The martini’s origins may be mysterious, but since it gained popularity during Prohibition, it has become a symbol of New York City's vibrant nightlife and cocktail culture. Here, the simple cocktail means a moment of celebration, a welcome relief at the end of a long day, and a sign of great hospitality. Nowhere does it better! These bars and restaurants showcase the city's best martinis, from the classic two-ingredient staple to the more experimental.
Bemelman’s Bar
Upper East Side
35 E 76th St, The Carlyle Hotel, New York City, NY 10075
Bemelman’s Bar should never go out of fashion, and neither should their martini. The martinis and the ambiance, thanks to a golden dining room decorated with murals painted by Madeline author and artist Ludwig Bemelman, are whimsical yet refined. I love to come late at night, sip on an ice-cold, crisp Gin martini, and catch one of their nightly jazz performances to feel like I’m back in the Golden Age of New York.
schmuck
East Village
97 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
The New York offshoot of the famous Two Schmucks bar in Barcelona is designed to feel like a house party within a cocktail bar, with an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and beautifully tall Bobo martini glasses that look straight out of the Jetsons. I love the five drops of olive oil that schmuck servers add to the martini at the table; it creates a smooth texture with just the right amount of bite. In the summer, the Dirty Martini spritzes with tonic water for a must-have cool down on the outdoor patio.
The Lobby Bar at Chelsea Hotel
Chelsea
226 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
My favorite bar for people-watching is because everyone, locals from all over the boroughs and tourists alike, is drawn to have a drink here. Sitting at the bar here is a must, so be sure to come early and get the full experience. At the bar, order a steak frites and their signature citrus-forward 1884 martini to wash it down, and enjoy this slice of New York life.
Long Island Bar
Downtown Brooklyn
110 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Serving classic cocktails and burgers for over 55 years, the Long Island bar is a Brooklyn institution. But that doesn’t mean they’re old-fashioned. The Long Island Bar's signature martini combines gin with sake, white vermouth, and a house-made tincture of bergamot and pomelo for a refreshing drink with a delicate, slightly floral finish.
Le Veau d'Or
Upper East Side
129 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022
New York’s hottest restaurant also has one of the hottest martinis in the city. Here, you can order the martini your way or their way. Your way will come in the traditional format, but their way comes in a tall, non-traditional Martini glass with a vermouth-and-club-soda highball sidecar. When there’s a sidecar, always pick their way!
The Commerce Inn
West Village
50 Commerce St, New York City, NY 10014
Inspired by the religious sect, the Shakers, famous for their furniture and architecture, everything about this wood furniture filled, old-timey tavern is cozy and inviting. Perfect for a hearty wintertime feast. Their wet, 50 percent gin, 50 percent vermouth martini is their secret weapon. The extra sweetness of the vermouth pairs perfectly with their rich dishes, such as deviled eggs, bone marrow, and lamb pasties.
Temple Bar
NoHo
332 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Temple Bar was one of the original cocktail innovators in the 90s and recently reopened without losing any of its former glory. The bar feels like a hideaway den, dimly lit with a beautiful oakwood bar and velvet touches. Their martini menu ranges from the traditional to the more adventurous, including the highbrow take on the Appletini, the “Lifetime Ban” with added sherry and mint, and the Salt & Pepper Martini. My favorite is the Salt & Pepper Martini: High, clean salinity mixed with a hint of sweetness and a kick of Piment d’Esplette red chilies, it’s what a dirty martini wishes it could be.
Martiny's
Gramercy Park
21 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003
Japanese craft cocktail culture meets 19th-century New York in this Gramercy Park carriage house turned artist studio turned bar. This is my favorite bar for an elegant night out on the town. Named after the owner’s favorite cocktail, the bar’s signature martini, the Grand Martiny, carefully made with port, elderflower liquor, and cognac, is a complex, luxurious drink that can’t be missed.
Deux Chats
Williamsburg
27 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Sure, you could get one martini here, but why not bring some friends and try their one-of-a-kind martini fountain instead? The Deux Chats Martini fountain serves 13 martinis in a beautiful Art Deco glass-and-silver fountain. Pick either gin or vodka, and choose from the four available styles: Vesper, Dirty, Classic, or the Deux Chats martini with celery brine and manzanilla sherry. Get the dirty gin martini, and the fountain comes lined with a beautiful display of olives around the bottom.
Swan Room
Lower East Side
54 Canal St, Nine Orchard Hotel, New York, NY 10002
Swan Room is romantic, elegant, and glamorous, and they’ve still managed to outdo themselves with their martini service. Choose gin or vodka, and then it is brought to you in an engraved silver tumbler, along with small bowls of all the possible martini garnishes (I love their pickled onions even more than their olives) on crushed ice, inside of a large, ornate golden swan. Even non-martini drinkers will love ordering this beautiful arrangement, and they can doctor it up however they like. Perfect for a stylish night out, a date night, or impressing your parents when they come into town.
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