12 Best Bars in East Village, New York City

An outpost of the original hipster haunt in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this Avenue C spot has all the diversions to make you stay here for longer than you had planned: classic cocktails, with an emphasis on the tropical variety; retro tunes on the hi-fi; plush comfy booths; and a menu of excellent feel-good fare, including the legendary mountain of nachos, gooey mac and cheese, and some of the best fried chicken this side of the Mason-Dixon line. 

Inventive cocktails, decadent bar bites, and a sultry, upscale atmosphere attract those with a thirst for finely crafted drinks at not completely outrageous prices. You can order classic cocktails, but this is the kind of place where you can try something new and inventive and know that the flavor profiles are spot on. All patrons are seated, so there can be a wait to get in, but the host outside will log your name and text when something opens up.

A low-key mainstay of the downtown literary scene, the second-floor KGB Bar and third-floor Red Room together keep a busy calendar of music, readings, and other events. The name and the Soviet kitsch are a nod to the spot's history as a speakeasy for leftist Ukrainians. Some events have a cover charge and/or drink minimum.

One of the first of the retro speakeasy bars in NYC, PDT ("Please Don't Tell") made a name for itself with top-line cocktails and it's "secret" entrance, and although it's not much of a secret anymore it's still a great spot for excellent drinks with a touch of cloak-and-dagger. Make a reservation online, then head to the unassuming Crif Dogs hot dog restaurant, where you'll be escorted through the phone booth's false back. The upscale cocktails are perfectly complemented by the hot dog specials from the neighboring shop that are also served here.

This polished, spacious, second-floor cocktail bar is named after the way a drink forms iridescent liquid ribbons when it's expertly poured. The menu lists options with a sliding scale that tells you how "spiritous," "refreshing," "comforting," and "adventurous" each one is, and you order accordingly. There are a few food items, too, like cheese and charcuterie, which are a good idea, because you'll be tempted to stay for another round of drinks.

When multitalented actor Alan Cumming opened his namesake club in 2017, the East Village saw a welcome return of queer cabaret culture in a former gay-nightclub space. The club hosts nightly musical and comedy cabaret shows (sometimes multiple shows per night; usually free) by cutting-edge artists. While they're worth a peek, the compact space is often too popular (i.e., crowded) to view the stage—so if you'd like a little elbow room, aim to catch an early show on a weeknight.

 Manhattan's first whiskey distillery since Prohibition, this four-floor space is a fun house of sorts for adults who like food and drink: from the basement speakeasy bar to ground-floor gift shop to the second-floor cocktail bar and restaurant serving up pastas, seafood, and burgers. Visitors can also take guided tours, partake in whiskey tastings or cocktail-making classes, or just come to eat and imbibe.

If you've been in the city long enough, you'll remember the Holiday as the quintessential New York dive bar, with dim lighting and basic drinks, where everyone felt comfortable despite the slightly uncomfortable bar stools and banquettes. If you've just arrived here, you'll be treated to a similar welcoming ambience, but with new upholstery, trendier drinks, and bar food that ranges from Wagyu corn dogs, kimchi tacos, and deep-fried pickles to a somewhat questionable Cuban sandwich and doughnut hybrid.

Named for the Public Theater's near-mythic impresario Joseph Papp, and located inside the renovated, historic Public Theater, Joe's is the ultimate cabaret lounge for A-list and longtime-favorite downtown performers who revel in the intimate setting—and for New Yorkers keen to discover marvelous, innovative shows and artists rarely enjoyed elsewhere. The venue serves good food and solid cocktails and has nary a bad seat, be it at a table, a booth, or the bar. If you want to occupy one, though, buy tickets and/or reserve your spot beforehand.

A beloved neighborhood institution, McSorley's is one of New York's oldest saloons (established in 1854) and the motto on the current menu says, "We were here before you were born." The menu is simple: there's just two kinds of beer—McSorley's Light and McSorley's Dark—and the pub food is better than you'd expect. Weekends get busy (don't even think about getting in the door on St. Patrick's Day) but it's perfect for a cozy afternoon. Note that it's cash only.

If Condesa in Mexico City and the East Village collided it would look and taste a lot like this "super good" corner bar, which opened in 2023.  The man behind the bar is Ignacio "Nacho" Jimenez, a Mexico native who has been shaking up cocktails in New York for a few decades. Now he has his own bar and what a vision it is: bathed in magenta lights with walls bedecked with lucha libre masks, this lively spot serves up a Negroni made with mole fat-washed mezcal and a tequila-spiked green mango martini, among other creative cocktails. 

This stalwart of the lower Manhattan bar scene—as about a classic an East Village watering hole as you'll find—is technically called WCOU but everyone refers to it as the "Tile Bar," and you should too.  Bartenders are friendly, yet no-nonsense, and the drinks are potent and cheap—especially at the daily happy hour 'til 8 pm when well drinks are a measly $4.