Diners' Choice: Cocktail Bar restaurants in New York City

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Cocktail Bar cuisine in New York City? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Madame George

4.8

4.8 (59)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Rockefeller Center

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Manhattan, Madame George is a swanky New York cocktail bar, made for New Yorkers, by New Yorkers. Join us for live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening and happy hour specials 5-7pm Tuesday - Saturday.

Madame George features an extensive cocktail program inspired by New York City through the ages using refreshed & modern techniques while referencing historic & prolific cocktail culture. The plush, eclectic cocktail den offers an intimate hideaway for cocktail lovers and city goers alike.

Step from the busy New York streets into a whimsical space, where luxe textures and bright accents form a striking canvas for creative cocktails. A place vaguely nostalgic, yet original; comforting, yet provocative – and like its namesake muse, a captivating mystery.

Find us in Midtown Manhattan just off 5th Avenue, with close proximity to Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center.

Top review

Derek

Dined on Oct 3, 2024

Great selection of New York themed craft cocktails plus live music and "chillhop" other times to create a great hip Manhattan cocktail lounge vibe. An upscale place with a touch of street attitude instead of a "stuffy" feel.

ART Midtown

4.4

4.4 (46)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Hell's Kitchen

About the restaurant

Renwick Hospitality Group and Arlo Hotels Present ART Midtown. Art Midtown offers sweeping views of Hudson Yards, the Empire State Building, World Trade Center, & more. Offerings include incredible seasonal cocktails, frozens, local beers, and wine. Along with fantastic food offerings from chef Carsten Johannsens such as pizzas, guacamole & chips, and other shareable bites.

Top review

Yahya

Dined 3 days ago

Awesome Service, waiters were very nice and welcoming, quick service, and the drinks were top notch. They also offered cake for our birthday celebration. Excellent Vibes.

Lady Blue

4.6

4.6 (173)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Hell's Kitchen

About the restaurant

Inspired by the alluring nature of the late 1970’s New York, Lady Blue is an ode to a remarkable decade of transformation. An oft-forgotten character from the Broadway classic, Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein, Lady Blue’s combination of seduction and grace narrates the main protagonist’s transitional phases, symbolically encapsulating both the wonders and challenges of life in that era. The ambiance and aesthetic of Lady Blue aim to invoke the nostalgia of a quintessential time period for the Broadway community and our darling city.

Top review

Leslievip

Dined 5 days ago

Definite bang for your buck! The happy hour specials are amazing, the staff was attentive and friendly but not overbearing. Will definitely be back again and again. Looking forward to trying the lemondrop martini.

Glass Ceiling Rooftop

4.4

4.4 (300)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

NoMad

About the restaurant

The Glass Ceiling is just that, a beautiful retractable glass ceiling sitting atop the city skyline. A brand new rooftop lounge located in the heart of Nomad. The design adds a glamorous touch to the botanical theme, with a marble bar, concrete surfaces and rattan accents. The space is multi-dimensional transforming daily from a communal workspace to a lounge with light bites and cocktails to an intimate, curated events space. Featuring indoor and outdoor seating, show-stopping views of the Empire State Building, and an escape from your everyday urban routine.

Top review

Perry

Dined 3 days ago

Great views..................................................

Nubeluz

4.7

4.7 (498)

$50 and over

Cocktail Bar

NoMad

About the restaurant

Nubeluz by José Andrés is a lightbox in the sky, bringing together the Spanish word for cloud (“nube”) and for light (“luz”). Located on the 50th floor of The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, Nubeluz offers modern interpretations of classic cocktails and small bites coupled with remarkable 270-degree views of the New York City skyline.

Top review

Yadi

Dined 1 day ago

Service was great and the views were amazing! I will definitely be visiting again.

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Experience

High Tea

Experience

Halloween Masquerade Ball - General Admission

Ascent Lounge New York

4.5

4.5 (343)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Midtown West

About the restaurant

Located on the 4th floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle, Ascent Lounge offers an incomparable cocktail lounge experience. Presenting stunning views of iconic New York destinations, Central Park and Columbus Circle, Ascent Lounge presents exceptional product and service in a sophisticated, inviting atmosphere. This Premium Cocktail Lounge and Multi-Faceted NYC Event Venue is designed to provide a variety of elegant experiences, from early evening cocktail hours and late night VIP Reservations to Private NYC Corporate Events and Social Celebrations.

Top review

albertvip

Dined on Sep 18, 2024

this a very unique venue in NYC it's a lounge over looking Columbus circle with good food & drinks. this a great place for a intimate date with a special person or group of people.

Empire Rooftop @ Empire Hotel

4.3

4.3 (910)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Lincoln Square

About the restaurant

The Empire Rooftop is located on the top floor of the iconic Empire Hotel and overlooks the Lincoln Center complex. With over 8000 square feet of interior and exterior space, The Empire Rooftop has a seasonal open-air East Terrace, a West Terrace with a retractable roof cover, an Interior Main Lounge, and a seasonal Sun Deck. Enjoy our Signature Empire Sunset Cocktail, a light bite from our appetizer menu, and take a photo in front of the iconic neon sign to complete your experience.

