New York takes its martinis seriously. From Bemelmans Bar's grand old-school room to Bar Goto's Japanese precision, these are the places to order one and mean it.
Upper East Side · 35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021
A New York institution that turns martinis into high art. Candlelit, jazz-soaked, and still as effortlessly glamorous as the day it opened. The walls, hand-painted by Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans himself, set the s…
West Village · 20 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014
Date-goers, mixology enthusiasts, and jazz lovers alike fill this candlelit hideaway night after night. Sip a Bartender’s Choice while some of the best jazz trios in town play on, and let the hours slip by unnoticed.
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…
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…
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 c…
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 …
FiDi + Seaport · 30 Water St, New York, NY 10004
A mash-up of speakeasy polish and Irish pub warmth—think brass rails, dark wood, and cocktails that arrive with stories. Upstairs in the Parlor, it’s a full-on “cathedral of cocktails,” while down below the Taproom hums…
Midtown · 60 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022
An art-deco time capsule tucked inside the Hotel Elysée on East 54th, Monkey Bar blends old-New-York swagger with modern polish. The red leather booths wrap around a dramatic mural of monkeys (yes, literal monkeys) that…