bars
Here are the best spots to grab drinks in NYC! Whether you’re looking for the perfect date spot, a chill place to catch up with friends, or anywhere with overall good vibes and tasty drinks, here is a list of cool places you may have never heard of.
dumbo / rooftop / $$$
Harriet’s Rooftop in DUMBO atop the 1 Hotels Brooklyn Bridge has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the city! This rooftop bar has insane views and amazing drinks!
We got the Purple Haze (Prosecco, Grey Goose pear, St. Germain, lychee, and hibiscus) which was so delicious, not too sweet, and went down like water. While the drinks are expensive ($20 on average), they’re comparable to other rooftop prices, and actually delicious. (Also the views are absolutely unbeatable.)
They also have an indoor lounge area one floor below the outdoor area. You’ll need reservations to sit here but the outside area has a much better view anyways. (Half the outdoor area is first-come-first-serve by the bar and the other half of the tables require reservations.)
lower east side / $$$
A real speakeasy that existed during Prohibition, the Back Room is located in a hidden, graffiti-covered alleyway, which is the same entrance guests used 85 years ago. The drinks are even still served in teacups! There is also a secret room hidden behind a bookcase that can be booked for private events. With ornate red velvet-covered walls, lavish couches, and vintage 1920’s decor, the Back Room will easily transport you to the Roaring Twenties’ era.
east village / cocktail bar / $$
Make this bar your next drinks’ spot. They have happy hour from 5-7 pm Monday - Thursday with half-priced food, drinks, and $10 bottomless fries. They have great food (I was pleasantly surprised by this, and ended up staying for dinner!) solid drinks, and the cutest decor inside. With an expansive interior and outdoor seating as well, this place is great for big groups.
chinatown / cocktails / $$$
Located underneath the multi-level omakase restaurant Juku, Straylight is one of my favorite speakeasies in the city. Combining molecular gastronomy and art, Straylight crafts exquisite cocktails in an art-filled space. Cocktails like the Bulleit Train (Bulleit bourbon, sesame, matcha, cacao nib, ginger honey, oloroso) are on their menu, along with light bites like a pork katsu sandwich. Located through a panel of plastic strip curtains that are typically found guarding walk-in freezer entrances and down a flight of fluorescent-lit, fun-house vibe stairs, lies a dark, wood-paneled space lined with green booths and a canvas ceiling that mimics stained glass. Call for reservations.
drinks instagram maps reservations
west village / $$
Your search for the perfect aperol spritz ends here. Owned by the same couple behind Buvette, I Sodi, and Via Carota, you know this place will be good. They also have coffee and pastries, so you have a good excuse to spend all day here.
gramercy + midtown / speakeasy / $$
My favorite speakeasy in the city, Dear Irving in Gramercy will always have a special place in my heart (they also have a rooftop location along the Hudson in midtown.) They have three extravagantly-decorated, spacious rooms in the Gramercy location, each with a theme from a different time period. The first room has Gatsby-esque beads covering the booths, creating privacy between different parties. The second room is seductively dark and is reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln vibes, whereas the back room is reminiscent of Versailles. My favorite room, the back room is decorated in the theme of the Marie Antoinette time period.
meatpacking / wine / $$$
Located on the fifth floor of the Restoration Hardware flagship store, RH Rooftop has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the city. Chandeliers, greenery, and spacious table settings create an extremely elevated and cozy atmosphere to grab drinks or food. Their outdoor area has private lounge chaises that overlook a view of downtown Manhattan.
williamsburg / rooftop
Not only does Westlight have drinks, food, and an impeccable view of the Manhattan skyline, but this rooftop on the top of the William Vale Hotel also now has an ice skating rink!
drinks instagram maps reservations
west village + upper west side / wine, cocktails + beer / $$
Located just one block from Washington Square Park (across the street from Analogue), this cute French wine bar is a cozy spot for a date or a catch up with friends. Although Amelie is primarily a wine bar (with wine flights as well as wines by the glass and bottle), they also have a small selection of cocktails and beer. They also have a generous selection of French bistro food like coq au vin, duck confit, escargots, and more, making them a perfect dinner destination as well.
east village / sake / $$
Sake Bar Decibel is hidden down a nondescript flight of stairs in the area known as Little Tokyo in East Village. Unlike its Italian and Chinese counterparts, Little Tokyo is less well-known and more authentic. You can find over a hundred varieties of sake to choose from such as sparkling, hot etc. from different areas of Japan, as well as regional food specialties like okonomiyaki (which is a popular savory pancake from Osaka.)
soho / cocktail / $$$
This leafy urban jungle will transport you to a tropical oasis far, far away from Manhattan. Although the drinks are pricey, an $18 frozen watermelon margarita is a lot cheaper than a $365 flight to Bermuda. The atmosphere here is also more worth the price tag than Gitano, the nearby Tulum-inspired bar that bears a close resemblance. Expect a bit of a sceney vibe and interesting people watching, but not enough to detract from your overall experience. The addition of heaters will also make you forget about the cold of NYC winters!
tribeca / waterfront + rooftop / $$
Grab a waterfront drink in one of City Vineyard’s heated clear igloos, or “winter domes” as they’re calling it. A year-round bar, City Vineyard is always a solid option for drinks. Make reservations far in advance however, as their domes are in high demand.
hudson yards / rooftop / $$$
I’m newly obsessed with this rooftop (also, what a fun name!)
Booking a reservation on their outdoor terrace for sunset is an absolute must! (I had to book mine quite a bit in advance but it’s well worth it!)
The staff are all super nice and down-to-earth - no pretentious NYC rooftop service here. (Expect NYC rooftop pricing however, although I was surprised by the quality of their food.
east williamsburg / cocktails + rooftop / $$
Love this laidback rooftop bar in East Williamsburg. While they used to have live concert performances at their spacious venue, their heated roof now makes the perfect place to grab drinks with friends. String lights add to the cozy atmosphere.
greenpoint / cocktails / $$
This is a cute, fun, but low-key bar in Greenpoint with really good pina coladas (perfectly creamy and coconut-y but not too sweet), and a heated back patio, making it the perfect place to grab drinks during covid. You can also bring in food from the pizza place next door, so you get the best of everything.
west village / cocktails / $$
Individually heated outdoor booths (think forest green phone booths but add booze and a heater), create the utmost safe and cozy atmosphere to grab drinks with friends or on a date!
west village / cocktails / $$
If you’re looking for a chill but fun bar, head to Bandits in the West Village for delicious and unique cocktails, the most amazing tater tots, and the best vibes.
The owners of the Garret bars have done it again with their latest venture on Bedford Street. I already can’t wait to come back already. You can’t go wrong with the drinks, but I would recommend the Rice Russian! Also, don’t forget to order the tater tots!