The Resy Guide to 18 Classic Cocktails and the New York Bars That Do Them Best

The Drink: Aperol Spritz

Aperitivo away the afternoon at this relaxed Italian cafe on the fringe of Rockefeller Center’s touristy buzz. Opt for the classic version or the juicy La Specialina with blood orange and clementine; there’s no shortage of effervescent options to pair with silver trays full of antipasti and baskets of focaccia and sourdough, made with flour that’s milled in-house. The outdoor plaza seating is prime people-watching territory.

The Drink: Boulevardier

It’s one of the bar’s signature drinks, the one owner Toby Cecchini says he can’t take off the menu without causing a fuss. While the classic version calls for equal parts whiskey, Campari, and sweet vermouth, Cecchini nudges up the whiskey component, splitting that measure between Old Overholt and 100-proof Rittenhouse rye; the vermouth is a house blend of two different bottles as well. And while many bars serve Boulevardiers on the rocks, this carefully calibrated, ruby-hued drink is presented in a coupe glass, minus the ice.

Walk-ins only.

The Drink: Clover Club

Before Julie Reiner’s Cobble Hill bar opened in 2008, how may people were even familiar with the raspberry-accented pre-Prohibition classic? No argument, this is the best place to sample the bracing gin sour, whether you’re bending elbows at the bar, cozied up in the back room near the fireplace, or enjoying jazz brunch at one of the tables up front.

Reservations for groups of five to 10 are available for indoor seating. Call (718) 855-7939 to make a reservation.

The Drink: Daiquiri

Dutch Kills is one of the few remaining bars once run by the late bartending legend Sasha Petraske, who was noted for his affinity for the daiquiri. No surprise, this Long Island City stalwart makes one of the best, most-balanced versions in the city, chilled by Hundredweight hand-cut ice (which Dutch Kills supplies to other New York City bars too). Watch the bartenders do their thing while sitting at the bar, or cozy up in one of the cozy wooden booths near the front.

Walk-ins only.

The Drink: El Presidente

This is the most fun you can have with the rum-soaked El Presidente. It’s not just that it’s a stellar version of the Cuban classic. But at this resuscitated 1930’s restaurant within the Chelsea Hotel, the drink is thrown, meaning it’s poured between two mixing tins, from a higher and higher distance, until the drink is thoroughly chilled and everyone at the bar has stopped to gawk at the wonderfully entertaining spectacle. The drink is best paired with the bacalo coquetas (salt cod fritters).

The Drink: Espresso Martini

The 80’s-era espresso martini is back, with a vengeance. It’s everywhere. But the version created by Patrick Smith at Union Square Café might be the ideal version, lifted with vanilla liqueur and Mr. Black cold-brew liqueur, in addition to fresh-pulled espresso and vodka. Enjoy it at the secret bar on the second level, or outdoors for an alfresco caffeine buzz.

The Drink: Gibson

Real talk: a Gibson is a martini goosed by its savory onion garnish. And there is none finer than Meagan Dorman’s crunchy housemade pickled red pearl onions, a bit of pink punctuation in an already outstanding drink laced with a barspoon or two of pickling brine. It’s even better with sweeping Manhattan views from 40 floors up at Dear Irving on Hudson, or in the boudoir-like intimacy of the Irving Place original.

The Drink: Irish Coffee

Naturally, the financial district Irish uber-bar Dead Rabbit has the best Irish Coffee in town, and they literally sell hundreds each week. Their recipe was developed with the help of “King Cocktail” Dale Degroff (formerly of the famed Rainbow Room), and it’s just the right mix of dark coffee, whiskey, and sugar, beneath of soft blanket of whipped heavy cream. If you can, try the drink before its originator Jillian Vose decamps to Charleston, S.C., in August, where she’ll be opening new concepts Hazel and Apple.

The Drink: Last Word

Of course a bar named The Last Word would have the ultimate version of the eponymous classic cocktail. But this Astoria bar, co-owned by Paddy O’Brien, makes a truly outstanding version, plus other “House Word” variations. Whichever version you choose, this is a cozy, welcoming place to post up, with its exposed brick walls and relaxed crowd.

Call (718) 440-3378 for reservations.

