Diners' Choice: Cocktail Bar restaurants in New York City

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Cocktail Bar cuisine in New York City? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

ART Midtown

4.5

4.5 (47)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Hell's Kitchen

About the restaurant

Renwick Hospitality Group and Arlo Hotels Present ART Midtown. Art Midtown offers sweeping views of Hudson Yards, the Empire State Building, World Trade Center, & more. Offerings include incredible seasonal cocktails, frozens, local beers, and wine. Along with fantastic food offerings from chef Carsten Johannsens such as pizzas, guacamole & chips, and other shareable bites.

Top review

Yahya

Dined on 10 Oct 2024

Awesome Service, waiters were very nice and welcoming, quick service, and the drinks were top notch. They also offered cake for our birthday celebration. Excellent Vibes.

Lady Blue

4.6

4.6 (189)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Hell's Kitchen

About the restaurant

Inspired by the alluring nature of the late 1970’s New York, Lady Blue is an ode to a remarkable decade of transformation. An oft-forgotten character from the Broadway classic, Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein, Lady Blue’s combination of seduction and grace narrates the main protagonist’s transitional phases, symbolically encapsulating both the wonders and challenges of life in that era. The ambiance and aesthetic of Lady Blue aim to invoke the nostalgia of a quintessential time period for the Broadway community and our darling city.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 7 days ago

Food was delicious and service was great. This was a great discovery. I wil be back.

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Experience

'Tini Tuesday 2 for 1

Ascent Lounge New York

4.5

4.5 (347)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Midtown West

About the restaurant

Located on the 4th floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle, Ascent Lounge offers an incomparable cocktail lounge experience. Presenting stunning views of iconic New York destinations, Central Park and Columbus Circle, Ascent Lounge presents exceptional product and service in a sophisticated, inviting atmosphere. This Premium Cocktail Lounge and Multi-Faceted NYC Event Venue is designed to provide a variety of elegant experiences, from early evening cocktail hours and late night VIP Reservations to Private NYC Corporate Events and Social Celebrations.

Top review

Karen

Dined on 29 Oct 2024

I celebrated my birthday with my sisters and we absolutely loved the ambience, food, and the staff was amazing. The staff were so friendly, professional, and simply pleasant. It’s a great place to entertain with a small group of ppl for drinks and appetizers. The food is bite size and tasty. Do not expect a full course meal. Enjoyed myself. The view is awesome too!

Madame George

4.8

4.8 (76)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Rockefeller Center

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Manhattan, Madame George is a swanky New York cocktail bar, made for New Yorkers, by New Yorkers. Join us for live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening and happy hour specials 5-7pm Tuesday - Saturday.

Madame George features an extensive cocktail program inspired by New York City through the ages using refreshed & modern techniques while referencing historic & prolific cocktail culture. The plush, eclectic cocktail den offers an intimate hideaway for cocktail lovers and city goers alike.

Step from the busy New York streets into a whimsical space, where luxe textures and bright accents form a striking canvas for creative cocktails. A place vaguely nostalgic, yet original; comforting, yet provocative – and like its namesake muse, a captivating mystery.

Find us in Midtown Manhattan just off 5th Avenue, with close proximity to Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center.

Top review

Joshua

Dined on 10 Dec 2024

Madame George is looking very festive at the moment, its a pleasure to be there in December. Cocktails were good but quite strong. Live music is a big draw, though it can be slightly too loud if you are seated right in front of the band. Definitely worth a visit overall.

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Experience

$1.50 OYSTERS EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Experience

Live Music

Nubeluz

4.6

4.6 (599)

$50 and over

Cocktail Bar

NoMad

About the restaurant

Nubeluz by José Andrés is a lightbox in the sky, bringing together the Spanish word for cloud (“nube”) and for light (“luz”). Located on the 50th floor of The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, Nubeluz offers modern interpretations of classic cocktails and small bites coupled with remarkable 270-degree views of the New York City skyline.
***
Please note that Nubeluz will be offering additional dates for Holiday High Tea on the following Fridays 11am-3pm: November 29, December 13, December 20, December 27.

Top review

AshleyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The service was absolutely phenomenal, yet again! Perfect for the Holidays! The Hostesses were friendly and welcoming - they read my notes which I appreciated. Our server was the cherry on top, knowing exactly what drink I wanted without any explanation—most places, I have to describe what a Kerryoael is, but he nailed it right away. Loved that little detail. Plus, getting extra salted nuts was a fun little bonus! I’ll definitely be back again!

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Experience

High Tea

Glass Ceiling Rooftop

4.2

4.2 (305)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

NoMad

About the restaurant

The Glass Ceiling is just that, a beautiful retractable glass ceiling sitting atop the city skyline. A brand new rooftop lounge located in the heart of Nomad. The design adds a glamorous touch to the botanical theme, with a marble bar, concrete surfaces and rattan accents. The space is multi-dimensional transforming daily from a communal workspace to a lounge with light bites and cocktails to an intimate, curated events space. Featuring indoor and outdoor seating, show-stopping views of the Empire State Building, and an escape from your everyday urban routine.

