Drink · Happy hour · 2026
The best cheap drinks in New York.
Every one from my own visits, updated September 2026. 12 places.
New York is an expensive city. This is not news. A cocktail at most Manhattan bars is $17-22. A beer at a tourist spot near Times Square can be $12. A glass of wine at dinner costs more than the bottle it came from. I know. It’s painful.
But here’s what I’ve learned after years of going out in this city. The cheap drinks are out there. You just have to know where to look, when to go, and how to work the system. Some of the best bars in New York have insanely good happy hours. Some of them are just naturally affordable because they’re in neighborhoods that aren’t trying to impress anyone. And some of them are dive bars where the charm is that nothing costs more than $7.
- Amity HallBar · Greenwich Village
- Beer AuthorityBar · MidtownIt’s touristy, sure, but $5 craft beer with a skyline view is a genuinely good deal.
- Bohemian Hall and Beer GardenBar · AstoriaOn a summer evening with a pitcher and a plate of sausages, this is the best deal in all of New York.
- International BarBar · East VillageIt’s great.
- Lucy’sBar · East VillageYou cannot have more fun for $8 anywhere in Manhattan.
- Milano’s BarBar · NolitaIt’s a beautiful thing.
- Pocket BarBar · Greenwich VillageNo food, no pretension, just good drinks in a space small enough that you’ll end up talking to the person next to you.
- Rudy’s Bar and GrillBar · Hell's KitchenThis is one of my favorite bars in New York.
- Skinny DennisBar · WilliamsburgTwo frozen margaritas and a night of live music for $20, including tip.
- Sunny’s BarBar · Red HookThis is the most beautiful cheap bar in New York City and I will not be taking questions.
- TerroirBar · TribecaThis is a place for people who like wine but don’t want to be pretentious about it.
- The Pony BarBar · Hell's KitchenThis is one of the best beer bars in the city at any price.
Beer Authority
Bar · Midtown · 300 West 40th Street
It’s touristy, sure, but $5 craft beer with a skyline view is a genuinely good deal.
Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden
Bar · Astoria · 29-19 24th Avenue
On a summer evening with a pitcher and a plate of sausages, this is the best deal in all of New York.
Lucy’s
Bar · East Village · 135 Avenue A
You cannot have more fun for $8 anywhere in Manhattan.
Pocket Bar
Bar · Greenwich Village · 50 MacDougal Street
No food, no pretension, just good drinks in a space small enough that you’ll end up talking to the person next to you.
Rudy’s Bar and Grill
Bar · Hell's Kitchen · 627 Ninth Avenue
This is one of my favorite bars in New York.
Skinny Dennis
Bar · Williamsburg · 152 Metropolitan Avenue
Two frozen margaritas and a night of live music for $20, including tip.
Sunny’s Bar
Bar · Red Hook · 253 Conover Street
This is the most beautiful cheap bar in New York City and I will not be taking questions.
Terroir
Bar · Tribeca · 24 Harrison Street
This is a place for people who like wine but don’t want to be pretentious about it.
The Pony Bar
Bar · Hell's Kitchen · 637 Tenth Avenue
This is one of the best beer bars in the city at any price.
Best cheap drinks in New York, 2026
The seal
Every place on this list can show it. It links back here, so a reader sees the whole list and how it was made. No fee.
Is one of these yours?
The full guide, with the ones that didn't make it and why: Best Cheap Drinks in NYC. Where to Go When Your Wallet Says No..