The Best Bar Hopping NYC Has to Offer
There’s bar hopping, and then there’s bar hopping NYC style. No other city holds a candle to the Big Apple when it comes to toasting the town. New York City is home to the most expansive array of fine cocktails, ales, wines, and lagers, and they’re all waiting for you to sample! From artisanal brews, to aged bourbons, to Carrie Bradshaw’s signature Cosmo, there’s something for every beverage connoisseur. What makes the bar crawl even better is the eclectic collection of boroughs and bars offering the libations. NYC is no city to bar-hop on foot. You’ll wear out before you make it past stop number two! Hop on a private bar-hopping tour with The New York Trolley Company, so you don’t have to miss a sip! Here are a few of our favorite neighborhoods teeming with festive watering holes and hidden gems.
Best Bar Hopping Spots in the East Village
Death & Company- Forget West Village and the west side. This gothic saloon was among the first to create craft cocktails, spurring mixology replicas nationwide. The menu is a bit of a novel, but the bartenders are excellent teachers.
Amor y Amargo- Ever wondered how Carthusian monks spend their days? No? They make the herbal liqueurs stirred into the amaro-based cocktails at this trendy joint, among other fine pursuits.
McSorley’s Old Ale House- Ale and more ale are on the menu at this beer-only haunt, but it’s one of the oldest bars in NYC, and its quirkiness rounds out the menu.
Mace- New Yorkers think of mace as a protective tear gas, but Mace, the cocktail club, is named for an earthy spice, swirled into its namesake drink featuring candied beets and a spritz of mace tableside.
Holiday Cocktail Lounge- For over 60 years, patrons like Frank Sinatra and Allen Ginsberg slid into the booths at this dive bar serving up decadent cocktails. Order like a star with the “I Know You Are…” which finishes with a warm burst of peppercorn Cointreau.
Lois- Wine on tap? That’s the best of both worlds! 16 taps means there’s something sweet enough, dry enough, or oaky enough for every oenophile.
Pouring Ribbons- This art deco bar above a liquor store takes its drinks seriously, rating them on alcohol strength and flavor profiles to suit everyone’s palates.
PDT- Beware, this saloon is decked out with taxidermy, and the entrance is accessed through an old phone booth that a hostess opens to let you inside. But it’s a door you want to walk through to savor the guava-spiked, house-made ginger beer.
The Wayland- The Wayland features modern crafted proprietary bitters alongside Miller High Life longnecks and an upright piano. For a nod to its honky-tonk dive roots, try “I Hear Banjos” for a splash of moonshine and apple-spice bitters, applejack, and Applewood smoke.
Best Bar Hopping Spots in Brooklyn
The Long Island Bar- This is the Cheers of Brooklyn bars, where everyone’s welcome and comforted by the revamped greasy spoon of the 50s. Don’t miss their ginger-spiked Gimlet.
Montero- If you ever longed to be a regular, the locals at Montero (regulars call it “Montero’s”) might be able to show you the ropes.
Hotel Delmano- Don’t be fooled by the name, this is not a hotel bar, but a New Orleans-inspired cocktail bar with a long list of must-try cocktail standards, as well as seasonal curations, and an equally impressive wine and beer list.
Grimm Artisanal Ales- This Bushwick brewery must be hiding beakers and safety goggles in the back, because their drinks defy natural science. That’s fine by us, since the result is IPAs fused with gummy bear hops and a sour ale fermented to taste like red licorice.
Maison Premiere- At Maison Premiere, you’ll feel premiere indeed, in the New Orleans-inspired salon featuring absinthe and oysters atop an oval-shaped marble bar. No spot at the bar? No problem, saunter into the gorgeous garden.
Pokito- With artists at the helm, Pokito is decidedly colorful, and that includes the tropical works of art they call cocktails.
Donna- This bar screams sexy, with its waterfront view and hidden paradise vibe that smells of sweet rum and pineapple.
Best Bar Hopping Spots in the Flatiron District
The Broken Shaker- An outpost of Miami’s groundbreaking bar, this rooftop oasis features spicy sangrias and Don Julio-laced cordials on a dreamy cocktail menu titled “Lost in New York.”
George Washington Bar- Downstairs from The Broken Shaker, this more intimate space is set inside the former Library Room of the original George Washington Hotel. In honor, try the “Hotel Nacional” which swirls Banks 7 Rum, apricot liqueur, and pineapple gum with lime.
Old Town Bar- Named “a bar you need to try” by Thrillist and Eater, Old Town Bar is the place you ought to toss back a shot or a frosty brew before your night is over.
The NoMad Bar- A saloon designed by James Beard winners? That’s worth taking a swig at. While some drinks ring up at $198, try the more budget-friendly “English Heat” with jalapeño-doused agave. Besides food and drink, you might get lucky as they sometimes feature live music.
Raines Law Room- This is a swanky bar without an actual bar. But drinks are prepared in a semi-secret space and delivered with a such a punch, they might knock you off a barstool anyway.
Best Bar Hopping Spots in the Lower East Side
The Back Room- Leave the Financial District and take a trip to the Prohibition Era in this back-alley bar that was frequented by Lucky Luciano. The cocktails are still served in teacups Prohibition-style, and the décor is dripping in 1920s opulence.
Banzarbar- This Antarctic-themed speakeasy above Freeman’s only seats 20, but its vermouth champagne cocktail and sherry cocchi cocktail are simply otherworldly.
The Ten Bells- Who needs a rooftop bar? Their room-spanning chalkboard wine list delights wine-lovers wanting to savor flavors from all over the world. Most glasses are under $10, and favorites include pours from Morocco and Austria.
Attaboy- “Attaboy” is a bit of an old-school phrase, which fits with the retro music and waiters sporting suspenders. Want a pat on the back with your Attaboy? Toss back the “Torch Light” with a dose of vinegary hot sauce.
Excuse My French- Color-changing French cocktails with bespoke syrups? That’s got our attention. Squeeze into this narrow basement for famous art replicas and house-made ingredients with a dose of history.
Nitecap- Nitecap’s entrance is hard to find, which is fitting for a bar named after a long night of revelry. The meandering menu features ingredients like fennel, egg whites, and Caña Brava in innovative ways.
Apothéke- This hidden spot in Chinatown calls its drinks prescriptions and serves cocktails with exotic fanfare, including the cinnamon-flambéed Himalayan salt-rimmed margaritas.
How to Travel When Bar Hopping in NYC
Bar Hopping in NYC is a thrilling endeavor, with endless delights to imbibe. But don’t try to take the bar scene by foot, or even by cab, unless you want to come up short. With enticing bars and restaurants all over the city, you need transport on standby to take you to all the best spots. Grab all of your favorite people, we seat up to 34! Then hop on a trolley for a journey through New York’s best bars. Bring your favorite tunes and beverages to toast along the way. Not sure where to start? No problem, we’re happy to follow your lead, or plan an itinerary for you with drink specials. Come see why some say our trolleys are actually the hottest spot in the city. Book your best bar hop today!