Best Bars in the East Village, NYC
Punk dives, tiki rooms, whiskey caves — the original NYC bar neighbourhood.
The East Village is what you mean when you say 'New York bars'. The neighbourhood between 1st and Avenue C still has the highest density of properly bohemian bars left in Manhattan — punk dives, sake holes, tiki rooms, and the whiskey bar that started the modern American whiskey movement.
Eight picks across categories, ranked by where we'd send a friend visiting NYC for one night.
The best bars in East Village
Amor y Amargo
15-seat bitters bar from Ravi DeRossi. Stirred-only menu, no shaken drinks. The most focused bar in NYC.
Rue B
Nightly live jazz on Avenue B. No cover. The neighbourhood jazz bar everyone romanticises about NYC.
Decibel
Basement sake bar that's been pouring since 1993. 100+ sakes, low ceiling, no English menu — the way it should be.
McSorley's
Oldest continuously operating saloon in NYC (1854). Two beer choices: light or dark. Cash only. Heritage tourist destination.
B-Side
East Village dive that has resisted every wave of gentrification since 2002. Vinyl jukebox, photo booth, $5 PBR.
Otto's Shrunken Head
Tiki dive bar with a small punk venue in the back. Strong tiki drinks, weird crowd, perfect East Village.
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