The Best Bars In Midtown

Tucked into the side of Rockefeller Center, Pebble Bar looks like an exorbitantly priced downtown townhouse, and is backed by Pete Davidson and a bunch of other people. We like to hang out with a $22 mojito riff on the second floor, where you'll find a standing room-only bar with a good after-work crowd, but there’s also a tiny dining room on the third floor where you can eat steak tartare with truffle aioli.

This essential Theater District dive gives you a free hot dog with every beverage purchase. (We're not entirely sure how they've stayed in business since 1933.) With plenty of beer-and-shot combos, most of which are $7 or less, you’ll be well watered and fed for less than $30. Look for the friendly pig outside, waving you in.

The iconic 30-foot-wide mural of Old King Cole is the main attraction at the St. Regis hotel bar, but there's also excellent free snack mix, top-tier people-watching, and a surprisingly welcoming atmosphere of fur coats and generational wealth. The Bloody Mary was supposedly invented here, and they make a good one—lightly spicy, smooth, and boozy.

Want to see what kind of view you could have if you threw a hundred million dollars at a penthouse on Central Park South? Head to this rooftop bar on the 47th floor of the Park Lane New York hotel. Besides the views, you'll find an awning-covered patio with lots of greenery, and a DJ. It's one of your nicer options in the area for a $24 cocktail and some spicy chicken sliders or basil arancini.

We’d come to this classic Times Square dive even if it weren’t for the $3.50 well drinks. Boxing memorabilia covers the walls (the founder was a coach), a neon jukebox plays soul hits, and you can spot the long-time bartenders in photos on the laminated tables in the back room. And those drinks? Small and icy, but very effective.

If you’ve ever wondered who lives in the brownstones in the West 40s, join the club—because we have no idea. But we do know that one of them has a bar inside. Bar Centrale is a classic pre- or post-theater spot for cocktails and small plates, and there's a decent chance you'll spot some Broadway actors here.

A painting of a macaque drinking a flower-garnished cocktail sets the playful mood at Monkey Thief. This place works for just about any kind of Midtown evening, from a dressy pre-theater night out to a casual coworker hang. Expect interesting, tiki-ish drinks and light bites like cumin and sichuan-spiced fried chicken.

Down the stairs at the 50th Street station, Nothing Really Matters is open for business, despite what its blacked-out windows might suggest. This speakeasy-ish spot is a more relaxed alternative to the pubs and hotel lounges in the area, and it's always a good time with $19 drinks and plenty of '90s hip hop and R&B hits like “Feel Me Flow” and “No Diggity.”

Dear Irving on Hudson is a perfect place to get to know someone who might become more than a friend one day. The views are great, the cocktails are well-made, and there are little "seating stations" for two that feel like being in your own bubble. On the 40th and 41st floors of the Aliz Hotel Times Square, there's plenty of space for big groups too, as well as multiple open-air balconies.

You’re never too old to have a themed birthday party at one of the 18 themed karaoke rooms at RPM Underground—just decide whether you want Marvel madness in the Avengers room or LA sleaze in the Sunset Blvd. room. The huge venue also hosts comedy, an in-house vinyl shop, and two bars.

Aldo Sohm is the casual wine bar from the people who run Le Bernardin, just across the way. It feels like drinking in the lobby of a really nice condo, and the extremely knowledgeable staff will gladly help you pick a glass or bottle from the impressive wine list. There's also a menu of snacks and small plates like black truffle arancini and tequila-spiked guacamole (which you will definitely not see at Le Bernardin).

This place is semi-hidden in Grand Central and can get packed with commuters on weeknights. But it’s still a pretty swanky place for a pricey drink. The ceilings are high, there are nice leather chairs, and we especially like the seats on the balcony overlooking the bar. There’s also a little outdoor area.

The Rum House feels like an old-timey saloon at the bottom of the Edison Hotel. It's a nice spot for a casual cocktail in Times Square, though the biggest draw is the live music that's on most nights.

Tanner Smith’s is essentially a big, bright, fancy pub, with a long menu of well-made house cocktails that are all about $18. Up front, there’s a bar and a few tables as well as open space for standing when they don’t have live music. There's also enough space for groups migrating over from their offices.

Yes, it’s the same Baccarat known for making fine French crystal and yes, there are more than a few extravagant chandeliers in this place. It’s a great spot to hang out in this part of Midtown, especially if you’re using an expense account. The cheapest cocktails are around $30, but they come with generous servings of spiced nuts and olives.

This Japanese jazz bar occupies a cramped, subterranean space in Midtown East, stuffed with knick-knacks. Stop by for live music, sake, and cod roe spaghetti any day of the week (with $10 covers from Friday-Sunday)—but show up early since the wait times can reach up to two hours.

Possibly the coolest bar in the neighborhood, As Is is neither flashy nor divey, and it somehow doesn't get too crowded. The room is full of plants and exposed brick, and there's a nerdy beer selection in addition to a few house cocktails. If you're looking for a pre-theater or after-work spot, come here. This is also an ideal place for a first date, in case you're doing that in Midtown for some reason.

Bo Peep is down a flight of stairs beneath The Ragtrader on 38th Street, and—with its antique lamps and velvet furniture—it feels like a study in someone’s home from the 1920s. There are two seatings every night, and there's always a pianist playing live music. So if you're looking for a unique place to bring some out-of-towners, try this spot. For a Midtown bar, it's weirdly charming and enjoyable.

Valhalla, a loud tavern with nearly 50 beers on tap, feels like a grown-up version of a place you’d find in the East Village. Consider this place the next time you're planning a low-key team outing. In addition to beverages, they serve snacks like Bavarian pretzels and bratwurst, which go perfectly with microbrews.

Ardesia is a true Midtown utility spot. Meeting a date? Going out with a couple of work friends? Hanging out with a random relative? Wine and small plates in a non-cheesy environment help make this place exactly what you need. Factor in the wide-ranging menu, friendly service, and outdoor seating, and you’ve got yourself a go-to.

The Stag’s Head is a good place to grab an IPA or sour in the area. Their beer list goes beyond the typical roster of Ballast Point taps, so if you’re into deep cuts of craft beer, you’ll be happy here. You can watch a game on one of their TVs, and if it's nice out, have a drink on their outdoor patio on the second floor.

The lobby bar at the reopened Four Seasons has the best deviled eggs this side of 57th Street. The Art Deco space is nice to look at, and there are some good nooks for whiling away an afternoon. But most importantly, the Three Martini Lunch—a flight of mini dry, dirty, and espresso martinis—is a pretty fun gimmick, and a decent deal for $41.

You’ll see some tourists (because this place is in a Midtown hotel), but the Whitby doesn’t feel generic. The massive room is filled with random things that look like they were collected from estate sales, and it's a solid option for a work meeting. If you get hungry, you can get some bar snacks, like beef sliders and za’atar chips.