*Update January 2023
The DL: Where to grab a cocktail in the West Village, if you are looking for wine bars check out my list here. The West Village is a historic downtown neighborhood in Manhattan that is home to the rich and the young. So many amazing places to shop and eat here as well as most of New Yorks top rated bars year after year. After living here for a few years, these are 15 cocktail bars in West Village to try (that are quality cocktails not cheap drinks as an FYI):
Little Branch – a speakeasy that plays live music on week nights, pricey cocktails, but underground and unique vibes. No reservations.
B’artusi – a new concept from Lartusi, and an intimate Italian spot with light bites and great cocktails. Try the off menu espresso martini. No reservations.
Dante – a super popular spot and home to worlds best bar in 2020, there is a reason why its hard to grab a resy here. The original location is in greenwich village and opened in the early 1900s. The West Village location is posh and a place to be seen. Known for their Negronis and martinis. They have a daily martini happy hour $10 between 3pm and 5pm. Reservations highly encouraged.
Employees Only – another super popular cocktail spot is the speakeasy employees only, known for their twist on the Manhattan, the seasonally adapted Ginger Smash, the Amelia, and countless others. Also a big award winner like #4 spot on Drinks International’s “World’s 50 Best Bars” list in 2015. Reservations are only for those eating, first come first serve for bar and standing area (which is most popular). Expect to spend a pretty penny here and for it to get packed fast.
The Other Room – a hidden gem of a cocktail bar in West Village, can get bumping at night but you may be the only one in the day. Dark and cozy spot with good playlists and cocktails to try.
The Spaniard – a urban and vintage feeling cocktail bar in West Village that serves strong drinks and known for their whiskey. This can become a popular spot for guys and younger crowds. They even have an espresso martini on draft if that tells you anything about the crowd! Fun spot to be, mostly bar seating and standing room unless you are eating dinner (great burger here).
Bandits – think about going back in time to a vintage diner paired with funky cocktails, that is Bandits. I love all the tropical drinks on the menu but there are some unique ones like pickle shots and wasabi cocktails if you want to branch out. Resy needed if you want to sit at one of the 5 coveted booths, it gets pretty lively the later in the night with a young crowd.
The Garret – sister bar to Bandits, don’t forget about the OG spot hidden in the 5 guys. Walk to the back of the 5 guys and go up the stairs to find this cocktail bar. Serving house cocktails, beer, wine, and pretty much anything you want to make up.
The UP and UP – this spot is really more in greenwich village, but a fun speakeasy with an upscale expereince you don’t want to miss if you are in the neighborhood. Head downstairs into a dark room that opens up into a posh curtained off area for each table. They have tons of drink options and each drink is shown how it will be prepared on the menu. They have been featured in about every press outlet, expect to spend $$$ here.
Katana Kitten – I wasn’t kidding when I said West Village had a lot of top bars, this is another internationally rated top ten bar for 2021. Bi-level bar serving izakaya fare, Japanese cocktails and traditional American bites. All the cocktails are really unique, the highballs are popular.
Bar Pisellino – is a celebration of the classic Italian bar, this cocktail bar in West Village is dedicated to the Italian art of drinking, so cocktails come from a collection of amari and vermouth. Their espresso martini is delish as well.
Mace – Add this to the list of another top award winner, Mace has been in the top 50 bars in the world for 3 years in a row. Mace is probably the most unique cocktail bar I have ever been to – just take a look at the menu its a whole experience. Each cocktail incorporates unique spices handpicked from around the world. They also list ingredients in all for allergy purposes which is nice.
Analogue – one of my favorites just due to the diverse menu and overall vibes. It feels like you are in someone’s upscale living room with the dark cozy vibes. You can get everything from frozen drinks to bourbon on the rocks, they have it all. Good spot for a bigger group or friends and family.
Orient Express – a cocktail bar in West Village that brings you back in time, a small intimate setting with rustic decor modeled off of a train car. I tend to sit at the bar to watch the bartenders create the cocktails using homemade mixers. I don’t have a go to here, try something new every time.
Due West- a craft cocktail bar with good bites, velvet booths & big screens to watch the game. They have their own line of canned cocktails with fun themes like rosetorade – a play on rose with the gatorade logo. Can be hard to get in here at peak times. They also have some large format options for cocktails if you are in a group of 4-6.
Hope you enjoy a drink at one of these amazing cocktail bars in West Village, Cheers!
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