After an especially brutal winter, New Yorkers are ready to relax and enjoy fresh springtime flavors in our glasses, and the joy of drinks al fresco as the sun sets later and later each night. (P.S. Outdoor dining officially returned to the city on April 1.)
Our quarterly guide features spots and drinks suitable for all the season’s celebrations, from graduations and pre-wedding toasts to get-togethers for Cinco de Mayo or Derby Day. Right now, drink menus are spotlighting refreshing highballs and spritzes, crisp martinis (including plenty of caffeinated pick-me-uppers), and the last of the chill-chasing hot drinks to warm up when needed. And in case you haven’t heard, we’re living in a golden age of non-alcoholic drinks, and low- and no-booze options are also included here as well.
Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
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Dear Irving on Broadway Midtown
Hotel Nacional Special
As the weather warms up, we’re looking forward to the newest Dear Irving outpost flinging open the doors to its secluded, greenery-shrouded roof deck, which gives off a bit of a tropical vibe. So of course, rum is what we’re drinking. This lightly fruity, tangy daiquiri riff in particular, gets framed with apricot liqueur, effervescent pineapple tepache, and lime. The crowning glory: an apricot gummy florette.
By & By Hell's Kitchen
Jammed Up
Go ahead, order the puff pastry-topped rabbit pie just because it’s Easter, or opt for lamb sliders instead. While boozy options abound on the drink menu — like an Old Fashioned infused with Cocoa Puffs — this spring-fresh, zero-proof drink of ginger beer enlivened with strawberry and rhubarb jam and fresh lime beckons at this Hell’s Kitchen newcomer. Pro tip: Operating hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., making this a good choice for pre- or post-theater plans.
Deux Chats Williamsburg
Photo courtesy of Deux Chats
Na’scar Spritz
This French-accented bar in the former Donna space in Brooklyn is best known for its seafood plateau and martinis, but sometimes you want to go a little lighter. In this fizzy lifter, the “Na” stands for non-alcoholic, and the drink mixes salted hibiscus, Pathfinder (a bitter zero-proof spirit), and non-alcoholic IPA, for a lightly floral, sweet-tart drink that lands somewhere between a lambrusco and Spritz territory.
Photo courtesy of Deux Chats
Hear and There Williamsburg
Photo by Ben Hon, courtesy of Hear and There
Rice & Nori
At this sleek two-fer spot — an “audio-focused” cocktail lounge and omakase counter — each concept has its own individual space and menu for food and drink. PDT alum Larry Gonzalez oversaw the cocktail menu and the cocktail lounge’s signature, the Rice & Nori, is a riff on an Old Fashioned, with seaweed-infused Japanese whisky, brown rice syrup, and orange bitters. Pro tip: Level up with an optional fried nori and caviar bump. Read more about it here.
Photo by Ben Hon, courtesy of Hear and There
La Noxe Trinity (Financial District) Financial District
Banana Daiquiri
We’ll always have a soft spot for the original, red-lit La Noxe, housed in the 28th Street subway station. But this is a more glamorous, all-grown-up version. For starters, it’s above ground, overlooking Trinity Church, with a smart-casual dress code and fancier bar snack menu, now spanning hamachi crudo and a truffle-laden grilled cheese. At least the sexy red lighting and most of the original cocktails have been brought over — including the house Banana Daiquiri (rum, banana liqueur, cinnamon, tiki bitters).
Eel Bar Lower East Side
Sharona
Vermouth-forward cocktails are showcased at this Basque sibling to Cervo’s, Hart’s, and The Fly, as in this knockout made with manzanilla sherry, Spanish red vermouth, and Campari. Tables are hard to get at this warmly lit, narrow spot, but don’t shy away from trying to walk in; in a pinch, cozy up at the bar for a drink and small plates like pickled cucumber and anchovy gildas.
Kellogg's Diner Williamsburg
Photo courtesy of Kellogg’s Diner
Third Serve Paloma
This nouveau diner, revamped late last year, added a shiny-new cocktail menu in February. Developed by Jojo Colonna (previously of NYC’s Attaboy and Temple Bar), the drinks continue the Tex-Mex, nostalgia-tinged thread. So now, you can chase an order of nachos or enchiladas with a Third Serve Paloma, a crushable low-ABV sipper made with fino sherry, amaro Montenegro, fresh grapefruit and Jarritos Naranja — but no tequila. (Though if tequila’s what you’re after, try the Avocado Margarita, the current top-seller.)
Photo courtesy of Kellogg’s Diner
Porchlight Hudson Yards
Stay All Night
Celebrating 10 years, this Danny Meyer-run spot was one of the original anchors to what has since become the Hudson Yards neighborhood. Though you can’t go wrong at this casual, Southern-accented drinking den, the Stay All Night — a peach-accented, boozy take on Southern sweet tea — is a versatile option to enjoy alongside those fried dill pickle chips or hot honey chicken sliders. Pro tip: Glass flasks of punch are $5 during happy hour, which is from 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and all day on Sundays.
