New York's nightlife is the most dynamic on earth — hidden speakeasies like Employees Only, PDT and Attaboy (all on the 'World's 50 Best Bars'), the historic Bemelmans piano bar, jazz clubs running since 1935 at the Village Vanguard, and Brooklyn's wild circus-club House of Yes. The city's neighbourhoods each have their own scene: the Lower East Side for hidden bars, the West Village for jazz, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District for clubs, and Williamsburg and Bushwick for something more underground. Here are the best places to go out, with prices, dress codes and tips — and a reminder to tip the bartender $1–2 a drink.
SpeakeasyEmployees Only
Area
West Village
Type
Speakeasy
“Hidden behind a 'Psychic Reader' sign since 2004 — one of the world's most acclaimed cocktail bars. Drinks $16–22.”
Irish Cocktail BarThe Dead Rabbit
Area
Financial District
Type
Irish Cocktail Bar
“Twice named 'World's Best Bar'. Three floors of Irish whiskey and cocktails; drinks $12–18.”
SpeakeasyPDT (Please Don't Tell)
Area
East Village
Type
Speakeasy
“Enter through a phone booth inside Crif Dogs hot-dog joint. Just 21 seats; book via the PDT app. Drinks $14–18.”
SpeakeasyAttaboy
Area
Lower East Side
Type
Speakeasy
“No menu — tell the bartender your tastes and they build a drink for you. No reservations; knock on the metal door. Drinks $18–22.”
Japanese SpeakeasyAngel's Share
Area
East Village
Type
Japanese Speakeasy
“A Japanese cocktail speakeasy hidden above a restaurant; no groups over four, no photos. Drinks $16–20.”
Themed SpeakeasyApothéke
Area
Chinatown
Type
Themed Speakeasy
“An apothecary-themed speakeasy on Doyers Street, with 'prescriptions' sorted by symptom. Drinks $18–24.”
Piano BarBemelmans Bar
Area
Upper East Side
Type
Piano Bar
“The Carlyle Hotel's storied piano bar since 1947, with murals by the creator of Madeline. Cocktails $22–28; live piano nightly.”
Jazz ClubBlue Note Jazz Club
Area
Greenwich Village
Type
Jazz Club
“The famous Greenwich Village jazz club since 1981, with two sets nightly. Cover $35–55 plus a drink/food minimum; book about two weeks ahead.”
Jazz ClubVillage Vanguard
Area
West Village
Type
Jazz Club
“The world's oldest continuously running jazz club, open since 1935. Just 123 seats; cover $35–45 plus a one-drink minimum.”
Circus ClubHouse of Yes
Area
Bushwick (Brooklyn)
Type
Circus Club
“A circus-burlesque nightclub in Bushwick with a 'sexy creative' dress code — costumes encouraged. Entry $25–40.”
New York nightlife in detail
1.Employees Only
Employees Only is a West Village speakeasy, open since 2004 and, without exaggeration, one of the most acclaimed cocktail bars in the world, a fixture on the 'World's 50 Best Bars' list. It hides behind a 'Psychic Reader' sign — you enter through an unremarkable door past a fortune-teller's window — into a burlesque, Art Deco interior. The cocktails run $16–22, with house classics such as the EO Gimlet and the Provençal, and there is a proper kitchen too, with dishes like steak tartare. It is atmospheric, expertly run and busy, staying open until around 04:00 at weekends, and its bartenders are widely regarded as among the best in the city. For visitors wanting the quintessential New York speakeasy experience — a hidden door, a period room and cocktails made with real craft — it is a benchmark. Go a little early on weekdays to avoid the worst of the queue, and remember that in New York tipping the bartender ($1–2 a drink) is expected, not optional. A polished, characterful and genuinely world-class place to start or spend an evening.
Hours
Nightly until ~04:00 (weekends)
Price
Cocktails $16–22
Getting there
Subway 1 to Christopher St–Sheridan Sq; on Hudson St
Insider tip: Hidden behind a 'Psychic Reader' sign since 2004 — one of the world's most acclaimed cocktail bars. Drinks $16–22.
2.The Dead Rabbit
The Dead Rabbit is an Irish pub and cocktail bar in the Financial District, open since 2013 and named 'World's Best Bar' in 2015 and 2016 — the creation of Belfast bartenders Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry. It spreads across three floors: the ground-floor Bar Room in classic pub style, the Parlour upstairs for cocktails, and an Occasional Room for private events. The drinks lean into Irish cocktails and a deep whiskey list, more than 50 Irish whiskeys among them, with cocktails at $12–18 — good value by top-bar standards. It draws a broad, mixed crowd across the age range and stays open until around 04:00 at weekends. Set in Lower Manhattan near the harbour, it pairs well with a day around Wall Street, the Charging Bull and the Staten Island Ferry. For anyone who wants world-class cocktails in a warm, unpretentious pub setting rather than a hushed speakeasy, the Dead Rabbit is a joy — expertly made drinks, Irish hospitality and a genuinely convivial atmosphere. Tip the bartender, settle in, and work your way up the three floors as the night unfolds.
