Top 16 Must-Visit Bars in NYC

With a city full of downright lovable dive bars, glitzy cocktail lounges, brewery tap rooms, and spots to dance the night away, New Yorkers are spoiled for choice when it comes to places to drink. The only thing harder than getting over a hangover in the city that never sleeps is picking the bar to visit. We’ve made the task a little easier by rounding up the best bars in New York City, broken down by style.

Best Cocktail Bar: Pouring Ribbons

Address: 225 Avenue B 2nd floor, New York, NY 10009-3358, USA

Phone: +1 917-796-8618

Pouring Ribbons has mastered the art of reinvention. Every few months, the East Village cocktail lounge overhauls its drink menu around a completely new concept—past thematic iterations have included everything from Route 66 (think: boozy floats and a flapjack-flavored Old Fashioned) to Cuba circa-1958 (with cocktails that would impress Hemingway himself). However, despite the atmosphere of change, one thing always stays the same: the quality of the cocktails. The passionate bartenders personally invest themselves in every drink and have been known to experiment with making their own bitters and garnishes in their downtime. Consequently, their efforts have earned Pouring Ribbons a reputation as the most creative cocktail bar in the city.

Best Romantic Bar: Le Boudoir

Address: 135 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA

Phone: +1 347-227-8337

When you’re in the mood for romance, slip into Le Boudoir. Francophiles swoon over the Brooklyn Heights speakeasy’s Marie Antoinette-inspired decor, designed to look like the private chambers of the French Revolutionary muse herself. You and your date will feel like royalty as you cozy up on luxurious red-velvet banquettes and sip lavish cocktails from silver-plated goblets.

Best Bar for Dancing: Baby’s All Right

Address: 146 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA

Phone: +1 718-599-5800

Bring your dancing shoes (and leave your inhibitions behind) when you visit Baby’s All Right. The bar, eatery, and music venue in Williamsburg boasts a calendar chock-full of lively DJs, bands, and indie performers. Unlike some of the city’s nightclubs, you won’t find frat boys and bottle service here. Instead, Baby’s All Right offers an unpretentious dance party where you can get your groove on all night long, and come back for brunch the next day.

Best Sports Bar: Foley’s NY

Address: 18 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10001, USA

Phone: +1 212-590-6888

On game day, there’s no better place than Foley’s to cheer on your team—especially if you’re watching baseball. The bar, which claims to have “NYC’s best sports memorabilia collection,” features jerseys worn by the pros, stadium seats, hundreds of hypnotic bobbleheads, and a staggering 3,500 autographed balls. Moreover, if baseball isn’t your preferred sport, Foley’s welcomes all enthusiasts. Go there to catch the Super Bowl, hockey and basketball playoffs, March Madness, the World Cup, and even NASCAR.

Best Beer Garden: Clinton Hall

Address: 230 E 51st St #6571, New York, NY 10022, USA

Phone: +1 212-758-8519

Clinton Hall, the classic beer garden at Pod 51 hotel, boasts 20 rotating taps flowing with beer from around the world. Furthermore, even if you’ve had one or two of the beers before, they’ll likely taste even better here. This is because the bar uses technology to calibrate the compressions and the exact blend of nitrogen and carbon dioxide to match the brew master’s recommendations, thus serving each beer at its very best. Soak it up with one of Clinton Hall’s 12 burgers or the famous doughnut grilled cheese.

Best Wine Bar: June

Address: 231 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA

Phone: +1 917-909-0434

Cobble Hill’s cozy natural wine bar June offers a menu of vino that’s extensive enough to impress even the snobbiest sommelier. You’ll find a curated selection of reds and whites you already know and love, but June isn’t afraid to venture off the beaten path with offerings that might surprise you. The bar devotes entire sections of the menu to chilled red and sparkling orange wines, among other unexpected varietals. With numerous bottles (many costing less than $100), you’ll undoubtedly discover something delightful to sip as you enjoy the intimate, train-like atmosphere complete with soft, vintage lighting.

Best Speakeasy: Bathtub Gin

Address: 132 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA

Phone: +1 646-559-1671

Prohibition may have come and gone, but speakeasy culture still thrives in the Big Apple. Check it out for yourself at Bathtub Gin, inspired by the Roaring ‘20s, tucked behind Stone Street Coffee Company. Inside, a copper clawfoot bathtub beckons tipsy visitors (often donning flapper dresses and Gatsby-inspired hats) to grab a gin cocktail and snap a glamorous shot. For a truly Jazz Age experience, visit Bathtub Gin during one of its intimate jazz performances or burlesque nights.

