The Best Cocktail Bars in New York City

New York City. I went to NYC for the first time in January of 2025 and spent New Years Eve, not in Times Square, but on the tarmac. I was then hauled around by a wrong-way driving Uber-driver to the hotel. Back on topic now, New York City is one of the cocktail capitals of the world. With its historic, hidden speakeasies in the Lower East Side and rooftop lounges overlooking Manhattan, NYC has a huge concentration of world-class cocktail bars. And they’re all pretty cool. Listed in no particular order*

• Attaboy – Lower East Side
• Employees Only (EO) – West Village
• Bemelmans Bar – Upper East Side (The Carlyle)
• Please Don’t Tell (PDT) – Flatiron
• The Back Room – Lower East Side
• Dante – Greenwich Village
• Bar Pisellino – Greenwich Village
• Mace – Greenwich Village

Attaboy– Lower East Side

Specialty: Bespoke cocktails, no menu, classics

Attaboy operates like a speakeasy. There’s no sign outside, no menu inside. You walk through an unmarked door and right into a legendary NYC bar. The bartenders here are master cocktail craftspeople who will create a drink based on your preferences, your mood, and what spirits you’re curious about.

What to order: Tell the bartenders what spirit fascinates you that day and they’ll take it from there. Or request a classic: their Daiquiri is great!
Vibe: Intimate, serious about cocktails, no cell phone photos culture

Price: $$-$$$
Address: 134 Eldridge St, New York, NY

Employees Only (EO)– West Village

Specialty: Craft cocktails, neighborhood feel, the Fireplace

Employees Only has been a NYC institution since 2004. The iconic neon “EO” sign in the window is visible from the street, but you have to know where to look. Inside, you’ll find dim lighting, a packed bar, and some of the best cocktails in New York. The bartenders here balance classic technique with creative innovation.

Signature Cocktail: The Hanging Garden: vodka, lime juice, Chambord, house herb syrup.
What to order: Start with their classics (Ex: Sazerac or Last Word), then explore any seasonal specials. The Fireplace punch during winter is awesome.
Vibe: Sophisticated but unpretentious, energetic, local crowd

Price: $$
Address: 510 Hudson St, New York, NY

Bemelmans Bar– Upper East Side (The Carlyle)

Specialty: Luxury cocktails, live jazz, timeless elegance

Located inside the legendary Carlyle Hotel, Bemelmans is named after Ludwig Bemelmans, the artist who created the Madeline children’s books. The walls are painted with Bemelmans’ whimsical murals, and the atmosphere is very much 1950s elegance. In addition to all of this, there is live jazz nightly, making this the perfect spot for a special occasion.

Signature Cocktail: The Carlyle Special, Cointreau, cognac, and fresh lemon juice. Smooth, sophisticated, perfect.
What to order: Any classic. The bartenders here are old-school pros who execute perfectly.
Vibe: Upscale, romantic, live music, sophisticated crowd

Price: $$$-$$$$
Address: The Carlyle, 35 E 76th St, New York, NY

Please Don’t Tell (PDT)– Flatiron

Specialty: Creative cocktails, bourbon expertise, hidden entrance through phone booth

PDT is accessed through a vintage telephone booth inside Crif Dogs hot dog shop. Once inside, you’re in a narrow bar with exposed brick and a serious cocktail program. PDT is known for its bourbon selection and creative house cocktails.

Signature Cocktail: The Pisco Old Fashioned, a play on the classic using pisco instead of whiskey. Elegant and complex.
What to order: Anything with bourbon. Ask about seasonal specials. The bartenders are creative but grounded in classics.
Vibe: Playful, creative, craft-focused, younger crowd

Price: $$
Address: Through Crif Dogs, 113 St. Marks Pl, New York, NY

The Back Room– Lower East Side

Specialty: Vintage glassware, speakeasy aesthetic, no electricity (no electric lights)

The Back Room is an atmospheric anomaly in modern NYC. They serve drinks in vintage glassware such as teacups, tin cups, mason jars, or whatever suits the drink. The bar is entirely lit by candles, which creates an Old West saloon vibe, and maybe a fire-hazard. The cocktails are classic and well-executed.

Signature Cocktail: Ask for a drink in a teacup, it feels like Prohibition-era bootleg drinking.
What to order: Classic cocktails. This bar is about atmosphere and authenticity, not innovation.
Vibe: Speakeasy, vintage, moody, eclectic crowd

Price: $$
Address: 102 Norfolk St, New York, NY

Dante– Greenwich Village

Specialty: Italian aperitivos, negroni variations, neighborhood bar with world-class cocktails

Dante is a historic neighborhood bar. It’s been in this location since 1915. But when it was revived in 2019, it became one of the most acclaimed bars in NYC. It’s focus is Italian ingredients, vermouths, amari, and a negroni program that has spawned a thousand imitations.

Signature Cocktail: The Negroni (obviously). Dante’s version is balanced perfection – Tanqueray, Campari, Carpano Antica Formula.
What to order: Any negroni riff, or ask about Italian aperitivo cocktails. The spirit-forward drinks here are exceptional.
Vibe: Sophisticated but approachable, lively but not loud, international crowd

Price: $$
Address: 79-81 MacDougal St, New York, NY

Bar Pisellino– Greenwich Village

Specialty: Standing-room only, Italian snacks, casual sophistication

Run by the same team as Dante, Bar Pisellino is a standing-room-only Italian aperitivo bar, with minimal seating, designed to be a quick stop before dinner. The drinks are simple but very well made.

Signature Cocktail: Aperol Spritz (the traditional Italian way)
What to order: Any classic Italian aperitivo drink: Negroni, Americano, Spritz.
Vibe: Casual, standing-room, aperitivo culture, locals

Price: $$
Address: 87 MacDougal St, New York, NY

Mace– Greenwich Village

Specialty: Spice-forward cocktails, aromatic spirits, innovative techniques

Mace is named after the spice, and that’s the programming conceit. Every cocktail features aromatic spices, bold botanicals, or unique ingredients. This is where you go to expand your idea of what a cocktail could be.

Signature Cocktail: Their spiced Manhattan variations (each one reveals a different dimension of the classic).
What to order: Something with spices or bold botanicals. Ask the bartenders about technique and ingredients.
Vibe: Innovative, educational, adventurous, craft enthusiasts

Price: $$-$$$
Address: 59 Carmine St, New York, NY