New York · Chelsea
Chelsea pairs gallery district polish with hidden cocktail rooms and some of the city's best rooftops. The blocks west of Sixth Avenue hold the run below, from a copper tub speakeasy to a garden on a hotel roof. Each pick is a real, currently open room with its own profile on the site.
COCKTAIL BARS · $$$
Bathtub Gin hides behind a coffee shop on Ninth Avenue, with a copper tub as its centrepiece and live music some nights. The room is dim and the cocktails lean gin forward. Reserve on weekends for a booth.
ROOFTOP BARS · $$$
Gallow Green sits on the roof of the McKittrick Hotel on West 27th Street, draped in greenery and string lights. It shares a building with the Sleep No More production. Go at dusk and book ahead in summer.
COCKTAIL BARS · $$$
The Tippler sits below Chelsea Market on West 15th Street, built from salvaged beams and brick. The cocktails are solid and the room turns into a late floor on weekends. Best for a group after dinner in the market.
COCKTAIL BARS · $$$
Jungle Bird on Eighth Avenue is a tiki bar with rum focused drinks and a plant filled room. The pours run strong and the mood stays loose. Good for a fun night that does not take itself seriously.
SPORTS BARS · $$
The Ainsworth on West 26th Street pairs a big screen sports floor with a long cocktail and beer list. It fills for major games and stays busy late. Good for game day with food and a crowd.
Use this guide as a route through Chelsea or as a checklist for a weekend in New York. Reservations are flagged where they matter. For the wider picture, see the full New York bar guide, the city's best rooftop bars, and the best cocktail bars in New York.