The city’s streets and parks have burst into bloom, New Yorkers have survived an earthquake and a solar eclipse, and you’d better believe we’re ready to think about breezy brunches and lifting a well-earned glass as we welcome spring with friends and loved ones.
It’s time to make plans to toast to big milestones. This is also the season for occasions that center good things to eat and drink, like Cinco de Mayo and Derby Day. Whatever you’re celebrating, here’s our shortlist of great places to kick back, drink in hand. We’re also highlighting some spots with great low- and non-alcoholic options because there are all kinds of ways to enjoy time out on the town.
P.S. Check out our guides to places with the best bar food, zero-proof sips, and Queer-led bars and restaurants throughout the city.
More From Resy
Chalong
Hell's Kitchen
The Drink: Leonardo on the Beach
Chinato
Lower East Side
The Drink: Vermouth
Helmed by co-owner and bar director Ray Zhou, formerly of award-winning bar darling Double Chicken Please, Chinato is at its best when you can score a seat at the island-style bar in the center of the space. Order this low-alcohol sipper made with three types of fortified wine, garnished with bright-orange goose cherries. And be sure to pair it with an order of frog’s legs drumsticks. Read more about Chinato here.
Dante West Village
West Village
The Drink: Cosmo Spritz
We still love the original Dante, but the West Village outpost has everything we want for seasonal sipping: plush spring-green banquettes indoors, copious seating outdoors for sunny days, and refreshing sips like the Cosmo Spritz. The vodka-cranberry classic is lengthened with rosé and prosecco, yielding a blush-pink drink served tall over ice.
The Lambs Bar
Midtown
The Drink: 1905 Martini
Le Crocodile
Williamsburg
The Drink: Jasper County (Non-Alcoholic)
Llama Inn
Williamsburg
The Drink: Papi, Don’t Preach
The signature spirit of Peru is pisco and this Chilcano riff made with pisco, gooseberries, ginger, lemongrass, and soda hits all the right notes for a sunny brunch sipper lifted by a bit of fizz. Enjoy it on the rooftop or in the dining room downstairs, ideally paired with a breakfast burrito and maybe an order of ceviche too.
Mar’s
Astoria
The Drink: Oyster Mignonette Martini
Overstory
Financial District
The Drink: Pink Tuxedo
Spring means cherry blossom season, and cherry blossom is one of the key ingredients in this rosy riff on the classic Tuxedo cocktail, along with vodka, strawberry, and anise-tinged absinthe. You’ll get the joke as soon as you step off the elevator on the 64th floor; the bartenders sport pink tuxedo jackets. Take your drink outside to the wraparound balcony for one of the best sunset views around.
Panzón
Greenpoint
The Drink: Paloma (Non-Alcoholic)
Pebble Bar
Midtown
The Drink: Ginny Fallon
Rule of Thirds
Greenpoint
The Drink: Melonade (Non-Alcoholic)
Don’t sleep on this all-day Japanese restaurant, which seems to be perpetually three steps ahead in its drinks game. Boozy options abound, but the Melonade is a refreshing zero-proofer, combining cantaloupe and herbaceous shiso tea. Whatever you’re celebrating, don’t miss the opportunity to reserve the Spring Pavilion for up to 20 of your closest friends. (Yes, a wedding was hosted here.)
Sip & Guzzle
West Village
The Drink: Miami Vice Negroni
TATIANA, By Kwame Onwuachi
Lincoln Center
The Drink: Birthday Daiquiri
Most likely, you already know this Lincoln Center mainstay has a distinct point of view, that of chef Kwame Onwuachi. With good reason, we are still dreaming of the curried goat patties. But what you may not know is that while the restaurant is booked out months in advance (set those Resy Notifies, folks), you can still walk in to the six-seat bar or the patio out back. The Birthday Daiquiri, spiced with grapefruit-cinnamon cordial and festively topped with bubbly prosecco, is just right for all the celebrations, birthday or otherwise. Find more tips for getting into Tatiana here.
Whisk & Whiskey
Park Slope
The Drink: Basil Julep
We sure hope whiskey is what’s in your glass at this woman- and minority-owned contemporary casual bar and bakery. The Basil Julep takes a spring approach to whiskey, muddling fresh basil with lemon juice and housemade ginger syrup, topped with ginger beer. Select from a half-dozen whiskeys made by women to fill out the drink, and pair with a savory Trinidadian fried bread “bake” stuffed with brisket, smoked Gouda, or jerk chicken.
