It’s time to lean into cozy winter vibes with a new crop of drinks. These are the chill-chasers to enjoy as blustery wind rattles the windows, the snow falls (maybe — thanks, climate change), and days slowly lengthen toward early spring. Right now, glasses all over the city are filled with bold flavors, piquant spice, and tropical fruit that hint at sunny island getaways, and fortifying sips that warm from within.
With the frenzy of the holiday season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to catch up with friends over a leisurely round — and no, it’s not too early to think about making plans to clink glasses as Valentine’s Day approaches. We’ve also included some low-alcohol and zero-proof options to help keep those shiny New Year’s resolutions within bounds, and many bars and restaurants throughout the city offer them on their drink menus, too.
Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
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Silver Lining Lounge NYC Bowery
The Drink: Sing Street
It’s all about live music at this intimate lounge, located within the Moxy NYC Lower East Side. Sink into one of the blue velvet lounges or post up at the gleaming bar, framed by a backbar of circular mirrors. In addition to full-proof drinks — many named with song references, or nodding to the legacy of Andy Warhol — this pretty pink zero-proofer is made with Seedlip Garden, hibiscus ginger beer, pink peppercorn, and lemon.
Bar Enzo Long Island City
The Drink: Steinway & Ditmars
Given that Bar Enzo is hidden within the beer bar and shop, The Greats of Craft, of course, a beer-based Michelada is the one to try. Yet, the Italian American cocktail bar gives the Mexican stalwart a Sicilian twist, featuring a splash of an Italian vermouth and finished with “Nonna’s homemade meatball spice blend.” (So yes, that whiff of oregano is intentional.) More traditional Negronis and spritzes round out the drink menu.
Pearl Box SoHo
The Drink: Cherry Americano
Ariel Arce’s new spot, directly above acclaimed Heroes, is aptly named: It’s a true jewel box of a space that glimmers like its namesake. This might be the ultimate date-night spot, with plush, intimate alcoves and languorous pools of light that make everyone (and every drink) look fabulous. Cocktails consist of updated classics, like an Americano tweaked to feature sour cherry alongside Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water. Pro tip: Go luxe and order the caviar service; Arce is also the owner of caviar company, Big Pearl.
Clemente Bar and Studio Flatiron
Photo courtesy of Clemente Bar and Studio
The Drink: Negroni Colada
From the moment it opened in October, it seems like everyone’s been talking about this newcomer from the team behind Eleven Madison Park, located one story above the restaurant. Sit in the lounge area — preferably at the bar, with a view of the iconic full-length mural — or reserve a spot in the intimate, nine-seat studio for a 90-minute tasting experience with cocktail pairings. The Negroni Colada is a crystal-clear cocktail made with coconut rum, blanc vermouth, white bitter and pineapple. As a nod to the rosy original, a disk of “Campari ice” sits on top, eventually melting into the drink.
P.S. It’s a popular draw, so here are our tips for getting in.
Photo courtesy of Clemente Bar and Studio
Frena Hell’s Kitchen
The Drink: Aegean Tropics
Fresh, warm bread glistening with olive oil is among the treats that emerge from the frena, a traditional Moroccan oven at the centerpiece of this lively restaurant. But that bread (sans olive oil) is also used in an innovative way in this tropical rum drink: It’s turned into a syrupy, nut-free “orgeat” sweetener. Other Mediterranean touches include a splash of pine-like mastiha (a Greek spirit) and clarified labne.
Dear Strangers Greenwich Village
The Drink: Angie
From the outside, the West Village brownstone doesn’t look like much. But down a couple of steps is a high-energy, high-volume bar from the folks behind Employees Only and Macao Trading Company. A “modern Latin” inspiration informs drinks like the Angie (gin, maracuya — a Brazilian passion fruit — and matcha) and the Star Treatment (sotol, coriander syrup, coconut milk, lime). Latin American flavors also shine in chef Diego Rodriguez’s menu, which runs from green aguachile to a bisque de tigre chilaquiles made with lobster and prawns.
The Corner Store SoHo
The Drink: The Garden
This sceney spot with drinks developed by Employees Only alum Dev Johnson and Catch beverage director Lucas Robinson highlights an extensive, savory-leaning martini list. But this fresh, crushable, not-too-boozy refresher is another way to go alongside the (equally crushable) grown-up pizza rolls. Red bitters, fino sherry, cucumber and mint are served over a tall glass of pebbled ice. Best of all, this quenching easy-sipper leaves room for another round.
