Where to Drink in New York City Right Now

Designed to resemble a stylish living room, schmuck. is the East Village cocktail bar from Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy, formerly of Barcelona’s acclaimed Two Schmucks. They approach cocktails like dishes, combining unexpected ingredients and flavors without becoming overly serious. The menu has included cocktails built around strawberry and Parmesan, spicy Larb Gai, and Fika, which evokes coffee and a cinnamon bun.

Opened by bartender Iain Griffiths and bar owner Oliver Cleary, Bar Snack updates the East Village neighborhood bar without sacrificing its casual spirit. The wood-paneled room and disco-themed bathroom set a playful tone, while pints of Guinness share the menu with polished cocktails and Irish-inspired bar food, including a spice bag loaded with fried chicken, fries, peppers, and curry sauce. The combination earned Bar Snack the 2026 Spirited Award for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar and the No. 3 spot on that year’s North America’s 50 Best Bars list.

At Superbueno, Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez and Greg Boehm bring Mexican flavors and New York cocktail culture together in an energetic East Village setting. The unlikely bestseller, Vodka y Soda, combines vodka with clarified guava and pasilla chile. The Mole Negroni and tequila-based Green Mango Martini offer equally inventive alternatives in a room that always feels like a party.

Located above Eleven Madison Park, Clemente Bar brings the restaurant’s polished approach to a more relaxed lounge. Its seasonally changing cocktails showcase ingredients such as cherry blossom, squash, and saffron, while the small, plant-driven bites are every bit as ambitious as those served downstairs.

Sip & Guzzle brings two distinct bars together in a bilevel Greenwich Village space. Upstairs, Guzzle is the livelier, more casual half, serving playful riffs on classics such as the Miami Vice Negroni. Downstairs, Sip draws on Japanese cocktail culture for thoughtful drinks in a quieter, more refined setting. The pairing earned the No. 1 spot on North America’s 50 Best Bars list in 2026.

Opened on Macdougal Street in 1915, Caffe Dante began as a gathering place for Italian immigrants and has since evolved into one of New York’s defining aperitivo bars. The original Greenwich Village café is now joined by Dante West Village and Dante Aperitivo, giving the group three Manhattan locations. Negronis remain a specialty, with classic, chocolate, and bianco versions alongside Martinis and other Italian-inspired cocktails.

It is difficult to imagine a more iconic New York cocktail bar than Bemelmans. Located inside The Carlyle on the Upper East Side, steps from Central Park, the bar pairs ice-cold Martinis and Old Fashioneds with complimentary old-school snacks. Murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, best known for creating the Madeline books, cover the walls, while nightly piano and late-night jazz complete the scene.

Maison Premiere channels the oyster bars and absinthe cafés of New York, Paris, and New Orleans in its Williamsburg setting. Its attention to detail extends from the absinthe service to classic cocktails: order a sherry-based Adonis and an orange peel is cut into a single long spiral that hangs from the rim, while cobblers and juleps arrive piled with fruit and fresh herbs.

With stiff drinks, a food menu that delivers, and bartenders with the requisite dry sense of humor, The Long Island Bar is a New Yorker’s bar. The Cobble Hill institution draws a devoted crew of regulars for late-night burgers and classic cocktails. For something cheekier, order a frozen Cosmopolitan, especially after a ride on the sweltering subway.

Overstory proves that a rooftop bar can take its cocktails as seriously as its views. Located on the 64th floor of 70 Pine Street in the Financial District, the bar opens onto a wraparound terrace with 360-degree views of the skyline. Moody lighting and a sleek interior provide a polished setting for creative drinks that justify the trip on their own.