Pitt's Red Hook
Photo by Andrew Bui, courtesy of Pitt’s
Taeko’s Irish Coffee
This quirky North Carolina-meets-NYC bistro opened in the space that once housed Fort Defiance, a longtime Red Hook favorite famed for its Irish Coffee. This version pays homage to the O.G. drink, swapping in barley shochu for whiskey, and finishing it with cold foam topped with fresh-grated nutmeg. It’s just the ticket for spring’s occasional chilly night, and a great way to cap a meal — perhaps alongside the lofty, pillowy pancake soufflé. Read more about Pitt’s here.
Photo by Andrew Bui, courtesy of Pitt’s
Papa San Midtown West
Photo by Ye Fan, courtesy of Papa San
Misticollins
The newest addition to the Llama Inn and Llama San family in the heart of Hudson Yards also focuses on Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese elements. So yes, you can always opt for a pisco sour alongside ceviche, skewers, or the now-famed eel pizza. But the bubbly Misticollins is the refresher we want as the weather warms: Illegal mezcal and sake lengthened with tonic water, garnished with a skewered crunchy cornichon.
Photo by Ye Fan, courtesy of Papa San
Shy Shy Chelsea
GG’s Gimlet
As spring-green as they come, this sweet-tart sip features gin, Granny Smith apple, celery, parsley and lime cordial. That’s right: it’s practically green juice. You might also notice that same calming hue reflected in the supremely serene space, accenting a mural wall or a stained glass windowpane.
Red Room Bar Financial District
Photo by Heather Willensky, courtesy of Red Room Bar
Kafé Negroni
Located within the swanky, recently opened French retailer Printemps, the Red Room Bar is under the auspices of culinary director Gregory Gourdet, best-known for his Portland, Ore.-based Haitian restaurant, Kann. Here, that translates as French and Caribbean influences in the bar program run by Natasha Bermudez, so think lots of rum, French spirits (Calvados, Chartreuse), and tropical fruit. The Kafé Negroni mixes Haitian coffee and subtle Caribbean spices with gin and Campari. A dollop of red cacao painted on the outside of the glass adds luxe, eye-catching color.
Photo by Heather Willensky, courtesy of Red Room Bar
schmuck. East Village
Photo courtesy of Schmuck
Schmuck Martini
While this too-cool-for-school East Village bar with a house party vibe specializes in conceptual drinks — like a drink engineered to suggest coffee and cinnamon buns, for instance — the house martini still hits all the right notes. Made with Ford’s gin and dotted with olive oil, the crisp drink is served in a tall, narrow V-shaped martini glass; the elongated lines echo the sleek bones of the semi-futuristic space. P.S. Here are some tips for getting in.
Photo courtesy of Schmuck
SEA by Jungsik Chelsea
Dirty “Cha Yen”
No, it’s nothing like a dirty martini; it’s actually closer to an Old Fashioned, with a silky mix of rye whiskey, Thai iced tea, apricot liqueur and orange blossom water, served over a large cube of ice. And it’s a perfect, cooling match alongside the restaurant’s inventive, boldly flavored South East Asian fare (SEA, as the name says) from the Jungsik team. Case in point: the breaded chile eggs nestled in spicy, garlicky “chilejam” and vegan fish sauce. Pro tip: if you don’t feel like a full-sized drink, some, like the Pandan Colada, are also available as mini shooters.
Smithereens East Village
Seaweed Martini
At this New England-style restaurant, expect all things coastal, from plenty of fresh seafood to an unconventional martini that channels sea breezes. The base is a gin made with seawater and dulse, a type of seaweed, punched up with seaweed eau de vie from Queens microdistillery Acid Spirits and an earthy pu-ehr tea brine. Pro tip: The drink is available in a classic format (stirred, in a stemmed glass) or carbonated.
Tara Mór Chelsea
Photo courtesy of Tara Mór
Club Hard
A Blarney Stone’s-throw from Madison Square Garden, this sprawling Irish bar, a sister to Tara Rose, turns out eye-catching highballs served in colorful Irish orange or lemon soda cans, topped with a perky mint sprig. Choose a base of vodka, gin, or tequila. Neither too strong nor too fussy, it’s just right after catching a game or concert. If you prefer Guinness, it’s also available in abundance, including as part of a bold Espresso Martini.
Photo courtesy of Tara Mór
WEST10WEST West Village
Espresso Martini
When those April showers hit, head for the sanctuary of this invitingly dark wine bar, which also offers a robust list of low-ABV cocktails. That includes this velvety riff, which swaps out vodka for shochu, along with espresso from Arkansas-based roaster Onyx Coffee Lab and coffee liqueur. Pair it with seasonal share plates like wagyu tartare or saffron-scented seared octopus.
