21 Manhattan Cocktail Bars Every Insider Knows
- By: Julianne Elise Beffa
Manhattan After Dark…
There’s something magical about drinking your way through Manhattan- rooftops that scrape the skyline, speakeasies tucked behind curtains, and jazz bars where cocktails taste like secrets. The Loop Cocktail Tour skips the tourist traps and dives into the city the way insiders actually do it: neighborhood by neighborhood, glass by glass.
Dante – Greenwich Village
Crowned Best Bar in the World in 2019, Dante is an institution for Negronis and spritzes that never miss. It’s historic, chic, and still buzzing with cool locals who know a classic never goes out of style.
What to order: Black Negroni.
Address: 79–81 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012.
Hours: Tue–Fri 4 PM–12 AM; Sat–Sun 12 PM–12 AM.
Attaboy – Lower East Side
No menu, no pretense. You tell the bartender what you like, they make magic in a glass. A globally influential speakeasy, Attaboy is the definition of insider cool.
What to order: Their custom cocktail- describe your tastes; they’ll handle the rest.
Address: 134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002.
Hours: Closed Mon; Tue–Sat 5 PM–12 AM; Sun 5 PM–11 PM.
PDT (Please Don’t Tell) – East Village
The speakeasy that started it all. Enter through a hotdog shop phone booth, step into dim-lit cocktail heaven, and sip on drinks that defined NYC’s cocktail revival.
What to order: Benton’s Old Fashioned.
Address: 113 St Marks Pl (enter via Crif Dogs).
Hours: Sun–Thu 5 PM–2 AM; Fri–Sat 5 PM–3 AM.
Bemelmans Bar – Upper East Side
Murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, martinis that sparkle, and timeless Art Deco charm. A cultural icon for generations, this is Manhattan cocktailing at its most glamorous.
What to order: Classic Manhattan.
Address: 35 E 76th St inside The Carlyle, New York, NY 10021.
Hours: Daily 5 PM–1 AM.
Dear Irving – Gramercy
Velvet curtains, golden lighting, and cocktails that feel like time travel. Pro tip: the whiskey-based creations are perfection.
What to order: Spicy Margarita.
Address: 55 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003
Hours: Mon–Wed 5 PM–1 AM, Thu–Fri 5 PM–2 AM, Sat 4 PM–2 AM, Sun 4 PM–1 AM
Pardon Me – Lower East Side
A chic French-American bar and restaurant with a hidden 1920s-inspired lounge that feels like stepping into another era. Come for the elevated cocktails, stay for the intimate late-night energy that makes this spot a true LES secret.
What to order: Rosemary’s Baby (gin + mezcal, herbaceous and smoky).
Address: 162 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002.
Hours: Mon–Sun 5 PM – 12 AM.
Verlaine – Lower East Side
An LES institution that built its reputation on one thing: the famous lychee martini happy hour. At $9, it’s one of the best cocktail deals in the city. Add in DJs, pan-Asian bites, and a buzzy crowd that spills onto Rivington Street, and you’ve got nightlife perfection.
What to order: Lychee Martini (always).
Address: 110 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002.
Hours: Tue–Sun 5 PM – 12 AM (closed Mon).
Clemente Bar – Lower East Side
Featured in Food & Wine as one of the city’s must-know new cocktail dens, Clemente is already drawing a downtown crowd. Chic, low-key, and destined to be a classic.
What to order: Mezcal Negroni.
Address: 82 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002.
Hours: Tue–Sat 6 PM–Late.
Superbueno – East Village
Award-winning and bold, this bar reimagines Mexican-American flavors with high-energy creativity. Think mezcal meets modern art in a glass.
What to order: Roasted Corn Sour or Green Mango Martini—order either and feel the heat.
Address: 13 1st Ave, East Village, NY 10003
Hours: Mon–Thu 4 PM–2 AM; Fri–Sun 2 PM–2 AM
The Nines – NoHo
A piano lounge darling where martinis flow and red velvet interiors glow. Come for live music, stay for the scene.
What to order: Flame of Love (with caviar) for drama and sparkle.
