Sip on Summer Cocktails at These NYC Bars

Now that summer is here, it’s time to get the the sun-soaked parties started and head out to the hottest bars in New York City for their summer cocktail options. Between new speakeasies, tiki bars and Caribbean-themed spots, to rooftop bars old and new, here are the ten NYC bars to drink at this summer.

Banzarbar
Slide in to this intimate 20-seat bar with an Antarctic exploration theme. There is an a la carte cocktail menu with drinks like Compass Rose (cognac, sauternes, mango, gentian, and Benedictine), but what you really should order here  is the five course seafood and cocktail pairing menu for $95 per person. The menu offers pairings such as a sake and gin cocktail with an uni avocado mousse.

Broken Shaker
The award-winning Broken Shaker from Miami finally opened their New York outpost and it is now the hottest rooftop bar in town. The tropical space on top of the Freehand hotel has four seating areas, one of which overlooks One World Trade Center. Broken Shaker’s fourth location offers bestsellers from the original Miami bar, some drinks from the Chicago and LA menus, as well as new NYC-inspired drinks such as a bagel gin fizz.

Clyde’s
This new Caribbean-themed spot in Williamsburg with a rum-heavy drink menu is perfect for summer. Get a rum flight to pretend you’re in the Caribbean or try the classic Queens Park Swizzle, a take on the Mojito made with Angostura 7-year rum, simple syrup, mint, lime, and Angostura bitters. The drink originated in Trinidad and thus appropriate for the only Trinidadian-owned cocktail bar in Williamsburg.

Good Behavior
The rooftop bar on the 18th floor of Made Hotel offers panoramic views of New York City, tiki cocktails, and large format cocktails for sharing. The bartenders are Maison Premiere vets, so you’re bound to get some solid drinks here. While small, there is both an indoor and outdoor seating area interspersed with plants and occasional live music.

Grand Republic Cocktail Club
A nautical themed bar right on the water in Brooklyn, Grand Republic Cocktail Club offers cocktails from bartender Johnny Swet (The Jimmy, Oscar Wilde Bar). There are a dozen classic drinks and a dozen creative cocktails dubbed “The New Frontier” along with a handful of low ABV cocktails. Take advantage of the summer weather and drink in their back garden.

Ophelia
This renovated rooftop bar at historic Beekman Tower was once the stomping grounds of some music legends such as Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis. The décor throws back to the period with velvet chairs and Art Deco touches.  Get to the Top of the Tower with this cocktail made with sherry, Campari, plum bitters and sparkling rose.

The 18th Room
There’s a new speakeasy in Chelsea that just opened in April from Dave Oz, co-owner of Bathtub Gin. The dark space and the name recalls the Prohibition era. There’s a cocktail menu, but the crux of the experience here is the bespoke cocktails. A host creates a taste profile of each guest as they enter, which will be sent to the bar team to create custom cocktails tailored to the guest’s preferences.

The Crown
Head to Chinatown to this rooftop bar on the 21st floor of the Hotel 50 Bowery, opened by chef Dale Talde and Three Kings Restaurant Group. The bar offers a 360-degree view of Manhattan. The cocktail menu gives a nod to the Chinatown location with drinks like the Black Dragon Tea (vodka, oolong tea, green tea, spiced kalamansi).

The Polynesian
There is now a tiki destination in Times Square. The Polynesian is a spacious tropical bar inside the new Pod Hotel in Times Square with drinks from one of the biggest names in tiki who calls himself a bartending pirate, Brian Miller (Death and Co, Pegu Club, ZZ’s Clam Bar). Try the Reggae Bus with rum, chartreuse, saffron, and fresh juices. There are frozen cocktails and large format cocktails for group outings as well.

Westlight
Enjoy a view of the Manhattan skyline 22 floors above Williamsburg at this rooftop bar at the William Vale Hotel. For the summer opt for refreshing drinks such as Simpatico (pisco, aperol, strawberry, lime, and sparkling rose). Pair the drinks with bites like tequila cured salmon or duck carnitas tacos from chef Andrew Carmellini.