, per The Infatuation’s guide linked above.
- Sip & Guzzle (Greenwich Village): Feastio says it earned top honors as the Best Bar in North America from North America’s 50 Best Bars for 2026.
Sip & Guzzle splits into a lively street-level bar and a quieter basement bar, so you can choose your pace once you arrive.
Beyond Manhattan: Brooklyn and Queens
Some of the most characterful rooms sit across the East River. For a wider look at the borough, read this guide to nightlife in brooklyn.
- Maison Premiere (Williamsburg): Design My Night says it has operated since 2011, offers over 30 varieties of oysters, and has what it calls the largest absinthe selection in the country.
- Undercurrent (Williamsburg): a 20-seat tasting room beneath sister bar Echo Lake, filled with vintage rum and decades-old spirits, per The Infatuation.
- Elsa (Cobble Hill): Tasting Table highlights its Art Deco interiors and comfortable backyard.
- Pearl’s Social & Billy Club (Bushwick): described by Tasting Table in its February 2023 guide as a favorite hangout for more than a decade.
- Sweet Afton (Astoria, Queens): a cozy bar that Tasting Table’s February 2023 guide said was celebrating its first decade.
- Eavesdrop (Greenpoint): Devour Tours says it was made for listening to and enjoying music.
- Bar Goto Niban (Prospect Heights): Japanese-style highballs, according to Devour Tours.
Bars with a skyline view
Feastio places Overstory on the 64th floor of a Financial District skyscraper. Its writer put the minimum spend at $75 as of 2024, so confirm the rule before you go.
Devour Tours places The Skylark on the 30th floor on West 39th Street, and says its views come with strong cocktails too. If heights are your thing, the guide to rooftop bars nyc covers more options.
Planning your night out
A little preparation saves a lot of waiting on the sidewalk. Work through these steps:
- Decide between walk-in and reservation. The Infatuation says the front area at Double Chicken Please is walk-in only, though a reservation is worth it for the back room called The Coop, and PDT takes reservations if you want a booth (source).
- Arrive early where booking is not possible. Devour Tours says Death & Company doesn’t take reservations, so come early or be prepared to wait (source).
- Check group rules. Design My Night says Angel’s Share in the West Village has no standing and no big groups (source).
- Ask about zero-proof drinks. The Infatuation says nearly all the house cocktails at Golden Ratio have zero-proof versions, and Tasting Table says Pearl’s offers a variety of zero-proof options (source).
- Confirm prices and hours. Menus, minimums and seating policies change, so check with the bar directly.
Frequently asked questions
Are the best bars in NYC all expensive?
Show answer
No. The Infatuation says every drink at Oddball costs $18 (source), and Devour Tours puts a cocktail at Death & Company at around $20 (source). View bars can add a minimum: Feastio’s writer put Overstory’s at $75 as of 2024 (source).
Do I need a reservation?
Show answer
It depends on the bar. Sunken Harbor Club is walk-in only and Death & Company takes no reservations, while PDT and the back room at Double Chicken Please do take them, according to the sources linked above.
Which neighborhood is best for hopping between bars?
Show answer
The East Village is a strong choice. The Infatuation lists Oddball, Bar Kabawa, Schmuck, Superbueno and PDT there, so you can plan several stops in one area (source).
Can I find good bars if I don’t drink alcohol?
Show answer
Yes. Golden Ratio in Brooklyn offers zero-proof versions of nearly all its house cocktails, according to The Infatuation. Ask any bar about its zero-proof menu before you book.
