The best hotel bars in New York City

Bedtime? Fuhgeddaboudit! New York’s best hotel bars will awaken your inner night owl with their decadent concoctions, atmospheric interiors and boogie-beckoning soundtracks. Whether you’re seeking a dimly lit drink or a champagne-fuelled knees-up, these Empire State sipping spots are worth staying up for.

FOR LOW-LIT DATE NIGHTS…

The Pickering Room at Casa Cipriani New York, Financial District

When young American traveller Harry Pickering was cut off from the family funds while in Italy, Venetian barkeep Giuseppe Cipriani lent him thousands of lire. When Harry eventually repaid him, there was enough interest to fund the opening of Cipriani’s own establishment, which he named Harry’s Bar after his new friend. The rest is history, and one that’s well documented on the walls of The Pickering Room at Casa Cipriani, where guests can raise a tipple to the storied duo in an elegant setting, replete with rich wood and mirrored ceilings.

Make ours a… prosecco-laced Bellini, of course, Giusseppe Ciprinani’s peach-perfect signature.

Open till midnight daily

The Bowery, East Village

Sultry velvets and a candlelit glow best define the atmosphere in The Bowery hotel’s lobby bar, a destination de rigueur for the city’s A-list residents to visit. Among its visual feast of mounted stag heads, high-backed leather armchairs, carved wooden panels and mix ’n’ match rugs, you’ll find a menu of creative concoctions shaken and stirred from behind a zinc bar. Our top tip? Nab a sofa beside the fireplace from which to take it all in.

Make ours a… Bowery 75, a downtown twist on the Gallic classic with added ume.

Open from 5pm till 2am Sunday to Wednesday, and 5pm until 4am Thursday to Saturday

FOR DESIGN-LED DRINKING…

Aman New York, Midtown

The Aman hotel group is known for a soul-soothing approach to interior design, and the brand’s New York arm is no exception. The interiors, overseen by Belgian-based designer Jean-Michel Gathy, lift spirits with carefully feng shui-ed window walls, symmetrical layouts, and — at the 14th-floor lounge bar — an extensive list of cocktails, craft beers, spirits and fine wines. Throw in double-height ceilings, giant charcoal columns and a swinging Peter Gentenaar sculpture, and you’ve got a spot primed for magic Midtown moments.

Make ours a… crisp glass of white wine. Like good design, don’t overcomplicate it.

Open till midnight daily

Sloane’s at The Manner, Soho

Less a cocktail bar and more a cocktail party, Sloane’s feels like a well-kept secret, discreetly located on the second floor of The Manner, Soho’s new Thompson Street stay. Inspired by Turin’s iconic Casa Mollino, Milanese designer Hannes Peer has imbued the space with dolce vita decadence, using deep green tones and shimmering gold accents. Japanese-style screens create a serene atmosphere and elaborate chandeliers add a level of glamour fitting for its double-digit champagne docket.

Make ours a… Dirty Martini with caviar-stuffed olives. The Manner is a more grown-up hangout than its sister stays in the Standard hotel group, but it still errs on the wild side.

Open from 5pm to 2am daily

FOR BIG APPLE VIEWS…

Harriet’s Rooftop and Lounge at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights

Tune into your Empire State of mind at Harriet’s Rooftop and Lounge, where views of the Brooklyn Bridge, East River and the sky-scraping Manhattan horizon pan along like the opening shot of a movie. Perched on the 10th floor of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, this almost eye-level perspective of the city draws a crowd, as does its sustainably minded cocktail list (which is sorted by spirits), so you’ll want to reserve a spot in advance.

Make ours a… Brooklyn Garden, a good-for-you (and the planet) combo of Hendrick’s Gin, Moët Ice Impérial, homemade green juice and yuzu-lime soda.

Open from 3pm till midnight Monday to Thursday, and until 2am on weekends

Bar Blondeau at Wythe Hotel, Williamsburg

Think of Bar Blondeau as the lovechild of New York’s industrial age and Parisian café culture; a place where Crittall windows and exposed brick sit harmoniously next to rounded sage booths and panels of blonde wood. Set on the sixth floor of Wythe’s century-old Williamsburg home — what was once a barrel- and rope-making factory — this sultry spot is full of modern, Gallic charm. But unlike La nouvelle république, there are no crumbling châteaux in sight — just unobstructed views of the Big Apple’s cloud-poking silhouette.

