After a long day’s sight-seeing in New York, you will need to relax. Your feet will need a rest, your dry throat will need refreshing and your neck will need a break from the constant upwards gazing. If you are over 21, and carrying photo ID, the best way to chill out is to grab a drink at one of these fabulous bars in New York.
Raines Law Room, 48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011
I am not sure if I should be sharing this bar with you. This is my favourite of all the bars in New York (that I’ve been to). I don’t want to make it any harder for me to book a table than it has to be! But I will sacrifice my spot for you.
If you want excellent cocktails in a grown up but relaxed atmosphere then this bar is for you.
The bar is set up into little areas for you and your group. These create an intimate feel, and the low lighting enhances that further. Each area has a light switch attached to a charmingly vintage lamp. Flick it on and you will have a member of the bar staff with you promptly.
You can order from the menu or talk to the servers and they can recommend something. They can even create amazing off-book beverages. My friend wasn’t drinking and they whipped up a great mocktail to sip on.
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Raines Law Room at The William, 24 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016
The second of the Raines Law Room is just as delicous tasting and a little bit brighter!
Check out The Best Savoury Eats in New York
Leonessa, 102 North End Avenue, New York, NY 10282
The Conrad New York is a very trendy hotel, large but with the feel of a boutique design hotel. You pass through the lobby and take the lift to the sixteenth floor. The bar is on a very small rooftop terrace with views through the surrounding buildings to Jersey and the Statue of Liberty. When we went it was called Loopy Dopy Cocktail Bar and it served cocktails with ice lollies in – a great summer treat. It’s recently had a refit and re-brand as Leonessa, an Italian inspired bar.
We visited at sunset which was probably not the ideal time. The sun set behind the nearby building and then it got a little chilly. I would say, an afternoon drink would be a better idea.
They now offer an indoor-outdoor experience with a retractable roof to soak up the sun or shelter from the rain. Serving a range of Italian inspired cocktails including the classic Negroni.
Top of The Strand Hotel, 33 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018
Another rooftop offering, this time set on the 21st floor of the Strand Hotel in Midtown. The cocktails here are very good, not the best on this list but pretty darn tasty. There are plenty of wines and beers to pick from as well.
This bar’s main draw is it’s superb view of the nearby Empire State Building. Arrive when it opens at 17:00 to grab a seat along the long side table. You can perch on the bar stools and watch the lights come on, a few at a time. Obviously, this is very dependent on the time of year so check sunset. You may need to pace yourself in summer!
Read about our first trip to New York – The First Bite
230 Fifth, 230 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001
Our final rooftop bar is not a destination for its amazing drinks. It is not the classiest of our favourite bars in New York if I’m honest, BUT it is hilarious! Come here, at night, when the weather starts to get cold and you will be inducted into the strangest cult you’ve ever seen. I call it the “cult of the robes”. If you need to stay warm, you can grab a slightly beaten-up but joyfully fluffy dressing gown. They are orange, or pink, it is kind of hard to tell in the bright orange light radiating from the outdoor heaters.
If you are feeling a little more fancy, you can sit in the indoor bar one floor below. You will stay warm and enjoy a drink with quite a fabulous view of the Empire State Building. The drinks are a bit over-priced to be honest, but I still think it is worth doing, just the once.
Check out Sweet Treats you Must Try in New York
We hope you will get the chance to enjoy some of our favourite bars in New York. If you do, leave us a comment and let us know what you thought!
Rosie xx
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