When the VinePair team isn’t busy working at HQ, we’re in the field doing what we do best: scoping out the best cocktails, wine, and beer in the five boroughs. Here are the cool, current, and flat-out excellent bars and restaurants you should visit in New York right now, according to our editors.
Check here each month for an updated list of where to drink in New York City. New to the list this month: Amphora, Bar CC, Graciela, Bar Etienne, and Don’t By Shy.
Bar Chimera
550 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022
Part of Gracious Hospitality’s massive Midtown expansion — including a new location of Cote and a forthcoming omakase restaurant — Bar Chimera brings together three distinct drinking concepts: Martinis, whiskey, and wine. The luxurious space focuses on splurge-worthy drinks including an extensive program of aged Madeiras, special pours of hard-to-find wines and spirits, and classic Martinis made with meticulously thought-out ingredients, even down to the water used to dilute the drink.
Amphora
43 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003
The iconic space that once housed wine-focused restaurants Veritas and Saint Urban is back as Amphora, and like its predecessors, it has a heavy-hitting wine list. The seasonal tasting menu from executive chef Jack Logue can be accompanied by pairings curated by wine director Chris Miller, or guests can dig into the vast cellar of over 2,500 labels.
Bar CC
85 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011
The team behind Chelsea’s swanky Crane Club is expanding with an equally luxe cocktail bar — complete with floor-to-ceiling drapery, velvet fabric walls, and hand-blown Venetian sconces. For this project, chef Melissa Rodriguez and restaurateur Jeff Katz tapped acclaimed bartender Harrison Ginsberg (previously of Overstory) to design the cocktail program. Bar CC’s menu features elegant takes on classics like the CC Martini made with a savory olive, pepper, and mignonette brine, and the Toasted Almond Sour, with gin, toasted almond, lemon, and Italian meringue.
Graciela
81 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014
Graciela is an Argentine tavern and steakhouse from Pablo Rivero, the restaurateur behind Buenos Aires destination Don Julio. Though the showy live-fire cooking and big cuts of meat are center stage, the menu offers an impressive range of must-order starters like the cheesy brócoli dip with almonds and breadcrumbs and the perfectly dense chickpea tart with provolone and smoked paprika. The lengthy wine list offers an appealing set of global selections, but it’s hard to ignore the call to go all-in on the Argentina of it all. The program goes far beyond the obligatory Malbec, showcasing interesting bottles and producers not often seen on NYC lists. We recommend chatting with the wonderful team led by beverage director Jirka Jireh Rivera, to learn more about these lesser-known bottles the country has to offer, from high-elevation Sémillon to old-vine Bastardo.
Bar Etienne
44 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
Another addition to downtown’s growing list of scene-y bars to sip a spritz and a tomato-adorned Martini, Bar Etienne recently opened in the former Bandits space in the West Village. The casual neighborhood spot from longtime friends and hospitality veterans Michael Bray and Keith Larry features a French bistro-inspired menu and a playful list of culinary-minded cocktails like the Banana Question, made with rum and clarified banana, and the Petite Pompette with strawberry infused Pimm’s and mint. And be sure to check out the menu of teeny ’tinis, including classic, dirty, mushroom, and tomato variations.
Somssi
79 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Somssi is a new restaurant from the team at NA:EUN Hospitality — the group behind acclaimed concepts Atoboy, Atomix, and NARO — spearheaded by the group’s former director of operations Ahris Kim. Between the diverse menu of shareable plates and the extensive selection of wine, sake, and cocktails, there are countless pairing permutations to be made here. One that calls to us is the Potato, Potato, Potato, and caviar, which neatly wraps a creamy pomme purée with thin, crispy potato strings, topped with a heap of caviar, of course, which we’re sure would go well with a sparkling wine from the Finger Lakes or even a spritzy sake. The menu is a treasure trove of interesting beverages, so whichever combo you go with, it’s bound to be a delightful drinking experience.
