New York City is one of the premier cocktail destinations in the country and while there is a range of places to drink and shop uptown, in Brooklyn, and in Queens, this bartender-driven guide explores the section of town below 23rd Street for all things cocktail-related. Find out where to buy spirits, bar tools, and ingredients; and where to drink midday cocktails all the way through late-night boozing.
To get the full New York City Guide with recommendations from chefs, bartenders and sommeliers, download the Find. Eat. Drink. iPhone app.
PRE-LUNCH SHOPPING
Photograph courtesy of Cocktail Kingdom
Barware | Cocktail Kingdom
Hidden away on the fifth floor is one of the top places to find the best barware items in the country. Selling everything from Japanese mixing glasses to artisan bitters, unique syrups and rare cocktail books. Make sure to check out their full library of cocktail recipe books, including first-edition Jerry Thomas.
“They carry bar items that you can’t get anywhere else.” - Bartender Michael Klein, formerly of Estela and PDT
“It is a temple to all things cocktail, including tools and possibly the largest library of cocktail books.” - Bartender Erick Castro of Polite Provisions
“I know of no greater resource for bar supplies and books in the world.” - Beverage director Eamon Rockey of Betony
“Equipment-wise, this is one of my favorite shops.” - Bartender Jack McGarry of Dead Rabbit
“They have the best supplies and the best equipment.” - Bartender Tom Richter of Dear Irving and Tomr’s Tonic
36 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10010
T: 212.647.9166 | www.cocktailkingdom.com
Antique Barware | Mood Indigo
Located on the second floor, Diane Petipas has been collecting 20th century design for thirty years.
“An antique barware shop that has unbelievable stuff, everything from old highball glasses to bar spoons, and a huge amount of shakers and glassware, even old stuff from the Stork Club.” - Bartender Theo Lieberman, formerly of Milk & Honey and Lantern’s Keep
40 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10010
T: 212.254.1176 | www.moodindigonewyork.com
Photograph courtesy of SOS Chefs
For Ingredients | SOS Chefs
Bartenders love this specialty foods shop for their selection of unique products.
“I like to buy things like brandied cherries.” - Bartender Michael Klein, formerly of Estela and PDT
“They sell tons of purées, hydrosols, and lots of molecular stuff that bartenders use in drinks. I love the selection of powdered fruits and vegetables and essential oils.” - Bartender Naren Young of Bacchanal
104 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009
T: 212.505.5813 | sos-chefs.com
Liquor Selection | Astor Wine & Spirits
Numero uno when it comes to selling spirits.
“I’ve never been anywhere that had a bigger spirit selection.” - Bartender Theo Lieberman, formerly of Milk & Honey and Lantern’s Keep
“Pretty much anything you need, they have it.” - Bartender Naren Young of Bacchanal
“Anytime there is something that I cannot find, I come here.” - Bartender Xavier Herit of the Wallflower
“In New York, there isn’t a better booze wonderland.” - Bartender Alex Day of Beath & Co
“It’s the best liquor store for the variety and friendly staff.” - Bartender Sother Teague of Amor y Amargo
399 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003
T: 212.674.7500 | www.astorwines.com
LUNCH & LATE NIGHT
Burger & Cocktails | Daddy-O
Chances are good that the guy at the next bar stool is a chef or bartender off the clock sipping a cocktail and eating a burger.
“I love the vibe here. I come for a Negroni made with Aperol.” - Chef John Fraser of Dovetail and Narcissa
“I love coming here late night.” - Chef Gabe Thompson of dell’anima, L’Artusi, and L’Apicio
44 Bedford Street New York, NY 10014 | T: 212.414.8884 | www.daddyonyc.com
Photographs courtesy of Dead Rabbit
Irish Twist | Dead Rabbit
Inspired by the Irish gangs in New York during the 19th Century, with historically accurate cocktails served upstairs in The Parlor at night and craft beer and pints served along with lunch in the saw-dust covered Taproom pub on the first floor. After a hearty lunch on a chilly afternoon, give the Irish Coffee a try. And if lunch drags long into the afternoon, the upstairs cocktail Parlor opens at 5pm.