Make ours a… glass of Julie Benau rosé from the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

Open from 5pm till midnight on weekdays, and from 2pm and 1pm, respectively, on Saturdays and Sundays

Darling at Park Lane New York, Upper East Side

Since the 1970s, Park Lane New York has shared its Billionaire’s Row address with some of the city’s most prestigious hotels. But its refreshingly vibrant 2022 makeover by Yabu Pushelberg gave this uptown girl its edge; and unlike its buttoned-up neighbours, the hotel has a vibrant nightlife scene, too. Darling, the glitzy rooftop bar-slash-restaurant is a 47th-floor showstopper that keeps the city’s glitterati up all night with unparalleled views over Central Park, dazzling design and pulsing DJ sets.

Make ours a… Roll the Dice: a bespoke blend for your inner daredevil.

Open Tuesday to Thursday from 5pm till midnight, until 1am on Friday and Saturday, and closed on Sunday and Monday

CLUBBY BARS FOR CARD- AND KEY-HOLDERS…

Soho House New York, Meatpacking District

Behind the black, smoked-glass doors of Soho House New York, you’ll find a who’s who of Downtown denizens rubbing shoulders in the sixth-floor members’ space. Here, industrial hallmarks of exposed brick, concrete and metal are made cosier with leather armchairs, a central fireplace and impressive collection of contemporary artworks by the likes of Catherine Opie and Sadie Barnette. When the sun is out, take your tipples to the rooftop, where you can swim in between sips, then retire to a day-bed.

Make ours a… signature Picante, of course.

Open from 11am till midnight on Monday and Sunday, and until 2am the rest of the week

The Twenty Two New York, Union Square

I don’t know about you, but we’re feeling Twenty Two — The Twenty Two New York, that is, a turn-of-the-century mansion, which follows in the footsteps of its London sister. This NYC newcomer is full of heritage glamour, with a heart-stealing trio of art deco bars. Hit up the Bar Lounge for throne-like club chairs (all the better for sipping in), the Skylight Lounge for tipples under the stars, and the members- and guests-only lounge where White Russians are served to sink-into sofas. We heard there’s a ninth-floor nightclub in the works, too.

Make ours a… Manhattan. In this historic, nine-storey brownstone, it’d be rude not to.

Exact opening times are under wraps until the hotel launches later this year

FOR LIVE MUSIC…

Roxy Hotel, Tribeca

The Roxy Hotel comes alive at night, when its trio of bars crank up the sound. Soulful sippers should make a beeline for The Django, an otherworldly jazz club where vintage lamps, peeling paint, vaulted ceilings and cocktails laced with whiskey and gin make for a foot-tapping feel. Upstairs, the Roxy bar’s brick-backed lounge stage hosts a nightly roster of bands and unplugged acts — follow with a late-night show at Paul’s Cocktail Lounge downstairs, where DJs spin till the early hours and staff are dressed by none other than local ‘it’ girl Chloë Sevigny.

Make ours a… Rebel Rebel: a heady mix of bourbon, amaretto, port reduction, Islay scotch mist and orange bitters.

Open from 5pm till midnight Monday to Thursday, until 2am on Friday and Saturday, and 11pm on Sunday

Rosevale Cocktail Room at Civilian Hotel, Hell’s Kitchen

If you know your Tony from your Maria then the Rosevale Cocktail Room at the Civilian Hotel is the place for you. It’s a low-lit tribute to Broadway, with an impressive collection of original set-design pieces and costumes displayed in floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets. Don’t worry if you’re more kick back than kickline, though: the bar has one of the most extensive vermouth selections in the city, regular live jazz sessions, and a generous happy hour each evening from 7pm to 9pm.

Make ours an… Irish coffee done right: whiskey, cream and a liberal grating of chocolate on top.

Open from 5pm till midnight Monday to Thursday, until 2am on Friday and Saturday, and 11pm on Sunday

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THE LEGENDARY HOTEL BAR COCKTAIL CRAWL

For a Manhattan

Most believe this classic cocktail can be traced back to a 19th-century inn on Broadway. And while we’re no historians, we do know that the Manhattan at Little Branch, a speakeasy-style bar in the West Village, is something to write home about.

For a Martini

Wet, dry, dirty, or with a twist: the humble Martini has come a long way since its 1912 inception at Midtown’s Knickerbocker Hotel. Today, the gin and vermouth continues to flow at its 4th-floor Martini Lounge.

Yearning for more Manhattan magic? See our full collection of hotels in New York City. And for more destination drinking spots, see our guides to the best hotel bars in London and Paris