New York City Bars & Nightlife

Hidden under the Queensboro Bridge, The Jeffrey combines two storefronts that look completely unremarkable. Inside, though, you can get unexpectedly good coffee, drinks—and oysters. The espresso bar serves local roasts from Café Grumpy, and is also part growler-to-go-service. For later in the day and night, there are a few dozen rotating local and global brews, plus wines and a fairly extensive cocktail list. When the weather is nice, take your drink and oysters to the back patio.

Gallow Green is actually the rooftop of the McKittrick Hotel. When you first walk in, you might expect a woodland nymph to pop out from behind one of the lush arches. The cozy garden vibe here is neither pretentious nor touristy, and the views of the city are some of the best. Their unusual cocktails are keeping with the theme, with names like the Green Grass (a mezcal drink with pineapple syrup and thai spices) and the Dahlia (vodka steeped with roses, orange, and cranberry).

Take a tour of the winery—a truly unexpected but welcome addition to the neighborhood—or grab a carafe of their house varietal in the attached old-Brooklyn feeling wine bar. In addition to the wine, there's a small but mighty menu of small plates, which can be expanded and built upon to accommodate large parties from weddings to office parties.

This Brooklyn saloon, with a limited “Bill of Fare” of simple and homey food, including a great burger, is perfect for a late supper and whiskey cocktails with friends. On weekends, the boozy brunch has locals flocking from all over the borough. Photo: Daniel Krieger

With several distinct lounge spaces, the rooftop at the Kimberly Hotel, which is a full 30 stories above the street, has retractable glass walls and a glass ceiling that make it wonderful for all seasons. With a classica New York view of the Chrysler building (specially magical at night when the building is all lit up), it's an impressive place to bring out-of-town guests.

The St. Regis completed a major renovation back in 2013, an investment that included an overhaul of the hotel's famous King Cole Bar. The signature Max Parrish mural still hangs, 25-feet wide, across the back of the beautiful, old-world mahogany bar. Order a Bloody Mary—legend has it that long-time bartender Fernand Petiot invented the drink here back in the 1920s.

Salon de Ning is a bit of a franchise for the Peninsula—there are bars by the same name in their Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Manila hotels as well. Like its sister restaurants across the Pacific, New York's version is decorated in a subtle Asian style, with potted bamboo trees and Chinese screens. The cocktails are pricey even by New York standards, but the Peninsula's exceptional service (including some very accommodating bartenders) more than makes up for the expense.

The Refinery Hotel in Bryant Park has a warm, industrial interior style—an aesthetic that's probably best exemplified by the stunning rooftop, decorated with wooden cupolas (complete with porch swings), round string lights, and plenty of plants and greenery. A retractable glass roof allows for ample open-air space in the summer, but fireplaces keep things cozy in the winter. Even from inside, there's a stunning, close-up view of the Empire State Building.

Roman & Williams executed a beautiful refresh of Philippe Starck's iconic first hotel back in 2007, and it continues to exude their signature moody style, with dark woods, brass fixtures, and plenty of leather. It's great for after-work drinks when you actually need to hear the conversation.

This adults-only bowling alley turned concert venue provides an entertainment trifecta, guaranteeing a pretty great night out, especially in a group. You can bowl to great music (Questlove, for one, DJ’s on Thursdays), dine on Blue Ribbon’s fried chicken and spiked milkshakes, and see the occasional big-name group (Public Enemy is this month’s highlight).