Manhattan's cocktail scene is the standard the rest of the world measures itself against. World's Best Bar winners, Japanese bartending technique, no-menu speakeasies, and Midtown hotel bars with serious ambition all coexist here. These are the bars that define the island.
West Village · 531 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
A West Village party-in-a-teahouse where highballs sparkle, neon hums, and the crowd looks like they all accidentally coordinated outfits. Downstairs is a cozy den for slow sipping and plotting your next move; upstairs …
West Village · 551 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
The bigger, breezier sibling of the quaint MacDougal Street cafe, where sidewalk seats provide pure neighborhood theater and martinis arrive icy and unapologetic. Come for the daily Martini Hour (from 3 to 5p), stay bec…
Lower East Side · 134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
The speakeasy that actually deserves the hype. No menu necessary. Just tell the bartenders what you like and let them work their magic. The space is tiny, the drinks are flawless, and the whole thing feels like a secret…
Lower East Side · 245 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
An intimate Lower East Side cocktail nook that feels like you wandered into a Tokyo haunt without the jet lag. Amber light, minimalist wood, and bartenders who treat every pour like a quiet ritual. Early evenings are ci…
East Village · 443 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009
Stepping into Amor y Amargo is like stumbling into a tiny, moody alchemist’s den. Eight stools, soft light, bottles of bitter spirits stacked like apothecary jars, and bartenders who treat every pour like a ritual. You …
East Village · 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
You walk into Crif Dogs on St. Marks, step into the phone booth, and pick up the receiver. The back wall swings open into one of the bars that launched the entire modern speakeasy movement. Inside it's leather booths, d…
Midtown · 24 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016, USA
Dimly-lit rooms with velvet seating and armchairs spread across the lower level of The William Hotel, this the kind of setup where one drink turns into three before the sun has set. If you make it far enough back, there…