New York City is a mecca of nightlife and entertainment. With some of the best nightlife venues in the nation, one major aspect of the nocturnal fun found in the city are its bars. But if you know New York like we do, than one of the hardest decisions that anyone looking for a good time can have is, ‘Where to go?!’ There are tlierally hundreds of bars all over, but luckily for you, we’ve narrowed down the list to the top ten bars in New York City.
#10 Best Bar in NYC
Bleecker Heights Tavern
296 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10014
No sports bar is complete without a decent selection of cold beer that doesn’t hit your wallet too hard. That is why Bleecker Heights Tavern is a haven for all the play-offs fans and locals who simply want to sip their beer, without booking a table or hassling at the door. Located right above the burger joint Five Guys (from which the bar menu draws its yummy snacks) Bleecker Heights Tavern joins the casual chic of the area with the low-key comfort of sport dives, and when you put those two together, you get one of the best bars in New York City.
#9 Best Bar in NYC
Brass Monkey
55 Little West 12th Street
New York, NY 10010
It’s not that often that you find a decent and reasonably priced beer selection in the Meatpacking District—home of glitz and be-seen scene. Therefore, the dim space of Brass Monkey becomes a salvation to many thirsty locals, as well as one of the best bars in NYC. It might look like your run-of-the-mill watering hole, but Brass Monkey is an undercover NYC hotspot that happens to feature some 75 brands of imported beer. In case you grew hungry while chugging endless pints, the menu features a selection of above-the-ordinary bar snacks focusing on grilled meat bites.
#8 Best Bar in NYC
McSorley’s
15 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003
Established in 1854, and still holding strong as one of the best bars in NYC, McSorely’s has become East Villages’ landmark. Allegedly trod by Abraham Lincoln and John Lennon, this quaint, cash-only alehouse attracts patrons from all five boroughs and tourists from all around the States with its history-saturated allure. The bar looks its age, but is far from falling apart, and the same goes for the mosaic of old-school cash register, framed photos and all sorts of decorative elements that hinge upon every square inch of the wall. Besides, nothing brings back memories of the past debaucheries better than scratches and marks left by generations of beer-animals on the counter top.
#7 Best Bar in NYC
Whiskey Ward
121 Essex Street
New York, NY 10082
Old-fashioned chalk-on-board menus, exposed brick walls and a general warm feel conveyed by soft lighting and old-school, dark wood furniture are the trademark of Whiskey Ward, a small, cozy joint celebrating the best and oldest bar philosophy—drink until you just can’t drink any more. That sound good to you? It does to us, which is why its made our best bars list. Another thing setting Whiskey Ward apart from dozens of Lower East Side watering holes is an eye-popping selection of-- yep, Miss Whiskey, as well as scotches and single malt bourbons. Rows of tough-guy, western-movie liquors grace the shelves above the broad, welcoming bar.
#6 Best Bar in NYC
Prohibition
503 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
It should not come as a surprise that Prohibition stands strong on hard liquor, and ranks pretty high on our list as one of the best bars in New York. The menu features a dazzling selection of vodkas, scotches, bourbons, tequilas, rums, as well as stylized martinis, house cocktails, wines and bubbly. In other words, there is nothing at Prohibition that won’t get you utterly wasted. Keeping that in mind, the owners made sure to provide an extended menu at the restaurant part. From grilled salmon to burritos, the filling platters will not hit you on the wallet—a fact not without significance these days. Meanwhile, the warm décor with red walls and small glass tables offers just the right amount of chic to keep Prohibition in the sleek sphere.
#5 Best Bar in NYC
The Otheroom
143 Perry Street
New York, NY 10014
Many people consider The Otheroom the most romantic bar west of Union Square, and once you enter its dim interior, you’ll know why. The exposed brick walls and tiny, flickering candles might not be an ultra-original solution, but they invariably work their magic. The décor is hyped-up by works of local artists—including eerie pseudo-African masks ornamenting the walls. Couples lingering on the cozy couches will find a treat of a menu with 60 beer brands and an interesting wine list. When you combine all these attributes, then you understand why its made our list as one of the best bars in NYC.
#4 Best Bar in NYC
Bar 108
108 West Houston Street
New York, NY 10012
Less upper-crust than its neighbors, Bar 108 has just opened its burgeoning kitchen to the starved masses, which stumble into this sleek Soho sports bar for its eight flat screens and over 30 beer brands, which is why its made our list as one of the best bars in New York City. The tan leather banquettes and marble-top bar make us feel shocked that such a chic décor’s main purpose is accommodating crowds of agitated football fans. Luckily, that's not always the case, as it isn't hard to spot a buttoned-down shirt among the Giants jerseys. After all, a sports bar in the upscale street mall that is Soho seems an antithesis in itself. The mood turns pretty hip and vivid at night, though during the day, it’s not uncommon to meet a tourist letting himself.
#3 Best Bar in NYC
White Star
21 Essex Street
New York, NY 10002
Every time a really cool and chic place opens in Manhattan, you shouldn’t feel guilty about suspecting that Sasha Petraske had something to do with it. The nightlife mogul behind Milk and Honey, The East Side Company Bar, and Little Branch this time treats New Yorkers with a rather lower-brow bar (at least in comparison to his other ventures). Still, don’t judge this slim, wood-clad joint by its size, but by the quality of the signature cocktails and the famous house absinth, both of which attract the crowd that is not afraid to spend significant chunks of their precious paychecks while swarming around the marble-top bar. This is without a doubt one of the best bars in NYC.
#2 Best Bar in NYC
Sweet & Vicious
5 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012
Warehouse space gives a multitude of possibilities for decor, and that chosen by Sweet & Vicious makes our ambience-sensitive hearts rejoice. The large main room resembles a medieval mead hall adjusted to the needs of the 21st century booze lovers. The exposed brick walls and wood-panel floors exude warmth while the large fixtures pose as castle chandeliers. Meanwhile, the feel changes significantly in the proximity of the Christmas lights covered bar, which hails the homely feelings of your ol’ college bar. Most delightful happy hour lures patrons with $1 drinks and a small, smokers-friendly garden, easily ranking it in our list of best bars in New York City.
#1 Best Bar in NYC
Elsa
217 East 3rd Street
New York, NY 10003
Just when you think East Village will forever stay in its un-gentrified hip-ness, a snazzy, upscale place like Elsa opens, as if the be-seen type of bars simply spilled out of the over-packed Lower East Side, and nestled in the surrounding neighborhoods. Well, the better for East Village scenesters. One thing is sure— if you like your drinks well-mixed, Elsa is the place to be, mostly due to its signature cocktails, courtesy of the best bartending pros, which is why its made our list as one of the best bars in New York City. And in case you were wondering about an appropriate outfit—you can get tailored on the spot two days a week. Elsa is styled after a tailor shop, but those old-school sewing machines are not a simple decoration. Now, we’ve already heard about linking the idea of shopping and drinking (boutique lounges), or drinking and doing your nails (Beauty Bar), but drinking while waiting for your hand-made jacket, that’s quite a new take on New York watering holes’ versatility.
