For many, autumn means back to school or back to the office: an in-person reality for many this year in particular and one reason, we suspect, for a glut of new openings around Midtown and the Financial District. It also means a fresh crop of new bars and restaurants, ready to host post-work happy hours, brainstorming meetings, and every stripe of after-hours revelry.
Already, we’re starting to think about what the unofficial “drink of autumn 2023” might look like, since fall brings out the overachiever in everyone. After a summer of bright flavors and whimsical formats, we’re betting this season’s cocktails will steer toward bolder flavors and dark spirits, such as the nutty, Sazerac-inspired Creole at Alligator Pear, made with a double dose of bourbon and rum. For sure, we see glimmers of the can’t-stop-won’t-stop espresso martini in new caffeinated variations like The Boardroom’s Café Negroni and cardamom-accented No Sleep ‘Til at Unlisted, the rooftop bar above Freeman Alley on the Lower East Side. And the mad scientists in the room are ready to challenge with creative cocktails like a fish sauce-spiked clarified cocktail at Singlish, or popcorn-infused rum at Jac’s on Bond.
Wherever autumn takes you, our shortlist of fall cocktails and where to get them offers plenty to sample as the season turns.
P.S. Check out our guides to places with some of the best zero-proof cocktails, and the best bar food, as well as our guide to Queer-led bars and restaurants throughout the city. And if it still feels like summer to you, here’s our list to the drinks of the summer, too.
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Laissez Faire
Financial District
The Drink: Bon Vivant
Hidden below the Beekman Hotel, in the former Alleycat space, expect to see plenty of V-shaped glasses from the bar’s martini menu, including this non-traditional version made with lightly sweetened cristalino Tequila, eau de vie, and passion fruit, topped with a couple of dots of spicy Calabrian chile oil. It’s sassy and subtly fruity, just right for sinking into one of the red velvet banquettes beneath the mirrored half-disco ball while the DJs do their thing. Non-martini drinks are available too, including bowlfuls of Champagne cocktails sized for a group.
The Boardroom
Midtown
The Drink: Café Negroni
New York is awash in faux “speakeasies” right now, and we’re OK with that trend. Enter through a door at the back of the upscale food court that is The Hugh, and settle in among the Midtown office workers and “Mad Men” wannabes eyeing $45 reserve old fashioneds made with old and rare spirits. For those not on expense accounts, the Café Negroni is a solid choice, made with Ford’s gin, Campari, espresso bean-infused Barolo chinato, and coffee liqueur.
Alligator Pear
Chelsea
The Drink: Creole
At this New Orleans-themed newcomer, a full page of Sazerac-inspired drinks seems about right. The stirred-and-strong Creole, made with both bourbon and rum, is bracing and surprisingly nutty, served over a pristine cube stamped with an alligator logo. And yes, alligator is on the menu, in the form of hushpuppy-like tempura alligator bites. Bring a friend or three, since the menu is designed to be shared.
Singlish
Union Square
The Drink: Hawker Highball
Located on the second floor of a townhouse, drinks and food here pay homage to Singapore, yielding some flavorful surprises. Case in point: the Hawker Highball, made with blanco Tequila, pineapple, orange, lime, and a splash of fish sauce for a hit of umami. Pro tip: The ground floor is a separate bar called Jelas; it’s walk-in only and specializes in clarified cocktails.
Jaffa Cocktail and Raw Bar
Williamsburg
The Drink: Iced Tea of Galilee
Chef Michael Solmonov has turned the Hoxton hotel into his culinary playground; in addition to Laser Wolfand K’Far, he’s added this venue, named for the Israeli port city. Citrus grows abundantly there, and is showcased in most drinks, such as this tall, low-alcohol refresher made with amaro, Meyer lemon, and tea. Think Arnold Palmer with an Israeli accent.
Albert’s Bar
Midtown
The Drink: Jimmy the Gent
From the team behind The Penrose and The Spaniard, this sprawling two-story bar and gastropub has been packed to the gills since it opened in March. It’s partly because it’s a quick, commuter-friendly walk from Grand Central, but it’s also because of the solid drinks (and double-decker burgers). Whiskey’s the thing here, so while you have plenty of martini options, including a solid, sherry-spiked Gibson, our pick is the Jimmy the Gent, one of the house specials. The drink resembles an old-school Godfather, with the Scotch and amaretto milk-washed for silky sipping. Pro tip: For those looking beyond happy hour, lunch and brunch service just started after Labor Day.
