El Quijote at the Hotel Chelsea has poured Spanish drinks since 1930 in New York City. The 2022 restoration kept the Don Quixote murals and the original tiled bar.
Food program: Spanish kitchen
Tip: The bar takes walk-ins; the dining room needs Resy. The Iberico ham and the gin and tonic on the bar is the pre-dinner combo.
Address: 226 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011, New York City
Maison Premiere on Bedford Avenue has poured absinthe and shucked oysters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City since 2011. James Beard winner 2016.
Signature drink: Absinthe service and house Sazerac
Food: Raw bar with 30+ oyster varieties and seasonal plates
Tip: Oyster happy hour 16:00 to 19:00 weekdays is the way in; the garden opens April through November and books weeks ahead.
Death & Co on East 6th Street has set the East Village cocktail benchmark in New York City since 2007. Phil Ward's Oaxaca Old Fashioned was invented behind this bar.
Signature drink: Oaxaca Old Fashioned
Food: Snacks and bar bites
Tip: Walk-ins only; the door takes names from 18:00. Wait at Hi-Fi next door for the text; it usually runs 90 minutes.
Attaboy on Eldridge has poured bartender-choice cocktails in the Lower East Side, New York City since 2013. No menu, no door bell, ring for entry. Sam Ross's Penicillin is the house drink.
Signature drink: Penicillin
Food: None
Tip: Ring the unmarked grey door. Order by mood and base spirit; the bar does the rest. Cash, card, no reservations.
Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry's three-floor Financial District bar in New York City sits high in the World's 50 Best list. Irish coffee and historical cocktails downstairs.
Signature drink: Irish Coffee
Food: Pub food and oysters
Tip: The downstairs Taproom takes walk-ins; the Parlor upstairs needs a booking. Order Irish Coffee at the Taproom counter.
Employees Only on Hudson Street has poured classic cocktails in the West Village, New York City since 2004. White-jacketed bartenders, late kitchen, deep wine and Champagne list.
Signature drink: Ginger Smash
Food: Bar bites and full kitchen
Tip: The back dining room runs walk-ins; the front bar fills by 21:00. Order the Ginger Smash and the chicken liver mousse.
Dutch Kills in Long Island City Queens runs Milk & Honey's tradition of bespoke cocktail-making in New York City. No menu, low light, classic cocktails, large clear ice cubes.
Signature drink: Dutch Kills Old Fashioned
Food: None
Tip: Ring the bell; the door is unmarked. Tell the bartender what you have been drinking lately and let them choose.
