"If you were to ask me if I'd ever had the bad luck to miss my daily cocktail, I'd have to say that I doubt it; where certain things are concerned, I plan ahead." -Luis Buñuel
Best Dive Bar
Jimmy's Corner
140 West 44th Street
212-221-9510
In 1971 Jimmy Glenn opened this bar to help pay rent on a gym he ran in Harlem. The gym is no longer in operation but the bar is still going strong with mementos from Glenn's career as well as artifacts from other famous boxers. The bar offers a taste of the 'rough and tough' lifestyle in New York City, and with $3 pints how can one go wrong?
Best Posh Club
Marquee
289 Tenth Avenue
646-473-0202
If you can make your way through the men brandishing their large bills and credit cards, you'll find Gisele, Karolina Kurkova, Natalia Vodianova & Co. hanging out in the back room.
Best Rooftop Garden Bar
The Delancey
168 Delancey Street (between Attorney and Clinton Streets)
212-254-9920
The rooftop garden is what sets this Lower East Side bar apart from the rest. Complete with a fish pond, potted palms, a bar and margarita machine, how could one be closer to Miami? There is a main floor bar as well as a basement which hosts live shows.
Best Mixologist Bar
Milk & Honey
134 Eldridge Street (between Delancey & Broome Streets)
unlisted
Owner Sasha Petraske is a master mixologist who can personally create over 400 drinks. There's not star gazing or posing in this bar, in fact the establishment has a reputation of eschewing the elite: it barred Quentin Tarantino from its interiors. The joint has the feel of a speak easy and has been rated one of the world's best bars in a number of publications.
Best Glam Bar
Thom Bar
60 Thompson Street (between Broome & Spring Streets)
212-431-0400
Dive in to velvet-lined divans, and drape yourself on oversized leather easy chairs. With DJs spinning 7 nights a week this is one of NYC's HOT spots for the young and glam. If you're looking for the gorgeous and the cool look no further. There is a 60-ft rooftop deck for hotel guests and VIPs.
Best Living Room Bar
APT
419 W 13 Street (between Ninth Avenue and Washington Street)
212-414-4245
APT is another one of the Meat Packing District's hidden treasures. New Yorkers love their apartments so much, the creators of this bar/lounge hit upon a brilliant theme when they decided to create a bar that looks and feels exactly like a box-sized NYC apartment. The buzz has cooled somewhat on this establishment since it first opened, but one can still find trendy thirty somethings lounging in intimate style, a DJ spinning rarified grooves and drinks that do the trick.
Best Hair Drying Bar
Beauty Bar
231 East 14th Street (between Second and Third Avenues)
212-539-1389
Sip your Blue Rinse Margarita while getting your blue rinse dried under the antiquated stand-alone hair dryers. This bar pays homage to the vintage beauty parlors of the 1960s. The DJs are playing offbeat mixes of Cajun and honky tonk which adds even more to the ambience of this funky, NYC must-go-to.
Best Super-Model Hubby Bar
Stone Rose
10 Columbus Circle @ Broadway (4th Floor)
212-823-9769
Cindy Crawford's hubby, Rand Gerber, has created a beauty. Plasma TVs, unreal views of Central Park, marble floors and sleek leather couches adorn this chichi establishment. The specialty drink is the 'Stone Rose' a delicious concoction of Woodford Reserve bourbon, white cranberry juice, sour and sugar. One can actually eat a delicious dinner at this bar too - try the shrimp cocktail or tuna sashimi on wanton crisps.
Best Romance Bar
Fez Under Time Cafe
32330 Broadway at 85th Street
212-579-5100
Nestled in the subterranean heart of the Time Cafe is the wondrous Fez. A deep Moroccan vibe permeates the place with cavernous sofas, ornate tile work, and rose petals strewn on the ground. A great place for a first date or a luscious night out with close friends.
