Editorial
New York's tequila bars have grown up. Where once the choice was between sticky-floored Tex-Mex joints and overpriced hotel bars with a handful of reposados, the city now has genuine agave specialists — bars where the back bar holds 60+ expressions, where the difference between Highlands and Lowlands blanco is a conversation, not a lecture. These are the best tequila bars in New York right now.
The East Village and Lower East Side remain the heartland of serious agave drinking in New York, but the scene has spread citywide. From Williamsburg neighbourhood spots to Midtown bars where the work crowd drinks well on someone else's corporate card, this list covers the full spectrum.
These bars understand that tequila's range — from grassy, mineral blanco to rich, complex añejo — makes it one of the most versatile cocktail bases in any back bar. They use it accordingly, building programmes around it rather than treating it as a margarita machine.
Extra añejo and rare vintage releases are a different category altogether. These two spots treat aged tequila with the seriousness it deserves — more whisky bar than cocktail bar in their approach.
New York's tequila bar scene rewards exploration. The best bars here aren't the ones with the most bottles — they're the ones where someone made careful decisions about what to stock and why. Start with Tierra Agave in the East Village if you want the specialist experience, or La Copa Dorada in Astoria if you want to drink something excellent at a price that doesn't require a moment of existential calculation before each round. The city has both, and both are worth your time.
James has been writing about New York bars since 2011 and has strong opinions about which neighbourhoods have improved and which have not. He contributes to several publications and once spent an entire afternoon working through the agave list at a now-closed East Village bar that he still mourns.