50 Best Cocktail Bars near East Rutherford

“Outstanding food, service, atmosphere! Definately a place to have a great night!“

“Not even exaggerating: this was one of my favorite dining experiences to date! Had a surprise birthday party for a friend in one of the private back rooms, and the staff was so accomodating, helpful, and friendly. Our waiter, Chris, was especially awesome: he was super sociable and patient with any questions we had about the food, the hotpot process, and splitting the check. The energy of this place was so warm and inviting- anyone looking to host a night out with friends: rest assured, you will have a great time and memorable experience here. I haven't even started talking about the food.

The wagyu beef is absolutely worth the cost. There are more affordable items on the menu and they are also yummy but guess what? Everything felt priced so accordingly that it is 100% worth spending that extra money on those special menu items. The thin wagyu melts so perfectly into the delicious broths, the thought of it will keep me up at night. Treat yourself and get that meat!!

And my god. The broths. Holy cow. I got the spicy broth, and it was the perfect level of heat* that, combined with the huge selection of sauces, made the proteins and noodles DIVINE... THE RICE CAKES TOO omg.. The tofu, fish balls, and mushrooms were all also really well sourced, just really premium products priced very modestly for how quality they all were. *note: be ready for the peppers that have the slightly numbing/tingling effect- not on a Szechuan level, but a nice and perfect build that makes each ingredient have a beautiful taste profile.

We had the table with personal pots/induction stoves, so all the proteins/veggies we shared, but we would also pass along samples of the other broths to each other, and I wish I had ordered my own bowl of the seasonal vietnamese pho broth too because the one small bowl I sampled was heavenly.

I will definitely be back again to try the drinks, they looked fantastic and the ambience of the bar felt so nice.

Also, just realized I was too engulfed by the good food and fun with friends that I forgot to take pics. It was that good man“

“When my vehicle broke down and had no money left after getting a hotel room, I was unable to afford food and gas and this place gave me free meals and some money for gas and was very kind.“

“Always promised myself on my next trip to NYC I would go to The Dead Rabbit. I am so pleased I got to do it. The staff the cocktails the food and the decor & cleanliness were A1. Loved the welcome my friend and I got, (even when we were a bit late for our booking) throughout the service from the fabulous servers. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Bloody brilliant 👏“

“วันนี้ไปทานพนักงานบริการดีน่ารัก อาหารอร่อยมากคุ้มค่าให้เยอะจริง“

“Finally able to visit and so happy I did. My drink, Dutch Revival, is my new favorite cocktail. The winter flatbread was delicious. Loved the vibe and hospitality.“

“A chic bar with elegant Gatsby themed vibes throughout.“

“Nice cocktails & stunning View!!!“

“Uno de los mejores Bares del Mundo“

“Cannot WAIT to return! To say I was blown away with the professional and kindly approach of the staff, is an understatement. From the super waiter, Mike, to the GM, Matt, and all points in-between, AND adding in the amazing food, drinks, desserts and ambiance.. WOW!! Kudos for the highly memorable evening! Thank you.“

“Amazing food and drinks!🥤“

“My husband and I were in the area after watching a movie and wanted to grab a drink before heading home. We found this spot and it turned out to be such a great experience! The tiki-style cocktails were delicious, well-balanced, and definitely worth trying. The atmosphere was incredibly unique—it truly felt like being on a boat, with the captain making announcements, background sounds, and even bubbles adding to the immersive experience. Last call was well organized, and overall the vibe was just fun, and memorable.“

“Really cool speakeasy with a local vibe, not the usual tourist crowd. The service was excellent, and the bartender was incredibly friendly and welcoming. The cocktails were a bit disappointing compared to the atmosphere, but the pizza from the spot down the hall was absolutely fantastic. Overall, a great place to spend an evening and soak up a more authentic New York feel.“

“Really good coffee and salmon on rye bread 👌“

“We can’t thank Matthew and the team and Bee’s Knees more for helping us to throw the most amazing welcome party for our wedding weekend. They were so accommodating with all of our requests and our guests were raving about the cocktails and the atmosphere. I would 100% book a party here again, they have multiple spaces you can choose from and I found their offering to be so much better and more reasonable than any other venue in the area! Thank you thank you for a wonderful night!“

