New York City is one of the top metropolitan cities in the world, and it’s home to an excellent bar scene.
From rooftops to speakeasies, the city has thousands of restaurants, bars, and cocktail lounges for you to choose from. With so much selection available, it can often be difficult to choose just one or two places to visit during a short stay.
With this in mind, I’ve put together a list of what I think are some of the best bars to visit in Manhattan. I regularly recommend the bars below to my friends and family, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as well.
My Go-To: Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde is a Victorian bar and restaurant located in the heart of NoMad that’s named after the famous Irish playwright.
The building was designed in 1908, and in 1919, it became the Prohibition Enforcement Headquarters due to the Volstead Act.
Nowadays, as a bar and restaurant, the establishment has an eclectic collection of historical memorabilia, including a grandfather clock from England circa 1884 and 26 antique clocks set to 1:50, the time of Oscar Wilde’s passing.
In the present day, Oscar Wilde has become a lively bar perfect for going out with friends and for meeting new people. Their cocktail menu changes every season, as does their thematic décor, which is over the top!
Halloween is one of the most popular times to visit and bookings sell out quickly as the bar transforms into a haunted house.
While Oscar Wilde does have a restaurant menu, most visitors come for after-work drinks or an evening out. Their prices are fairly reasonable, with some cocktails under $20, and the service is always great.
As a local to the Metropolitan area, Oscar Wilde is one of my go-to places to grab drinks with friends and catch up.
What to order: While their menu changes seasonally, I recommend the “Sinful Sangria” for a fruity yet refreshing drink.
Favorite Speakeasy: Thyme Bar
Thyme Bar is an underground speakeasy tucked away in a pre-war cellar steps away from Oscar Wilde. The mixologists here are incredible and focused on intricately made cocktails with unique presentations.
In addition to cocktails, Thyme Bar also offers a tasting menu and light bites, including mussel toast, fromage flambé, and stuffed squid.
If you’re planning to visit, take note that they don’t take reservations unless you’re participating in their tasting menu, and their seating is first come, first served. On the weekends, it can get busy, making it difficult to secure a spot for a drink; however, I recommend coming during the week when it’s not as busy and the waitlist isn’t as long.
What to order: If you like a floral cocktail, I recommend the “Agrabah,” which features dark rum, pistachio, and orange blossom. It comes in a traditional Moroccan-style small glass and is accompanied by a genie lamp with some roasted nuts inside.
For that Bucket List NYC Moment: Monarch Rooftop
Monarch Rooftop is a bar on the 18th floor of a penthouse located in Midtown, and it showcases incredible views of the Empire State Building.
They have a variety of cocktails, including an ever-changing list of specialty drinks and classic options, plus a small menu of light bites, making this location perfect for having that bucket list moment in New York City.
If you’re visiting New York City for the first time and want those epic skyline views, this is the place to go. It’s perfect for couples, friends, and solo travellers.
Reservations are highly recommended to secure a table, but they do also take walk-ins.
What to order: The “Frose and Chill.”
An Underrated Option: Ophelia
Ophelia is an underrated rooftop lounge located inside the Beekman Tower on the Upper East Side.
It’s an upscale establishment that features views of the East River and a unique side of New York City that you don’t see from other rooftops. The interior design is elegant and trendy, perfect for a date night and for going out with friends.
They have a dinner menu and small bites available throughout the week, and they also offer brunch on Sundays. They have a wide array of cocktails using a variety of interesting liquors like Empress Gin (made purple using butterfly pea flowers) and Japanese Mikibito.
Their small bites include standouts like the crispy crab croquettes, steak tartare bites, and duck confit spring rolls.
Reservations are encouraged, but they also take walk-ins. Also, keep in mind that during the colder months, Ophelia’s outdoor seating is unavailable.
What to order: If you like gin, the “Purple Tuxedo” is a great pick.
The Award Winner: Mace
Mace is a casual cocktail bar located in the West Village that has been on the World’s 50 Best Bars list for six years and is currently sitting at #18 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list for 2023.
They’ve been open for almost 10 years and have received notable recognition for their innovative cocktails. Mace specializes in incorporating unique spices, herbs, and fresh ingredients into their cocktails with a seasonally rotating menu.
They also offer small bites as accompaniments, with choices including charcuterie boards, tempura squash blossoms, and steak tartare.
I’ve been to Mace twice in the last year, and it’s a bar I enjoy taking my overseas friends to when they visit.
Reservations are optional, though helpful, and walk-ins are accepted.
Conclusion
While there’s a lifetime’s worth of bars and cocktail lounges all over New York City, these are the top five I recommend to get you started.
If you visit any of these bars, we’d love to know your thoughts on them, so send us a message and let us know what you ordered!
Also, remember to use a credit card that gets a solid category multiplier on restaurants and bars like the American Express Gold Card to maximize the rewards you earn on your nights out.
