The 50 best bars in NYC right now

What is it? A red-lit Mexican-American cocktail bar from Ignacio Nacho Jimenez.

Why we love it: With a year and some change under its belt, Superbueno has racked up some super good accolades. In 2024 alone, it was named one of the top bars by Food & Wine and nabbed the number two spot for the World’s Best 50 Bars North America—and for good reason. Margaritas are blackened thanks to a blend of huitlacoche and mole meets mezcal in the Mole Negroni. On top of it all, this Lower East hang is all about fun with tunes and conga lines extending well into the evening.

Time Out tip: Green Mango Martini is one of the best martinis out there right now, period. 

Address: 13 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Hours: Mon–Thurs 4pm-2am; Fri–Sun 2pm-2am

What is it? A speakeasy-ish bar that has helped to defined the genre. 

Why we love it: An NYC classic (of somewhat recent origin; Attaboy opened in the famed Milk and Honey space in 2012), this LES cocktail leader has a speakeasy vibe, a steel-brushed bar and some of the best drinks in town to top it with. 

Time Out tip: Time Out tip: If the bar is too busy, pop into their sister bar next door, Good Guy's, for a spritz and some conservas while you wait. 

Address: 134 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Daily 5pm-3am

What is it? The timeless Prohibition-style bar known for white jacket service and live music.

Why we love it: The Central Casting ideal of Old New York, the Carlyle Hotel’s throwback grandeur is juxtaposed with Ludwig Bemelmans’ whimsical original murals here at his namesake bar. It’s as expensive as you’d expect with $28 vesper martinis, $30 Manhattans and $38 sidecars.

Time Out tip: Don't forget to factor in the cover charge of $10 for live music.

Address: 35 E 76th Street, New York, New York 10021

Hours: Sun and Mon noon–midnight; Tue–Thurs: noon–12:30am; Fri and Sat: noon–1:00am

What is it? An tropical themed-spekeasy found a stairwell above Gage & Tollner. 

Why we love it? Sohui Kim, Ben Schneider and St. John Frizell’s glittering Gage & Tollner revival was one of NYC’s best new restaurants of 2021, and the team followed that smashing success with Sunken Harbor Club upstairs. The permanent addition picks up where Frizell’s weekly parties of the same name left off at Fort Defiance when the Red Hook favorite relocated. Sunken Harbor Club’s new forever space has dramatic enchanted shipwreck themes and studied drink menus as deep as the sea.

Time Out tip: Stay til the end of the night for a light flashing and bell ringing closing time.

Address: 372 Fulton St 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: Sun–Thurs 5–11pm; Fri and Sat 5–midnight

What is it? A dual concept bar that's been consistently ranked on The World's 50 Best Bars list.

Why we love it: What first began as a vintage Volkswagen minibus tour around the United States became a brick-and-mortar destination in late 2020. Cocktails go beyond the classics with tipples like the Japanese Cold Noodle and Mango Sticky Rice. Reservations are necessary as walk-ins can be hard to come by. 

Time Out tip: The front bar, Free Range, has plenty of cartoon-inspired cocktails to entertain you. 

Address: 115 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Closed Mon; Tues–Thurs 5pm–1am; Fri and Sat 5pm–1:30am; Sun 5pm-midnight

What is it: A luxe lounge that overlooks the city, 64 floors up in the sky. 

Why we like it: Hovering near the top of special occasion libation destinations, Overstory is also poised among the clouds on the 64th floor of a downtown Art Deco skyscraper. Yes, special occasion is still a euphemism for spendy, and Overstory actually pays off as a ‘worth it’ splurge. Its nicely crafted cocktails are all $24, and the views from its wrap-around terrace approach priceless. 

Time Out tip: While a dress code isn't strictly enforced, we recommened trying to wear your best. 

Address: 70 Pine Street 64th Floor, New York, NY 10005

Hours: Mon–Thurs 5pm–midnight; Fri and Sat 4pm–1am; Sun 4pm–midnight

What is it? A crafty cocktail from one of New York's best mixologists, Julie Reiner. 

Why we love it: One of Smith Street’s finest since 2008, Clover Club has endured while other beloved restaurants and bars have come and go. This one’s both, plus it’s pretty all around, comfortable and still feels special, whether you’re a regular or coming by for the first time. Its bar’s the best seat on the block, and you’ll need one to peruse the whole novella of a cocktail menu. Or just try the Clover Club. 

