260 Best Bars in New York City, New York

Head into the street-level or underground entrances to behold this cutting-edge, multipurpose entertainment and dance emporium, whose name means "the Red Fish" (and whose parentheses around "Le" remain a mystery). Blending just the right mix of posh notes (lush decor, fine dining), party nights, reasonable pricing, and brave music programming (retro-pop, jazz, electronic, cabaret, rock, folk—even rollicking drag-queen bingo), the Poisson is an essential NYC fixture.

Named for a 19th-century bar at or nearby this address, this tiny, charming, divey craft-beer bar is often passed by unnoticed. But ring the bell to enter a hushed, low-lit subterranean bar with funky decor and rabbit images, where the menu dazzles with exotic and seasonal brews on tap and by the bottle (along with a few nice wines).

Even in a neighborhood dotted with Irish pubs, the two-story 5th&Mad stands out as a fine drinking establishment with a hearty menu. Head here to relax at its big circular bar and to mingle with a spirited after-work crowd who love the extended happy hours (until 8 pm Monday–Wednesday and 7 pm Thursday–Saturday).

This corner bar has been a cozy outpost for Greenpointers throughout much of the riverfront's transformation from industrial to industrial chic. With a wood-burning stove for warmth in the winter, and outdoor space to drink and dine alfresco in the summer, Achilles Heel is known for simple, yet creative cocktails, along with fare spanning snacking olives to steak au poivre. Since it's often crowded on weekends, get there on the early end to snag seats, or reserve a table in advance.

Located mid-block on the pedestrian corridor that is 6½ Avenue, this sophisticated lounge pours more than 40 by-the-glass and 200 by-the-bottle wines. Aldo Sohm, considered one of the world's top sommeliers, also oversees the wine program at legendary Le Bernardin around the corner. Enjoy a delicious small-bite lunch and dinner selection that, in this case, pairs with the wine menu (not the other way around). Better still, sip varietals while gazing at this bar's original works by Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and other New York artists.

Not just the local Irish pub for the college kids attending nearby Manhattan College, this Riverdale institution of over three decades is a hybrid of an Irish bar, restaurant, gallery, and performance space for local and Irish poets, musicians, and thespians. Named after the satire by Flann O'Brien, which translates to "the poor mouth," this congenial pub adorned with old timey Irish paraphernalia and portraits of great Irish writers is where you can wash down bangers and mash with a pint of Guinness, all while watching a theatrical stage reading or an Irish jig being performed.

Located in the heart of Harlem's Restaurant Row, Angel of Harlem is a neighborhood favorite for a good time. From weekday happy hours and local artist performances, to live DJs spinning R&B, hip-hop, and reggae, the energy is always high. Stop by on a weekend and experience the seamless transition from lively brunch to bustling nightlife scene. On the menu, contemporary American cuisine prepared with local, fresh ingredients, mingles with Latin and Caribbean flavors. Try pairing the Frederick Douglass Burger with “What Happens In Harlem” (a mojito made with Hennessy!). During warmer months, make a reservation to dine alfresco and enjoy the music with a view.

Tucked away down a winding lane deep in Chinatown (look for the "Chemist" sign), this cocktail apothecary is a surprising but happy find in a neighborhood known more for soup dumplings than creative tipples. Influenced by the 19th-century absinthe parlors of Paris, this bar is all about drama and presentation, but the results (described as "prescriptions" on the menu) are a delicious feast for all the senses. They also offer cocktail classes. 

Crowds of youngsters and longtime New Yorkers have been packing into Arlene's since 1995 for live rock-and-roll, as well as the occasional variety shows, burlesque, live-band karaoke. The drinks are cheap, and the vibe is all about the good times.

In the space that was once home to the legendary cocktail bar Milk & Honey, Attaboy continues the tradition of serving exemplary cocktails to an ultratrendy crowd. The "Penicillin" cocktail, a spicy-smoky mix of Scotch, honey, and ginger, is a must here—it was invented by Sam Ross, one of the current owners. Hint: There's no sign but look for the door marked with "AB."

The design is red-on-red here, and the Asian-style cocktails are particularly polished at this Japan-meets-1950s-America lounge. Listen to live jazz while nibbling on American and Japanese-inflected treats and sipping inventive libations with international twists.

