The Travelling Cocktail Drinker: The Best Bars in New York

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The Big Apple is famous for its cocktails, regularly battling it out with London to be known as
the premier destination for cocktail enthusiasts. You can’t visit New York
without making a trip to one of these popular bars – the great American
experience isn’t complete without them!

The Dead Rabbit, 30 Water Street

A bar oozing Irish charm in the heart of Manhattan, The Dead Rabbit was the proud owner of the
title World’s Best Bar in both 2015 and 2016. It may have dropped to number 16
on the list in 2018, but it is still a winner in our eyes and definitely worth
a visit! The ground floor bar exudes typical Irishness, with craft beers, wines
and an impressive array of whiskeys. For cocktails, you’d be happier in the
upstairs bar, where there are over 30 beverage combinations to tickle your
taste buds.

Nomad Hotel, 10 West 28th Street

As American a bar as you will find in New York, the Nomad bar focuses on classic USA cocktails.
Composed of three elegant bars, including the Elephant bar, the Library and a
dance area, you can sample any of the cocktails wherever you choose to take
your seat and enjoy perfectly produced drinks made up of ingredients that will
take them to the next level.

Dante, 79-81 MacDougal Street

An official landmark in New York city, Dante is an old bar turned new. The Italian vibe is a nod to
its roots, as when it was first opened back in 1915, the neighborhood was made
up of mostly Italian families and so the bar was the perfect place for them to
meet. With a food menu made up of Italian dishes and an impressive cocktail
menu that comprises classics as well as negroni-based drinks, spritzes and
mocktails, this is an essential cocktail stop.

Attaboy, 134 Eldridge Street

Owned by the original managers at the iconic Milk & Honey bar, Attaboy is quite the cocktail
experience. There is no menu – instead of choosing your own drink, the
bartender will choose for you, basing their bespoke selection on your answers
to a series of questions. Sometimes it will be a perfectly shaken classic,
other times it will be superstar you have never even heard of. Either way, we
think you’ll love it.

Employees Only, 510 Hudson Street

With a resident clairvoyant in the corner and super-speedy cocktails served by very smartly
dressed servers, Employees Only is certainly not your everyday bar. Food is
simple but delicious and cocktails take a similarly measured approach. A
speakeasy-style establishment that embraces its kooky atmosphere, don’t pass up
the opportunity to taste one of their cocktails!

The city where anything can happen, New York is a great destination for those that love a
classic cocktail and an award-winning bar!


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Bartender's top tip

Consistency is key in cocktail making. Use a jigger or a measuring tool to ensure that you're adding the correct amounts of each ingredient. This not only helps in balancing the flavors but also in replicating the success of a drink you’ve particularly enjoyed. It’s easy to adjust recipes when you know exactly how much of each ingredient is in the mix.

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