Time Out tip: Pop in next door to check out their sister bar, The Saloon at Clover Club

Address: 210 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: Mon–Thurs 4pm–midnight; Friday 4pm-2am; Sat noon–2am; Sun noon–midnight 

What is it? A legendary bar where the negroni reigns supreme.

Why we love it: Everyone has a favorite child, whether they admit it or not. Dante's is clearly the negroni, evident by 12 different variations, from the traditional to tipples stirred with mezcal and Grey Goose. But before you drink through all the options, select a few small plates to keep your feet on the ground.

Time Out tip: Learn how to master the art of the cocktail by booking a class at their next door bar, Accademia Dante.

Address: 79-81 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012

Hours: Mon–Fri noon–1am; Sat and Sun 10am–1am

What is it? A local diner turned watering hole where martinis are cold and the frozen drinks are even colder.  

Why we love it: Occupying a corner spot that operated under the same name for five decades, and now ten years into its second act, Long Island Bar comes by its retro-lite ambiance honestly. Its flickering neon beckons eventual—inevitable—guests from all the way down the block, and rewards their patronage with comforting, welcoming environs and best-in-class gimlets and martinis, plus beer, wine and a full menu. It has a way of filling up fast, and the addition of outdoor seating hasn't actually eased the crowds that much. 

Time Out tip: The kitchen is still in rotation, The L. I. Burger being one of the best from the grill. 

Address: 110 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: Tues–Fri 5pm–midnight; Sat and Sun 2pm–midnight  

What is it? NYC's oldest continuously operating restaurant and bar. 

Why we love it: The lights of Pete's Tavern have been on since 1864. Yes, even during the Prohibition era, the bar stayed open, hiding in plain sight as a flower shop. Most beers run under $10 and burgers are solid thanks to sourcing from Pat LaFrieda. So find a wooden booth and drink in the history. 

Time Out tip: Cash is king, so bring a few bucks to drink like royalty. 

Address: 129 E 18th Street, New York, NY 10003

Hours: Daily noon–2am

A canonical NYC destination, Sunny’s still feels serendipitous when you luck into it on a random, meandering afternoon. It has nautical nods, a long bar and booths up front, tables and enough room for twangy live music in the back and a side yard for alternating breaths of fresh air and the opposite of fresh air. There’s a full bar, but they’re particularly adept at making beer here. 

What is it? A prolific cocktail bar that's stood for almost 20 years with a name that directly nods to the neighborhood it resides in.

Why we love it: This Time Out New York Best of the City award winner first opened in Queens in 2009. The ever-popular spot still makes standout cocktails, including the bespoke creations that first put it on the map, in an environment that's relaxed a lot over the years. 

Time Out tip: Live music is always hopping at the upstairs bar, Debbie's. 

Address: 27-24 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

Hours: Sun–Thurs 5PM–2AM; Fri and Sat 5pm–3am

What is it? An actual hidden bar found in the sub-cellar Tribeca's Walker Hotel. 

Why we love it: One of recent years' ubiquitous speakeasy-inspired bars, Saint Tuesday is closer to the archetype than any of the rest. Its Cortlandt Alley entrance is hard enough to find to humble even the most smug among us, and getting to the bar still feels like the Goodfellas Copa shot once you’re through the door. It's also pretty inside with vaguely old-fashioned design, and the drinks are terrific. 

Time Out tip: There’s live music every night starting at 6pm.

Address: 77 Walker Street, New York, NY 10013

Hours: Sun–Tues 6pm–midnight; Wed–Sat 6pm–2am

What is it? An architectural wonder of a bar that rivals the grandness of the terminal it resides in. 

Why we love it: Grand Central Terminal itself is rather beautiful, but running its gauntlet always requires a reward. The Campbell, née, The Campbell Apartment, in the building’s southwest corner, is the closest and best place to get one. Once the massive office of an uber-rich NYC finance guy for which it’s twice named, The Campbell’s present form toasts its original leaded-glass windows, soaring hand-painted ceiling and stone fireplace with classic cocktails. This is what all those latter-day speakeasies aspire to without the goofy costuming. 

Time Out tip: Request a seat at the terrace to get sweeping views of the Florentine-inspired bar. 

Address: 15 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Hours: Daily noon–2am

What is it? A New Orleans-style cocktail bar where oysters and slurped and absinthe is ever flowing. 

Why we love it: Beloved for its chicly distressed interior and romantic ambiance, this Williamsburg mainstay is best known for its bivalves and a dedicated menu of absinthe. Sip a potent variety of the anise-forward spirit in the lush backyard.

Time Out tip: The Old King Cole Martini is to this day wheeled tableside giving a bit of theatrics with a solid closing number: a nicely chilled martini.

