6 NYC Hotels Where Drinking at the Bar Is Even Better Than Checking In

Checking into a luxurious hotel room is great, but enjoying the space without having to swipe your card for the night is even better. Beyond the convenience factor, many New Yorkers list hotel bars as their favorite places to drink in the city. You can kick back surrounded by glamorous decor, indulge in some salacious people-watching and drink some of the best classic cocktails in the city. 

So, grab a seat at one of NYC’s best hotel bars, according to bartenders and other drink pros, and take it all in.

For a Bar That’s Steeped in History

Lobby Bar at Hotel Chelsea (Chelsea)

Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and countless other icons made Hotel Chelsea a Bohemian landmark, and you can still drink surrounded by history in its glamorous Lobby Bar. Post up at the elegant bar lined with red velvet seats, or relax in the airy lounge space. Either way, you’ll feel like an art world legend drinking ice-cold Dukes martinis or other classic cocktails from the menu. 

​​Sondre Kasin, the global director of bars and a partner at Gracious Hospitality, says the bar’s reopening in 2022 leveled up the NYC hotel bar scene. “Brian Evans has truly elevated the cocktail program, expertly blending timeless classics with contemporary flair, all while maintaining an air of playfulness and exceptional taste,” says Kasin. “The space itself is stunning, and the hotel is a storied icon.”

For the Best Happy Hour

Bar Blondeau at Wythe Hotel (Williamsburg)

“Paying for the view” is a common complaint among New Yorkers who visit rooftop bars and find themselves sipping mediocre, overpriced drinks. Not the case at Bar Blondeau, a glowy French-inspired bar perched atop the Wythe Hotel that offers some of its best cocktails for just $11 during its weeknight happy hour (5 to 7 pm). 

Even when the drinks are standard price, the Martini Blonde, a Vesper riff with gin, cucumber-infused vodka and lemon oil, holds up. Especially when you pair it with a raw bar spread or rich chocolate cake and unmatched views of the city skyline. “It’s truly one of the best views in Brooklyn,” says Will Rivas, beverage director at 6R Hospitality Group.

For a Speakeasy That’s Not Gimmicky

Saint Tuesday at Walker Hotel Tribeca (Tribeca)

Unlike many speakeasy-style bars, Saint Tuesday is the real deal. After entering through the Walker Hotel Tribeca or a barely marked side door on Cortlandt Alley, guests weave down multiple flights of industrial stairs before arriving at a door that reveals a sultry bar. Tucked into the hotel’s underbelly, this candle-lit space hosts live jazz music every night of the week and slings cocktails like Sazeracs and Old Fashioneds, making for the rare city speakeasy that’s authentically under the radar.

For the Ultimate Martini Service

Swan Room at Nine Orchard (Lower East Side)

When Charlotte Mirzoeff, the general manager and beverage director at Forsythia, needs a post-work drink, she heads down the street to Swan Room at the Nine Orchard hotel. The lobby bar has three martinis on the menu that range from citrusy and bright to super savory. 

“I’m especially into the San Sebastian martini,” she says. “It is super clean yet savory with an anchovy garnish that feels like such an upgrade.” If you’re rolling deep with a group of martini lovers, the large-format martini service is a fun treat that includes an oversized shaker plus vermouth, olive brine and lots of garnishes for customizable pours.

For Real ‘Old New York’ Vibes

Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel (Upper East Side)

This Upper East Side staple is synonymous with old-school New York glamour. Surrounded by illustrations by Ludwig Bemelman, the artist behind the Madeline books, New Yorkers flock to Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel to listen to live piano music with a drink in hand. The drinks are expensive, slightly offset by free snacks like nuts and dainty potato chips that will flow to your table throughout the night. 

But the vibes are more than worth the price of admission, according to Danielle Zaslavskaya, the vice president of partnerships at Marky’s Caviar. “I love the classic songs played on the piano, and the sense of togetherness when the entire bar sings along to a Frank Sinatra song is truly unmatched,” she says.

For Spicy People-Watching

Titsou Bar at Fouquet’s (Tribeca)

Whenever Dorothy Munholland, co-founder of Null Wines, goes to Titsou Bar, she feels like she “stepped into Les Années Folles for an after-hours Joséphine Baker performance.” The jewel box bar just off the lobby inside Fouquet’s Tribeca hotel is decked out in marble, luxurious velvet, Art Deco lamps and other furnishings that transport you to Paris in the Roaring Twenties.

“The space really sets the mood, so I like to keep it simple and order a bitters and soda, sink into a dark corner, and see where the night takes me,” Munholland says. “This is a place where you can spend hours people watching.”

For More Hotel Bar Coverage

• Fun fact: Many of the most influential bars in drinking history are hotel bars.
• These stunning pool bars are worth planning an entire vacation around.
• Visit one of these dreamy wine-themed resorts for the perfect wine country getaway.  
• We’re pleased to report that hotels are also seriously upgrading their spirit collections. 

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