Guests of all ages (accompanied by a Parent) are welcome on the roof until 8PM, when those under 21 must vacate.

Visit our website at www.theempirerooftop.com for more information.

Top review

Janicevip

Dined 4 days ago

Great place!! Wonderful views, good food and drinks and the staff is amazing. We will be back soon!!

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Experience

Gossip Girl Experience

Experience

Gossip Girl Experience

The Carnegie Club Cocktail and Cigar Lounge

4.7

4.7 (157)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Midtown West

About the restaurant

Enjoy a fine cigar, single malt scotch, and live music at one of the most exclusive lounges in New York City.
Conveniently located steps from Carnegie Hall, Central Park, and Times Square, The Carnegie Club is a magnificent space that’s both grand and intimate. It provides a classic and sophisticated backdrop of hand-carved 18th century bookcases filled with a wide assortment of leather-bound titles, a stone fireplace, 20 foot ceilings, and several cigar humidors--all offset by plush furnishings.

The Carnegie Club is also home to New York City’s longest running Sinatra Show featuring Steven Maglio and the Stan Rubin 11-Piece Orchestra which have been dazzling audiences for over two decades.

All guests must be 21+ only.

Top review

Suzannevip

Dined on Sep 29, 2024

The Carnegie Club is always fantastic. The night we were there, the usual entertainer was not there and someone was in his place. He was very good and it was a great show. However, it would have been appropriate for them to let us know when we booked the reservation that the usual entertainer was not going to be there that evening. That's my only complaint. It was a wonderful evening and I highly recommend The Carnegie Club.

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Experience

Sinatra Saturdays

The Highlight Room NY

4.6

4.6 (42)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Chinatown

About the restaurant

The Highlight Room’s real showstopper is the spectacular view of the city through a glass wall that spans the entire width of the room and folds back to allow access to the outdoor terrace. From there, guests can lift a cocktail to the expansive views — north to the Empire State Building, south to the Freedom Tower. The north and south sides of the room are lined with two-toned leather and velvet banquettes positioned to take advantage of the cityscape views from floor-to-ceiling windows.

The bar, set off by wooden arches and antique mirrors, complements the greenery, and elaborate, candelabra-style chandeliers allude to the candles that would illuminate the German garden as evening fell. Layers of premium materials — plaster, brass, velvet upholstery, caramel drapery, terrazzo tiles — add a dose of playful luxury. Although the bar is open to the public, the overall sense is of a swank member’s club, a private Eden commanding the sky above the Lower East Side. Must be 21+.

Top review

Reinaldo

Dined on Sep 22, 2024

The ambience was breathtaking. The appetizers were delicious, especially the pretzel. The staff was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.

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Experience

$5 Rosé Golden Hour

ART SoHo

4.3

4.3 (349)

$50 and over

Cocktail Bar

SoHo

About the restaurant

A.R.T. SoHo is a cocktail lounge located on the rooftop of Arlo SoHo. A.R.T. SoHo with its sweeping views of the city and river is a place for guests to enjoy inventive cocktails including frozen drinks, beer & wine, with a menu of finger foods. A.R.T. SoHo invites DJs from all over the world to spin and creates a great place to party the night away with friends. After undergoing a full renovation at the beginning of 2023, A.R.T SoHo is more perfect then ever for large groups, corporate gatherings, and more, A.R.T. SoHo is your destination to celebrate the Art in our world.

Follow us @ArtSoHoNY
**For private events please contact eventsoho@arlohotels.com
***ART SoHo does not guarantee tables in specific spaces. Guest will be seated accordingly and we accommodate as much as possible.
****All tables are subject to the allotted turn times. Guests arriving late will have less time to enjoy their stay with us. Please arrive on-time!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

What an absolutely beautiful rooftop! There are options for both inside and outside seating - and given the overall atmosphere of both spaces, it’s really hard to choose between which one to sit! Otherwise, I think it was important to note that the noise level wasn’t at all obnoxious or too imposing on conversations, but sat at a perfect median given the otherwise lively energy of a SoHo-Manhattan rooftop. I can’t praise the ‘vibes’ enough in this regard. Our server, Jasmine (pardon any misspelling!) was a delight and delivered great presence at the table. One is tempted to feel lost and forgotten in such a bustling environment, but Jasmine never made us feel this way. Lastly, the food and drinks were fantastic: the Kiwi Swizzle and Strawberry Mai Tai are a must have; the chicken sandwich was an absolute dream with hearty tomatoes and a beautiful golden-brown breading, not otherwise forgetting the guacamole and chips and hamachi crudo which were stars in their own right.

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Experience

Large Group Booking | ART SoHo

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