As a city known for its nightlife, New York City has no shortage of cocktail bars fit for any occasion. Whether you want to stylishly loiter, or have a quick nightcap with a friend, these classy cocktail bars in NYC are sure to fulfill your every cocktail need.

 

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Attaboy might seem like your average neighborhood bar, but this tiny (500 square feet!) establishment occupies the same space that used to be renowned speakeasy, Milk & Honey in 1999. The entrance is essentially unmarked, so you have to know what you’re looking for, which may or may not include a line out the door. There’s no menu here – instead, you’re encouraged to tell the bartenders what you like and they’ll craft a drink just to your tastes. Attaboy won Best Bar in North America in 2022, making it a true pillar of the NYC cocktail scene.

Local favorite Bar Goto is a Japanese-inspired cocktail bar with soft, amber mood lighting and a laid-back ambience. Bar food consists of okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) and miso chicken wings – both of which come highly praised. Drinks are Japanese twists on the classics, such as the Kyoto Old-Fashioned, made with rice vodka and gin matcha. The bar is small and is known to get crowded, so arrive on the earlier side or stop by on a weeknight for a chill time.

The Dead Rabbit is an “old New York” Irish pub and cocktail bar voted World’s Best Bar in 2016. The first floor is host to The Taproom, a traditional setting serving Irish coffee, Guinness, and weekly Sunday roast. Upstairs lies The Parlour, where you can find just about any cocktail you could want. The Dead Rabbit has all of the historical vibes of a 1920s bar, without feeling stuffy or drab. Here, you can chill downstairs with a pint, or venture above for a cosmopolitan – the world is your oyster.

Sitting just above the Freemans restaurant, Banzarbar is a bar inspired by 20th century Antarctic explorations and the Dutch spice trade. The space itself is compact, with only about 20 seats and a no standing policy, making it a bit of a hidden gem. The highlight here is definitely the tasting menu, complete with inventive, nautical themed cocktails and small bites to pair with each.

Bar Sprezzatura sits atop the Kimpton Hotel Theta in a lively neighborhood near Times Square. The rooftop bar spans 2 floors of coastal vibes right from the Italian Riveria. Sit back and relax as if you’re lunching in Positano with an Aperol spritz in hand. The bar is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but you can come in just for drinks too. Sprawling views of the city paired with Italian dishes and handcrafted cocktails – does it get any better? Many NYC cocktail bars also lean into vintage-inspired interiors with glowing neon signs, retro wall lighting, and moody décor that have become part of the city’s iconic bar culture. You can see more examples in these New York neon signs.

The Mulberry is a certified celebrity hotspot known for its retro 70s vibe (disco ball and all). Abstract paintings span the walls of this intimate bar, where A-listers come to lay low and let loose. Fashion Week is a particularly busy time, but you can expect The Mulberry to be lively all year round. Come here to be surrounded by the coolest of the cool while still keeping it lowkey.

Modeled after a lamp-lit living room straight from the 70s, HiLot features plaid carpets and vintage decor for a disco-driven night out. Enjoy plates to share with your friends at the bar, or venture into the “cuddle pit,” which is essentially a giant couch room. You can and should make reservations here, as it’s not the kind of place to stand around, and it gets increasingly busier as the night goes on.

If fresh, ingredient-led cocktails is what you’re after, look no further than Hidden Tiger, a speakeasy in Midtown serving a selection of Korean dishes. The bar itself is located inside Cafe Joah – you have to know what you’re looking for to find the lounge. Once inside, you’ll find a classy, backlit bar, velvet couches, and live DJs playing sets. The drinks menu includes a wide range of nonalcoholic beverages along with the classics so there’s something for everyone. Hidden Tiger is truly a hidden gem in the NYC cocktail bar scene, so don’t miss out while you’re in the city.