The Best Cocktail Bars in New York City

King Cole Bar

The King Cole Bar at the St. Regis has been a favored watering hole for New Yorkers and travelers alike for nearly 100 years. After shuttering for an eight-month-long renovation, the legendary cocktail bar opened up with much fanfare. Best known for its venerated Bloody Mary, which was perfected here in 1934, the intimate space welcomes guests in from the hotel's lobby. The cozy 10-seat bar is dominated by the iconic Maxfield Parrish mural that has lorded over the mahogany bar since its inception.

Whatever the reason for its enduring appeal, King Cole has hosted A-listers from Salvador Dali and Marilyn Monroe to John Lennon. It’s also been the backdrop for scores of films and hit TV shows. If these walls could talk, you wouldn’t get a word in edgewise. And that's why the King Cole Bar was ranked as the number one bar in the U.S. in the 2025 Global Tastemakers Awards.

Travel Bar

This decidedly-unfussy neighborhood bar is celebrated by virtually every thirsty local in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn. But it’s absolutely worth traveling for — especially if you’re a fan of American whiskey. The expert curation and deft cocktail preparation overseen by owner Mike Vacheresse is evident everywhere, from the densely lined shelves of the backbar to the boozy base notes of the barrel-aged tipples. The highballs are world-class and the impressive array of private single cask bottlings demand repeated exploration. It’s a warm and inviting space, optimal for connecting with old friends while discovering something new in the glass.

Amor y Amargo

Small in size yet big in flavor, Amor y Amargo is an eight-seat gem in the East Village specializing in all things amaro. That means bold and bitter cocktails, typically stirred, and always exceptional. Industry vet Sother Teague makes sure of that. He crafts specialities that shift with the season and are generally considered affordable, by New York standards. Most recently, a half dozen offerings for spring (priced at $18 a pour each) included highlights like Grandmother’s Tea — an assembly of Italian amari with cognac, dry vermouth, and orange cream citrate; and Commit to the Bit — a spicy mezcal and rhubarb bitter blend heated up with smoked heirloom chiles. 

Sip & Guzzle

Though it’s only been open for less than two years, Sip & Guzzle has already established itself as a West Village institution. It’s no surprise considering that the two-in-one bar/izakaya concept is the brainchild of food and beverage royalty: chef Mike Bagale is responsible for the former; barmen Shingo Gokan and Steve Schneider behind the latter. Downstairs in the dimly-lit Sip, you can meditate on plaintain coladas constructed from shochu and amish milk, or tequila and tomatillo blends, carbonated in-house and jazzed up under shiso and horseradish. Upstairs at Guzzle, the drinks are more approachable and the vibes more boisterous. A night out here isn’t complete until you’ve experienced both floors. 

Clemente Bar

Clemente Bar is as refined a concept as you’d imagine for a cocktail lounge housed within three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park. Drinks are broken down broadly by preparation method: carbonated, whipped, clarified, bold, and fresh. They are rendered as colorfully as the whimsical paintings lining the walls; a showcasing of the space’s namesake artist, Francesco Clemente. On the drinks side, the Negroni Colada is a brilliant mashup of two classics, placing a the coconut-infused Cut & Dry rum from Planteray at its fulcrum. The zero-proof section of menu is thoughtful and expansive and plays well against the mindfully-sourced bar snacks. As at the renowned restaurant downstairs, everything here is plant-based. 

Bemelmans Bar

For nearly 80 years, Bemelmans has existed as a swanky sanctuary for Upper East Side sippers. After enjoying a renaissance in the TikTok-era, the bar and piano lounge just up the lobby of the Carlyle Hotel is as popular as ever. Aside from a younger clientele these days (and a $10-$35 cover charge), it’s the same as it ever was. The martinis are iconic — backed by an iced-down sidecar. The walls are adorned by the masterpiece murals of its eponymous artist. And they reverberate nightly with the live music of some of the city’s most talented jazz musicians.

Superbueno

This high-spirited Mexican-American cocktail bar is as advertised: a super good time. Memorably positioned at the corner of 1st Street and 1st Avenue in the East Village, you feel like you’re at the nexus of the universe whenever you waddle within its festive embrace. The drinks are at once sophisticated and crushable. The Mole Negroni, Green Mango Martini, and Mushroom Margarita are all obvious examples — soulful elixirs with a slightly savory edge. And you can’t go wrong with the Dashi Papi, finding unexpected harmony between mezcal and birria consommé. But the real prize is the heady hospitality, helmed by beloved beverage director Nacho Jimenez. His joy is infectious, and Nacho’s Nachos — topped with mole and mushroom carnitas — are unparalleled. And that's why this bar ranked number one on the 2024 Global Tastemakers Awards list for best bar in the U.S.

Ty Bar

The Four Seasons in midtown recently reopened after a four-year refurbishment and the property’s palatial lobby bar is its emerging new star. It somehow finds intimacy in a sizable corner of space set beneath 33-foot glass ceiling (designed by iconic Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei). The menu pays homage to this grandiose setting with an assortment of “Gilded Age” cocktails that rely on top shelf bottles to elicit major mouthwatering response. The Ty Manhattan splits a local rye from Widow Jane with 25-year-old single malt from Highland Park for an unctuous, slightly smoky deviation from the norm. The New York, New York Sour ups the stakes on silky spice with Michter’s Rye. And the Three Martini Lunch provides a delectable trio of 2 oz. pours in dry, dirty, and espresso form. 

Martiny’s

Pass through the nondescript brick facade of this triple-floored tipple temple and you’re instantly transported from Lower Manhattan into the heart of Tokyo. That’s not by chance. Founder and beverage director Takuma Watanabe originally hails from the Japanese capital, by way of Angel’s Share — one of New York’s most legendary Japanese-style bars. He carries with him here the meticulous execution and elevated ingredients typifying the cocktails of his home country. Standouts include the Tea Ceremony, a colorful concoction combining coconut water with whisked matcha and whisky; and the Caprese, an olive oil and basil-dressed Martini with tomato-infused vodka. Just always save space for haute highballs. 

Sunken Harbor Club

This playful tropical drinks parlor — squirreled away in the second floor above the Gage & Tollner chophouse — is meant to feel like a sunken pirate’s ship. To enhance the effect, it holds a wooden nautical steering wheel behind the bar, beside a wonky “window” peering out over a mural of submarined treasures. But the actual treasure here is the menu developed by master mixologist Garret Richard. His creations chart a course from lighter refreshments (like a shiso-garnished daiquiri or the cachaça and coconut-anchored Batida Dourada) into the depths of what he calls “The Abyss,” where you’ll encounter complex arrangements like the savory sesame-and-pepper infused Immortal Martini or the large format Shattered Skull — a collision of pomegranate and pineapple with Jamaican and Bajan rums.

To uncover the best food and drink experiences for travelers, Food & Wine polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers, and wine pros from across the globe for their top culinary travel experiences. We then turned the results over to our Global Advisory Board, who ranked the top nominees in each category. For the full list of all 165 winners, visit foodandwine.com/globaltastemakers.