“Craft cocktails in a cozy colorful outdoor patio. The perfect place to relax after a long week!“

“Always love coming to NYC and having a cocktail (or two or three) at The Up & Up!“

“Great drink and great vibe“

“Great atmosphere!! Food was amazing!!! Niamh was fantastic so friendly and helpful! The best espresso martinis EVER!!!!“

“Fantastisk plass, og utrolig gode drinker! Anbefales!“

“Fab place, great service, amazing cocktails“

“simply the best. The food and drinks are perfect every time. Whether you’re ready for a full meal or just some drinks and snacks Bar Madonna always hits the spot. Plus the staff are not only super attentive but also drinks experts that can make you just about any cocktail you’re craving. Definitely a crowd (or date!) pleaser, highly recommend“

“Tasty, imaginative cocktails, great atmosphere, nice food.“

“We stumbled across the Gem that is The Rum House on our visit to NY 6 years ago… probably the best Old fashioned we have tasted . Great atmosphere , decor and music and on a cold cold night it was fab ❤️“

“good thai food and great service. easy to get a res or walk in. we got the crab curry with vermicelli, mango salad, spicy cucumbers and chicken and crab dumplings. the best was the mango salad. the crab curry was cold and had an odd flavor and the cabbage wasn’t super fresh. i would like to give it another shot cause the people were great.“

“perhaps I have an unrefined palette but the custom food-based cocktails were supernasty. stick to a modelo. however, still worth the trip because the ambience was unmatched, vibes, were up, and service was fantastic. super fun an quirky environment and spectacular bouncer fighting this city's anorexia epidemic and giving great advice. go knicks“

“Had a fantastic experience at Haswell Green’s. Fun drinks, great service …will absolutely be back for happy hour!“

“chill vibe. great burgers. super cocktails. good service“

“Rosevale Cocktail Room is the perfect spot for a date night! It’s super cozy and I love their jazz nights. They also have great cocktails and food. The atmosphere makes me feel like I’m no longer in NYC. We had a really great night here. I highly recommend checking it out!“

“Excellent! Great services!“

“Excellent service, the staff embodies the hospitality that EMP is famous for.
We were seated at the bar and our bartender, Wilmer, was amazing. Attentive and knowledgeable, had all the right cocktail recommendations!
Will definitely be coming back :)“

“We did a walk in and it was a very cool awesome themed bar. It was quite loud but the atmosphere was great. Got a few drinks and some food and it was all good. The theming of the drinks was cool too. I got the “Flash Me” and it came with a Polaroid. The prices weren’t horrible compared to other places in NYC either. The only thing was the servers were slow. I had to go to the bar every time to get them to let a server know we wanted to order food or more drinks. Besides that, the servers were nice.“

“A+++. If you enjoy and understand cocktail culture and the history then this is a must visit for the weary traveler or enthusiast. I always make it a point to visit for over 10+ years. The hospitality and attention to detail in the art or craft has always been consistent. Salute to the staff and employees of this establishment. May they keep the craft alive for many years to come! Please be respectful and patient for the high demand is eminent. 🥃👌🏼“

“Great food and delish drinks! We came in a group of 6 and we got seated right away, we were supposed to just get a quick drink but after checking out the menu, we ordered their booognese and risotto! Also we shared the pizza and arancini and burrata! Oh! The fennel salad was delish! We ordered their green gimlet and paper plane! Was a blast! We ended up staying there for a couple of hours! Great service and chic vibes!“

“This was the most delicious Georgian food I’ve had since I was in Georgia. Our server, Marite, was a delight. She made wonderful wine recommendations. We will definitely eat here again.“

“Food was delicious! Fresh and unique! Loved it all!“

“Amazing unique cocktails. Highly recommended.“

“Housed in a beautiful 1800s carriage house, this intimate multi-floor setting features antique furniture and warm lighting, creating an elegant yet cozy atmosphere reminiscent of a refined Japanese living room. The cocktails are true works of art; the Caprese cocktail with tomato water and the matcha tea ceremony-inspired drink were particularly impressive. We shared corn fritters and wagyu bites, which paired perfectly with the drinks. The staff was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. The total cost was around $35 to $45 per person. This cocktail bar is one of the best in NYC and is worth every penny!“

