11 Best Hotel Bars in NYC
You don’t have to be just visiting NYC to grab a drink at a hotel bar.
There’s something about a hotel bar that makes the drinks that much better, your date that much more romantic, or the night that much more fun. From beautiful cocktails to beautiful bars, I’ve compiled a list of my favorites in NYC.
As luck would have it, I’ve been able to go on a lot of hotel site inspections at various hotels around the city. I’m also just a huge fan of hotel bars. They’re usually some of my go-to bars for dragging visitors to in the hopes that they’ll be just as wowed as I constantly am.
1. THE BAR ROOM AT THE BEEKMAN
The Beekman has, without a doubt, the most beautiful hotel bar on this list. Can we please just stare in awe at the Temple Court? The Beekman itself is just stunning as well and there are fun little art pieces floating around the hotel. I also can’t get enough of the rooms here either.
The Beekman // 123 Nassau St, New York City, NY 10038
2. THE ELEPHANT BAR AT THE NOMAD HOTEL
While The NoMad Bar is incredibly popular and gorgeous, I actually love The Elephant Bar at The NoMad Hotel. It’s intimate but still has incredible bartenders and drinks. This bar also has the same type of décor, so don’t think you’re missing out. Don’t forget to grab a few bites to eat as the NoMad Restaurant is also incredible.
The NoMad Hotel // 1170 Broadway, New York City, NY 10001
3. THE AVIARY AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL
For some seriously creative cocktails, make a reservation at The Aviary (at the Mandarin Oriental). If you’re into gastronomy, you’ll love the uniqueness of the cocktails here. Bartenders are more like chefs and each cocktail will be an entirely new experience.
Mandarin Oriental // 80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street, New York City, NY 10023
4. THE OFFICE AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL
When you delve even deeper inside the Mandarin Oriental, you’ll find The Office inside The Aviary. Yup, it’s a speakeasy inside a bar. Chicago actually has the same exact setup. Have your waiter choose a drink for you by telling them your flavor palette. I had the best Old Fashioned of my life this way. If you’re feeling fancy, try out the “Dusty Bottle’s,” which are incredibly old liquors.
Mandarin Oriental // 80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street, New York City, NY 10023
5. THE BLOND AT 11 HOWARD
The Blond, located on the 2nd floor of 11 Howard, is an inviting and sensual bar. You’ll find plush seating arrangements, gorgeous art, and awesome light bites. You can also eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the space.
11 Howard // 11 Howard St, New York, NY 10013
6. BOOM BOOM ROOM AT THE STANDARD HIGH LINE
If you’re feeling fancy, head to the Boom Boom Room, The Top of the Standard (at The Standard High Line). You’ll see both north and south views of Manhattan, no matter what the weather is. It’s a great option for wintertime. Don’t forget about the live jazz!
The Standard High Line // 848 Washington St, New York, NY 10014
7. REFINERY ROOFTOP AT REFINERY HOTEL
When thinking of this list, I wasn’t really thinking of rooftop hotel bars, but I had to throw Refinery Rooftop at Refinery Hotel on this list. The rooftop bar has gorgeous views of the Empire State Building and the sunset is just beautiful. The rooftop also isn’t pretentious, which can be very hard to come by in NYC sometimes.
Refinery Hotel // 63 West 38th Street, New York City, NY 10018
8. LUDLOW LOUNGE AT THE LUDLOW HOTEL
If you want an Instagram-worthy hotel and bar, the Ludlow Lounge at the Ludlow Hotel is the place. For one of my work assignments, we hosted our blogger retreat at the Ludlow Hotel. The bloggers were floored by how cute it is. I can also attest to how delicious the wine is here. The couches are incredibly cozy, and there’s an outdoor seating area too.
Ludlow Hotel // 180 Ludlow St, New York City, NY 10002
9. ROSE BAR AT GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL
I’m completely obsessed with the Gramercy Park Hotel and everything about it. From the lobby to the bar to the rooms to the terrace. You’ll fall in love with this hotel and the Rose Bar as soon as you walk in too. Watch for the Rose Bar Sessions that feature musicians like Axl Rose, Dave Navarro, Rufus Wainwright, Elle King, Lucius, and BØRNS.
Gramercy Park Hotel // 2 Lexington Avenue, New York City, NY 10010
10. NOMO KITCHEN AT NOMO SOHO
NoMo SoHo’s “bar,” NoMo Kitchen, is more like an all-purpose lobby. You can eat all your meals here, grab drinks, and even work with your laptop. The space has a ton of natural light and greenery, so you’ll feel even calmer than you normally would in NYC.
NoMo SoHo // 9 Crosby Street, New York City, NY 10013
11. THE BAR AT THE BACCARAT HOTEL
One of the most famous hotel bars is The Bar at The Baccarat Hotel. Why? Because it’s absolutely stunning. Bring your dates, your parents, your BFF, anyone. You’ll want to put this hotel bar on your bucket list ASAP.
The Baccarat Hotel // 28 W 53rd St, New York City, NY 10019
