New York Dearest
The guide, $35

The Best of New York · Drink · Cocktail bars and speakeasies

The best cocktail bars in New York.

Every one from my own visits, updated September 2026. 15 places.

My husband I have a running list of cocktail bars we’ve tried in this city. It’s embarrassingly long. But the places on this list are the ones we actually go back to, the ones where we show up without a reservation and happily wait because we know what’s coming. These are New York City’s best cocktail bars, the kind where every sip reminds you why you live here.

Antonina PattizI went to every one · how I decide

Best cocktail bars in New York, 2026

  1. AttaboyBar · Lower East SideAll this to say, visiting Attaboy is non-negotiable for serious cocktail enthusiasts in search of the best cocktail bars in New York City.
  2. Bar GotoBar · Lower East SideHelmed by famed mixologist Kenta Goto, Bar Goto offers unique cocktails infused with Japanese ingredients like miso, shiso, dashi and oolong.
  3. Bemelmans BarBar · Upper East SideFound inside the posh Carlyle Hotel, dimly-lit Bemelmans is arguably the most iconic bar in New York City.
  4. DanteBar · West VillageA jack of all trades, every cocktail is expertly made but the martinis steal the show.
  5. Death & Co.Bar · East VillageDeath & Co. has been influential in shaping cocktail trends across the world and is remains one of New York City’s best cocktail bars to this day.
  6. Double Chicken PleaseBar · Lower East SideDouble Chicken Please’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries earns them a spot on any respectable list of best cocktail bars in NYC.
  7. Katana KittenBar · West VillageKatana Kitten is a celebrated Japanese dive bar serving inspired craft cocktails in the West Village.
  8. MaceBar · West VillageThe concept of this trendy cocktail bar in the West Village is simple. infuse every cocktail with adventure.
  9. Please Don't TellBar · East VillageIn New York City, speakeasies are a dime a dozen, but Please Don’t Tell feels different.
  10. The Bar at ManhattaBarThey say you can only have two. good views, good quality, or good prices, but at Manhatta, you can have it all.
  11. The Dead RabbitBar · Financial DistrictMcGarry is responsible for churning out some of the best cocktails in New York City.
  12. ApothekeBar · ChinatownAptly named, Apotheke is an apothecary-theme cocktail bar housed in a former opium den.
  13. Employees OnlyBar · West VillageIt’s one of the most popular cocktail bars in New York City, so make reservations ahead of time.
  14. Nobody Told MeBar · Upper West SideA fairly new addition to the city’s vibrant bar scene, Nobody Told Me opened in 2019.
  15. The Up & UpBar · West VillageDive bar meets cocktail bar at the Up & Up.

On the map

Where they are.

7 neighborhoods, West Village and Lower East Side most of all.

West Village

Lower East Side

East Village

Chinatown

Financial District

Upper East Side

Upper West Side

Best cocktail bars in New York, 2026

The seal

If you're on this list, this is yours.

I went, and I said in my own words that it's worth your time. Nobody paid for that and nobody can. The seal says so, and it links back here, so anyone who sees it reads the whole list and how I decide.

Put it on your site, in the window, on the menu. Keep it linked when it's on the web and keep the words on it. That's the whole ask.

The code. Paste it where the seal should sit.

<a href="https://newyorkdearest.com/rankings/cocktail-bars-in-new-york/">
  <img src="https://newyorkdearest.com/rankings/cocktail-bars-in-new-york/badge.svg"
       alt="Best cocktail bars in New York, New York Dearest, 2026"
       width="240" height="240">
</a>

How it looks

Best cocktail bars in New York, New York Dearest, 2026

On a light site

Best cocktail bars in New York, New York Dearest, 2026

On a dark site

The files

SVG, lightSVG, darkPNG, lightPNG, dark

SVG for the web, the 1200 px PNG for print and social. Both carry the year.

Is one of these yours? and I confirm it's you and send the files.

The full guide, with the ones that didn't make it and why: 17 Wait List-Worthy Cocktail Bars in New York City.