Hours
Nightly until ~04:00 (weekends)
Price
Cocktails $12–18
Getting there
Subway R/W to Whitehall St or 1 to South Ferry; on Water St
Insider tip: Twice named 'World's Best Bar'. Three floors of Irish whiskey and cocktails; drinks $12–18.
3.PDT (Please Don't Tell)
PDT — 'Please Don't Tell' — is an East Village speakeasy, open since 2007, entered in the most theatrical way in the city: you step inside Crif Dogs, an unassuming hot-dog restaurant, pick up the receiver of a vintage red phone booth, give your name, and a hidden door swings open. Inside are just 21 seats, a taxidermy-lined room and some of the most inventive cocktails in New York, including a famous bacon-infused old fashioned, at $14–18. It is the classic first speakeasy for many visitors, and because it is so small it sells out every night, so book ahead via the PDT app (reservations open at midday the day before) or email. It stays open until around 02:00. For travellers wanting the definitive hidden-bar experience — the phone booth, the secret door, the tiny room and the clever drinks — PDT delivers it better than almost anywhere. It can be hard to get into on a whim, so plan ahead, and remember to tip the bartender. A quintessential, only-in-New-York night out that lives up to its reputation.
Hours
Nightly until ~02:00
Price
Cocktails $14–18
Getting there
Subway 6 to Astor Pl or L to First Av; on St Marks Pl
Insider tip: Enter through a phone booth inside Crif Dogs hot-dog joint. Just 21 seats; book via the PDT app. Drinks $14–18.
4.Attaboy
Attaboy is a Lower East Side speakeasy, open since 2013 on the former site of the legendary Milk & Honey — co-founded by Sam Ross, inventor of the modern classic Penicillin cocktail. You enter by knocking on an unmarked metal door on Eldridge Street. There is no menu: the bartenders ask what flavours and spirits you like and build a bespoke cocktail for you on the spot, at $18–22. It takes no reservations and is small, so there can be a wait, especially at weekends. Its reputation is as a bartender's bartender — other New York bartenders come here on their nights off, which is about the highest compliment the trade offers. For visitors who want a more personal, improvised cocktail experience rather than a fixed list, and who enjoy the ritual of the hidden door, Attaboy is a standout. Come earlier on a weekday to slip in without a long wait, describe your tastes honestly and let the bartender surprise you. Expert, unhurried and quietly confident, it is one of the finest cocktail rooms in a city full of them.
Hours
Nightly until late; no reservations
Price
Cocktails $18–22
Getting there
Subway F to Delancey St–Essex St; on Eldridge St
Insider tip: No menu — tell the bartender your tastes and they build a drink for you. No reservations; knock on the metal door. Drinks $18–22.
6.Apothéke
Apothéke is a Chinatown speakeasy, open since 2008 on Doyers Street — a crooked little alley once notorious for the tong wars of the early 20th century. The concept is a full apothecary theme: the bartenders wear white lab coats, and the cocktails are presented as 'prescriptions' organised by 'symptom', with sections such as Pain Killer, Stress Reliever and Aphrodisiac, at $18–24. It is more of a themed, cultural experience than an underground-cool hangout, which makes it a fun, atmospheric stop, and it stays open until around 02:00. The setting on historic Doyers Street adds to the sense of discovery — the alley itself is one of the most storied corners of Chinatown. For visitors who enjoy a strong concept and a bit of theatre with their cocktails, and who like the idea of pairing a night out with a genuinely historic location, Apothéke is an enjoyable choice. Come with a group in the mood for something playful, order by 'symptom', and take a moment to appreciate the crooked, cinematic little street outside. A characterful and photogenic addition to a downtown bar crawl.
Hours
Nightly until ~02:00
Price
Cocktails $18–24
Getting there
Subway J/Z to Chambers St or 6 to Canal St; on Doyers St
Insider tip: An apothecary-themed speakeasy on Doyers Street, with 'prescriptions' sorted by symptom. Drinks $18–24.