The Drink: Mai Tai

Tropical drinks are all about escapism – which any New Yorker sorely needs. On the second floor of the lovingly restored Gage & Tollner, the Sunken Harbor Club is the perfect escape. Linger beneath the blue-lit mermaid with a perfectly executed (and perfectly strong) mai tai, and you’ll soon forget all your cares.

Walk-ins only. (But reservations are accepted at Gage & Tollner for a pre- or post-drink meal.)

The Drink: Manhattan

In a city that thrives on tearing down the old to make way for the new, it’s a small miracle that Keens Steakhouse has managed to survive. After all these years, it remains an oasis in Midtown, serving up red meat and whiskey in clubby environs. Which means: Manhattans. If a restaurant can survive from the 1880s, it’s best to stick with the classics. Go with steak, or mutton, and a classic Manhattan. Soak up all the dark wood and oil paintings, and don’t be too precious about the drink. You’re here for the room and history, after all.

If your heart desires a pisco sour or a michelada, yes, those South American bebidas are here. But a Leyenda margarita — by the glass or pitcher — is always a crowd-pleaser at this lively Smith Street spot. Order for your squad of four or 8, or just for one, and don’t skimp on the delicious pupusas, tacos, or arepas to soak it all up.

For reservations of parties of six or more, call (347) 987-3260.

The Drink: Martini

Martinis are deeply personal: You like what you like and honestly, who are we to judge? But allow us this suggestion: Masa Urushido’s playful, Instagrammable Hinoki Martini, which offers a split base of vodka and gin laced with fino sherry and sake and finished with a forest-y spritz of “hinoki tree essence.” The conical glass is nestled in a wooden box filled with ice, and comes with a selection of garnishes to adorn (or for you to nibble). This “Japanese-inspired American dive bar” is filled with Japanese-language movie posters and high-spirited surprises. (Pro tip: Order the head-on prawn skewer, and you might also receive an “umami situation” shooter, with sake and juice from the prawn heads.)

Note: For purists, try a classic martini at Bemelman’s Bar in The Carlyle or Ci Siamo in Manhattan West, which arrives with a sidecar and extra garnishes.

The Drink: Negroni

Both Dante in Greenwich Village and its newer offshoot in the West Village offer an entire menu of Negroni variations. Unlike many bars and restaurants, both locations stay open continuously all day long, so you can partake in a leisurely afternoon aperitivo in true Italian style. The newer West Village location is also more spacious than the intimate Macdougal original, and has more outdoor seating for enjoying Negronis alfresco.

The Drink: Penicillin

Although it’s no longer called Milk & Honey, Attaboy is still the same space and owned by most of the same team that originated this spicy-smoky honey-ginger whiskey drink. It’s a little more relaxed and raucous these days, but the lights are still low and the drinks top-notch behind the famous semi-hidden doorway.

Walk-ins only.

The Drink: Old Fashioned

To be clear, the “Terroir Old Fashioned” is an unconventional version of the classic, made with reposado Tequila and palo santo, plus a chunk of honeycomb that melts tantalizingly into the drink as you sip, adding gentle sweetness. Purists can order a classic OF, too. Know that drinks here are pricey (around $24 each) but they come with a panoramic view from the 64th floor of the historic 70 Pine building, particularly from the wraparound terrace.

Note: For a more old-school Old Fashioned, head for Old Town Bar, a Union Square tavern that dates back to 1892.

The Drink: Pimm’s Cup

This New Orleans-inspired oyster bar changes up its Pimm’s to suit the season — they’ve gone through more than 40 iterations — so it’s hard to say exactly what you’ll find in that tall, lavishly mint-adorned glass. But rest assured, it will be the perfect refreshing companion at the horseshoe-shaped bar or to enjoy at a wrought-iron table in the tree-shaded garden out back.

The Drink: The Sazerac

Specifically, the New York Sazerac, featuring D’Usse Cognac and Rittenhouse rye, and just a whisper of absinthe, is the order at this lively, Black-owned Harlem bar. It’s even better paired with the killer crispy chicken sliders with chipotle aioli. The exposed brick and printed wallpaper accented with touches of weathered wood and leather lend a warm, welcoming vibe.