American Trails list of NYC’s 15 best bars. Cheers!

March 20, 2026

The Big Apple is a fantastic place to visit. However, it can quickly become hectic and overwhelming. That’s when you need to sit down, have a drink, and plan the rest of your day or evening.

Words by Jonas Larsson

Classic & Historic Bars

1. McSorley’s Old Ale House, 15 E 7th St, NY 10003 | mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc
One of the oldest bars in NYC (est. 1854), famous for its no-frills vibe and only serving light or dark ale.

2. Pete’s Tavern, 129 E 18th St, NY 10003 | petestavern.com
Open since 1864, this Gramercy staple survived Prohibition disguised as a flower shop.

3. Old Town Bar, 45 E 18th St, NY 10003 | oldtownbarnyc.com
A beautifully preserved late-1800s saloon with classic fixtures and old-school charm.

5, Fraunces Tavern, 54 Pearl St, NY 10004 | frauncestavern.com A Revolutionary-era tavern where George Washington once bid farewell to his officers.

Legendary Cocktail Bars

Attaboy make a cocktail just for you. Photo: Attaboy.

5. Bemelmans Bar, 35 E 76th St (The Carlyle), NY 10021 | rosewoodhotels.com/…/bemelmans-bar
Elegant Upper East Side bar inside The Carlyle, known for murals by Ludwig Bemelmans.

6. The King Cole Bar, 2 E 55th St (The St. Regis), NY 10022 | marriott.com/…/king-cole-barLocated in the St. Regis Hotel; birthplace of the Bloody Mary (or “Red Snapper”).

7. Employees Only, 510 Hudson St, NY 10014 | employeesonlynyc.com
A modern classic speakeasy-style bar that helped define NYC’s craft cocktail revival.

8. Attaboy, 134 Eldridge St, NY 10002 | attaboy.us/nyc
A minimalist Lower East Side bar—no menu, just custom cocktails tailored to you.

9. The Dead Rabbit, 30 Water St, NY 10004 | thedeadrabbit.com
Award-winning Irish bar known for both historic inspiration and top-tier cocktails.

Iconic Dive & Local Bars

They give you free hot dogs! What’s not to like?!

10. Rudy’s Bar & Grill, 627 9th Ave, NY 10036 | rudysbarnyc.com
Hell’s Kitchen dive famous for cheap beer and free hot dogs.

11. Sunny’s Bar, 253 Conover St, Brooklyn 11231 | sunnysredhook.com
A Red Hook favorite with live music and a deeply local, artsy crowd.

12.The Ear Inn, 326 Spring St, NY 10013 | theearinn.com
One of the oldest continuously operating bars in NYC, with a laid-back neighborhood feel.

13. 169 Bar, 169 E Broadway, NY 10002 | 169barnyc.com

Unique & Cult-Favorite Spots

Temple Bar, great bar with a retro feel.

14. Temple Bar, 332 Lafayette St, NY 10012 | templebar.co
A revived NoHo classic blending upscale cocktails with a moody, retro aesthetic.

15. Dante NYC, 79–81 MacDougal St, NY 10012 | dante-nyc.com
Originally opened in 1915, now a world-famous aperitivo bar known for its Negronis.

South Carolina is secretly a top-notch culinary destination.

Jonas Larsson

Jonas Larsson is the Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of American Trails Magazine. He is also an award winning Creative Director, travel writer, photographer and the guy that makes the coffee at the American Trails office. Jonas loves to hike national parks and go on adventures. But if there is a dive bar close, you will most certainly find him there.