14 Fantastic Bars in the Financial District You Can't Miss

They say you can only have two, good views, good quality, or good prices, but at Manhatta, you can have it all. Perched atop the 60th floor, the panoramic views at Manhatta are some of the most memorable of all the cocktails bars in the Financial District.

Best described as casual-upscale, dressing up is encouraged if you’re enjoying a meal at the restaurant post-libation, but completely optional if you plan to bunker down elusively at the bar. Appetizers offered, but the full menu isn’t available at the bar.

Named after an Irish gang that ran rampant in lower Manhattan, the Dead Rabbit was opened in 2013. Hailing from Belfast, Jack McGarry wanted to offer a polished Financial District cocktail bar with the atmosphere of an Irish Pub and he delivered.

In the past decade, The Dead Rabbit has earned a slew of international awards, most notably being ranked #1 bar in the world in 2016. Few Financial District bars have a more impressive cocktail menu (and Irish whisky selection). If it’s your first visit, open with an Irish Coffee Alexander and finish with The Bankers Punch (Four Walls Whiskey, Blackstrap Rum, Port, Raspberry, Lime).

When I first saw a photo of Overstory it looked too good to be true. Intrigued, I took a peek at. Soaring to the 64th floor of 70 Pine, Overstory is the best rooftop bar in the Financial District bar.

Operating in tandem with Saga, a fine-dining restaurant with two Michelin stars, your best bet is to walk in rather than making reservations in advance (to avoid the $100 per person minimum). The cocktails are great, but it’s the views that keep me coming back.

You can enjoy your cocktails at the indoor bar or take them outside to enjoy the views. Just brace for windy conditions (thisn’t the ideal place for that cute knee-length dress you’re keen to take out on the town). The views are unparalleled, which is why Overstory is one of the best bars in the Financial District for a first date.

Harry’s is the quintessential upscale Financial District bar complete with handsome bartenders sporting iconic red coats. The menu is full of exciting. The iconic bar has been around since 1972, seeing the highs and lows of the neighborhood over five decades. Indeed, sipping Harry’s famous martini feels like old New York, so bring a date and splurge for the occasion.

Good to know Harry’s makes an appearance on our list of the best martinis in New York City.

Dating back to 1983, O’Hara’s is an essential local hangout that became a haven for Ground Zero workers during the September 11th terrorist attacks. Every inch adorned with first responder patches, the pub was severely damaged during the wreckage of 9/11 and took more than a year to rebuild.

Not surprisingly, O’Hara’s is treated reverence to this day, especially by first responders. But don’t make the mistake of assuming the atmosphere will be somber during your visit, far from it. The pub swells with chipper locals keen to keep their sights on the horizon while respecting the pub’s storied past.

If history alone is not enough to entice you to visit, the beer is always cold and the Irish stew is known to sell out. What more could you need?

Fraunces Tavern has an interesting claim to fame. In operation since 1762, this where George Washington bid an emotional farewell to his troops in 1783 after the Revolutionary War, shortly before assuming the office of President.

The pub was also frequented by the likes of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr (who both attended an event at the tavern a week before their infamous duel. Needless to say, enjoying a pint (or cocktail) at the most historic bar in the Financial District is a must-do while exploring the neighborhood, if not for the history alone.)

As one of the oldest restaurants in NYC, it’s surprising that locals frequent this place more than visitors. There’s a small museum upstairs ($10) depicting the room where Washington gave his farewell speech, it’s pretty cool to check out.

Good to know My husband is a whiskey enthusiast. Having visited most of the city’s top watering holes, he bills Fraunces Tavern one of the best Scotch whisky bars in New York City.

One of the perks of living in NYC is getting the chance to explore the city’s unique neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character. Taking it a step further, I’m a sucker for local business that cater to a neighborhood’s reputation, fulling embracing overworked cliches without loss of enthusiasm.

Cedar Local is just the place. A cheeky nod to the financial industry’s callous reputation, the menu at this popular Financial District cocktail bar is split into “The Exchange” and “The Reserve.” Exciting options grace both sides of the aisle.

I went with the Hamilton Punch (Bulleit Bourbon, black tea syrup, amontillado sherry, mint, lemon) during my last visit and thoroughly enjoyed it. In additional to excellent cocktails, you’ll find a handful of tantalizing appetizers, charcuterie boards and hearty entrees (the spicy vodka rigatoni is particularly good).

It’s not every day you get an opportunity to admire an old bank vault from 1904, let along walk through it. To that end, Trinity Place deserves a shout out for being one of the most unique bars in the Financial District.

Accessing the subterranean bar requires walking through a bank vault once owned by Andrew Carnegie. Commissioned by New York Realty Bank, the custom-built vault was so heavy it had to be transported via purposefully-build railway tracks from Battery Park.

Admire the monolithic structure as you advance to the lively bar on the opposite end, the tone is set for the night. Serving great libations (craft cocktails, wine and beer) alongside traditional American fare, Trinity Place a great spot to celebrate a special occasion (especially if you have even the mildest interest in finance).

25-year-old Frank Moran stepped foot on Ellis Island in 1950, a determined Irish immigrant, he worked odd jobs to get by before opening Killarney Rose in 1962, a popular neighborhood haunt he passed down to his son John in 2023.

Serving the community cold pints of Guinness and reasonably-priced pub fare like Shepard’s pie and sirloin steak, the bar is best known for running generous daily specials.

Draft beers go for $6 on Mondays, Tin Tuesday gets you $6 aluminum bottles of domestic beer, Wine Down Wednesday offers a glass of wine and jumbo wings for $15, Thursday Dew and Brew is a pint of Guinness and Tullamore shot for $13 and Finally Friday closes the week with $6.50 well cocktails.

All this to say, it’s not hard to see why locals consider Killarney Rose one of the best pubs in the Financial District.

Part-bodega, part-bar, The Little Shop bills itself as an inviting speakeasy. A recent addition to the Financial District’s bar scene, the bar is tucked behind a shelf but there’s no password required to get inside (the bodega simply needs the shelf space).

Once inside, find an open seat and give the cocktail menu a gander. Full of exciting libations, the menu feels well-put together and doesn’t overwhelm at first blush. The Piña is an easy order, made with white rum, pineapple, homemade almond orgeat and rosemary, it’s one of my favorite cocktails in the Financial District.

Good to know Spritzes go for $12 from 5-7pm Sunday through Thursday.

There’s a handful of unique bars in the Financial District but Full Schilling takes the cake. The reason? The pub’s 105-year-old bar and counter was shipped directly from a pub in Belfast. Don’t expect to admire the woodwork easily, you’ll need to elbow past stalwart locals first.

When you reach the counter, choose from 15 drafts and ask to see the menu. Full of hearty pub fare like beer-battered fish and chips to bangers and mash, it’s hard to know if picking an entree or beer is the harder choice. If you’d like a little nudge, the Guinness beef stew is my go-to.