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Travel + Leisure
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
These Are the Best Bars in New York City Right Now—Including Some T+L Editor Favorites
Fresh off the 2025 edition of North America's 50 Best Bars, New York City once again proved why it's one of the world's greatest drinking cities. The annual awards, held at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, unveiled its prestigious list during a spectacular live ceremony—and NYC dominated, claiming an impressive 11 spots in the top 50, more than any other destination. Superbueno, the Lower East Side cantina celebrating Mexican-American heritage, held firm at No. 2 for the second year in a row. The festive watering hole also clinched the coveted title of Best Bar in Northeast USA 2025, and co-owner Nacho Jimenez says it's a testament to his team's hard work—and to the power of community. 'It's a great honor, particularly to represent Mexican-American culture in the bar world and have all these eyes on us,' he told Travel + Leisure . 'This recognition validates the hard work our team does day in and day out, and the passion they've shown to our guests and to the brand. It truly means a lot to hold onto both these titles in just the two short years that we've been open.' Superbueno takes an elevated approach to spotlighting Mexican identity and flavors. 'We've carved out a space for ourselves that didn't previously exist,' Jimenez added. 'Our drinks are inspired by iconic Mexican ingredients and dishes, seen through the lens of a sophisticated New York cocktail culture.' First-timers can expect a well-rounded menu that speaks to various palates, but if you need a starting point, go for the Vodka Y Soda (a bright and refreshing guava highball) or the Fresca Tonic (a gin, sotol, hazelnut tonic, and honeydew agua fresca creation) that also comes in a non-alcoholic version. 40 Best Things to Do in New York City 21 of the World's Coolest Hotel Bars Rounding out the top 10: The West Village's Sip & Guzzle made a bold debut at No. 5—earning the highest new entry recipient honors—and the Financial District's sky-high stunner Overstory came in at No. 6. 'Sip & Guzzle is such a fun concept with delicious food to pair with the top-notch drinks,' Susmita Baral, a senior editor at T+L said. 'Upstairs is Sip and downstairs is Guzzle—and both floors have unique menus." For the first time this year, North America's 50 Best Bars expanded its rankings to showcase venues listed from 51 to 100, further celebrating the outstanding talent across the continent's cocktail industry. Here are the other New York City bars recognized in the lineup—some T+L favorites from this list include Employee's Only, Shinji's, The Long Island Bar. The Clemente Bar (No. 11) Martiny's (No. 15) Employee's Only (No. 18): "It's still iconic after all these years and has the best steak tartare in the city and highly effective martinis," Paul Brady, T+L's news director, said. Double Chicken Please (No. 19) Maison Premiere (No. 33): "Cheaper than buying a plane ticket to New Orleans and always a good idea," said Brady of the New Orleans-style establishment. Katana Kitten (No. 42) Angel's Share (No. 43) Dante (No. 46) The Dead Rabbit (No. 57) Dante West Village (No. 60) The Long Island Bar (No. 64): "Long Island Bar is a Brooklyn institution for a reason—the tiny booths and colorful string lights give it a cozy, nostalgic vibe," said Kelly Hires, the associate director of brand communications at T+L, said. She recommends the 'A Martini' and the seasonal summer frozen Pina Colada. Attaboy (No. 66) Bar Snack (No. 85): "This place feels like you stepped into your uncle's Texas basement in the '70s ... but he happens to also be the best bartender around," Morgan Ashley Parker, T+L's associate editorial director of commerce, said. "I first came for the snack-sized daiquiris that inspired the bar's name, but I return for unique cocktails (ahem, Salad Negroni) and tasty bar snacks like spicy peanut butter noodles worth canceling a dinner reservation so you can simply stay here and drink more." Shinji's (No. 90): "It's a bar in a small space with a huge presence, giving patrons a chance to immerse themselves in a unique imaginative world with Japanese inspired cocktails and (very) fresh seafood," Kareema Bee, a senior video producer at T+L, said. The Portrait Bar (No. 93) Paradise Lost (No. 95) Bar Contra (No. 98)
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How The World's 50 Best Bars In North America Keep Guests Hooked
What makes a World's 5o Best bar? From San Francisco's Pacific Cocktail Haven to Mexico City's Kaito del Valle to Grand Cayman's Library By The Sea to Jewel of the South in New Orleans and even Vancouver's The Keefer Bar there are quite a few contributing factors to consider. Of course the quality, complexity and consistency of the drinks is tantamount. Add in other components like overall concept, bar design and location and the checklist for what makes a bar the best may seem strikingly different. That is, however, until you talk to someone who runs one. 'When you go to a bar or a restaurant, you don't remember the drink you had or the dish.' Kevin Diedrich co-founder of Pacific Cocktail Haven, or PCH, explains. 'You remember how you felt when you leave the place.' Kevin Diedrich Co-Founder of Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco Which means that each location ultimately succeeds by tapping into an authentic form of guest interaction that respects the inherent relationship between bartender and guest. The recently revealed North America's 50 Best Bars of 2025 may span the continent but they all have one thing in common, their clientele. With rising food and beverage costs and stiff competition, guests have become more discerning than ever. Which means that bars have never had more opportunity to create the ultimate guest experience with locals, regulars and one-off visitors alike. 'We've pretty well always said that the pretentious bartender thing is dead.' Says Amber Bruce, beverage director for The Keefer Bar an institution that has been going strong for 15 years in Vancouver's Chinatown. 'Check your ego at the door. Welcome people like it's your own living room. We have an amazing crew who've been with us for years. Your section becomes your own bar basically.' Library by the Sea from Grand Cayman Library by the Sea, located on 7-mile beach in Grand Cayman, is a cocktail destination within a vacation destination and head bartender Max Wolff notes that even their elevated and integrated story-themed drinks sometimes come second to their unique relationship to the guests. 'We find that we might not have regulars every day of the year but we have them for their stay. We get to know them much more intimately than you'd get to know them in a bar in the neighborhood. We see them at breakfast, meet the kids. Sneak the kids some gelato and get them to go play in the pool while the parents have cocktails with us.' The team from The Keefer Bar in Vancouver Different establishments lean into different approaches to hospitality but for Diedrich's PCH, his own experience and attention to detail has paid off. 'When we first opened we were just supposed to be a neighborhood cocktail bar and now we're this high end destination bar.' Diedrich, who implemented a monogrammed coaster program for regulars, explains. 'We jokingly say that the hardest thing to learn isn't the drinks it's knowing all 200 regulars and their initials and their partner's initials.' Jewel of the South in New Orleans 'I pride myself on the concierge style of helping the guests along with their stay.' Says Chris Hannah, bartender and co-owner of Jewel of the South, who keeps it old school in his approach to guest experience based on his own background at NOLA classic, Arnaud's. 'We make sure that they go see some of our friends because our competition is a healthy competition in New Orleans. We want to make sure that while they're there they are going to someplace where we know that our friends are going to take care of them as well.' Kaito del Valle from Mexico City is a Mexican and Japanese-based Izakaya that focuses on sake-based cocktails but with Mexican ingredients. While the cocktails are complex, the path to great hospitality of any best bar is simple. 'We opened nine years ago and it's a full female staffed bar.' Clauda Cabrero says of what she calls the super nerdy, funky and relaxed spot. 'It just sort of happened. I didn't plan it like that. I thought it was going to be fun. It's really fun.'
