The Best Cocktail Bars in SoHo, New York City

Hotel bars in NYC often seem catered to tourists and are accordingly upscale and flashy. That’s not true of the Crosby Street Hotel’s spacious, quietly elegant Crosby Bar. As an all-day spot, it seamlessly converts itself from a breakfast room to a brunch/lunch spot to a tea room and then to a cocktail lounge and dining room as the sun dips. The lengthy cocktail list offers drinks peppered with exotic ingredients. Choose from premium, classic and signature cocktails, like the Tiger’s Eye, which combines Crosby Street Hotel Stolichnaya vodka, cinnamon, lemon juice, pear nectar, champagne and star anise.

There’s a pretty good chance you’re unfamiliar with The Ship. Hidden behind a nondescript door down some steps, this cocktail bar occupies a large underground space. It’s relatively dark (but that’s the reason you’re here) and has an unsurprising nautical theme; the legend “US NAVY”graces armchairs in flashy letters. Drinks range from classic to craft cocktails. For example, the American Trilogy is swirled with rye whiskey, Applejack, brown sugar and orange bitters. Pair drinks with Asian-leaning light bites, such as the salmon tartare spring rolls, which come flecked with avocado wasabi.

It’s thanks to the mixology wizards at Pegu Club that New York’s craft cocktail revolution took off. Here, in a second-floor barroom hovering above Houston Street, everything about cocktails is taken seriously, from the grapefruit and orange juices squeezed by hand to the infusions and flavored syrups. There are even delicate droppers stationed along the bar for customers who wish to add a little more je ne sais quoi. Sample both the classic and glitzy, new-age cocktails, and make sure you’ve positioned yourself with a view of the wizardry.

A bright-red neon sign greets you with a scripted “Botanica” as you head down a flight of stairs to this no-frills dive. The busy cocktail menu features the classics: dark ’n stormy, moscow mule, Jägerbomb. The best move is to arrive prior to 8pm, when beers and well drinks are no more than $4.

If you’re feeling especially suave or enchanting, drop into JIMMY. There’s a refined lounge atmosphere about this cocktail bar on the 18th floor of the James Hotel – from which you can enjoy 360-degree views of Midtown, the Financial District, the Hudson and the East River while you drink and chat. The glazed tile walls, modular furniture and lingham wood floors are so 1970s that you half expect Roger Moore or Jill St John to walk through the door. It’s not just the decor that’s plush. The signature cocktails include Legal in Vermont (Hudson Baby Bourbon, cinnamon syrup orange, bitters, purple basil) and The Monk (Avuá Prata cachaça, Monk’s Secret Elixir, TintoNegro malbec wine, star anise). And if rooftop bars are your jam, be sure to check out our guide to the best rooftop bars in Manhattan.

A great place to bring a date or mingle with the small but attractive crowd, 142 Sullivan is an intimate neighborhood watering hole with a chill vibe. There’s nothing too fancy here. The brick walls have been slapped with white paint, and the TV screen at the end of the bar features cool, classic pop videos. The bartenders serve inexpensive cocktails – infused with selections from the classy wine list – and craft beers. Happy hour is from 5pm to 7pm on weekdays. Sit at a table outside during the summer, snack on flatbreads and charcuterie, and watch the world go by.

There’s a distinct living-room feel about The Gordon Bar in the Sixty SoHo Hotel – that’s if you’re accustomed to living rooms that are spacious, quiet and elegant. This is a place for after-work conversations and pre-dinner rendezvous, so leave it out if you’re on a rowdy bar crawl. Gordon’s well-stocked bar provides classic and signature cocktails that aren’t too outlandish. Try Rose Hips Sink Ships (Cutty Sark Scotch, rosehip puree, lemon, champagne) or Bittersweet Harmony (Aperol, gin, Petal & Thorn vermouth, prosecco).

Von is the kind of quiet, charmingly dark spot frequented primarily by local people. Though technically a bar for fine wines, it’s fully stocked with liquor, and the friendly staff makes delicious cocktails. If you prefer hushed conversation, settle in on the main floor. If not, head to the basement room where DJs pump hip-hop, disco and funk music to a crowd of gyrating dancers.