The 24 Most Beautiful Bars in NYC Right Now
We love New York City for its bar scene: from small, low key bars to perfectly designed, modern locations, there are so many different bars to choose from. Check out the 25 most beautiful bars, this city has to offer. From Manhattan to Queens and Brooklyn, we found them all.
To help you quickly and easily see which spot is near you, find all the most beautiful bars in NYC on an interactive map.
By the way: you’ll find many more New York City spots in our Loving New York travel guides!
Where can I go out in NYC?
It’s the weekend, you just had a wonderful dinner and now you’re wondering where you could go out in New York City. Let us share our favorite bars, which also happen to be the most beautiful ones in town. It’s nice to surround yourself with the locals, sip fancy cocktails or enjoy a really good glass of wine. We narrowed down the 25 best places to go to.
My Favorit Most Beautiful Bars in New York
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01
Westlight NYC
Rooftop Bar in WilliamsburgOur Highlight
The Westlight in Brooklyn is considered one of the most beautiful rooftop bars in New York – and rightly so! It belongs to The William Vale Hotel and has a rooftop bar, a lounge area, a bar and a restaurant. What distinguishes the Westlight from many other spots is the unspoilt panoramic view of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.
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02
Barely Disfigured
Bar in Carroll GardensOur Highlight
The Barely Disfigured Cocktail Bar is one of those insider spots you would just walk past, because it is totally inconspicuous from the outside. But as soon as you go inside you will understand why it is on our list of the most beautiful bars in New York. Sensational interior, a relaxed atmosphere and wonderful drinks. Also great for a romantic evening (or how I did it: went there with my best buddy Tino)!
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03
The Flatiron Room
Bar in Gramercy
With relaxed live jazz you can choose from a very extensive whiskey repertoire (600 varieties!). What we hadn’t seen before is their program “Bottle Keep”. If you like a whiskey, you can buy the bottle and have it stored – of course labelled – to enjoy your bottle of whiskey again next time.
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04
Oscar Wilde
Bar in Midtown Manhattan
Even though we like it clean and neat when it comes to interior design, Oscar Wilde is a must and had to make its appearance on our list of the most beautiful bars in NYC. Even if I felt overstimulated after 2 hours of being there: the place is definitely worth a visit!
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05
Dear Irving on Hudson
Bar in Hell's KitchenOur Highlight
The bar Dear Irving on Hudson is a real insider tip. Located very close to Times Square, you can look down on Manhattan’s “urban canyons” from here and be relatively undisturbed. The bar is small and cozy and not yet as crowded as many others in the neighborhood. The cocktail menu is not that big, but the cocktails are really good.
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06
McSorley's Old Ale House
Bar in East VillageOur Highlight
McSorley’s Old Ale House is a true legend. The pub is the oldest in town (opened in 1854) and best of all, not much has changed since then. Old wooden floors covered with sawdust, old newspaper articles and a bartender like from a Hollywood movie make McSorley’s a very relaxed place.
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07
Apotheke
Bar in Chinatown
If you know, you know. Apotheke in Chinatown is one of those speakeasy types of bars that are still super trendy to go to. It still maintains the classic look and almost speakeasy vibe from back in the days.
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08
The Back Room
Bar in Lower East Side
The Back Room Bar is a really special bar and one of a kind. If you think about speakeasy bars in the 1920s, that’s what the Back Room has to offer.
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09
Proletariat
Bar in East VillageOur Highlight
A small bar that sprays with atmosphere and individuality. Altogether only 20 people fit in, because the bar consists of 2 small tables and a long bar counter. On a small blackboard is written with chalk, which kinds of beer are available today, where they come from and what makes them special.
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10
The Campbell Apartment
Bar in Midtown Manhattan
This small bar inside Grand Central Station just got newly renovated and is one of the hidden secrets of the Grand Central Station.
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11
Brandy Library
Bar in TribecaOur Highlight
Even if the name suggests otherwise: the Brandy Library has a huge selection of even very rare whiskeys in its program, which will make the heart of every whiskey fan beat faster. More than 1,000 bottles are used as decoration, especially in the evening it looks like a library of high-proof drinks. What we found very exciting are their events where you can learn more about Bourbons, Cognacs etc. Conclusion: Super-atmospheric and a real highlight!