Best Old New York Bar
Flatiron Lounge
37 West 19th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues)
212-727-7741
With wrought iron fixtures and dark wood paneling, classic old New York City wraps itself around you in this dining lounge. Located in a historic building that dates back to the 'roaring 20s', this lounge takes you back to the New York of another era. Try the Sidecar, Sazeraz and Flight of the Day, created by master mixologist Julie Reiner.
Best Ale Bar
McSoreley's Old Ale House
15 East 7th Street (between Second and Third Avenues)
212-473-9148
One of NYC's oldest bars. No fancy drinks here, just floors covered in sawdust and a steady stream of either McSorley's light and dark ales. A couple of drinks in and one can almost rekindle the feeling of an earlier classic gun slinging era of New York.
Best Free Food Bar
Blind Tiger Ale House
518 Hudson Street @ 10th St
212-675-3848
On Monday nights at 6:00 pm, free hot dogs are offered. On Wednesdays, it's complementary cheese tasting night, and on weekends it's free bagels with all the fixing at 1:00 pm. This low-ceilinged establishment is home to brews from every nation, and a steady crew of neighborhood regulars.
Best Moroccan Oasis Bar
Kemia Bar
630 Ninth Avenue @ 44th Street
212-582-3200
Rose petals under foot, billowing gossamer ceiling fabrics, ottomans and dark wood tables are the trademarks of this sultry Moroccan oasis in the heart of Midtown. The exotic tapas and deserts blend exquisitely into the fabric of the dark hued walls and candlelit tables.
Best Waterfront Bar
The Boat Basin Bar
79th Street @ the Hudson River
212-496-5542
Have your beer while petting your dog and watching sailboats drift by on the Hudson River. This is a relaxed summer spot where you can come in your beach attire and relax with a wide variety of your NYC neighbors. The food fare is simple, but the atmosphere is full of fun and joy.
Best Uptown Jazz Bar
Smoke Jazz Club and Lounge
2751 Broadway (between 105th and 106th Streets)
212-864-6662
Comfy seating, low lighting and a jazz line-up that has crowds standing around the block on weekends, Smoke Jazz Club and Lounge is a jewel on the Upper West Side. Known to have some of the best acoustics in the city, Smoke feels more like sitting on a couch in a comfortable living room, only with some of the best names in jazz playing in the background.
Best New 'IT' Bar
Viva
4168 Broadway (between 176th and 177th Streets)
212-923-8700
Viva is 1/2 Chelsea hip and 1/2 LA cool. Once you disappear into this trendy oasis and confront the glowing horse-shoe shaped glass bar you will completely forget that you are actually in the heart of Washington Heights. This lounge is ahead of its time and heralds the ascent of the lounge scene in the Washington Heights 'hood. Be prepared to have your socks knocked off with their mojitos sipped by super-hip patrons.
Best WaHi Bar
The Monkey Room
589 Fort Washington Avenue @ 187th Street
212-543-9888
The Monkey Room has been a Washington Heights staple for many years now. A diverse blend of patrons and friendly barstaff make this bar the "Cheers" bars of WAHI. The big draw of ape-inspired watering hole is it's splendid garden patio. Cool breezes waft down, a lively waterfall tinkles, a greenish glow is cast over the flora-filled patio as one gazes over the lip of your beer glass into the nighttime star-filled New York sky.
Best Latin Dance Lounge
Ibiza's
220 West 242nd Street (Riverdale, NY)
unlisted
You haven't experienced anything until you've come to Ibiza's Lounge to dance to a steady stream of Merengue, Bachata and Reggaeton. The crowd is electric, the drinks are actually on the strong side, and your body will fall under the trance of the sensual hypnotic rhythms. The only drawback of this lounge, bar and dance club is that it gets so crowded after midnight, that the temperature inside skyrockets to the boiling point (it's suggested you bring your mini-fan). There are private party areas including one complete with wall-to-wall zebra print. Grab your dancing shoes and go!
If you are looking for more than a drink and would like to enjoy a full meal, be sure to check out the establishments that get our vote for best places in New York City to eat. And once you are ready to go out and explore the City, take a look at what we think are the top NYC landmarks.