Address: 298 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11249

Hours: Mon–Fri noon–1am; Sat and Sun 11am–1am

What is it: An internationally known and recognized cocktail bar where tinctures, infusions and spice find their way into your glass.

Why we love it: Mace has been a regular on local and international “best of” lists since it first opened in 2015. A later move to West 8th Street gives the perennial fave a little more room for outdoor dining, in addition to a comfortable interior and 27-foot zinc bar. Sip spice and botanical-forward cocktails, or one of the best frozen drinks in town, and see how fast you’ll make Mace your own personal recommendation.

Time Out tip: A feature from day one, you can still get their signature Mace cocktail (Aperol, aquavit, beet juice, orange acid, young Thai coconut cordial and mace mist). 

Address: 35 West 8th Street, New York, NY 10011

Hours: Mon–Wed 4pm–midnight; Thurs 4pm–1am; Fri and Sat 2pm–2am; Sun 2pm–midnight

What is it? A dramatic cocktail bar found inside the only hotel on Roosevelt Island. 

Why we love it: While many of the best views in NYC are free, they’re even better when they come with cocktails. Panorama Room on the 18th floor of the Graduate Roosevelt Island hotel has outstanding vistas of the NYC skyline through its walls of windows and from out on its sweeping terrace. 

Time Out tip: Don't crowd the tram late in the evening, do the right thing and take the F Train home. 

Address: 22 North Loop Road, New York, New York, 10044

Hours: Mon–Tues closed; Wed–Thurs 5pm–midnight;
Fri–Sat 3pm–1am; Sun 3pm–midnight

What is it? An old-school dive filled with boxing memorabilia. 

Why we love it: Manhattan’s best dive bar in a borough where they’re ever-dwindling, Jimmy’s Corner first opened near Times Square in 1971. Today, the late famed boxer and trainer Jimmy Glenn’s iconic, memorabilia-rich spot attracts excited crowds from near and far, while maintaining its neighborhood charm with easy to swallow prices. 

Time Out tip: Well drinks will only run you $3.50. Order a round for your friends and soak up the ambiance. 

Address: 140 W 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

Hours: Sun 4 pm–2 am; Mon–Wed 11:30 AM–2 AM; Thurs–Sat 11:30am–4am

What is it? An underground cocktail bar hidden inside 50th Street 1 Station. 

Why we love it: The last few years brought a (re) resurgence of speakeasy concepts to NYC, and Nothing Really Matters is among the best. More incidentally hidden than many ironically more heavily branded bars of the genre, its gently obscured subway platform-adjacent location makes it feel safely ensconced from friends, foes and social media followers.

Time Out tip: But speaking of social media, it does have a particularly Instagram-worthy bathroom. 

Address: 210 W 50th Street, New York, NY 10019

Hours: Sun 4pm–midnight; Mon–Sat 4pm–2am

What is it? A Boerum Hill neighborhood bar that keeps it fresh with themed menus.

Why we love it: This mildly maritime-esque bar’s menu is frequently updated with themes like CATS!–"not the musical” and Nicholas Cage. This season’s sips follow the stars, as each astrological sign gets a corresponding drink.

Time Out tip: For HH, you can get a half dozen oysters for $13 and mini version of their cocktails. 

Address: 336 State Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Hours: Mon 5-11pm; Tues–Thurs 5pm–midnight; Fri 5pm– 1am; Sat 2pm–1am; Sun 2–10pm

What is it? One of New York's most iconic speakeasies is found behind a fully functioning hot dog stand.

Why you love it: If you know anything about one of the world's most famous speakeasy-style bars (sip the irony), you know that it is located down a few stairs, inside Crif Dogs, and beyond a phone booth that longtime bartender and present owner Jeff Bell points out may be unrecognizable to the newest generation of drinkers. 

Time Out tip: First come, first serve is a thing but a busy weekend calls for a reservation.

Address: 113 Street Marks Place, New York, NY 10009

Hours: Mon–Thurs 5pm–2am; Fri–Sun 4pm–2am

Visit the beautiful Bar Room in the historic Beekman Hotel for high-key romance that really wows. The soaring atrium locale is ornate from its soaring ceiling down to the bar, which is topped with martinis and all manner of other classic and creative cocktails. Tables, armchairs and large booths populate the rest of the space, should you wish to sink in a little longer. 

This bar Greenwich Village was once named the tenth best in the world. See what the buzz is about over highballs, carefully crafted signature cocktails, boilermakers, sake, beer and wine across Katana Kitten’s two stylish floors. Skewers and small plates are available to pair. 