Best Gay Bar: The Eagle NYC

Address: 554 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001-5509, USA

Phone: +1 646-473-1866

If The Eagle had a dress code, it would consist of Levi’s and leather everything else. This gay club in Chelsea offers two floors of debauchery for men looking to celebrate their fetishes and have a good time. It’s advisable to check the events calendar before you go—you wouldn’t want to leave your jockstrap at home on Tuesday nights!

Best Rooftop Bar: Gallow Green

Address: 542 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001, USA

Phone: +1 212-904-1880

Surprisingly, you won’t find a great view at one of the best rooftop bars in New York. Instead, Gallow Green offers a much more atmospheric experience, with jungle-like greenery, surrealist decor, and twinkle lights galore. This is a spot where you could imagine joining Puck and the Mad Hatter at a garden party for nymphs and leprechauns. It’s immersive, making it a unique destination, especially since it’s also home to the interactive theater production “Sleep No More.”

Best Champagne Bar: Air’s Champagne Parlor

Address: 127 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012-1076, USA

Phone: +1 212-420-4777

Bubbly is not reserved for birthdays and New Year’s Eve at Air’s Champagne Parlor. Instead, Champagne and sparkling wine take center stage on the menu every day at this charming boîté, featuring bubbly lights, Champagne flute-shaped bar stools, and marble decor. Owner Ariel Arce appears committed to bringing bubbly to the masses. She keeps prices low and the atmosphere welcoming—even if you don’t know the first thing about this celebratory drink.

Best Bar with a View: Bar SixtyFive

Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza 65th Floor, New York, NY 10112, USA

Phone: +1 212-632-5000

Great views come with a price in New York City—one that’s worth paying at Bar SixtyFive. Located just next door to the famous Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Plaza, this lofty perch offers panoramic vistas of the most iconic buildings in the city. While tourists might pay almost $40 for a birds’-eye view of NYC from Top of the Rock, savvy travelers prefer to head to Bar SixtyFive, where they can toast a nearly identical view of the skyline with a glass of champagne in hand. Moreover, don’t forget your camera!

Best Old-School New York Bar: Bemelmans Bar

Address: 35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10075, USA

Phone: +1 212-744-1600

The glitz and glam of old-school Manhattan lives on at Bemelmans Bar, the subterranean lounge beneath The Carlyle hotel. White-gloved waiters serve strong martinis to couples as they listen to bouncing jazz trios. However, the mood isn’t all dark and sultry. Whimsical illustrations of children and animals enjoying life in Central Park—the only surviving murals from “Madeline” children’s book author Ludwig Bemelmans—adorn the walls, keeping the atmosphere lively and engaging.

Best Tiki Bar: Mother of Pearl

Think tiki bars are tacky? Then you haven’t been to Mother of Pearl. This vegan bar and restaurant elevates the tropical theme with swaying palm leaf fans lining the walls, banquettes upholstered in vintage floral patterns, bar stools featuring subtle totem designs, and a giant green glass chandelier reminiscent of something you’d find under the sea. Best of all are the fruity cocktails, served in silver seashells, open-mouthed shark glasses, and shrunken heads. Tuck one of the orchid garnishes behind your ear and let your imagination whisk you off to Polynesia.

Best Summertime Bar: Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar

Address: 102 North End Ave, New York, NY 10282, USA

Phone: +1 212-945-0100

When the weather heats up, locals know it’s time to make their way to Loopy Doopy. The rooftop bar atop the Conrad New York serves boozy ice pops dunked in sparkling rosé or prosecco that have become some of the most desired summertime treats in the city. Between the frozen indulgences and the refreshing breeze coming off the Hudson River, Loopy Doopy’s the perfect place to cool down on those scorching days.

Best Piano Bar: Brandy’s Piano Bar

Address: 235 E 84th St, New York, NY 10028, USA

Phone: +1 212-744-4949

Known for being a bit more buttoned-up, the Upper East Side might be where you least expect to find the liveliest piano bar in Gotham. Nonetheless, Brandy’s Piano Bar makes the trek uptown worthwhile if you want to sing along late into the night. The song selections are as eclectic as they are fun to belt out, featuring show tunes, Disney classics, and hits from pop greats like Carole King and Elton John. Furthermore, the pianists take requests—if you toss them a buck or two.

Best Dive Bar: Billymark’s West

Address: 332 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001-1604, USA

Phone: +1 646-590-2999

If you want nothing more than a beer and a shot without feeling judged, you’ll fit right in at Billymark’s West. This Chelsea dive bar, owned by a former sessions drummer for Blondie, has been a true neighborhood spot serving a loyal following of locals bottom-shelf liquor since 1956. The only frills you’ll find here are sticky floors and the smell of stale beer—just what a dive bar should be.