So I've developed penchant for discovering interesting cocktail bars around the city. So far, I've been to Elsa (yelp.com), Little Branch (yelp.com), and Employees Only (yelp.com). I've also been *inside* Angel's Share (yelp.com) but the line was just too long.
Any other fantastic bars I should check out?
First of all, stop using Yelp. (!!!) Foursquare, Hursh. Hursh, Foursquare.
Apotheke and Little Branch aren't new, but they're both good options. I find Apotheke's whole look-at-us-light-absinthe-on-fire thing a little much, but to each their own. Also, Little Branch sometimes has a line outdoors and around the corner, so don't go in bad weather!
Oh whoops! You had already added Little Branch.
Submitted in its stead: Freemans. Has really great food and cocktails, though it's not explicitly a cocktail bar.
Seconded, Libby.
I'd recommend Pegu Club. Watching the bartenders construct your drink is mesmerizing. The cocktails are poured like it's a science, and I've never seen fire and eyedroppers, or coffee beans used in a drink. I usually get the Gin Gin Mule (big gin & tonic guy here), or the Pisco Punch, which I'd consider more sweet and refreshing.
Yes! Their Earl Grey martini is delicious. It was actually one of the first speakeasy-type cocktail bars in the city. Here's a small trend piece from 2005 (the year it opened) in New York Magazine:
Ohh Angel's Share has a great Earl Grey drink with infused Vodka. I think it's called "Evidence."
Tea + vodka? Interesting... Doesn't sound like it'd mask the alcohol much.
It doesn't. More like earl grey flavored vodka, but it works.
I enjoyed Experimental Cocktail Club in L.E.S., which is the first U.S. outpost of the Parisian original. Very interesting menu -- some cocktails with coffee, homemade ginger syrup, many other unique ingredients -- plus a cool 1920's Paris speakeasy feeling.
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Pegu's Earl Grey has egg white, too, which cuts the bite a little bit.
Experimental looks great! I didn't even know it opened. (I have terrible radar for these things...) Added to my to-dos.
Cool, thanks Aaron! I'll check out Experimental. Seems like an interesting menu
+1 Apotheke (Theater Bar in TriBeCa is the same owner and also awesome) & Employee's Only.
Also: Raine's Law Room, The Brandy Library, The Rose Bar, The Randolph, The Back Room, Kingswood (but you have to get into the secret downstairs bar) and the bar at the NoMad Hotel.
Some other great suggestions from Twitter!
@Justin - But, wait, I thought Baddies was gone! (Baddies = used to be the secret bar/club below Kingswood.) Has it returned in phantom form?!
Death & Co - Mixologist is great. Plus: truffle popcorn, jazz, kerosene lamps...
Raines Law Room is definitely one of my favorites.
Lovers of Today is also a great one that's a have-to-stumble-upon-it type deal.
On the BK side:
-Weather Up
-Huckleberry Bar
-Tradesman
-The Shanty
-Northeast Kingdom (not actually a cocktail bar, but great drinks with dinner)
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Maison Premiere has the best cocktails in Williamsburg. nymag.com
The Richardson is also really good. nymag.com
For something different, the Drink has really interesting punches with fancy flavors. nymag.com
If you're in the East Village, Elsa is my favorite but also check out Mayahuel (nymag.com) for cool tequila- and mezcal-based drinks.
If you're in the Upper West Side... can't help you :)
Hahaha, yeah - not much going on up here.
Nice list! Agreed on Elsa. I'm a huge fan.
Haters gonna hate! There are several good options on the UWS for a drink—more wine than cocktails, though.
Buceo 95 is one of my favorite tapas bars in the city, Barcibo Enoteca is great, and if you feel like venturing up to Harlem, 67 Orange is very cool.
@Tal - Agreed on The Richardson! Love that place. I'll have to try The Drink, sounds interesting.
I'm a fan of Berry Park in Wburg, mostly for the atmosphere on the roof and their lemonade / slushie cocktails.
For the EV, @Tal has a pretty comprehensive list on Foursquare foursquare.com
Ooh, nice find on the list.
I too am a bit late here, and many of my favorites have been discussed. But I'd like to throw a couple extras onto the list
PDT and Ward III.
PDT is one of the original hidden speakeasies in the city, you enter through a phone booth!
A friend recently introduced me to Ward III, and the bartenders are top notch.
We need to organize a snooty cocktail pub crawl. ;)
If you ever find yourself in Long Island City, Dutch Kills is a nice place, too:
Although the MP's not normally my scene, the drinks at The Vinatta project are dope. I think this is the sport that used to be Florent foursquare.com
In addition to the ones already mentioned (which are all awesome), I've been hearing really good things about forkly.com
I love WeatherUp — weatherupnyc.com — which I go by for a drink every time I am in NYC. It is fantastic! I love the specialty cocktails, their crafted ice and the gin.
Hey Hursh, there's Clover Club in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, which you'll love if you're into fancy hipster cocktails. Kind of surprised no one has mentioned that yet. cloverclubny.com
The best bars in NYC? Those where are on rooftops
I strongly recommend PDT (St. Mark's between 1st and A - go in through the phone booth in Crif Dogs) for speakeasy atmosphere, creative drinks, and the excellent hot dogs! Definitely try to catch the action at the bar. Be advised, there's usually a wait unless you snag a reservation in advance. Other people have already mentioned Death & Co., so I'll just say that you should take their advice. It's an excellent joint! Finally, for a taste of the old school, check out Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel on E 76th. The bar is upscale (the staff wear bar jackets etc.) and the drinks are expensive, but they are very well mixed and quite delicious. The wallpaper and lampshades all feature Ludwig Bemelmans' art!
I'll consider PDT on my next trip to NYC
- For classic cocktails, The Richardson in Williamsburg is very good. Very heavy on whisky/rye—and they do an excellent Old Fashioned.
- The bartenders at Beloved in Greenpoint have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails, and they make them very well. Their Double Down and Imperial Buck are both delicious.
- Same goes for Dutch Kills, but the bartenders tend to be a little rude (not just me, everyone I know who's gone there says the same thing).
- I wouldn't say Clover Club is "hipster". It's Cobble Hill, after all. I would just say that it is very, very good.
- Weather Up in Prospect Heights is excellent.
- Amor y Amargos in E. Village is pretty new, and has a good variety of drinks focused specifically on the bitters.
Thanks for your feedback! Team Branch
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