“It’s a bit of a destination bar, since it’s way downtown. They give you everything you want with a casual pub on the first floor and a sit-down, expert cocktail parlor upstairs.” - Bartender Nick Bennett of Porchlight Bar
“It’s one of the best bars in New York.” - Bartender Xavier Herit of the Wallflower
30 Water Street, New York, NY 10004 | T: 646.422.7906 | www.deadrabbitnyc.com
EARLY EVENING COCKTAILS
The Library at the Nomad Hotel | Photograph courtesy of The Nomad Hotel
Modern Hotel Cocktails | The Nomad Bar
Tucked in the back of the NoMad Hotel, head to the Library Room for some of the best cocktails in the city.
"They have a wonderful Champagne list.” - Bartender Naren Young of Bacchanal
“This bar is beautiful and fun. You can get lost in here.” - Bartender Meaghan Dorman of Raines Law Room and Dear Irving
“They broke the paradigm of the hotel bar. You can get a delicious beautiful classic drink with a modern touch.” - Bartender Simone Caparale of Artesian Bar in London
1170 Broadway, New York, NY 10001 | T: 347.472.5660 | www.thenomadhotel.com
Awaken The Palate With Bitter | Amor y Amargo
Spanish for “Love and Bitters” this tiny bar’s cocktail menu is centered around bitters and gentiane aperitifs and is an industry favorite.
“A cocktail bar that just does spirits driven, bitters forward cocktails. It has a very intimate feel to it and you are coming here for a very specific reason.” - Bartender Dave Arnold of Booker + Dax
“This is a cool bar and right near Death & Co. They don’t use any juice or anything and they just serve stirred drinks. They serve vermouth on tap.” - Bartender Dan Greenbaum of Attaboy
443 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10009 | T: 212.614.6818 | amoryamargony.com
COCKTAILS
Bartender Xavier Herit at The Wallflower | Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
Intimate Cocktail Lounge | The Wallflower
Barman and co-owner Xavier Herit made a name for himself in the hospitality world as the head bartender at Daniel for seven years. The front room is an intimate cocktail lounge. For the restaurant, you’ll find a French-inspired menu with raw-bar selections, charcuterie, seafood and beef dishes.
“Amazing food and cocktails. The food is very simple and it’s all about the produce.” - Bartender Romée de Gorianoff, owner of Experiment Cocktail Club
“Their cocktail program is awesome. I love the way bartender Xavier thinks, because it is so different. It is one of those great places that just fits the neighborhood.” - Pete Nevenglosky, co-founder of Avuá Cachaça
235 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014
Book a Table | www.wallflowernyc.com
One of the four cocktail rooms at Dear Irving | Photograph courtesy of Dear Irving
Beautifully Inspired Rooms | Dear Irving
A cocktail parlor on Irving Place opened by bartender Meaghan Dorman and the team behind Raines Law Room. You’ll find former Beagle barman Tom Richter (Tomr’s Tonic) behind the stick making cocktails from a menu that features ten house and five classic cocktails. Check out drinks like the ‘Hero of Little Venice’ which is a grown-up version of a root beer float and the ‘Samoa’ that tastes like the Girl Scout cookie of the same name.
The decor of each section of the room represents a different era. There is the 1950s & 1960s JFK room, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Art Deco period, the Abe Lincoln era and the Marie Antoinette room.
55 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 | www.dearirving.com
Photograph courtesy of Booker & Dax | Photo Credit: Gabriele Stabile
Inventive Cocktails | Booker + Dax
Dave Arnold, the Director of Culinary Technology at the French Culinary Institute, is the mad scientist behind the inventive cocktails here.
