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Right now is the perfect time to huddle up with friends over a great drink and to ward off that nip (or chill) in the air.
The moment is right to raise a glass in cozy, candlelit bistros and sink into velvet-lined banquettes. No doubt, there have never been so many different ways to gather together this season, whether your vibe is a bittersweet aperitivo with a rosy glow; a quaff warmed with bold spice that channels Indian, Spanish, or Korean cuisine; or a zero-proof soft cocktail that sets the stage for your more virtuous New Year’s resolutions. Grab a friend, grab a glass, and we’ll see you there.
P.S. We’ve got a whole list of spots with great zero-proof options here.
Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
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BarChef New York Midtown
Black Truffle
“Maximalist modernist” drinks are the thing here, so get ready for plenty of dry ice and other ‘gram-worthy theatrics. From Frankie Solarik, one of the judges on Netflix’s “Drink Masters,” BarChef New York has a menu that changes with the season. Since this is a place where you want to go big, might as well splurge on one of the fall/winter “immersive” drinks, like the Black Truffle, a Solarik signature. This mix of gin, coconut liqueur and St. Germain is presented in a delicate cut-glass carafe, alongside pots of snowy shaved coconut artfully studded with fresh dill, gold leaf, and black truffle to alternately spoon and sip. Black truffles are typically in peak season from December through March – when the menu will change once again.
INDN | Small Plates & Cocktails Nomad
Butterface
Is the iconic butter chicken the new cocktail inspo? Here, at INDN – billed as the first all-Indian cocktail bar – it’s represented as a clarified cocktail, made with mezcal, Empirical Ayuuk, fenugreek, and garam masala. The end result is lightly savory and silky. Clarified cocktails are the thing here; we recommend ordering a clarified cocktail tasting flight ($34 for four mini-drinks of your choice), to see how it all stacks up. We also liked the Old Fashioned-esque Nuthin’ But a Ghee Thang, made with ghee-washed whiskey.
Good Days Williamsburg
Brown Butter Date Old Fashioned
Sazerac Rye, black walnut, maple, dates, brown butter – we feel cozier just knowing what’s in the glass, especially while sipping it surrounded by candles and twinkle lights overhead. Or try a 50/50 shot as a nightcap, making the most of the extensive selection of amaros and liqueurs. Our favorite is the fun-to-say Fernana made with Fernet and banana liqueur. Note: Much of Good Days’ early buzz has been about the $32 steak frites, and it’s easy to see why.
Same Same Wine Bar Hell's Kitchen
The Espresso Drink
Hints of citrus, berry, and melon brighten this caffeinated, low-alcohol charmer. The base mixes coffee and sudachi (a Japanese citrus) shochu, plus soju and Veso Solstice, a red aperitivo spirit from California infused with strawberry, orange, and grapefruit. It’s then accented with winter melon syrup and splash of tonic water, blitzed with a foaming wand to frothy perfection, and topped with a Biscoff cookie and small dollop of raspberry gel. It’s just right for a pre- or post-theater drink, alongside small plates like shrimp toast and scallop carpaccio.
The Tusk Bar Nomad
Oyster Minis
In case you missed the news, miniature drinks are everywhere right now, and these petite ‘tinis are sized just right to hold a freshly shucked oyster on top. We like the gin-based Old English (Neversink Gin, made from NY state apples, plus cucumber and pink peppercorn), but you might prefer the vodka-based Horse Collar with horseradish, or the spicy Tropicana with Tequila, tropical fruit, and Fresno chile. Or, order the entire trio, as many bar-goers do.
Beast & Butterflies Downtown New York
Spanish Gin & Tonic
What makes a G&T “Spanish”? It’s served in a large wine glass over ice, and customized with fruit, herbs, spices, etc. Here, the “Beast” starts with Spain’s own olive-infused Gin Mare, plus cucumber, citrus, and mint, while the delicate “Butterfly” is tinted pink via butterfly pea tea ice, and dressed up with edible flowers. A zero-proof version is available, too. Order plenty of tapas or luscious jamon, then enjoy the views of the World Trade Center and Oculus from this spot within the FiDi M Social Hotel.
Jacob's Pickles Upper West Side
Kentucky Porch Sipper
In October, this Upper West Side stalwart moved into a new flagship about 10 blocks south of the original location it called home for over a decade. Luckily, the new spot keeps the neighborhood vibe and Southern comfort food menu – including plenty of pickles – and an all-American whiskey list. Order anything involving the buttermilk fried chicken alongside this newfangled Old Fashioned with bourbon, muddled citrus, and Angostura bitters. Pro tip: “Mini-Manhattan Hour” runs from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the bar.