Dean’s
213 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014
Just when we thought NYC’s Guinness mania couldn’t go any longer, Dean’s arrives in the West Village ready to pour you a perfect — and sometimes even oyster-topped — pint. The British pub-inspired spot from Jess Shadbolt and Annie Shi of King stays true to its theme with dishes like fish and chips, stargazy pie, and pork scratchings plus a list of English sparkling to wash it all down.
Don’t Be Shy
68 Charlton St, New York, NY 10014
The latest in a string of cocktail bars inspired by Japanese craftsmanship and hospitality, Don’t Be Shy is a sleek new spot in Hudson Square inspired by the bars of Tokyo’s polished Ginza neighborhood. The signature “Trip to Japan” cocktails showcase Japanese flavors like the Edo, made with sweet potato miso flavored vodka, and the refreshing Echigo, which combines sparkling sake with Echigo stout beer.
Noury
137 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012
From Lina Goujjane and Alex Chang, the wife-and-husband team behind Hudson Square’s Kiko, Noury combines elements of a modern Japanese izakaya with those of a wine and sake bar. Here, guests can pair small bites like the daily selection of sashimi or the house vegetable futomaki with rare bottles of sake or splurge-worthy Champagnes.
Bar Monto
61 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
If you’ve been keeping up with New York’s boom in modern Irish pubs, here’s another one to add to your list. Bar Monto is the latest laid-back spot slinging creamy pints of Guinness in custom glassware. Beyond beer, the bar also offers a fun list of straightforward yet complex cocktails like the Basque Connection, made with Boatyard Irish gin, sherry, Valentia Island Irish vermouth, tonic, and muddled orange. The space draws inspiration from the pubs and social clubs found in Ireland in the 1980s and ’90s and aims to be a center for community, collaborating with local artists and musicians for events.
Tin’s
109 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Tin’s is a multi-concept space from Philip Dizard and Mercury Tin, bringing together their love for New York bars and Shanghainese comfort food in a three-story experience that includes both a casual dumpling counter and high-end cocktail bar. Creative concoctions span from unexpected delights like the Timmy’s Brain Blaster, a bright-green frozen Cognac cocktail topped with salted mascarpone foam, to riffs on classics like the Dako-Ri, a classic Daiquiri made with maojian tea and lemongrass.
Oriana
174 Mott St, New York, NY 10012
Oriana is the wood-fired follow-up to West Village restaurant The Noortwyck, from executive chef Andy Quinn and acclaimed sommelier Cedric Nicaise. The new Nolita spot focuses on live-fire cooking, with a menu of dishes prepared over a wood-fired grill. To accompany plates like the BBQ Duck Crown and Axe Handle Pork Chop, Oriana features a deep, 7,000-bottle cellar, primarily composed of classic European wines. Though there are certainly many opportunities to splurge, the program also features over 150 bottles under $100.
Bar Chucho
37 Market St, New York, NY 10002
Fans of Corima’s Uni Gin Sour, rejoice! The (somewhat controversial) savory cocktail is making its return at Bar Chucho, a new bar from the team behind the acclaimed Mexican tasting menu spot that first dared to shake sea urchin with booze. Though the walk-in-only space has a more casual, cantina-like vibe, the high-concept cocktails and bar snacks still show off complex flavors. The drink menu includes riffs on classics like the Margarita with Granny Smith apple, Midori, and cilantro and a mezcal-based Sazerac with plantain and hoja santa. And we can’t forget the Uni Gin Sour — now served on draft — revamped with strawberry and yuzu. Bar snacks include a cheesy mushroom gringa, tuna chilindrina, and a dry-aged burger with bone marrow and burnt onion mayo.
Echo Lake
357 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
This new two-story bar concept in Williamsburg is entirely focused on celebrating rum. The first floor, Echo Lake, showcases the versatile spirit in a range of cocktails, from classic spirit-forward creations to fruit-filled tropical drinks. It also offers a full menu of Daiquiri variations, including a rotating “Daily Daiquiri” for just $12. Head downstairs to Undercurrent to dive deeper into the spirit with special pours from rare and hard to find bottles.
