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The Best of New York · Drink · Happy hour

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.

Antonina PattizI went to every one · how I decide

Best cheap drinks in New York, 2026

  1. Amity HallBar · Greenwich Village
  2. Beer AuthorityBar · MidtownIt’s touristy, sure, but $5 craft beer with a skyline view is a genuinely good deal.
  3. International BarBar · East VillageIt’s great.
  4. Lucy’sBar · East VillageYou cannot have more fun for $8 anywhere in Manhattan.
  5. Milano’s BarBar · NolitaIt’s a beautiful thing.
  6. 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.
  7. The Pony BarBar · Hell's KitchenThis is one of the best beer bars in the city at any price.
  8. 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.
  9. Rudy’s Bar and GrillBar · Hell's KitchenThis is one of my favorite bars in New York.
  10. Skinny DennisBar · WilliamsburgTwo frozen margaritas and a night of live music for $20, including tip.
  11. Sunny’s BarBar · Red HookThis is the most beautiful cheap bar in New York City and I will not be taking questions.
  12. TerroirBar · TribecaThis is a place for people who like wine but don’t want to be pretentious about it.

On the map

Where they are.

9 neighborhoods, Greenwich Village and East Village most of all.

East Village

Greenwich Village

Hell's Kitchen

Astoria

Midtown

Nolita

Red Hook

Tribeca

Williamsburg

Best cheap drinks in New York, 2026

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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..