Diners' Choice: Cocktail Bar restaurants in New York City

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

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

Fernando's Hideaway

4.6

4.6 (7)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Midtown

About the restaurant

Fernando's Hideaway: A Disco Dreamland in the Heart of New York

Step into a world of shimmering disco balls, plush red booths, and a vibrant atmosphere that transports you straight to the heart of the 70's and 80's. Fernando's Hideaway, nestled above Bartley Dunnes, is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

Looking for a unique experience? Join us for our "Girl Dinner," where you can enjoy bottomless cocktails and bubbles for 90 minutes while sharing delicious tapas with your friends.

Whether you're looking for a lively atmosphere, delicious food, or expertly crafted cocktails, Fernando's Hideaway has something for everyone. Come experience the magic of this hidden disco haven and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Top review

Amanda

Dined 3 days ago

Celebrated my 30th Birthday here. It was the perfect setting for me and all my gwoorlss Music: 90s early 2000s hits, literally perfect! Ambience: perfect for photos Drinks: 10/10 Food: We all ordered “Girl Dinner”. The entrées were pretty good considering. Great portions. Service: Our server, Charlotte, was very attentive, super nice, & very sweet. She even went as far as to get me a little cake at the end. Overall 10/10 fun birthday✨

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Experience

Girl Dinner @ Fernando's Hideaway

Experience

Disco Brunch @ Fernando's Hideaway

The Red Stache

4.8

4.8 (36)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Hell's Kitchen

About the restaurant

The Red Stache is committed to providing our customers with an exceptional and memorable craft cocktail & wine experience. We aim to create a warm and inviting atmosphere where our guests can relax and enjoy the best food, cocktails, and wines worldwide. Mix and match wines with our wine flights. Try some of our signature items like the steak frites, miso cod, & flatbreads.

On Sundays and Saturdays, get ready to sashay into a world of fabulousness with The Red Stache Drag Brunch! Indulge in a tantalizing blend of delectable food, bottomless mimosas, and the electrifying performances by NYC's top Drag Artists. From lip-sync numbers to dazzling dance routines, each Drag Brunch is a kaleidoscope of glamour and entertainment that will leave you spellbound. So, grab your friends and join us for a feast fit for royalty at The Red Stache, where every bite is seasoned with sass and sparkle!

For any difficulty booking or for parties larger than 20 people, please call us at (212)-933-4404.

Top review

Stephanie

Dined on Mar 15, 2025

Great food, service and wine! We sat at the bar for a few hours before a show. Great spot

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4.5

4.5 (216)

$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

Nicole

Dined on Apr 6, 2025

The brunch burger was really good. The bottomless brunch drinks were good but you have to chase the waitress down to give you service.

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Experience

Bottomless Brunch

Experience

Good "Old Fashioned" Mondays

Experience

Spritz Thursday

Ascent Lounge New York

4.7

4.7 (373)

$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

JohnVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Always perfect and exquisite service. Thank you for a lovely night and great drinks!

The Highlight Room NY

4.5

4.5 (61)

$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

Richard CVIP

Dined 1 day ago

A great happy hour or after dinner spot - highly recommend.

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Experience

$5 Rosé Golden Hour

Empire Rooftop @ Empire Hotel

4.5

4.5 (984)

$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

Kathy

Dined 4 days ago

Visited the Rooftop at 2pm on a Monday. Noise was minimal, service was great as was the food. Drinks in point! Would recommend highly.

Madame George

4.7

4.7 (106)

$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

LeslieVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Ambiance fantastic! My invited guests loved it.! Drinks great. Food quality good. Music a bonus should start half an hour earlier. Waitstaff should understand policy for reservations and how it applies to checks onsite.

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Experience

$1.50 OYSTERS EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Experience

Live Music

The Carnegie Club Cocktail and Cigar Lounge

4.7

4.7 (235)

$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

Mustafa

Dined on Apr 10, 2025

I always enjoy dining and smoking Carnegie Club. I will recommend people to try this club they will great time there.

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Experience

Sinatra Saturdays General Seating

Nubeluz

4.6

4.6 (819)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

NoMad

About the restaurant

Elevated Cocktails, Stunning Views Nubeluz by José Andrés is a lightbox in the sky, bringing together the Spanish word for cloud ("nube") and for light ("luz"). Nubeluz offers modern interpretations of classic cocktails and small bites coupled with remarkable 270-degree views of the New York City skyline.

Top review

AnthonyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent place place to see views and service was amazing a must go to

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Experience

High Tea

Experience

Tour de José at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad

Gair

4.3

4.3 (39)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

DUMBO

About the restaurant

GAIR (BROOKLYN, NY)
Located at 41 Washington Street in Dumbo, Brooklyn on one of the world’s most famous intersections, Gair is Dumbo’s premier destination for elevated, distinctive cocktails, locally-sourced, seasonally-inspired dishes, and an unmatched environment. Conceptualized and owned by architect and Dumbo local Kevin Cimini, Gair was developed to create an elegant yet approachable neighborhood bar and restaurant that serves as an oasis for the Dumbo community, as well as an authentic New York experience for visitors.

Top review

UtaukwaVIP

Dined on Mar 27, 2025

Kind and amazing service, knowledgeable mixologists who are are excellent at their craft; food offerings are seasonal and delicious

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