P.S. Here are some tips on how to get into The Corner Store.
Shy Shy Chelsea
The Drink: Caesar Martini
This newcomer, a sibling to tropical bar JungleBird across the street, opened in December with a beachy vibe and bites like baked oysters, tuna toast, and tinned fish. Martinis get a special call-out on the menu. The Caesar already has proven to be an early favorite. It sounds gimmicky — olive oil-washed vodka garnished with a “side salad” (lettuce leaf, Parmesan cheese and boquerone) — but it works. Note: You can add a mini martini to any order, including a “mini noontini” at lunch.
Borgo Flatiron
The Drink: Martini No. 1
Borgo is a serene trattoria from Andrew Tarlow featuring two great rooms connected by an open hearth that opened in the former i Trulli space in October. The martini — an Italian creation, after all — is the right move here, whether ordered tableside from the roving martini cart or at the long marble bar. The nuanced, lightly savory Martini No. 1 incorporates two gins — one made with olive leaf, the other distilled from honey — plus Cazottes tomato liqueur and aperitivo bianco, garnished with a petite pickled pepper. Fried delicata squash with hot honey and a soft flurry of pecorino made for an appealing bar snack.
Thai Diner Nolita
The Drink: Thai Toddy
It’s just not winter until we’ve wrapped our mitts around a proper hot toddy. And this reimagined all-day, Thai-inspired, Michelin-recognized diner has an inventive version to savor: the Thai Toddy brings a teapot-ful of rye whiskey, rooibos tea, lemon, honey and star anise — served hot, of course. For peak decadence, sip it alongside an order of Thai tea babka French toast.
KABIN Hudson Square
The Drink: Skog
A new menu debuted in December, giving you yet another reason to visit this cozy “cabin” amid rustic antlers and tall candelabras that add glimmering glow to the minimalist space. Get into the Nordic spirit with a Skog, a Negroni riff made with caraway-spiked aquavit, sweet vermouth, ancho chile, and cacao, for a spiced, gently warming sip. A Danish hotdog is the perfect offset, topped with remoulade, crispy shallots, salted cucumber and pickled cabbage.
La Palapa East Village
The Drink: Margarita
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better version of the classic than the one at this venerable Mexican restaurant on St. Mark’s. Order by the pitcher, by the flavor (tamarind was a recent home run), or frozen if you’re truly hard core. Pair with Mexico City-style tacos and antojitos from chef Barbara Sibley’s kitchen; we’re partial to the tacos de pescado, plus a side of piña asada (grilled pineapple). Pro tip: Don’t miss the Palapa tamale pop-up at the Bryant Park Winter Village through March 2.
Theodora Fort Greene
The Drink: La Cigua
From the team behind Miss Ada, this Mediterranean spot features open-fire cooking and natural wine, plus cocktails with culinary touches (think: feta-washed milk punch and a tomato water martini). The La Cigua warms from within, spicy margarita style: a double punch of mezcal and tequila matches the heat of serrano and chipotle, brightened with fresh cucumber.
The Bedford – Stone Street Financial District
The Drink: Caribbean Queen
The Financial District spin-off of the Bedford classic in Brooklyn focuses on agave spirits and rum, with cocktails inspired by world travels. The Caribbean Queen is a creamy, dessert-worthy mix of rum, coffee liqueur, almond-y noyaux liqueur and mascarpone gelato, dusted with cinnamon. Pro tip: Arrive hungry. This self-described “epicurean bar” offers ambitious bar fare, like oysters Charleston style (charbroiled with shallot butter) and crab and tomato water bucatini.
Dear Irving on Broadway Midtown
The Drink: Gibbie Highball
The latest addition to Meaghan Dorman’s Manhattan bar empire lands in Midtown, in close proximity for post-work or post-theater sips and bites (do order the trio of wagyu “au poivre” sliders). The space is intentionally dramatic: sweeps of pink fabric along the entryway suggest a just-drawn curtain inviting guests to experience the theater of the bar beneath a glittering chandelier. The drinks are also show-stoppers. Look to the “Gibson Gang” section, a reference to Dorman’s signature classic Gibson. Here’s it’s lengthened with peach and jasmine soda into a refreshing, effervescent highball, dotted with pickled jasmine grapes.
