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In a city where cocktail bars are plentiful but often pricy, it's nearly impossible to find a good-quality cocktail that won't break the bank. In honor of National Martini Day today, here are some wallet-friendly ways to celebrate the boozy holiday. (If you'd rather stay home and celebrate, Cocktail Courier swing by with $7 martinis to whip up in the privacy of your apartment.)
Porchlight
At Danny Meyer's Chelsea bar drink slinger Nick Bennett offers a Merry Melodies martini ($12) that adds a splash of apple brandy to the usual suspects, gin and dry vermouth.
The Redhead
The dry Redhead Gibson ($11)—the martini's savory cousin—at this East Village Southern spot spices the Plymouth gin number with fresh cracked pepper and an onion in place of an olive.
Bua Bar
For those who like their martinis dirty, swing by this East Village Irish pub for an extra-dirty combination of vodka or gin with McClure’s pickle juice ($11).
The Up & Up
Grab a few martini-loving friends to share this large-format version of the classic cocktail at this West Village watering hole. With a group of four, the Carlson Martini (375ml of St. George Terroir gin, Dolin Blanc vermouth and orange bitters for $45) comes out to only nine bucks per cocktail.
Night of Joy
Swing by the rooftop of this Williamsburg bar during happy hour (between 5pm and 8pm) for a $6 basil-lime gin quaff. Even two at that price still clock in at less than most cocktail-bar drinks.
Sweet Afton
This cozy Astoria bar has been slinging cocktails for five years, so expect their dirty pickle martini, with Tito’s vodka and McClure’s ($10) to hit the spot.
Written by Alyssa Haak