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Photograph: Paul WagtouiczPhotograph: Paul Wagtouicz
Photograph: Paul Wagtouicz

New York's Best Bartender 2015: Flatiron, Gramercy & Union Square

Is New York’s best bartender working in your neighborhood?

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Whether you’re a fan of dive barsbeer barsrooftop barsromantic bars or any other kind of bar, you can always find what you’re looking for in New York—most of us don’t even need to leave our neighborhoods to visit a bar (and bartender) we love. If your favorite bartender made it to the shortlist below, vote for them, then come back on March 17 to see if they made it into the final 50.

The nominees

Yusef Austin

Bar: Blue Water Grill

Been a bartender for: 17 years

Signature drink: Stay Cation

The best thing about being a bartender is: All the people you get to meet and the places you get to travel to! Been around the world because of bar tending. Amazing!

Thomasula Davina

Bar: Park Bar

Been a bartender for: 12 years

Signature drink: Manhattan

The best thing about being a bartender is: The characters I meet on a daily basis.

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Francesco Desideri

Bar: Florian

Been a bartender for: 18 years

Signature drink: Diavolo Zafferano

The best thing about being a bartender is: The best thing about being a bartender is being able to represent 'the modern-day alchemist'—mixing nightlife, philosophy, and sensuality with hospitality, charm and good spirit—all garnished with love and passion.

Moses Laboy

Bar: Gotham Bar & Grill

Been a bartender for: 20 years

Signature drink: All of them

The best thing about being a bartender is: As the creative mind/mixologist to some of the city's best eateries and bars, I really enjoy the creative aspect of developing seasonal menus. I love the whole process of sourcing fun, unique ingredients and spirits harmonizing them and wowing my guest. 

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Tracey Mellon

Bar: Brother Jimmy’s

Been a bartender for: 6 years

Signature drink: Gin cocktail with St.Germain, pineapple and lemonade

The best thing about being a bartender is: Honestly, I love brightening people's day. So many people get caught up in the negativity of life and I do want I can to make my customers smile, be happy and get messy wasted!

Leo Robitschek

Bar: Eleven Madison Park

Been a bartender for: Over a decade

Signature drink: Start Me Up

The best thing about being a bartender is: The creative process, the team and the guests.

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Logan Ronkainen

Bar: Trattoria il Mulino

Been a bartender for: 3 years

Signature drink: Italian Amaro and Vermouth cocktails

The best thing about being a bartender is: Hanging out with all the regulars makes the bar feel like my living room rather than place of work.

Shannon Stiggins

Bar: Cosme

Been a bartender for: 11 years

Signature drink: A mezcal Old Fashioned variation

The best thing about being a bartender is: Meeting new people and having fun.

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Derrick Turner

Bar: Harding’s

Been a bartender for: 10 years

Signature drink: The Black Forest

The best thing about being a bartender is: By far, the best thing about being a bartender is simply entertaining guests as if they were guests in my home. Just creating an experince that is unequivocal to anything else they have encountered in New York is what truly drives me.

Nicole Wright

Bar: Les Halles

Been a bartender for: 10 years

Signature drink: Manhattan

The best thing about being a bartender is: Everyday you can pretend to be someone else—the advice giver, the bitch, the strong independent woman, the ditz, the slut or the snob.

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Cort Zimmerman

Bar: Marta

Been a bartender for: 10 years

Signature drink: Black Manhattan / Manhattan

The best thing about being a bartender is: Awkward first dates.

Vote for your favorite bartender

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See more on New York's Best Bartender

New York's Best Bartender 2015
New York's Best Bartender 2015
Bartenders are such a big part of our day-to-day life in New York that it’s easy to take them for granted, but where would we be without their beer-pouring, drink-mixing, sob-story–listening, make-all-your-evenings-magical-through-the-power-of-booze ways? That’s why we’re celebrating them with a competition to find the absolute best bartender in NYC.
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