Address: 9 Great Jones St, New York, NY 10012
Hours: Mon–Tue & Sun 5 PM–1 AM; Wed–Sat 5 PM–2 AM; Thu–Sat* extended to 3 AM
Mulberry Bar – Nolita
Moody, stylish, and ideal for date nights. Intimate interiors pair perfectly with finely crafted cocktails.
What to order: A classic Martinez for timeless cool.
Address: 240 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012 (Lower Level)
Hours: Closed Mondays; Tue–Sat ~8 PM–2 AM
Mace – West Village
Where cocktails become performance art. Sophisticated, sultry, and endlessly inventive — even the mocktails impress.
What to order: Black Sesame Whiskey Drink or mocktail “Marigold.”
Address: 35 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011
Hours: Mon-Wed 4 PM–12 AM; Thu 4 PM–1 AM; Fri–Sat 2 PM–2 AM; Sun 2 PM–12 AM
The Galerie – Tribeca
Intimate cocktail lounge inside Smyth Tribeca with plush seating, fireplaces, and rotating art—perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks.
What to order: Starry Night or Violet Beauregarde.
Address: 85 W Broadway, New York, NY 10007 (inside Smyth Tribeca).
Hours: Sun–Thu 5 PM–12 AM; Fri–Sat 5 PM–2 AM.
Raines Law Room – Chelsea
A speakeasy classic. Hidden behind curtains, it’s plush, candlelit, and precision-driven — everything a cocktail lounge should be.
What to order: The Raines Old Fashioned.
Address: 48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011
Hours: Mon–Wed 5 PM–1 AM; Thu–Fri 5 PM–2 AM; Sat 4 PM–2 AM; Sun 4 PM–1 AM
Gallow Green – Chelsea
The McKittrick’s rooftop garden wonderland. Flowers, fairy lights, and cocktails built for sipping under the stars.
What to order: Ginger Mojito.
Address: 542 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
Hours: Seasonal rooftop—dinner & cocktails Thu–Sun evenings; brunch weekends at 10 AM
The Bar at Baccarat Hotel – Midtown
Crystal, glamour, and Baccarat perfection. Drinks here aren’t just cocktails — they’re luxury in liquid form.
What to order: Baccarat Martini.
Address: 28 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019. (Inside Baccarat Hotel)
Hours: Daily, 5 PM–Midnight.
The Parlor at The Dead Rabbit – Financial District
Triple-tiered Irish gem with historic charm and seriously inventive cocktails.
What to order: Irish Coffee or House Punch.
Address: 30 Water St, New York, NY 10004.
Hours: Sun–Thu 12 PM–2 AM; Fri–Sat 12 PM–3 AM.
Titsou Bar – Midtown
Sexy, discreet, and Parisian. A hidden Midtown gem where every drink feels like a secret.
What to order: Lychee Martini for sweet intrigue.
Address: 9 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019
Hours: Open Tue–Sat evenings
Amelie Wine Bar – West Village
A sip of Paris in the Village. Happy hour here is basically sacred.
What to order: Spanish red — they pour generous and well.
Address: 22 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011
Hours: Mon–Thu 4 PM–11 PM; Fri 3 PM–12 AM; Sat 11 AM–12 AM; Sun 11 AM–11 PM
Pearl Box – Lower East Side
A jewel-box speakeasy shimmering with sultry lighting. The cocktails are as intimate and alluring as the space itself.
What to order: Pearl Martini.
Address: 114 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002
Hours: Tue–Sat 6 PM–1 AM
Hudson Vu – Midtown West
Rooftop cocktails overlooking the Hudson. A little more low-key than the rest — which is exactly why insiders love it.
What to order: Gin & Tonic.
Address: 602 W 40th St, New York, NY 10036
Hours: Thu–Sun 6 PM–Midnight
Closing the Loop
By the time you’ve hit your last stop, maybe another round of jazz in the Village, maybe sunrise at a LES speakeasy, you’ll realize Manhattan nightlife isn’t about one drink. It’s about rhythm, discovery, and those insider moves that turn a night out into a story.
So grab your crew, your MetroCard, and your best night-out shoes. The Loop Cocktail Tour isn’t just a crawl. It’s a love letter to Manhattan- written in martinis, mezcal, and jazz riffs.
