New York
Polished, precise, civilised. New York's best hotel-bar drinking — picked for craft, not concierge buzz.
Hell's Kitchen · $$$
The Press Lounge draws a steady local crowd in Hell's Kitchen. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Flatiron · $$$
230 Fifth Rooftop draws a steady local crowd in Flatiron. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
City centre · $$$
Reservations are recommended on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Blue Bar fills quickly after 7pm — booking ahead guarantees you the experience without the wai
City centre · $$$$
The Bohemian operates by reservation. Email for availability — walk-ins are not accepted. The bar seats 20 guests and fills weeks in advance on weekends. Plan a
City centre · $$$
The Dead Rabbit has been named the world's best bar by the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards twice. That sentence alone should settle the argument, but if y
Midtown · $$$
Magic Hour Rooftop draws a steady local crowd in Midtown. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Lower East Side · $$$
The Back Room draws a steady local crowd in Lower East Side. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
City centre · $$$
The Dead Rabbit opened in 2013 from Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, both formerly of the Merchant Hotel in Belfast. The three-floor space is themed around 19th c
City centre · $$$$
Leo Robitschek built the cocktail programme and it reflects the same standard as the room. The menu is seasonal and tight — around 20 drinks, each precisely bui
City centre · $$$
The Up & Up is hidden in a basement on MacDougal Street. The entrance is unmarked — descend a small staircase, push the unmarked door, and enter a 40-seat low-l
Hotel bars solve specific problems. You need a bar near your room. You need somewhere quiet to take a meeting. You want the drink right the first time and you don't want to negotiate a wait. Every recommendation below clears those three bars. Most are open to non-guests; we've flagged any that aren't.
Best for: business travellers, late-checkout drinks, hotel-room negotiations made civilised, anniversaries that deserve a hotel jacket. Pricing skews higher than the city average — that's the trade. The rooms below justify it.
Civilised, polished, not pretending to be a club. Pick by neighbourhood and proximity to where you're sleeping.
Looking beyond New York? See our guide to the best hotel bars worldwide, or compare hotel bars city by city.