Good for cold weather or a cloudy day, as it's a cavernous space. Chances are it'll be crowded after work but the bespoke cocktails are well worth it.
Subterranean cocktail bar hidden below Chelsea Market, with excellent cocktails and plenty of space to bring a whole group.
This Chinatown "cocktail apothecary" has more than 250 specialty drinks created with house-made liqueurs and infusions.
You'll find cocktails inspired by everything from gelato to seaweed salad at this Lower East Side cocktail den, which also has locations in Paris and London.
If you make a reservation, you'll have no issues. Everyone was nice, we had the choice of a table or the bar where we were able to sit and eat. sunset was a perfect backdrop. Enjoy the mystery of it
Very good cocktails, nice bartenders. Wren Old-Fashioned is what you need to order. Crowd is different each night of the week-I like Mon/Tues. If you're not into the bro scene, don't go on a Friday.
Super crowded on the weekends; go Monday through Wednesday for best results. The bartenders make damn fine classic cocktails, but go for the kale margarita if you're feeling fancy.
The gin-based cocktails come from the 30+ brands of gin stocked behind the bar. Tasty but uneven East and Southeast Asian bar bites round out the menu.
grab a small table, a bottle of wine, some oysters, and a couple appetizers. perfect low-key dinner spot.
The best kept secret on the LES in the bar department. It's like drinking cocktails in your friend's living room. Order the seasonal punch or a whiskey drink and snag a seat by the window.
Tuesday night happy hour brings $1 oysters and $6 specialty cocktails and rolls right into trivia night where you can win $100 gift certificate. The Tequila Rose was a personal favorite.
This place is awesome! The cocktails are crazy unique. Definitely recommend the bacon tator tots, scallop dish and lamb! So good and great service!
Overproof bourbon/cognac juleps, old-fashioned on freaking massive pieces of sculptor ice, frosty as hell daiquiris. $9-10. Cheap. Back that up with a can of beer for $4. You need a drink. Trust.
Damn good cocktails upstairs. Order a drink that comes in an antique porcelain cup (with built-in mustache guard) and feel transported to old Mannahatta.
Make your own Bloody Mary. Enough said. It's tough to choose a favorite, but you can't go wrong with "The Burger." Pay with Cover and skip waiting for the check.
Finally the perfect after work spot in Midtown East! Your best bet is snagging an outdoor seat while it's still nice out and enjoying a Main About Town, paired with the oysters and pulled pork tacos.
Great beer, huge patio, and an amazing Korean hole in the wall downstairs. If you're about the clean eating get the bonchon. Amazing. The scallion something cake is basically Korean pizza from heaven!
Not only does this Greenpoint bar have a lovely backyard, complete with a gondola repurposed for seating, but it also offers plenty of session beers with an ABV of 5 percent or less. Read more.
Such a hidden gem! Cheap and delicious eats, friendly staff, attractive company, and great bar selection. They even have gruner wine for us white wine enthusiasts! #LES for the win.
Best new bar in town, in the old Milk & Honey space. There's a new longer bar, no reservation policy and they now serve wine & beer as well as classic cocktails. Great vibe & awesome service!
Nestled in a somewhat quiet corner of Williamsburg is this neat, classy cocktail bar. Look at the cool overhead conveyor belt fan!
Plenty of space to address the 50-strong cocktail list -- manhattans, sazeracs and sidecars, the Snow Mosquito, the Elderflower Margarita, the Gingerly Gentleman. Read more.
A wine bar, but also serves cocktails. The menu spans beyond the usual charcuterie to include smoked trout mousseline, pork meatballs with nigella seed polenta, and duck rice with golden beets. Read more.
Go. Have a seat at the bar. Order a few $10 plates of cheese and crostini. Great wine, heavy pours and unique beer selection. The place is a log cabin and just like home.
Unusually cool downtown vibe on the Upper East at The Penrose! Awesome bartenders, unique (and delicious) cocktails. Great interior design. Great with friends or a date.
Enter through Cipriani on the balcony at Grand Central & you'll feel as if you have entered a bygone era. Drinks are expensive ($15 martini) but the atmosphere is worth it. Reserve a table in advance.
The Gun Metal Blue drink steals the spotlight. Don't be fooled by the color. The drink, made with Mezcal Vida and blue Curaçao, is unexpectedly smoky, with hints of peach balanced by cinnamon syrup. Read more.
Boozy creative cocktails with a strong bourbon and scotch leaning menu. A welcome reprieve from the madness of Macdougal street. The Nampara Cove was an old fashioned riff with pisco and scotch mist.
Super cute and relaxed with wine on tap, which can be purchased by the liter. Yes, that's a lot! Yes, they use the metric system!
Leyenda’s menu is heavy on the spirits of Central and South America (tequila, mezcal, rum and pisco are common players) alongside a similarly Latin-inflected menu by Suenos chef Sue Torres. Read more.
Go to the back and have a drink in the Hogwarts-like courtyard, it's great! And quite secret...
Little sister of the East Village cocktail bar Elsa. Try the Boxer Beetle (blackberry bourbon, rose hip grenadine, allspice dram, rosemary).
The wine list had incredible range. You can spend anywhere from $35-$300. Don't skip over the cheeses, they were a memorable start to a fabulous meal.
Winter time + midweek + Backroom + fireplace = one of the better spots on a cold night in Lower East Side (backup plan: fireplace @ The Delancey). Just watch out for the dbags!
Solid cocktails (try the milk punch, mezcal and tequila options) and friendly staff. You can make reservations for groups on the weekends too. I'm sold.
A rooftop bar with amaze views of the Manhattan skyline. It's new so it remains not so crowded. Very loungy, good place to chat with a friend.
