There was a time in the 2000s, at the genesis of the contemporary cocktail renaissance, when most of the world’s pioneering cocktail bars were located within a convenient 15-minute walk of each other. At the epicentre of this cultural phenomenon was a small speakeasy on Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan known as Milk & Honey.
There, long-forgotten classics were revived and reconstructed; modern classics, such as the Penicillin and Paper Plane, among others, were born; bartenders sported suspenders and typically took themselves a touch too seriously (in an understandable effort to legitimise bartending as a career); and groundbreaking drink-making philosophies and techniques, such as how to build a round of drinks, were founded and championed. It was the best place to drink and learn about cocktails in the world.
Like trailblazing Michelin-starred restaurants in the city, such as Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, Daniel, Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern, which ushered in a new wave of fine-dining culture in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Milk & Honey and its innovative peers were doing the same for New York’s bars a decade later. But, unlike the well-to-do investor-backed restaurants that were all based further uptown, even as far as the Upper East Side in the case of Daniel, the majority of New York’s award-winning bars were below 14th Street in Lower Manhattan.
The concentration of world-class bars below 14th Street created a divide between downtown and uptown that still exists today
‘Historically, most of the best bars in New York were below 14th Street, although that line started getting blurred around 2012 and even more so now,’ says Leo Robitschek, VP of F&B for NoMad Hotels, who spent his formative bartending years shaping Eleven Madison Park’s cocktail programme. ‘It used to be that rent was cheaper in areas like the East Village and the Lower East Side, and because of the lower rent and creative and artistic types who occupied those neighbourhoods, it was easier to open profitable bars.’
The location of almost all the best cocktail bars in Manhattan entirely in one neighbourhood created a divide between downtown and uptown that, according to Robitschek, still exists today. ‘There’s no doubt that the 14th Street divide was and still is a thing,’ he says, while simultaneously acknowledging that mentalities are shifting as great bars open outside of Lower Manhattan. ‘Historically, downtown was the epicentre of nightlife and there was definitely a sense of pride or coolness associated with staying below 14th Street,’ Robitschek admits. ‘However, these days, you can find great bars all over the city, from NoMad and Harlem, to Hudson Yards, Williamsburg (in Brooklyn) and even Midtown.’
Today, as Robitschek notes, brilliant bars are scattered throughout the city’s five boroughs. As the industry became globalised thanks to the rise of social media and awards such as Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards and The World’s 50 Best Bars, new trends are always redefining New York’s cocktail culture.
‘Right now, I think there’s a return to bar programmes that are really good and really simple,’ says Kristine Gutierrez, general manager at Mister Paradise. ‘We’ve experienced almost every single trend, mastered so many different types of methods and palates, and now we [New Yorkers] just want a good meal with a well made Martini.’ It’s a sentiment shared by Robitschek too, who also highlights the current boom of bars that fuse Japanese techniques with New York’s style of bartending, namely Katana Kitten, Sip & Guzzle and Martiny’s where, he says, precision and balance are key.
Visiting cocktail lovers shouldn’t miss a visit to Lower Manhattan, the spiritual home of NYC cocktail culture
‘Where New York really stands out compared to other incredible cocktail destinations like London, Singapore or Paris is in its bartenders’ ability to go-off menu due to their impressive repertoire of classics,’ says Robitschek. ‘In New York, bartenders’ deep understanding of cocktail history, combined with their ability to adapt and innovate, creates a unique experience that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.’
With New York debuting its first annual Bartender Week in November 2024 and three of the bars in Lower Manhattan appearing in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, it’s clear that the city that never sleeps has a cocktail scene that will continue to flourish. While it’s easy to be distracted by the wealth of bars popping up all over the city, visiting cocktail lovers shouldn’t miss a visit to Lower Manhattan, the spiritual home of NYC cocktail culture. Below are 12 of the best cocktail bars in Manhattan, all below 14th Street, that should be on your hit list.
