14 Best Bars in Harlem, New York City

From the sultry red interior with jewel-toned furnishings and quirky chandeliers to the Asian-fusion menu, every detail within this cocktail bar on Restaurant Row was designed by James Beard award--winning executive chef Serena Bass (the woman behind the Chelsea Hotel's once-star-studded Serena lounge). The sexy setting serves as a playful backdrop for the well-curated drink selection, including the fan-favorite Lychee martini, and tasty bar food, like the roast duck spring rolls and Japanese yam tempura with an addictive ginger dipping sauce. Cozy up with a date on the plush, custom-made aquamarine couches and terra-cotta chairs or peep the adorable heated patio in the back. If you happen to be around on a Thursday, swing by for their weekly live music events featuring local artists. On Saturday, DJs can often be found playing into the wee hours.

Located in historic Central Harlem, Harlem Nights is a cozy neighborhood bar set in a relaxed lounge atmosphere. With live entertainment ranging from open-mic nights on Monday to comedy shows on Saturday and weekend DJs, there’s something for everyone. At their daily happy hour, you can enjoy craft cocktails at a discounted price until 8 pm. The food menu is fairly straightforward, with offerings like fish sandwiches, burgers, and apps like mozzarella sticks and fried pickles, but they have a decent, fairly priced cocktail list, and specials like a lager and a shot of Jameson for just $12. The main draw here is the music, so grab a drink and a bite, and stay awhile, as Harlem Nights is open until at least 2 am every night.

The jazz institution that once featured big-name performers such as Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington is now a sophisticated supper club (that also serves weekend brunch) with a roster of house-band jazz performers and featured musicians. Small plates are plentiful, with dishes like rigatoni carbonara and greenshell mussels in a white wine cream sauce, paired best with a libation such as the Cinnamon Toast Punch, with bourbon and smoked cinnamon. It's not a cheap night out, but it is worth the splurge; just be sure to make reservations and dress to impress. It can get loud in here, so if you're worried about the sound, simply request a table toward the back.

It doesn't look like much from the outside, but this bar and small performance venue hosts multiple events each night, with live music ranging from blues, jazz, Latin, Afrobeat, indie, and more, as well as DJs, spoken word, and dance. African masks, vinyl records, and album covers adorn the walls and ceilings, and there’s ample seating with plenty of space to dance, too. These days, there's usually a crush of out-of-towners during showtimes, but the music remains stellar, and the establishment itself is the stuff of legend.

Located in the heart of Harlem's Restaurant Row, Angel of Harlem is a neighborhood favorite for a good time. From weekday happy hours and local artist performances, to live DJs spinning R&B, hip-hop, and reggae, the energy is always high. Stop by on a weekend and experience the seamless transition from lively brunch (where, for $35, you can add bottomless rum punches, mimosas, and sangria) to bustling nightlife scene. On the menu, contemporary American cuisine prepared with local, fresh ingredients, mingles with Latin and Caribbean flavors. For a larger appetite, try the Frederick Douglass burger or lobster ravioli. If you're just looking for a bar nosh, the Jamaican beef patties are a favorite for a reason.

With nearly 20 beers on tap, sports on big screens, and bar food that's anything but boring (everything from braised lamb shank to chicken parm), it's no surprise that this neighborhood favorite is packed on weekends. Their brunch menu includes classic soul food with a spin, like the fried chicken and waffle with bacon, topped with Cholula honey cheesy sauce, and well-balanced salads like the Asian calamari salad, made with fried calamari, fresh vegetables, and a sesame ginger dressing.. In warm weather, an outdoor patio gives you a front-row seat to the scene on Lenox Avenue.

This sophisticated, sleek, bi-level dining and nightlife venue is known for its mix of Caribbean and Southern-inspired cuisine. Well-heeled regulars flock here for Sunday brunch (shrimp and grits, or fried chicken and red velvet waffle); late-night noshers come for the food as well as the live DJs and specialty cocktails.

It may have all the fixings of a typical sports bar, but this spunky spot with striped wallpaper and black-and-white photos of sports stars on the corner of 120th Street is far from average. If you want to meet some Harlem locals, this is your spot. Grab a seat at the bar while enjoying delicious small bites, beer on tap (plus weekly happy hour), and high-quality cocktails. Try the $10 happy hour margaritas and Moscow mules, naturally best paired with the organic chicken wings (which can also be prepared vegan). You catch local and international sports games here, anything from Mongolian archery to rugby, on one of the 12 flat screens around the bar. 

Surprisingly, the basement of Red Rooster has one of the best jazz clubs in Harlem, Ginny's Supper Club. Here, guests can enjoy the fine flavors of one of Harlem's most popular eateries while enjoying the live music during their Sunday gospel brunch. Priced at $80 per person, feast on an all-you-can-eat buffet with the choice of two showtimes; one at 11 am and a second one at 1:15 pm. It is highly advisable to make reservations in advance via OpenTable. If you are less interested in brunch but still curious in checking out this secret enclave, Ginny's Supper Club frequently hosts ticketed events.

Head downstairs from Marcus Samuelsson's renowned Red Rooster restaurant and find yourself in a glamorous lounge that seems right out of the 1920s. The cocktails are classic with a modern flair, and there is live music and/or DJs throughout the week, as well as a Sunday gospel brunch. Walk-ins are welcome, but advance reservations are recommended.

The east side of Harlem doesn't get nearly as much love as it should, and The Good Good is proof in the pudding that, while off the beaten path, the area is just as worth exploring. This Black female--owned cocktail bar is serving up classics but in elevated form, like the Good Good Daiquiri, made with dark rum, fresh lime, and demerara syrup. Zero-proof cocktails are plentiful at only $8 a pop, but you'd be remiss to not order some food here, too. Plant-based diners will be pleased to see the "earth" portion of the menu, with offerings like jerk mushrooms and roasted yams that have a crunch that rivals that of fried chicken thanks to its coating in honey. But put that theory to the test and try their hot honey fried, too, one of the crispiest birds in the neighborhood.

Launched by three graduates of Historically Black Colleges, this cozy pub is Manhattan's first 100% African American--owned craft beer bar. Bites on the casual menu include a Bavarian soft pretzel, jerk chicken and vegan bratwurst sausages, and a variety of spicy guma pies (similar to a flaky samosa or empanada). Everything pairs well with an accessible selection of innovative small-batch beers. They can also be found at Market 57 in Chelsea.

A juicy burger and more than a dozen craft beers on tap make this the type of neighborhood watering hole every New Yorker wants on their corner. Plenty of stools fill the sprawling space, along with a scattering of tables on the sidewalk in warm weather. The peanut butter burger, loaded grilled cheese, and fork-and-knife fries are crowd favorites, and there’s live music during special events. It's an unfussy spot to raise a glass after a day of exploring vibrant Harlem.

A truly unexpected hidden gem in East Harlem is Perch, a locally owned cocktail bar serving up some pretty stellar bar bites. The space is small, and you might not think you'd get dishes like scallops with roasted tomato and herb oil, or duck confit with orange gastrique and jicama slaw in such a "typical bar" environment, but the food is quite refined. The cocktails are the real star of the show here, though; they perfect classics like Sazerac and Penicillin, but options like the Final Say with rye and pepper-infused maraschino or the superpopular Breakfast in Bed with bacon fat--washed bourbon, cold brew, and chipotle cacao are not to be missed.