50 Best Beer Bars in New York

“great service great food great atmosphere“

“My friend and I co-hosted a going-away party here in the evening for about 25 people, and the venue was fantastic and incredibly easy to work with. We weren’t doing anything super formal—just a mix-and-mingle with two different groups of friends celebrating together in New York City as we move on to our next chapters.

Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating. I especially appreciated that the events manager didn’t make the gathering into a bigger production than it needed to be. They understood exactly what we wanted and helped us host something really fun.

The service was exceptional, and our waitresses were awesome. Everyone was able to have a separate check, and there were no complications whatsoever. The bar does close at midnight, which was a little annoying, but ultimately no big deal.

The venue itself is gorgeous: beautiful design, a total vibe, great lounge-style electronic music, and unreal views of the Empire State Building and the beautiful European-style architecture across the street. The red piano also makes for great photo ops.

We had an awesome experience, would absolutely come back, and highly recommend it!“

“I always love Chambers but last night's meal was especially good. The dream summer dinner: little gem salad, eggplant parm, and the blueberry dessert. I hope to be back to repeat my exact order! Thank you to the bartender (I believe Zachary) for recommending a wine to pair with the eggplant parm.“

“New York-35th Amazing staff! Mia C was on top of everything. She was thoughtful and fast. She was excited for my son who was turning 10. So much food and make sure you get a shake.“

“The whole family loves it! A go-to comfort spot for us.Great selection of beers on tap.“

“Great spot to enjoy several beers with friends.“

“Everything was incredible. Best burger, great service!“

“It was our first time visiting ART and let me tell you about how amazing our hosts were! Tineal and Kazel's service was incredible because of their attention to detail. My wife definitely enjoyed her birthday drinks plus the music and ambience just set the tone for a great evening. Thank you guys!“

“We got the triple schewan rice and noodles mix and vegetable manchurian gravy, both were delicious! It satisfied our indo-chinese cravings!
The service was prompt and ambience is good!
The only minus is the quantity of dishes which is pretty less for the price we pay.“

“This is why I love Manhattan. Put your phone away and walk. You never know what gems you'll uncover. For us, it was Milk and Hops. Very unassuming place. You could walk right by if you weren't paying attention. Thankfully I was. Great beers here. Fun atmosphere. Never hurts when you allow dogs inside.“

“Party of eight and we all enjoyed everything we ate and drank. 👍 for the kitchen staff on doing everything perfect and quick. The staff was amazing and service was great. I highly recommend the burger 🍔. Will definitely go back.“

“Great selection of canned beer and cool ciders. Taps are limited but fresh.“

“Nice causal place for a date. Nice music, great Hospitality and Healthy food!“

“What a fantastic evening at Tiny Tapas! My friends and I came in looking for good food and great company, and we walked out with so much more. From the moment we sat down, the energy of this place just felt right—warm, welcoming, and full of genuine hospitality.
The real heart of the experience was Eric, the owner. He treated us with so much respect and made us feel like we belonged there. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and there was this easy harmony to the whole night that you just can’t fake. Eric clearly pours his heart into this place, and it shows in every detail.
And the food? Absolutely outstanding. Every plate hit the mark, and sharing tapas around the table is the perfect way to slow down and savor both the flavors and the company. It’s the kind of meal that reminds you good food is meant to be shared.
If you’re looking for a spot to gather with friends, laugh, eat well, and walk away feeling like life is a whole lot better than you remembered—this is the place. Tiny Tapas is a gem, and we’ll absolutely be back. Thank you, Eric, for an unforgettable night!“

“Came here for my birthday two years ago and decided to come back again this year. The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, and beautifully explained by the staff. Every single person involved in service was warm, attentive, and really just great people. So happy to see this place is still doing well. Can’t wait to come back for the new lunch menu as well.“

“Recently stopped in to kill some time, and this turned out to be the whole highlight of my NYC trip that day! I previously have had Other Half brews before and since this was conveniently located by where I was headed I added it. I had 3 different beers, the Broccoli, Bacon and the BA Sugar cereal and all were amazing. Staff was super friendly and they had some great tunes in the background. Highly recommend!“

“After a long walk on the Upper West Side, I came across this spot. It was very nice, with a great selection of beers to help beat the heat. I really enjoyed it and will be coming back to get one of those big cans to go. The bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly. The arcade machine was a total plus. I love those things. And the art in the bathroom was also very interesting.“

“Truly one of the best breweries in the country, innovative, beer excellence. Not to be missed!“

“Great place, great food!!!“

“My wife and I visited Handcraft Burgers and Brews for my birthday this past weekend. As soon as my wife opened the menu she knew that I was going to have to try the burger of the month which was a peanut butter and grape jelly topped hamburger with jalapenos, bacon and cheese. Admittedly I have never had peanut butter and jelly on a burger before but I figured I would try something new and see what all of the hype was about. Turns out, I loved it! Every bite was so flavorful and completely made my birthday lunch a worthwhile venture! We also tried the tater tots, because who doesn't love a good tater tot. We could have chosen from multiple dipping sauces but we decided to go with the garlic aioli and I am glad we did. I dipped each of my tater tots in the sauce and there was plenty for both of us to share. We were helped by Vanessa at the restaurant and she was very accommodating when I was having trouble using a coupon that I had for my birthday. All in all this was a wonderful choice for my birthday lunch and when we are in the area again I would definitely stop by and perhaps try the latest burger of the month along with some tater tots and garlic aioli dipping sauce of course!“

“Carmine Street Beer is the kind of spot that makes you want to slow down and actually look at what you are drinking. It is a small, family owned bottle shop and bar that has been holding down Carmine since 2013, and it still feels personal in the best way. You walk in and it is shelves on shelves of smart picks, from local NYC favorites to classic European styles, plus a tight draft lineup that changes often so there is always something new to try. 

