Guides · 23 guides
NYC Drinks.
My NYC Drinks guides, every place from my own visits, with my verdict on each.
Start with these
What I’d read first in NYC Drinks- New York City Martinis10 places, 10 worth it
- Working Cafes in New York City15 places, 15 worth it
- Financial District Happy Hour Spots10 places, 9 worth it
- Bars in the Financial District You Can’t Miss11 places, 11 worth it
- Coffee Shops in Chelsea13 places, 13 worth it
- Thirst-Quenching Brooklyn Breweries11 places, 11 worth it
My best lists in NYC Drinks
All my lists- The best martinis in New York
- The best cafes to work from in New York
- The best happy hours in the Financial District
- The best bars in the Financial District
- The best coffee shops in Chelsea
- The best breweries in Brooklyn
- The best bars open on Christmas in New York
- The best bubble tea in New York
- The best Irish pubs in New York
- The best bars in Manhattan
- The best wine bars in New York
- The best bars in the East Village
What readers asked about NYC Drinks
Ask meSo glad to see Greenpoint Ales on this list! I love that place and love that it’s always full of locals. I’ve been in Bushwick for 6 years and agree with all the spots on this list. Keep up the good work! Matt
Hey Matt, so happy to hear you're a fan of Greenpoint Ales as well, love that place!
Thirst-Quenching Brooklyn BreweriesHave you been to the Bar Room at the Beekman? I recently went for pre-dinner drinks and was really impressed by their martinis. The restaurants/hotel is really beautiful too, one of my favorite spots in the city.
New York MartinisI'm a huge martini nut and am always looking for new places to try. Like you, I'm a big fan of Dante's martini happy hour. I'll give the pickle martini a try soon -- curious to see how the brine changes the flavor.…
New York MartinisEvery guide in NYC Drinks
23, by topicBars by neighborhood 9
- Bars in the Financial District You Can’t MissSpeaking from first-hand experience, the bars in the Financial District are some of the best in New York. When it comes to bars in the Financial…11 places, 11 worth it · Sep 2026
- Manhattan Bars Everyone Should VisitKnown as the City that Never Sleeps, New York City’s nightlife is known the world over. As a local, I’ve explored every angle of bars in Manhattan,…8 places, 8 worth it · Sep 2026
- East Village Bars for Every OccasionThe East Village has more bars per block than any neighborhood has a right to. I know because I’ve tested this theory extensively. Some of these…10 places, 9 worth it · Sep 2026
- Bars in DUMBONew Yorkers consider DUMBO to be Brooklyn’s most beautiful neighborhood, thanks to its stunning surroundings, charming cobblestone streets, and…6 places, 5 worth it · Feb 2024
- Bars in the Lower East SideThe sheer amount of unforgettable bars in the Lower East Side makes it clear, this is NYC’s nightlife epicenter. As a matter of fact, the #1 ranked…15 places, 15 worth it · Feb 2024
- Bustling Bars in WilliamsburgThe reason I could never live in Williamsburg is the same reason I visit so often; the nightlife knows no limits. It very might well be the liveliest…15 places, 15 worth it · Feb 2024
- Bars on the Upper East SideIf there’s one thing the Upper East Side Bar (UES) isn’t lacking, it’s first-rate bars. And if you’re not one of the trust fund babies this…15 places, 14 worth it · Jan 2024
- Chelsea BarsFamous for its art galleries and markets, the deceptively peaceful neighborhood conceals a lively secret, Chelsea has some extraordinary bars. Having…10 places, 10 worth it · Jan 2024
- Bustling Bars in SoHoSoHo, you beautiful thing. It’s hard not to romanticize life while strolling the neighborhood’s cobblestone streets, especially after a tipsy night…15 places, 15 worth it · Jan 2024
Beer, pubs and breweries 3
- Thirst-Quenching Brooklyn BreweriesBrooklyn’s craft beer scene punches above its weight. Having spent a ton of time drinking beer in New York’s coolest borough, I’d like to highlight…11 places, 11 worth it · Sep 2026
- Irish Pubs in New York CityIrish pubs in New York City have found a way to intertwine themselves into the fabric of the city. If Irish pubs in New York. Even folks who aren’t…11 places, 9 worth it · Sep 2026
- Sports Bars in New York CityIt should go without saying, New Yorkers are passionate. Passionate about their food, passionate about their neighborhoods, passionate about their…16 places, 15 worth it · Jan 2024
Cocktail bars and speakeasies 2
- New York City MartinisI didn’t used to be a martini person. Thought they were all performance and no substance. Then someone ordered me one at Dante and I had to rethink…10 places, 10 worth it · Sep 2026
- Margaritas in New York CityI’ve never been known to turn down a margarita, the Mexican cocktail is my guilty pleasure and thus I’ve pin-balled around the city in search of the…15 places, 14 worth it · Jan 2024
Coffee 2
- Working Cafes in New York CityAs someone who’s called New York City home, I take my working cafes recommendations seriously. The places on this list aren’t just good, they’re the…15 places, 15 worth it · Sep 2026
- Coffee Shops in ChelseaI’m convinced the most important part of exploring a new neighborhood is starting with that choice cup of coffee and with a neighborhood as lively…13 places, 13 worth it · Sep 2026
Christmas 2
- Bars Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in NYCThanks to shoe-box-sized apartments and insane room-service prices, celebrating Christmas day in New York City can prove to be difficult.Not to…10 places, 10 worth it · Sep 2026
- Christmas Pop Up Bars in New York CityThe abundance of Christmas pop-up bars in New York City is proof that the holidays in the Big Apple are unmatched. The popular haunts use over the…12 places, 12 worth it · Feb 2024
Rooftop bars 2
- Lower East Side Rooftop BarsVisiting a rooftop bar is a must-do in New York City. Whenever friends come to town, they always ask me for rooftop bar recommendations (yes, I’m the…5 places, 5 worth it · Feb 2024
- Rooftop Bars in BrooklynA city of iconic skyscrapers, there’s no shortage of incredible bars for a scenic drink in New York City. As any local will tell you, Brooklyn has…8 places, 7 worth it · Feb 2024