Kinda Nice
168 Borinquen Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Known for their work behind the bar at Brooklyn’s beloved Grand Army, Patty Dennison and Ally Marrone are going out on their own with their new venture Kinda Nice. The welcoming Williamsburg cocktail bar brings the convivial feeling of an old-school neighborhood diner, with the food and drinks to match. The cocktails are based on classic diner favorites, including a Greek Salad ‘Tini and a Short Stack Margarita (with a choice between strawberry and blueberry flavors).
Titán
5 Front St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
With chef Alan Delgado of flour-tortilla destination Los Burritos Juarez designing the menu and esteemed bartender Ivy Mix, previously of beloved agave bar Leyenda and current co-owner of Whoopsie Daisy, shaking up drinks, Dumbo’s new Titán brings two buzzy names from New York’s food and drink scenes into one beautifully curated space. The drinks menu offers expertly executed classics like a Margarita and Michelada, as well as culinary-inspired cocktails like the Dirty Root, with bacanora and escabeche, and the frozen Charmagoy, which brings together tequila, tamarind, mango, and chamoy.
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Frenzie
129 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201
The team behind Brooklyn’s Confidant is expanding with a casual pizza spot that caters to the late-night crowd. While Frenzie is sure to be a great place to enjoy a bottle of chilled red wine and a spicy vodka pie at any time, it’s worth noting that at 10 p.m. the restaurant offers a few combo deals that make for the perfect nightcap (every night out should end with a slice). The offer, available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, pairs a cheese or pepperoni pie with either a pitcher of Narragansett beer, two Daiquiris, or two Martinis.
Grimm Tavern
659 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Lauren and Joe Gimm, the couple behind East Williamsburg’s beloved brewery Grimm Artisanal Ales, recently debuted their new restaurant Grimm Tavern. Here guests can explore Grimm’s extensive list of beers alongside classic American tavern dishes like a dry-aged smash burger and a muffuletta. But it isn’t just for beer fans; the menu also features a selection of wines from Grimm’s project Physica Wines as well as a list of signature cocktails.
Zig Zag Oyster Bar
406 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11238
The team behind Lower East Side seafood hot spot Cervo’s now has a dedicated raw bar in Brooklyn. If indulging in a seafood tower could ever be considered casual, this vibey, walk-in only spot might be the place. Grab a seat on the sidewalk or along the space’s stunning curved bar and order an Original Martini or Bloody Mary to accompany the icy plates of oysters and shrimp cocktail.
Bar Ferdinando
151 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Bar Ferdinando is an Italian bar and café that recently took over the space of beloved Carroll Gardens institution Ferdinando’s Focacceria, which served the neighborhood for 121 years. The revamped space pairs Sicilian snacks with classic aperitivo drinks and a wide selection of amari. It’s the ideal location for an afternoon of sipping Negronis, vermouth on the rocks, or even a strawberry-and-basil-infused Campari and Soda. And the refreshing drinks are the perfect pair for dishes like the pane e panelle, a sandwich stacked with crispy chickpea fritters, ricotta, and caciocavallo cheese, or the heaping plate of fries topped with garlicky clams.
Tavern Next Door
327 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
If you’ve ever found yourself waiting for over two hours to snag a bite of Red Hook Tavern’s thick, pepper-crusted burger, we have the cocktail bar for you. The meat-slinging team recently expanded with a next-door cocktail bar that not only features one of the city’s most coveted burgers, but a whimsical cocktail menu with brightly colored creations like the tall, neon Blue Hawaiian and a refined take on an Appletini.
Mash Inn
1215 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Located in a former laundromat in Park Slope, Mash Inn is a new bar and beer counter from the team behind Gold Star in Prospect Heights. The casual spot offers a rotating menu of beers on draft that you can enjoy in the cozy record-filled space or order growlers to-go from the beer window. The bar also offers light snacks like cheese, pickles, and charcuterie to enjoy alongside the freshly poured pints.