“I love coming here. They are doing such interesting and delicious stuff with their cocktails.” - Bartender Tom Richter of Dear Irving and Tomr’s Tonic
“My god, they have some great cocktails on the menu. I love getting those shiitake mushroom buns and the Thai Basil Daiquiri just rocks my world.” - Bartender Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrooke Row and the Zetter Townhouse
“They are always playing with something. The bar is very heavily staffed because they are executing a lot of complex drinks. I love coming here and getting something that is bartender’s choice.” - Bartender & Spirits Importer Mayur Subbarao of Bittermens
207 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003 | T: 212.254.3500 | momofuku.com/new-york/booker-and-dax
Lower East Side Intimate | Attaboy
Opened in the former Milk & Honey space by alums Sam Ross and Michael McIroy.
“This is the re-incarnation of Milk & Honey and they are doing a great job. The bar is longer, the music is a bit louder, and it feels a bit more inclusive. It is a fun, good place to hangout and have a drink.” - Bartender Naren Young of Bacchanal
“This is where I come for my post-shift drink the most. I like that you can just walk in here without a reservation. They are open late and everyone is friendly.” - Bartender Meaghan Dorman of Raines Law Room and Dear Irving
134 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002
End Your Night | Nitecap
A subterranean cocktail den from Alex Day and David Kaplan, the owners at Death & Co. Look for Shapiro’s on Rivington and head downstairs.
“The menu is really fun and they have plenty of creative drinks, plus a couple of Champagne options, which I am a real fan of.” - Bartender Meaghan Dorman of Raines Law Room and Dear Irving
“This is where I go for a shot and a beer after work.” - Bartender Tom Richter of Dear Irving and Tomr’s Tonic
“This is one of my favorite bars in the city. There is a lot of serious thought that goes into presentation. They sous-vide their infusions and do a bunch of interesting things, playing around with rotovaping some fun hydrosols. They are going for simplicity in terms of execution. They want the place to be a fun, casual place to hang out.” - Bartender & Spirits Importer Mayur Subbarao of Bittermens
Downstairs, 120 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002
T: 212.466.3361 | www.nitecapnyc.com
THE DIVE RE-IMAGINED
Holiday Cocktail Lounge | Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
The East Village Classic | Holiday Cocktail Lounge
Holiday Cocktail Lounge has been a fixture in the East Village since 1919 when it was a speakeasy during Prohibition. Rescued and re-opened in 2015, it continues to be a combination dive bar cocktail lounge. On any given night, it could be shots, beer, cocktails, singing, loud music. Just what you'd expect from an old school East Village bar that Mick Jagger and other famous musicians would visit back in the day.
“It is unpretentious and a ton of fun. You go in there, have your cocktail or a beer and a shot, and there’s a lot of friends there. There are no misconceptions about it. It is a bar. It is absolutely wonderful and a great time.” - Bartender Nick Bennett of Porchlight Bar
75 St Marks Place, New York, NY 10003
T: 212.777.9637 | www.holidaycocktaillounge.nyc
INTO THE WEE HOURS
Cocktails & A Bite | Mother’s Ruin
A casual cocktail bar open late night with a full menu. You can get everything from salads to sliders to French onion soup to burgers until 4am. You'll see lots of industry folks here late at night.
“If you come here between 12am and 3am, it’s pretty much just hospitality people. It’s a good time, because you bump into old friends and foes.” - Chef Matt Lambert of the Musket Room
“This is a good place to come late at night for food and drinks.” - Bartender Michael Klein, formerly of Estela and PDT
“This place is very welcoming and the whole industry is always here.” - Bartender Xavier Herit of the Wallflower
Open until 4am
18 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
www.mothersruinnyc.com
Subterranean Late Night | 151
Death & Co’s David Kaplan and Alex Day joined forces with Cedd Moses and Eric Needleman for this subterranean cocktail bar.
“It’s the place to go after work for a shot and a beer. If you want a cocktail, they do them up great.” - Bartender Tom Richter of Dear Irving and Tomr’s Tonic
Open until 4am
151 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002
151nyc.com