New York fairs well on the annual list of the world's greatest bars, with five bars making it into the top hundred...

Double Chicken Please - 6th

A Lower East Side bar inspired 'by exploration and experimentation of traditional drinks and dishes'. Led by The World's 50 Best Bars alums GN Chan and Faye Chen, it celebrates the duo's exploration of cocktails and food that are deconstructed, redefined and rebuilt in a quirky way in the spirit of hacking design. A chic backroom - decked out in mid-century modern decor and lighting - serves up elaborate cocktail menus with food pairings from chef Mark Chou (Eleven Madison and Blue Hill). Up front is a more casual space offering on-tap cocktails only and the now famous chicken sandwiches. 

Katana Kitten - 9th 

Katana Kitten is the perfect blend of hip New York City neighborhood bar and Japanese isakaya. Helmed by industry veterans Masahiro Urushido (formerly of Saxon + Parole), Greg Boehm (founder of Cocktail Kingdom, co-owner of Mace) and James Tune (Boilermaker co-owner), the West Village bar has quickly become known for highballs that seamlessly combine American and Japanese ingredients. The bar, incidentally, is named after the famed samurai sword which represents an almost spiritual devotion to craftsmanship. This bar aims to break away from the expected seriousness of Japanese restaurants – instead, 1970’s Japanese jazz fills a space adorned with found vintage artifacts and Japanese posters of classic American cinema.

Attaboy - 22nd

Inside the former Milk & Honey space, the speakeasy vibe remains for this iteration, and the bespoke cocktails served today would make Sasha Petraske proud - who was behind the craft cocktail revival in America. The speakeasy vibe remains (almost—there’s a line outside) and the bespoke concoctions served today would make Petraske proud. There’s no menu here but once you’re seated, a bartender soon appears to get a gauge on your preferences and mood. Cocktails at Attaboy are bespoke, but tend to have classical foundations and there are some house specials to try too. 

Dante - 36th 

This adored West Village neighborhood, Italian-style aperitivo bar was established in 1915. Dante celebrates the traditional way of community in New York City. With over 100 years of history, Dante honors the simplicity of gathering with friends over authentic Italian-Australian food and world class drinks. With the reopening of the restaurant in 2015, Australian owners Linden Pride and Natalie Hudson set out to preserve Dante's original heritage whilst striving for innovation; taking influences from the global ingredients that New Yorkers have learned to love and seek out. The most iconic facet of Dante’s menu may be the negroni, which is served on tap as well as in several more iterations. 

Employees Only - 47th

New York City's popular vintage-style cocktail bar located in the heart of the West Village. Opened in 2004 by five industry friends, Employees Only has gained a loyal following for their mysterious, convivial and hospitable ambiance and esteemed (and satisfying) New American fare. Reflecting an old world vibe with Art Deco details of terraced lighting around the pressed-tin ceiling and overhead luggage racks in the elevated dining room are of a piece with the dapper service and drinks - think Golden Age renditions of classics including their famed twist on the Manhattan. Employees Only is curiously tucked behind a fortune teller’s lair. Upon arrival past this mysterious foyer, revel around a sensual curving bar and throughout the alluring back dining room. 

Ideal For

Raising a glass...