7.Bemelmans Bar
Bemelmans Bar is a piano bar in the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side, open since 1947 and one of the most storied rooms in New York. Its walls are covered by murals painted by Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the Madeline children's books — the only Bemelmans artwork open to the public. A pianist plays nightly from around 17:30 to midnight, and the drinks are impeccable classic cocktails — Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Negronis — at $22–28, with a music cover charge in the evenings. It draws a well-heeled, cross-generational crowd; JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy were once regulars. There is a smart-casual dress code, and the atmosphere is one of quiet, timeless glamour rather than a party. For visitors who want an elegant, grown-up New York evening — expertly made cocktails, live piano and a genuinely historic, romantic room — Bemelmans is unmatched. It is a place for a special occasion or a memorable nightcap, best enjoyed slowly with the music. One of the last great classic hotel bars in the city, and worth dressing up for. Arrive early in the evening for a table before the music charge and crowds build.
Hours
Daily; live piano ~17:30–24:00
Price
Cocktails $22–28 (music/cover charge in the evening)
Getting there
Subway 6 to 77 St; in the Carlyle Hotel
Insider tip: The Carlyle Hotel's storied piano bar since 1947, with murals by the creator of Madeline. Cocktails $22–28; live piano nightly.
8.Blue Note Jazz Club
The Blue Note is a Greenwich Village jazz club, open since 1981 and now an international brand with clubs in Tokyo, Milan, Hawaii and Beijing. It runs two sets a night, at around 20:00 and 22:30, and the roll-call of legends who have played the room is extraordinary: Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall and many more. The cover charge runs $35–55 depending on the act, plus a minimum spend on food and drink, in a 250-seat room where you sit close to the stage. There is also a Sunday jazz brunch (around $40) with live music at 12:30 and 14:30. It is worth booking about two weeks ahead for popular acts. For visitors who want to hear serious live jazz in an intimate, historic setting — the kind of Greenwich Village night that has drawn music lovers for decades — the Blue Note is a landmark. Check the calendar before you travel, book ahead for the act you want, and arrive in good time for a decent table. An essential stop for anyone who loves live music in the city where so much of it was born.
Hours
Two sets nightly (~20:00 & 22:30); Sun jazz brunch
Price
Cover $35–55 + minimum spend
Getting there
Subway A/B/C/D/E/F/M to W 4 St; on W 3rd St
Insider tip: The famous Greenwich Village jazz club since 1981, with two sets nightly. Cover $35–55 plus a drink/food minimum; book about two weeks ahead.
9.Village Vanguard
The Village Vanguard is a West Village jazz club, open since 1935 and the oldest continuously running jazz club in the world. It has just 123 seats and famously fine acoustics — landmark live albums were recorded here, including Bill Evans's 'Sunday at the Village Vanguard' and John Coltrane's 'Live at the Village Vanguard'. The cover charge is $35–45 plus a one-drink minimum, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra plays every Monday, with two sets a night at around 20:00 and 22:00. This is a room for serious listeners: talking during the sets is frowned upon, and the focus is entirely on the music. For visitors who want to experience jazz in its most reverent, historic New York setting — a small, atmospheric basement where the music's greatest names have played for nearly a century — the Vanguard is unmatched. It is more purist and less polished than the Blue Note, and that is precisely its appeal. Book ahead, arrive on time, keep quiet during the sets and simply let the music carry the night. A pilgrimage for any jazz lover, and one of the most authentic live-music experiences in the city.
Hours
Two sets nightly (~20:00 & 22:00)
Price
Cover $35–45 + one-drink minimum
Getting there
Subway 1/2/3 to 14 St; on Seventh Av South
Insider tip: The world's oldest continuously running jazz club, open since 1935. Just 123 seats; cover $35–45 plus a one-drink minimum.
10.House of Yes
House of Yes is a circus-burlesque nightclub in Bushwick, Brooklyn, open since 2014 — the creation of Anya Sapozhnikova and Kae Burke. Expect dancers, acrobats and aerial-silk shows, all built around a spirit of creative, uninhibited celebration, with entry from $25 to $40 depending on the act. The dress code is 'sexy creative' — costumes and dressing up are actively encouraged, and business-casual attire is very much not the vibe. Drinks run $12–16. It draws a young, international, creative crowd, and it is as much an immersive cultural experience as a traditional nightclub, with themed parties, performances and a famously open, inclusive atmosphere. For visitors who want to see a different, more experimental side of New York nightlife — one rooted in Brooklyn's warehouse-party creativity rather than Manhattan's velvet ropes — House of Yes is a highlight. Check what's on before you go, embrace the dress-up ethos, and take the L train out to Bushwick for a night unlike anywhere else in the city. Wildly fun, warmly welcoming and unmistakably Brooklyn, it is the antidote to a conventional club night.
Hours
Wed–Sun nights; show times vary
Price
Entry $25–40 depending on the act
Getting there
Subway L to Jefferson St; in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Insider tip: A circus-burlesque nightclub in Bushwick with a 'sexy creative' dress code — costumes encouraged. Entry $25–40.