12 of the best cocktail bars in Manhattan
Superbueno
The award-winning Superbueno, which debuted in 2023, is a celebration of Mexican-American culture run by industry veteran Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Jimenez. When the sun goes down, the party that ensues is as impressive as their signature Green Mango Martini (Tequila, mango eau de vie, Sauternes, green mango, honey). The striking magenta lights fill the space, the pendant lights above the bar top start swinging and the rhythmic Latin hits get a bit louder, with even the Vodka y Sodas (vodka, pasilla chilli, guava and soda) dancing on your taste buds like a symphony of flavour. Not only one of the best cocktail bars in Manhattan but one of the most exciting to open in the city in recent years – it’s a place you’ll spend more time than you intend because it’s just that good.
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Double Chicken Please
What started as a travelling bar concept, popping up out of a 1970s Volkswagen camper, quickly became one of the most awarded bars in the world once it found its permanent home in 2020. By 2024, the dual-concept bar – the front room, called ‘Free Range’, is designed to serve quick and casual cocktails, while the back room, ‘The Coop’, offers a more elevated cocktail experience – is a regular in the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bar awards. Unfortunately, given its popularity, it’s not a place you can just pop into, as it’s infamous for its daily queues and fleeting reservations but don’t let that deter you from planning a visit. Inventive drinks inspired by dishes, such as Red Eye Gravy (Irish whiskey, coffee butter, corn, walnut and wild mushroom) and the inimitable Key Lime Pie (gin, Empirical Spirits The Plum, I Suppose, winter melon, sweet cream, lime, egg white, soda) are worth the faff for securing a seat. In fact, they might just be the best drinks you have in the city.
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Attaboy
When Milk & Honey closed shop at its original home on Eldridge Street in 2013, it became home to Attaboy, its natural successor. Run by bar legends Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy, both of whom are protégés of Sasha Petraske, Milk & Honey’s late-owner, Attaboy is a tiny slice of contemporary cocktail history that is an essential pilgrimage for every hardcore cocktail enthusiast. It’s where the Bartender’s Choice reigns supreme, so order your favourite classic or trust the exceptionally talented bar staff with an encyclopaedic knowledge of classics to whip-up a twist for you. But since it’s the home of the Penicillin, you’d be remiss to forgo ordering this modern classic created by Sam Ross himself.
Caffe Dante
Not to be confused with the West Village location – which is also outstanding – Dante, also known as Caffe Dante, has been a Greenwich Village institution since 1915. It became the aperitivo bar everyone has come to love in 2015 and won best bar in the world in 2019 for its array of top notch Martinis, Negronis and world-renowned fluffy Garibaldi (Campari and fluffy orange juice). The team runs the popular Negroni Sessions (read: happy hour) daily from 3-5pm, selling their signature Negronis at $15 a pop. Go on Friday in the early afternoon and live music fills the quaint yet buzzy venue, making for one of the most immersive and enjoyable cocktail experiences that New York City has to offer.
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Katana Kitten
This two-floor Japanese-American cocktail bar in the heart of West Village will change everything you thought you knew about highballs. Served ice-cold and perfectly carbonated in mugs pulled right from their glass chiller, every prickly sip is like flavourful, icy fireworks bouncing around your palate. The star is the Shiso Gin and Tonic, which has been on the menu since opening in 2018; but once you’ve had your fill of carbonated beverages, dive into the signatures (like the Hinoki Martini made with vodka, gin, fino sherry, junmai daiginjo sake and hinoki tree essence) and boilermakers (beer-shot pairings). Despite being No.27 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list, it operates like a laidback neighbourhood bar — a key aspect of the eccentric bar’s allure.
Overstory
No city in the world does cocktails with a view better than New York and the award-winning Overstory is the pinnacle. Perched on the 64th floor of an art deco building in the city’s financial district, guests are treated with a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the city’s skyline, all while enjoying some of the most creative drinks in the city. The Terroir Old Fashioned (reposado Tequila, palo santo, agave caramel, vin jaune, yellow chartreuse and Tilden salt) is one of the must-have cocktails in the city, as is the guzzleable Easy Money (vodka, coconut, yuzu, lime leaf, soda). Once the sun goes down and the disco ball gets spinning, expect to stay a while because Overstory has a knack for distorting time in the best way possible.
