By The Editors By The Editors | April 28, 2022 | Food & Drink Guides
Here are the best cocktail lounges in NYC, no matter what type of drink suits your mood.
Center Bar
This chic, contemporary lounge at the Time Warner Center is the perfect place to slip away for a few drinks. Here, the cocktail menu is extensive and thorough. We recommend the Cliff Dweller made with Casa Dragones tequila, aperol, cointreau and lime. 10 Columbus Circle, Fourth Floor
Gansevoort Rooftop
Located in the Meatpacking District, Gansevoort Rooftop manages to stick out from the crowd. Enjoy 360-degree views of Manhattan, all the way to Hudson River, while sipping on a Pisco Party—a sweet mix of Pisco Suyo, blue cotton candy egg white and butterflies. The spot was just renovated in 2021, giving it a bright, welcoming look and feel. 18 Ninth Ave.
Katana Kitten
Find former Saxon + Parole barman Masahiro Urushido here mixing up creative riffs on classic cocktails, beer-and-cocktail boilermakers, and Japanese highballs—think a shiso gin and tonic laced with lime. The playful modern izakaya serves small bites and sandwiches too, like their signature grilled cheese. 531 Hudson St.
Ophelia Lounge
With views of the East River, this iconic art deco tower was originally a women’s-only club. A former muse for NYC’s Frank Sinatra, Ophelia exudes class both inside and out. Cocktails at this elegant rooftop bar are incredibly creative creations that draw on literary references and current events. Try the flapper, made with vodka, di saronno, lemon, pineapple, raspberries, angostura bitters and Moet champagne. 3 Mitchell Place
Rainbow Room's Bar Sixtyfive
The original home to New York glamour and entertainment, Rainbow Room is where the skyline and drinks come together. Located on the 65th floor of the Rockefeller Center, the rooftop bar opened just after the Prohibition era in 1934. Since then, its been serving classic cocktails to some of Manhattan’s most elite, and reservations continue to be as coveted as its rare scotches and whiskeys. 45 Rockefeller Plaza
SERRA by Birreria
Eataly’s prime Flatiron rooftop is decked out in enchanting seasonal decor. Inspired by limoncello and an Italian tradition of infusing spirits with local flavors, SERRA's beverage team is mixing up springtime veggie-cellos. Don't skip out on their selection of retro drinks, focused on 1980's era flavors—a Cosmopolita, influenced by the Cosmopolitan, is made using Vulcanica vodka from the Sicilian coast. Eataly Flatiron, 200 Fifth Ave.
Spyglass
Take a trip back in time and marvel at the Empire State Building here. Inspired by the '40s and '50s—specifically Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window"—this glamour bar sits atop the Archer Hotel. Spyglass welcomes guests with espresso martinis and Manhattans under the city lights. Pair a charcuterie board with a Colletti Royal, a drink made with tres agaves reposado, st. germain, blood orange juice and sparkling rosé. 47 W. 38 St.
Photography by: Photo by Adam Jaime/Unsplash