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12
Harriet's Rooftop Bar
Rooftop Bar in DumboOur Highlight
Be sure to check out the 1 Hotel Rooftop and Garden Bar, even if you don’t decide to stay there. You can enjoy a fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge. The bar serves great drinks and finger food.
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13
Peak Lounge Bar
Bar in Hudson Yards
Above the observation deck Edge, in addition to the restaurant, there is an elegant and very stylish bar, which not only prepares first-class cocktails and drinks, but the view is also sensational.
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14
Bemelman’s Bar
Bar in Upper East Side
Bemelman’s Bar is our favourite spot on the Upper East Side and already several times after a visit to Central Park our first stop to let our legs rest for a while. If you can also enjoy a delicious drink in a wonderful atmosphere, it hardly gets better. Oh yes: with the Hammer-Burger that is available here!
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15
Refinery Rooftop
Rooftop Bar in Midtown ManhattanOur Highlight
A very small rooftop bar very close to Bryant Park with a nice view of the Empire State Building is the Refinery Rooftop from the Refinery Hotel. This two-story rooftop bar in Midtown isn’t particularly large, but it certainly has its appeal due to the combination of location and quality of the cocktails.
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16
The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog
Bar in Financial DistrictOur Highlight
Have you ever thought about how to take the Irish Pub into the 21st century? Go check out the Dead Rabbit bar and find out. This modern Irish pub and restaurant, which opened in 2013, is one of our favorite bars of all times. As soon as you enter the bar, you are transported into another world. There is nothing ultra-modern here, but everything is stylishly trimmed to old. From the original cash register, old punch glasses for the drinks to the wooden floors covered with sawdust.
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17
Ophelia Lounge NYC
Bar in Midtown Manhattan
Ophelia is one of the newest additions to the local bar scene in Midtown East. The beautiful bar in NYC comes with 360-degree views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. Here we were sceptical at first, because after the new opening a huge PR wave started. Everyone was talking about how great and good Ophelia is. Even though we were in NYC at that exact time, we wanted to wait for the first wave of euphoria and so we were there only recently. The Ophelia is on our best list because they surprised us positively: great drinks, a very nice and harmonious interior and a wonderful view. A tiny little area is even open like a rooftop bar – what more could you want?
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18
Copper & Oak
Bar in Lower East Side
Ui, this is where we as whiskey fans lost our hearts – the operators behind the bar are the same as from the Brandy Library in Tribeca. Like there, the bar is always well attended. No wonder, the bar is not very big and beautiful. Shelves filled with whiskeys, rum and co instead of books, an illuminated bar and super delicious bar food make it one of the bars that is one of the most beautiful for us!
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19
Death & Company
Bar in East Village
Recognized as one of the 50 best bars in the world, Death & Company in the beautiful East Village is also one of our favorite spots to go out in NYC.
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20
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
Bar in Little Italy
This French wine bar is one of the best in the city. Don’t judge a book by its cover. From the outside “La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels” doesn’t look as special and chic as it is from the inside.
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21
Le Boudoir
Bar in Dumbo
Le Boudoir has two separate areas: One is decorated in Victorian style with velvet walls and old-timey decorations and the other is a brick basement
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22
Connolly's Pub & Restaurant
Bar in Midtown ManhattanOur Highlight
The bar Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant is an Irish pub like it is in the book and is for me one of the best pubs in New York. A huge, rustic bar, lots of colourful taps and tons of good whiskey immediately attract attention. The kitchen is also excellent. The burgers are a blast!
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23
Cibar
Bar in Midtown Manhattan
The Cibar close to Union Square is one of those hidden little bars that do not really look like anything from the outside. However, if you are inside and want to have one of their delicious drinks (I’m not a rum lover, but on the bartender’s recommendation I tried the “Hedo Rick“. Crazy!) you know what I mean! The Cibar is really a nice bar in New York!
Don’t miss out on more of our favorites
The Most Beautiful Bars in NY on the Map
A map with all the beautiful bars in New york 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.
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