The 16 best bars in midtown (2024)

Jimmy's Corner has been one of midtown's finest bars since the late boxer Jimmy Glenn first openedhis eponymous spot in 1971. It'ssoakedin boxing memorabilia, skews divey, and remains the top option for a normal bar with real character near Times Square.

Midtown’s greatest Russian bar feels cozy like a private lodge; dimly lit and wood paneled with angles and nooks suitable for canoodling. Vodka infusions line the bar, all available in co*cktails or on their own, and you’re likely to catch live piano music on your visit.

The coterie of folks who love purportedly hidden and/or speakeasy-themed bars flocked to Nothing Really matters when it opened with a whole bunch of ‘em around early 2022—and this one’s actually good! Enter the downtown-bound 1 train subway station at 50th Street and Broadway, descend the stairs and find it on the right. Every commuter should be so lucky.

New to both the midtown and rooftop bar categories, Daintree has sweeping skyline views featuring the Empire State Building, a dedicated martini menu (along with other co*cktails, wine and beer), cozy sofas inside and a roomy terrace outside. It also has a smattering of snacks likeoysters, burgers and harder to findkangaroo skewers.

Times Square is full of advertisem*nts masquerading as attractions, spiders men and jostling crowds, but darn if you don’t have to pass through sometimes. And Dear Irving on Hudson is so nice it’s worth going to Times Square on purpose. The chic, mid-century modern space has new and classic craft co*cktails, light bites and dramatic views of NYC from 40 stories in the sky.

If the Hatter (colloquially known as the Mad Hatter) moved to Manhattan and harnessed his love of menacing into the hospitality industry, the resulting operation might look like Ophelia. Everything just seems a little outsized here, including the black and white checkerboard tile floor, high ceilings, geometric windows behind the bar, velvety banquettes and the city view.

As chaotic as Grand Central can be, between its eponymous Oyster Bar and The Campbell it sure boasts a high concentration of iconic NYC destinations. This one first opened in 1913 and still serves all manner of shellfish, co*cktails, wine and beer under arching tiled ceilings that mirror the greater terminal’s lovely design.

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Well! It seems like speculation about whether Rockefeller Center is/going to be NYC’s latest, greatest food destination has wrapped. It’s mostly pretty okay in there, and that’s just fine! Five Acres, which is also a restaurant, has a verdant, wrap-around bar on 30 Rock’s lower level. Novel, botanically-oriented co*cktails join standards, beer and wine. There's also a $25 Wisconsin cheddar burgerif you’re there for a work thing and trying to stay sober-ish, and, I’m not trying to say that I know you, but I bet you won’t run into anyone you know down there, for what it’s worth.

The "& Grill" here is somehow simultaneously an understatement and an overstatement. There is no grill! But there are free hot dogs with every drink, if you wish. With most of the dive’s pints priced at $5 and under, that’s a lot of dogs!

Thisplushhotelbar dating back to the 1930s is said to have crafted the earliest version of that present day brunch staple, the bloody Mary. The throwback respite from midtown still has them on the menu, along with most other libations in creation, all in view of its titular royal mural.