Room 207 New York
The Flip
The team behind Jazba NYC and Junoon opened this slip of a speakeasy-style spot in early December. It’s a petite space (grab that Resy) and deliberately hard to find (look for the door behind Jazba), featuring classic cocktails with extra flair. On a freezing cold night, the fortifying Flip hits the spot. This boozy mix of Tequila, amaro, and vermouth is topped with a rich “hot egg flip foam,” so each sip combines both warm and cold elements in the most delightful way. Pro tip: If you’re ready to stray from updated classics, ask about “Enigma” — a secret, preset menu with more intense, experimental drinks.
P.J. Clarke's Third Avenue Midtown East
Perfect Manhattan
This venerable saloon — first opened in 1884 — has made its way across the city, opening locations in Lincoln Square, Brookfield Place, and most recently, Hudson Yards. But it’s the 59th Street original (including the clubby Sidecar at PJ Clarke’s space) that has the old-school New York appeal. Most likely, we’re here for one of the takes-two-hands burgers and a Manhattan the size of our head, served in a V-shaped glass. A “perfect” Manhattan — meaning made with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth — is on the menu, and suits us just fine.
Golden Ratio Clinton Hill
Japanese Wild Raisin
The drink lineup at this newly –opened, zero-waste-aspiring bar from the Place des Fêtes team changes frequently, but know that what you’ll find here will be available in both non-alcoholic and full-strength versions. When we visited, the Japanese Wild Raisin was made with the fruit and stems of Koshu grapes, plus maple and birch, served tall over a pristine rectangular ice cube — We added rum, too. The clean lines of the drink fit right in at the remarkably uncluttered bar, lined with just a handful of carefully selected bottles, including some distillates from nearby Acid Spirits, which upcycles the restaurant group’s spent ingredients.
Read more about Golden Ratio here.
Soft Bar + Cafe Greenpoint
Tonka Noir
This fully non-alc bar and café founded by Carl Radke, one of the reality stars of Bravo’s “Summer House,” features coffee and soft cocktails. The espresso martini-esque Tonka Noir combines a bit of both worlds, made with Lyre’s Coffee Liqueur Alternative, mushroom cold brew, tonka (which adds a vanilla-like note), sesame, and rhodiola, an herb purported to promote energy and combat anxiety and stress – and don’t we all need that this time of year?
Read more about Soft Bar + Cafe here.
Dante Greenwich Village
Garibaldi
Made with “fluffy” fresh-squeezed orange juice and a splash of Campari, topped with a juicy orange wedge, the ultimate low-alcohol aperitivo provides a sunny dose of Vitamin C just when we need it most. And since Dante is open continuously from 12 p.m. onward, there’s no need to wait until happy hour to enjoy it. Pro tip: while you’re there, ask about bottled cocktails to-go to serve or gift, or merch like Negroni-scented candles for last-minute stocking stuffers.
Beltane Union Square
Fae Wine
Thaw out with this low-alcohol winter warmer made from red wine mulled with spices, plus Ruby Port and orange liqueur, served hot. From the team behind Nolita dive bar Botanica, this space is intentionally casual, with rib-sticking bar food like cacio e pepe and a cheeseburger on potato bread. For the festive season, you can also order a round of Kringle shots to rev up your crew – it’s a cross between eggnog and an espresso martini.
25 HOURS Hunters Point
25:00
Sleek, dim-lit, and futuristic, this bar is built around the concept that every hour deserves its own drink. Led by beverage director Ray Zhou (formerly of The Coop at Double Chicken Please), 25 Hours pulls out all the stops in terms of science-y techniques. For example, the bar’s namesake riffs on the popular Pornstar Martini, rendering it practically unrecognizable. Made with vodka, baijiu, passionfruit puree, and lime juice, it’s clarified using a milk-wash and force-carbonated, then garnished with a disc of dehydrated passionfruit. The end result is lean, clean, and citrusy – who is she?
Seahorse Union Square
SH Martini
Bring your out-of-town friends for a post-greenmarket (or post-holiday gift market) round of oysters and drinks. As the name suggests, bivalves, crudo, and other fruits de mer are the focus here. While you wouldn’t go wrong with the by-the-glass pairings of still or sparkling wine (or sake) with an opulent seafood plateau, the house martini is our pick; splashes of Lillet and Yellow Chartreuse add a pleasing herbaceous counterpoint.