“Absolutely love this place. Been many times. Consistent quality food and service. This is a one of a kind gem in Manhattan“

“Blown away by interior design, topped with finger-licking food, friendly service, and such a well crafted drinks!“

“Amazing Dining Experience, Delicious Food, Private space with lovely Staff!!!“

“Drinks and apps were wonderful before the show at beacon. We felt like we were in Europe. Fantastic! We will be back!“

“Amazing Place!! Crafty Delicious Cocktails, Awesome Service, Tasty Tapas. Beautiful Ambiance & Presentation. I recommend this Place. Everything's Jake!!👍Thank you, Hana“

“I’d like to start off this review by saying that I am a Latina woman, who has been to Pokito many times and been treated with nothing but kindness and respect - as such, I felt the responsibility to share my personal experience here having read another review below.

This past Friday evening, my sister and I stopped by Pokito for a drink after a concert. We sat up at the bar, and they were quite crowded but to be expected for a Friday night. Unfortunately, there was a super loud group sat at a table behind us that was making it difficult for my sister and I to hear the bartender, or eachother. Having lived in NYC for five plus years now, I’m no stranger to a loud bar - but this was over the top.

At one point, someone screamed so loud that it startled my sister and I, and we turned to look over our shoulders to see what was going on - It had escalated to the point that my sister and I couldn’t have a conversation a few inches from each other because this group was yelling so loudly. At one point we made eye contact with the loudest person at the table - their review says they apologized to other bar patrons for their noisiness, but they certainly didn’t apologize or acknowledge their behavior to us.

So we felt relief when management asked the group to quiet down. We thanked the bartender for helping make the environment more comfortable so we could carry on our conversations together. Turns out, the bartender was Latino (like my sister and I), so we chatted for a bit. The manager was also behind the bar, who also identifies as a person of color, and was nothing but kind and lovely.

At one point, as the noisy group were leaving, one of them came up to the bartender and had what looked to be a defensive conversation. My sister and I didn’t engage, but I did check reviews because it seemed like they were heated - so when I found their review below claiming that their treatment felt discriminatory, I felt compelled to share my experience as well.

As a Latina woman, I’m all too aware that we live in a world where discrimination runs rampant, and I will be the first to come to someone’s defense. That said, I can wholeheartedly say that this was NOT the case at Pokito when the loud group was kindly asked to leave. It’s a very dangerous and loaded accusation to suggest that a business owner - let alone another bipoc person - is somehow prejudiced towards their customers. After my discussion with the bartender and management, I see them as very fair and warm people, who seek to create a comfortable and welcoming experience for all of their guests.

So long story short - if you are a person of color considering going to Pokito, I would like to reassure you that you will be treated with nothing but kindness and respect by staff (of whom many are also people of color!). That said, if you are loud / inconsiderate/ drunk / obnoxious and infringe on others’ experiences at Pokito, then management may exercise their right to ask you to be respectful for the sake of other guests :)“

“We popped into Wayland for HH at 5:30p. The bar was busy, there were 2 seats available. We ordered a dozen oysters and a Sazerac. The Sazerac was excellent, without too much simple syrup. The small, slightly briny oysters were fresh and delicious.“

“Classy and beautiful! Fun DJ’s and the best cocktails with a gorgeous view!“

“We had a party of about 30 guests, so we reserved the lounge area which is in the back of the bar. We all had such a great time! No fees/minimum spend and the area was very nice! All the bartenders/servers were very friendly and very accommodating! Drinks were great too! Highly recommend if you would want to host a small event!“

“I threw a birthday party last night at Madeline's and it was a fantastic time! The vibes were perfect, every additional ask was accommodated with ease! The music, food, and drinks were top notch! It wasn't my first time going but it was my first time throwing an event there with 40 guests. The night went off without a hitch! We will be back soon.“

“I had a wonderful dinner wih my parents at this restaurant. The food was delicious; everything that we ordered was perfectly prepared, very well seasoned and total joy to eat. The service was top-notch, and the food recommendations given by our server were spot-on. I can definitely recommend this place.“

“lots of food for a good price!“