Sauced doesn’t have a menu, and frankly, it doesn’t need one. This natural wine bar in Williamsburg invites conversation with the bartender, your friends and even strangers who love to imbibe. All you need to do is describe the kind of wine you like (from jammy to funky) and let the bartender give you a pour in one of their many stubby wine glasses. While the wooden shellacked interior is a beaut, the string-lit patio with a sturdy tree is the place to be when the weather’s nice.

Aptly named Old Town has occupied its ever-changing neighborhood a block above Union Square since 1892.  It was possibly pushed into actual speakeasy status during prohibition, but the bar does not dine out on that confoundingly popular designation today. Instead, the large-but-easily-crowded staple’s neon sign beckons all for beer and all the other expected beverages, plus bar food. It's also one of the easiest hangouts in the retail-saturated Union Square area. 

This woman-owned brewery opened its first taproom in Williamsburg in March of 2021, and now has locations all over the city including Cobble Hill to Penn Station. In addition to refreshing, fruit-forward beer and seasonal suds, cocktails, wine, and snacks are also on the menu. Sit inside our out, grab a draft and pick up some canned beer to go when it's time to say goodnight. 

From a Carbone alum, this new Italian-American cocktail bar has certainly made an impact, earning our 2024 Best Bar Award. Cocktails feature coconut-washed gins and limoncello milk punches, next to amari, grappas and sambuca. And while a bar it may be, Bar Madonna is serious about its food. Their Smashed Meatball Sub caused quite the stir, dominating the airwaves (or internet waves?) the summer it dropped in 2024.

You don't come here for the cocktails. You come here to belt it out with the rest of New York. Standing-room-only, this underground bar is a theater kid's playground, where you can gather around the piano to sing along to Broadway hits and show tunes from yesteryear. Cheap drinks are the name of the game here, so bring some cash to whet your whistle. 

First opened in the earlier years of NYC’s great cocktail resurgence, Death & Co. is still a top pick for booze devotees who take their spirits seriously. Seating is first come, first served in its effortlessly glamorous space, so prepare to break a sweat if you’re trying to nab a spot at peak imbibing times. 

No dearly departed hares here: The Dead Rabbit has been one of NYC's most award-winning locales since it first opened in the sometimes sleepy Financial District in 2013. The place still gets packed for terrific food and drinks, including a best in class Irish coffee. 

An ideal neighborhood go-to now in its second decade, Sweet Afton must be doing something right. The beer, wine, cocktails and weekday happy hour where some of the above are priced from $5-$13 are a good start, and the roomy indoor and back patio seating areas don’t hurt, either. 

Shingo Gokan's and Steve Schneider's bi-level bar houses two experiences under one roof. Down below, Gokan's bar pays tribute to the first samurais who returned to U.S. soil at Sip, with precision-based cocktails like the Mirepoix and Dirty Mango martini. Upstairs there is a bit more fun to be had at Guzzle, with a spinning disco ball that comes out to play when you order their oversized espresso martini and a bell that rings when the vibe is right. Plus the thinnest bikini sandwich (a well-known tapas in Spain) exists here. Pressed between two stroopwaffles with iberico ham and cheese, the snack alone is well worth the visit.

Not to be confused with similarly named establishments around town, Russian Vodka Room’s stout 52nd Street exterior opens to a long piano bar and dining room filled with vodka infusions, occasional live piano tunes and a full menu including pâté, salmon roe, caviar, schnitzel and stroganoff. It's an old favorite with a lot of character, seemingly impervious to Times Square’s chain-creep. 

For 20 years, New Yorkers have brushed past a fortune teller's lair in search of one of the city's original speakeasies: Employees Only. Find your truth among cocktails shaken by chef's coat–clad barkeeps and stick around until closing to get one of EO's most famous bites: a bowl of free chicken noodle soup. 

The team behind Dear Irving added a second outpost on the 40th and 41st floors of the Aliz Hotel in Times Square in 2019. Its high design is a little 60s-era James Bond and a little Art Deco, and -on Hudson serves some of the best cocktails in an area where venues often skate by on simply existing. 

Once you find this unmarked door on Doyers Street, give it a knock and try not to be too surprised when a sliding peephole opens right up. Its eyecatching gold leaf ceiling is rivaled by its entrancing tipples, featuring drops of chili crisp oil and smoked cinnamon bark. 

