New York / Nightlife

25 New York bars for a genuinely good night out

Cocktail destinations, music rooms, neighborhood bars and dressed-up classics for different versions of a New York night.

25 picks · By Extro editorial · Checked 2026-10-26

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The best bar depends on the night you want. This guide mixes serious cocktail programs, high-energy rooms, music-led spaces and enduring New York atmosphere. Use the neighborhood and best-for notes to match the room to your plans, and confirm reservations, door policies and current hours before you go.

01
Double Chicken Please
Lower East Side$$$Best for inventive cocktails
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A two-part Lower East Side destination pairing a casual front room with a reservation-driven cocktail bar built around food-inspired drinks.
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02
Overstory
Financial District$$$$Best for views and celebrations
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A high-floor cocktail bar with sweeping city views, polished service and a room that feels special before the first drink arrives.
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03
Superbueno
East Village$$$Best for a lively cocktail night
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Mexican American flavors, playful drinks and a welcoming East Village room make serious cocktails feel unusually easygoing.
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04
Martiny’s
Gramercy$$$$Best for a polished date
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A restored carriage house sets the stage for meticulous cocktails and formal hospitality without losing the warmth of a neighborhood bar.
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05
Sip & Guzzle
West Village$$$Best for two moods in one night
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Two distinct bars share one address: approachable highballs upstairs and a more experimental cocktail experience below.
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06
Clemente Bar
NoMad$$$$Best for a special-occasion drink
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An art-led cocktail room above Eleven Madison Park offers precise drinks and a more intimate alternative to a full tasting menu.
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07
Attaboy
Lower East Side$$$Best for bespoke cocktails
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A narrow, menu-free cocktail bar where the conversation with the bartender shapes the drink.
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08
Bar Goto
Lower East Side$$$Best for cocktails and small plates
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Japanese technique, restrained cocktails and excellent bar snacks make this a dependable Lower East Side stop.
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09
Dante
Greenwich Village$$$Best for aperitivo and people-watching
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A historic Greenwich Village address reimagined around aperitivo, spritzes and polished all-day hospitality.
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10
Katana Kitten
West Village$$$Best for highballs and a fun group
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Japanese highballs, playful drinks and upbeat hospitality keep this West Village bar energetic without feeling chaotic.
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11
Mace
West Village$$$Best for creative drinks
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Spice-driven cocktails give the menu a clear organizing idea while the room remains relaxed enough for a spontaneous stop.
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12
Bemelmans Bar
Upper East Side$$$$Best for classic New York atmosphere
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Murals, piano music and old-school Upper East Side glamour make the setting as important as the martini.
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13
Maison Premiere
Williamsburg$$$Best for oysters and a date
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Oysters, absinthe and a lush garden give this Williamsburg bar the feeling of a brief escape from the city.
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14
Amor y Amargo
East Village$$$Best for bitter and spirit-forward drinks
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A tiny East Village bar devoted to bitters and stirred drinks, best for guests who want focused, spirit-forward cocktails.
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15
Employees Only
West Village$$$Best for a late cocktail night
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A long-running West Village cocktail institution that becomes louder and more social as the night develops.
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16
The Dead Rabbit
Financial District$$$Best for Irish whiskey and groups
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An ambitious Irish pub combines an energetic taproom with a deep cocktail program and substantial food.
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17
Sunken Harbor Club
Downtown Brooklyn$$$Best for immersive tropical cocktails
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A transportive upstairs room uses tropical drinks, dark woods and maritime detail without leaning on novelty alone.
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18
Clover Club
Cobble Hill$$$Best for conversation and classic cocktails
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A comfortable Brooklyn cocktail bar with a fireplace, thoughtful classics and enough space for an actual conversation.
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19
Milady’s
SoHo$$Best for a casual group night
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A revived SoHo tavern balances frozen drinks, well-made classics and an unpretentious neighborhood-bar spirit.
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20
Le Dive
Dimes Square$$$Best for wine and people-watching
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Sidewalk tables, natural wine and a tightly packed room create a downtown scene with Parisian references.
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21
Bar Contra
Lower East Side$$$Best for a serious cocktail stop
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A focused downtown cocktail bar pairs precise drinks with a pared-back room and a culinary sensibility.
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22
Temple Bar
NoHo$$$$Best for dressed-up drinks
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A restored NoHo lounge offers plush booths, martinis and a dress-up atmosphere for a deliberately glamorous night.
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23
The Nines
NoHo$$$$Best for piano and a glamorous date
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A piano lounge with red interiors, supper-club energy and a crowd that treats the room as part of the occasion.
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24
Joyface
East Village$$Best for dancing with friends
Image: Time Out New York
A playful East Village dance bar channels a 1970s living room and rewards arriving ready to move.
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25
Public Records
Gowanus$$$Best for music and a full evening
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A hi-fi sound system, plant-filled courtyard and varied programming make this Brooklyn space work for listening, dining and late nights.
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