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The Dead Rabbit
No first-timer in New York City should ever leave without having one of The Dead Rabbit’s famous Irish Coffees. But aside from that bucket list drink, which is best had in threes, this former World’s Best Bar has a few spaces to experience, each with its own unique offering. The Taproom, an Irish pub-style space split across two buildings on the ground floor, comprises the original Taproom and the extension. There, cocktails are approachable, Irish whiskeys are plentiful, and the Guinness is, expectedly, sublime. The upstairs Parlour is where the bar ups the ante with its creative cocktails. Try drinks like the savoury Garden Party (Barbadillo 12yr amontillado and La Guita manzanilla sherries, blanc vermouth, red bell pepper, tomato leaf), or one of their many other compelling serves that champion contemporary Irish culture. And if you love a fry up, their full Irish on the weekends is one to consider.
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Mister Paradise
Party in the front, business in the back. That’s to say, like the trendy mullet, Mister Paradise doesn’t take itself too seriously (e.g. their signature, Piña Colada-like slushie is dubbed Slushtin’ Bieber); but they do execute drinks at a high level, and know how to have fun while they do it. The signature Party Lobster, a spicy mezcal Margarita augmented with salted watermelon, has been a bestseller on the menu since day one and it’s not uncommon to see one of their plush, emerald green booths filled with people drinking them. Whether you’re with a large group of friends or are riding solo and fancy a chat with a bartender who knows how to hold court, Mister P, as the locals call it, is the place to be.
Death & Co
This dark and intimate speakeasy, which opened in 2007, has been a breeding ground for some of New York City’s best bartenders over the years. Today, this seasoned veteran of the scene still delivers the same level of excellence as it did when it first opened, with a robust list of culinary cocktails for guests to enjoy. With a niche love of eau de vie, spirituous numbers like the Chamber of Reflection (Cocchi di Torino extra dry vermouth, carrot eau de vie, dill, Nixta corn liqueur and orange bitters) and the Cornicello (Moletto tomato gin, basil eau de vie, coconut cream, passion fruit and lime) are best representative of their approach to cocktail development. For a chill and cosy date night, Death & Co is the answer.
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Amor Y Amargo
Operated by award-winning bartender Sother Teague, Amor Y Amargo is a temple for bitter-loving cocktail connoisseurs. The eight-seat bar, with some standing room, doesn’t stock fresh citrus juices, and syrups are far and few between; so everything comes dark, typically bitter, and boozy. Order a Negroni, taste some peculiar pours of digestivi from the expansive back bar or opt for the signature, pre-bottled Sharpie Mustache (gin, rye whiskey, Amaro Meletti, Bonal Gentiane-Quina and Bittermens ‘Elemakule Tiki bitters). Regardless of which direction you take your experience, there’s no place like Amor Y Amargo, which has become a staple of New York’s enduring bar scene.
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Please Don’t Tell
Please Don’t Tell (PDT) was one of the most influential bars of its era after opening in 2007. The multi-award winning speakeasy, whose famous entrance is hidden behind the phone booth in famed East Village hot dog joint Crif Dogs, is best known for its own array of lavish hot dogs and the Benton’s Old Fashioned. The latter, a mixture of bacon fat-washed bourbon, maple syrup and Angostura bitters with an orange twist, is commonly considered the drink that single-handedly popularised the technique of fat-washing in bars. For bartenders and cocktail lovers enamoured by contemporary bar history, a visit to PDT is requisite.
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Bar Goto
‘A New York bar with a Japanese soul’ is how Bar Goto refers to itself and it’s right on the money. Owned by bar veteran Kenta Goto, who spent his formative years honing his craft at the since-shuttered institution that was Pegu Club in Manhattan, this minimalist oasis for detail-oriented drinks takes Goto’s repertoire of classics perfected at his former bar and injects them with Japanese flavours and flair. The visually alluring Sakura Martini (sake, gin, maraschino and cherry blossom) is one of the best known house cocktails in the city and for good reason: it’s extraordinarily delicious yet simple. And, in true Japanese style, the highballs are unsurprisingly exquisite. Despite opening nearly a decade a go, Bar Goto feels as fresh as it did in 2015, making it a frequented destination for bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts alike.