The slick rooftop bar of the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC hotel would be worth visiting even without its sweeping Hudson River and Manhattan views. Sleek and glossy, B On Top has blue Portuguese tiles, an abundance of natural light, cool furnishings, and sexy servers. The music isn't too loud, and there is ample space—indoors as well as out. Cocktails are predictably pricey, but there are weekday happy-hour specials from 5 to 7 pm.

Bar B is kind of an odd duck, but in the most charming of ways. It's a narrow, no-bigger-than-a-hallway venue with no seats—just standing room at a long counter (unless you can nab a sidewalk table). It's also a hybrid, of sorts: there are cocktails, like an excellent Negroni, but the largely Japanese staff also offers excellent Italian and Iberian snacks, too. Sip a glass of wine and nosh on chicken-liver-pate-topped bruschetta, or tuck into a bowl of penne all'Amatriciana. Best of all, everything is very nicely priced.

At this stylish spot from an alum of the Pegu Club, one of the city's foremost cocktail dens, you can expect high-quality, innovative concoctions that make use of the Japanese theme: the Sakura martini is made with sake, gin, maraschino, and cherry blossom, while the Kyoto old-fashioned incorporates rice vodka, gin matcha, and sencha. Small plates to accompany your drinks include miso-slathered wings and savory cabbage pancakes. 

If you woke up this morning and thought: I'd really like to drink a cocktail in 1920s Japan, you're in luck. This stylish bar, whose name is the Japanese equivalent of a "flapper," shakes up classic American cocktails using Japanese spirits and ingredients. The food menu is equally unique as it focuses on yoshoku cuisine, Western-influenced dishes that were created when Japan ended its two-and-a-half-century isolation and opened up to the West in 1868—sort of a time-warp cuisine that marries perfectly with the ethos of this bar.

It doesn't get more intimate than this dark, inviting music den downstairs from the Italian café La Lanterna. An ever-changing roster of musicians takes the stage here, from emerging artists to featured trios. Come early to grab a seat and tuck into a good thin-crust pizza. In summer, hang out in the lovely garden for a prelude.

The cocktail bar companion to Café Boulud, also in the Surrey hotel, Bar Pleiades is a livelier alternative to the more staid atmosphere at the Carlyle's Bemelmans Bar. The design is classic to a fault, employing a black-and-white theme that's positively Audrey Hepburn–esque. Drinks rotate seasonally, and there are tasty nibbles from the café kitchen. Though it doesn't have the same drink menu, the rooftop bar is a cozy aerie good for people- and skyscraper-watching.

Gen Xers will certainly get nostalgic at this mostly 80s video arcade, featuring classics Ms. Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. However, any generation can enjoy the 8- and 16-bit gameplay, or the row of pinball machines, as long as they're adults, since this place doesn't typically cater to children—unless it's a special family day listed on their website's calendar. As the portmanteau of "bar" and "arcade," it's very much as good a beer bar as it is a retro arcade, specializing in dozens of rotating taps from microbreweries around the country. However, this original location has no proper kitchen, so there's no bar food—only bagged snacks are available—so plan on grabbing a bite elsewhere.

The drag shows and freewheeling, flirty dance nights are what lure a mostly male crowd to this cute, casual neighborhood hangout, far less pretentious (some might say it's adorably divey) than some of its grander Chelsea neighbors.

New Yorkers love a speakeasy. Hidden behind a clandestine door inside jewel box–size Stone Street Coffee, 1920s-esque Bathtub Gin is a dark, brooding yet sleek spot for elevated and creative libations using unlikely ingredients like quail eggs, salt-and-vinegar potato chips, and graham crackers. Not surprisingly, the bar stocks an impressive array of gin, but cocktails are also made with rum, vodka, whisky, and other spirits. There's a food menu of bar bites like steak tartare and fried olives.

Guests pile onto long benches at communal tables at this German beer hall, as costumed barmaids serve imported German beers, pretzels, and shot-skis (a ski with shot glasses attached). Live music almost daily, a 50-foot balcony, and a glass ceiling that retracts in the summer ensure that a stop here is always a good time. Appetizers are large, and beer can be ordered in a two-liter (glass) boot if you wish.

This place gets its name from saxophone great Charlie "Yardbird" (or just "Bird") Parker, so expect serious musicians such as John Pizzarelli, the Dave Holland Sextet, jazz guitarist Frank Vignola, and Arturo O'Farrill's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra (on Sunday night). The dining room serves moderately priced American fare with a Cajun accent.