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There are over 2,000 bars in NYC that fuel the city’s nightlife. Hanna Lee Communications (HLC), an award-winning multimedia PR and marketing agency, wants to honor our vibrant scene in the first-ever New York Bartender Week.
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This month, New York Bartender Week kicks off its inaugural fest from November 18 to 24. The week-long celebration will spotlight the bar community, with over 180 bars—including cocktail, restaurant, hotel and sports bars—participating across the city and New York State as a whole. Local distillers are also getting in on the action, with 54 local spirit brands participating. The mission? To celebrate the art of bartending and encourage tourism and economic development.
“To celebrate our agency’s 20th anniversary, as proud New Yorkers we decided to launch New York Bartender Week to show our love for our city and state,” says Hanna Lee, President and Founder of Hanna Lee Communications, in a press release. “This annual event will inspire New Yorkers and visitors alike to expand their travel destinations and explore the amazing hospitality scene across all of New York State. We will also encourage consumers to visit their favorite local bars and support their beloved bartenders and bar teams. Our mission is to bring bars, tourism and economic development together to spotlight our wonderful state and the people who make it special. It is also to salute bartending as a noble career path and celebrate its craft.”
Thirsty? Visit any of the 180 participating bars to get a New York-style cocktail, crafted specially for the week. Visit some of New York's finest cocktail bars, including Bemelmans Bar or the newly opened Clemente Bar inside Eleven Madison Park, or support one of your favorite restaurants such as Nomad Tea Parlour and Rule of Thirds. And even if you aren't located in the city, you can find tipples across the entire state such as Sweet Jane in Bayshore, NY and Dobbins Tavern at Stagecoach Inn in Goshen, NY.
To coincide with the festivities, the agency is also encouraging bartenders to tell their stories. Next year, the firm will announce its Excellence in Storytelling Awards 2025 which invites bartenders, bar restaurant owners, bar backs, and hoteliers (among others) to share a story of triumph and perseverance, with the chance to win a prestigious award.
The New York Bartender Week is part of a larger initiative to expand the event to cities across the U.S. and the world in 2025. Keep your eyes peeled for D.C., Knoxville, and New Mexico Bartender Week, as well as Colombia, Kenya, and the Philippines.
Click here to check out the participating list of bars and here for the full list of participating local spirit producers.