The 5 Best Bars on the Upper West Side Right Now

Are you looking for the best bars in Upper West Side New York? Then check out my best list here! I’ll show you the hottest speakeasy bars, rooftop bars, pubs, wine bars and small venues where New Yorkers hang out. The selection of bars on the Upper West Side is large – so there is guaranteed to be the right place for you!

To help you quickly and easily see which spot is near you, find all the bars on New York’s Upper West Side on an interactive map.

By the way: you’ll find many more New York City spots in our Loving New York travel guides!

My Favorite Bars on the Upper West Side

1. 01

   Blondies

   Bar in Upper West Side
   

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   If you’re familiar with NYC, then you know that there are many places to watch the game on the Upper West Side. However, the problem is that most of them are random pubs and others are college bars. 

   Blondies is a great change because this female-owned sports bar offers tables that you can reserve ahead of time. Considering they have TVs everywhere and offer some of the best wings in NYC, this is an excellent option for enjoying the Super Bowl.

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2. 02

   Bodega 88

   Bar in Upper West Side
   

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   One of the smaller venues on our list is Bodega 88. At about the size of a one-bedroom apartment, this bar is a great place to catch any game, especially the Super Bowl! Nestled on the Upper West Side, Bodega 88 features many big screens behind the bar and smaller individual screens at every booth. 

   So, regardless if you’re flying solo or watching with friends, Bodega 88 is a great option. If you choose this establishment, be sure to order some Latin-influenced bar foods such as Dominican honey glazed calamari, or sip on a strong caipirinha. Just don’t forget to get there early to cheer on your team!

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3. 03

   The Empire Rooftop & Lounge

   Rooftop Bar in Upper West Side
   

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   The Empire Hotel has a great rooftop bar with a view to Lincoln Center and the Upper West Side. Many of you will know the red lettering that is mounted on the hotel roof. We were there last time to test it and take a closer look. Compared to other rooftop bars in New York these cocktails were among the good ones – also the price-performance ratio is really ok.

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4. 04

   The Heights Bar & Grill

   Bar in Upper West Side
   

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   In this Tex-Mex-Bar the frozen margarita is a specialty. During the two Happy Hours you can get a lot of things for only $5 and on Wednesdays you get a draft beer with every ordered burger.
5. 05

   The Mermaid Inn

   Bar in Upper West Side
   

   fresh oyster and wine glass

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   Here you can enjoy beers, wines and cocktails during happy hours, as well as delicious oysters for just over $1. Due to its popularity, The Mermaid now has three locations in New York. You can find them under the names The Mermaid Inn and The Mermaid Oyster Bar.

The Best Bars on the Upper West Side on the map

A map with all restaurants on the Upper West Side can be found here – just click on “FULL MAP” if you want to see more. You can click on each restaurant on the map to find out everything you need to know.