Top review

Michelle

Dined 7 days ago

Went here for brunch on our girls trip. Excellent food and service. Crème brûlée French toast was outstanding !!! Bottomless mimosas are always a place. Would def go back.

The Carnegie Club Cocktail and Cigar Lounge

4.7

4.7 (175)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Midtown West

About the restaurant

Enjoy a fine cigar, single malt scotch, and live music at one of the most exclusive lounges in New York City.
Conveniently located steps from Carnegie Hall, Central Park, and Times Square, The Carnegie Club is a magnificent space that’s both grand and intimate. It provides a classic and sophisticated backdrop of hand-carved 18th century bookcases filled with a wide assortment of leather-bound titles, a stone fireplace, 20 foot ceilings, and several cigar humidors--all offset by plush furnishings.

The Carnegie Club is also home to New York City’s longest running Sinatra Show featuring Steven Maglio and the Stan Rubin 11-Piece Orchestra which have been dazzling audiences for over two decades.

All guests must be 21+ only.

Top review

AshleyVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing! Everyone is so accommodating. Would go back again!

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Experience

Sinatra Saturdays

The Red Stache

4.5

4.5 (33)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Hell's Kitchen

About the restaurant

The Red Stache is committed to providing our customers with an exceptional and memorable craft cocktail & wine experience. We aim to create a warm and inviting atmosphere where our guests can relax and enjoy the best food, cocktails, and wines worldwide. Mix and match wines with our wine flights. Try some of our signature items like the steak frites, miso cod, & flatbreads.

On Sundays and Saturdays, get ready to sashay into a world of fabulousness with The Red Stache Drag Brunch! Indulge in a tantalizing blend of delectable food, bottomless mimosas, and the electrifying performances by NYC's top Drag Artists. From lip-sync numbers to dazzling dance routines, each Drag Brunch is a kaleidoscope of glamour and entertainment that will leave you spellbound. So, grab your friends and join us for a feast fit for royalty at The Red Stache, where every bite is seasoned with sass and sparkle!

For any difficulty booking or for parties larger than 20 people, please call us at (212)-933-4404.

Top review

Shaun

Dined on 27 Nov 2024

Went Tuesday night looking for a relaxed place to have a night cap. This place was perfect, friendly staff, some small bite option and a great back bar for cocktails. Ended up getting a few drinks and will be back for a full dinner.

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Experience

Drag Brunch

Silver Lining Lounge

4.6

4.6 (95)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

NoLita

About the restaurant

Located off the iconic Bowery in the Lower East Side, this Live Music Bar comes alive with nightly musical performances on stage. Experience local bands, Grammy award-winning musicians, and international special guests bringing the house down with all your favorite hits from the 60s, 70s, 90s, and 2000s. Silver Lining will have you on your feet, singing along as the music fills the room, with light bites and drinks flowing. Grab your friends and join the party every Thursday through Saturday. Curated by Creative Directors Dylan Hales and Ronnie Flynn, co-founders of Lower East Side hot spot The Flower Shop.

We’re getting the bands back together.

Top review

Joakim

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing ! We arrived from Switzerland the same day, a bit tired of the trip and almost awake since 24hours, but Tim Young arrived and just did a crazy show, giving us a lot of energy ! Service was perfect, they really take time to do things right, oysters and caviar plate were tasty, I would’ve add some little toasts, but all good ☺️ We definitely recommend 🤩

The Highlight Room NY

4.5

4.5 (46)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Chinatown

About the restaurant

The Highlight Room’s real showstopper is the spectacular view of the city through a glass wall that spans the entire width of the room and folds back to allow access to the outdoor terrace. From there, guests can lift a cocktail to the expansive views — north to the Empire State Building, south to the Freedom Tower. The north and south sides of the room are lined with two-toned leather and velvet banquettes positioned to take advantage of the cityscape views from floor-to-ceiling windows.

The bar, set off by wooden arches and antique mirrors, complements the greenery, and elaborate, candelabra-style chandeliers allude to the candles that would illuminate the German garden as evening fell. Layers of premium materials — plaster, brass, velvet upholstery, caramel drapery, terrazzo tiles — add a dose of playful luxury. Although the bar is open to the public, the overall sense is of a swank member’s club, a private Eden commanding the sky above the Lower East Side. Must be 21+.

Top review

JimVIP

Dined on 24 Oct 2024

Very hip place with sweeping NYC views. Drink prices are on the high end, but well worth it for this type of experience.

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Experience

$5 Rosé Golden Hour

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