Bartenders at this cool downstairs bar serve fantastic sips in such unlikely vessels as upturned “lightbulbs,” honey bears and even glowing approximations of lava lamps. Retro tunes and amber hues play off of wood paneling and beaded curtains inside, and there’s a dreamy, vine-lined garden out back. 

Historic Julius’ autobiographical headline is “New York’s oldest gay bar and Greenwich Village’s oldest bar.” Today, the small, iconic spot hosts parties, events and a happy hour weekdays from 5pm to 7pm. It's also known for its burgers, available in a few varieties, plus sandwiches, classic sides and bar snacks. 

New York's outpost of the famous French drinking den is so back. Tucked a level underneath La Compagnie Wine Bar, you can find well-crafted classics, rare French aperitifs and even a few non-alcoholic options among the swankiest of environments. 

Bierwax combines two of Chris Maestro's two favorite things: beer and vinyl (wax is slang for the record). There is much to see at his Prospect Heights bar, mainly a collection of 5,000 records deep displayed across the bar. Of course, there is much to drink here as well, with a focus on brews from Long Island, Brookyn and upstate New York.  

Dating back to 1762, Fraunces Tavern doesn’t look a day over 261. In addition to modern conveniences like indoor plumbing, its distinct spaces serve as a one-stop-shop for a few different photo-ops: grab a beer at the main bar, sip Brenne beside the fireplace in the whiskey room or head up to the landmarked building's more recent concept, its, second floor piano bar. 

Don’t be surprised if you spend most of your time at Clemente Bar looking up. Neo-expressionist, Francisco Clemente's sultry works are all about the newest bar found up above Eleven Madison Park, behind the bar, on the walls and even on the ceiling. But Sebastian Tollius's cocktails will bring you back down to Earth. The Negroni Colada is sure to ground you, a hybrid of a pina colada and a negroni with a frozen disk of Campari that melts as the evening carries on. You can get the full experience priced at $225 per person in the studio or you can get a more casual experience (as casual as E.M.P. can get) by ordering a la carte.

Sure, you can get Brooklyn Brewery all around the US. But to have it here, that's something special. The Williamsburg-based brewery always has something interesting going on thanks to brewmaster Garrett Oliver, from its tried and true lagers to a pilsner brewed with the West African grain, fonio. 

One of the oldest bars in New York City, McSorley’s Old Ale House has the sawdust on the floor and dusty aged curios to prove it. The prices seem suspended in time, too: Dark or light ales are $6 per pair of half pints. Yes, you must choose from just two beers, and your one [1] order is served in two [2] mugs. Most of McSorley’s food (sandwiches, burgers, dogs) is under $10. 

As evidenced by La Noxe’s popularity, the New York City subway system sure does drive people to drink. This subterranean destination is adjacent to the 1 train in the 28th Street station. When traveling above ground, try your luck at the bell at 162 West 28th Street; you’ll need all the good fortune you can get for a shot at sampling the buzzy spot’s exclusive libations.  

A known industry haunt, this Nolita hang slings cocktails, beers and slushies no matter the weather. With a kitchen open until 3:30am, the late night crowd is properly boozed and fed with prosciutto mozzy sticks, Old Bay waffle fries and a delightfully crispy chicken sandwich. 

This exemplar cocktailer in a historic clock tower that was once a piano factory where portraits of long-ago luminaries presently line the walls sure checks a lot of boxes. Fill in the rest over Champagne Charlies, made with gin or vodka, honey, passionfruit, lemon juice and prosecco and served in a coupe. 

The team behind Harlem’s popular ramen destination ROKC (where drinks quickly became the main attraction) was at it again at the end of 2019 when they opened NR on East 75th Street. Super-simply named cocktails betray their show-stealing presentation: the mezcal-based Grapefruit is literally smoking, the tequila Cucumber is served in a green bell pepper and the Pineapple + Passionfruit with rum is on fire.

One of New York’s few lesbian bars, Cubbyhole has stood in the West Village for 30 years. Inside, you’ll find a colorful tapestry, with a ceiling decked out in paper lanterns, pinwheels, toys, holiday lights—really the more you look, the more you’ll find. The bar is a comfy neighborhood hang in the early hours, but really gets going once the sun goes down.  

Harlem Hops, Harlem’s first Black-owned craft beer bar, specializes in hard-to-find beers. With a talent for surfacing delicious brews from microbreweries and locally- and POC-owned businesses, this is the spot for finding that rare bottle you’ll remember forever. The backyard is dreamy on a beautiful day, but inside, you can take a seat at the long bar to learn from the bartender about the science and magic of craft brews.