The Good Good
East Harlem
The Drinks: Manhattan or Rum & Ting
Classic cocktails rule the day at this East Harlem bistro from owners and sisters Juliet and Justine Masters (The Edge Harlem) and Lesly Bernard. With an extensive whiskey list, we’re inclined to steer you toward a well-made Manhattan. But know that the Rum & Ting, made with the Jamaican grapefruit soda, is on offer as well, ideal for pairing with jerk mushrooms or the codfish fritters.
Madeline’s Martini
Alphabet City
The Drink: Martini by the Sea
With more than a dozen martinis on the menu, this briny, sea-kissed version is a robust variation on a dirty martini, mixing mezcal with sea-lettuce brine and Cocchi Americano, garnished with a frilly bit of seaweed. A couple of these, and the murals, depicting peacocks sauntering through various East Village locales, may begin to make sense.
Panzón
Greenpoint
The Drink: No Habla Inglés, No Habla Español
Paying homage to Mexico City, the emphasis at this spot which opened in March, is on mezcal, natural wine, and of course, Mexican street snacks. Think of this cheeky cocktail as a Last Word by way of Mexico, by way of Brooklyn. By that, we mean the classic is updated with mezcal instead of gin and Brooklyn’s own Faccia Brutto Centerbe instead of Chartreuse (besides, there’s a shortage, haven’t you heard?).
Unlisted
Lower East Side
The Drink: No Sleep Til …
Located on the 11th floor above Freeman Alley, this Lower East Side rooftop bar offers sunset views and a strong late-night scene. For night owls, this caffeinated riff on the classic espresso martini is a go-to, made with vodka, cardamom, and coffee, of course. Even the name (a reference to the ‘80s single “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”) tells you the night isn’t over yet.
elNico Restaurant
Williamsburg
The Drink: Paw Paw Pineapple
On the rooftop of the Penny hotel, this bar and restaurant features reimagined Latin American food in sizes meant for sharing and plenty of agave-based drinks, all with a side of sweeping 360-degree views. Ingredients shift with the seasons; autumn welcomes the Paw Paw Pineapple (peak paw paw season is August through October in the Northeastern U.S.). Rye whiskey meets paw paw verjus, pineapple skin soda, cinnamon, and morita chile.
Pebble Bar
Midtown
The Drink: Pebble Paloma
Whether you score a seat on the dark, moody third floor (where food is also available) or walk in one floor down, this is a great drink to span between seasons, when summer’s in the rear view mirror but you’re not quite ready to hunker down for colder temps just yet. Silver Tequila is lengthened with grapefruit soda and punched up with Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and mole bitters. If you’re headed to Rockefeller Center, read more about how to get in here.
Jac’s on Bond
NoHo
The Drink: Rum-Com
Owned by the same group behind Pebble Bar and situated in an 1830’s townhouse, this bar channels ’90s minimalist vibes — you can almost imagine Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell shooting a round at the camel-felt pool table. The drinks aim a bit more baroque than the décor, such as the Rum-Com, made with popcorn-infused rum, Cocchi Dopo Teatro (a rich Italian vermouth-based amaro), and cinnamon liqueur.
House of the Red Pearl at Tin Building by Jean-Georges
Pier 17 / South Street Seaport
The Drink: Yuzu Drop
Sure, you could spend an evening bar-hopping among the venues within Tin Building, Jean-Georges’ sprawling three-story food hall along the Seaport. But you’ll probably want to land at this Chinese-inspired restaurant, tucked behind the Mercantile East boutique. Head behind the curtain, and order from a pan-Asian selection of drinks (Japan figures heavily, but not exclusively). Updated with yuzu and lemongrass, this vodka-based riff on the classic Lemon Drop gives an excuse to linger at the jade-tiled bar while you decide whether to order pot stickers with smoked bacon or octopus carpaccio (spoiler alert: you want both).