What really seals it is the staff. They are the kind of beer nerds who are happy to meet you where you are, whether you want a familiar lager, something funky, or a let me try something weird moment. You can grab a pour, sip while you browse, and they will genuinely help you land on a bottle or can that fits your mood. The space is cozy with a small bar and a handful of seats, more of a relaxed neighborhood hang than a scene, which makes it easy to pop in solo or with a friend. 

No food, no fluff, just a seriously curated wall of beer and a vibe that says you are in good hands. If you care about variety beyond the usual hazy IPA parade, this place is a yes every time. “

“Great staff and food. Spacious too!“

“Gotta be the best Carrot Dish ever! JP helped us pair the wine. Riesling with Carrot, of course. Great evening with inventive cuisine. One surprise after the next. Lobster dish was the highlight of the evening.“

“Great food, good service, good vibe!“

“Delicious Authentic Middle Eastern falafel and shawarma. It's a place that focuses on just that, but does it really well. Every element of the 'sandwich' is made to perfection! The pita is fresh and warm, the shawarma is cooked perfectly on the rotisserie, and each topping is delicious- the humus, tehina, amba, onions... plus ... served with a smile! Open late too!“

“Man this place is amazing. Everything from the drinks to food and especially the service.

I hosted a birthday party and everything went great. Barry is quick to reply and made the whole process so smooth. They let us bring in and helped store cake and balloons. The bartender G was so thoughtful and provided one of the best hospitality experiences I’ve had at a bar. They even played the playlist I sent them!

Lots of friends told me how great and intimate the vibe was. If you’re thinking about hosting party for an important milestone, I highly recommend Crown Alley. Just an amazing experience.“

“Greatest Place on Earth :)“

“Best lemon drop martini I’ve had in a long time. Food was excellent bartenders and staff awesome.!“

“Makes you feel like your in a real Hollywood club setting nice females“

“Absolutely my favorite hidden gem!“

“Espectacular, la vista, la atención y los cócteles. Todo es perfecto“

“Great atmosphere and service. And the truffle fries were terrific!“

“They also have awesome drinks.“

“Beer Culture has usurped Blind Tiger for me as my beer bar of choice in Manhattan! They have a tight draft selection that rotates pretty often, and a pretty good can collection in the fridge. The staff have always been friendly and extremely knowledgeable; it is really handy when you can say you live in San Francisco, what do you have that I can only get out here? You can tell it is a good place in Hell’s Kitchen/Times Square when stage hands and actors actually come by after (definitely not between) their shows. They also have whiskeys available here as a sidecar; definitely do not try and order any other liquors, the back of their staff shirt makes that clear.
For food, I’ve only ever had the cheese curds because I obviously have a problem and can’t get them at many places in SF. The portions are large and the prices reasonable. My only feedback to them is maybe offer some large format bottle pours on busy nights so people can try some of the more obscure options.“

“Good place to grab a drink after work, with a nice wine selection. I personally didn’t like the smell inside the bar, it had that strong bleach/Clorox-type smell that you sometimes notice in NYC bars. Because of that, we chose to sit outside at first and only moved inside later.

Other than that, the cheese selection was nice and the wine was enjoyable.“

“Well made cocktails. Very smart staff“

“What’s to Share. Claire and Nikki and Cahir are rockstars. Foods is good, service is the best I’ve seen next to me pouring rockstars to those who want to drink. If only you could See my shoulders wiggle and rock right now, you’d get it If you don’t go get you don’t know how to live.“

“Gooood toooo beee there“

“Great atmosphere Great drinks Great bar staff“

“Local is a laid-back neighborhood spot with a warm, easygoing vibe. The menu keeps things simple but satisfying, with flavors that feel fresh and well-balanced. It’s a comfortable place to unwind, whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or meeting friends. Casual, friendly, and easy to enjoy.“

“☕️🤍🍰 ......................“

“We were in town for a wedding, and this was the place where they hosted a pre-wedding celebration. The atmosphere was exciting, and regardless of the large crowd, the servers did an amazing job. Everyone had such an amazing and memorable time.“

“I seriously love this bar so much. (Especially on a week night when it is not crawling with NYU students.) The beer is well curated and the staff knows their shit. However, the bathrooms have not had a lock on them for probably a year. Girl go pick some up.“

“We were so looking forward to try out this new restaurant. The ambiance was really nice, staff was GREAT as well. The food was spectacular!!! We didn't order much, just a few appetizers for the most part (as seen in the pics). I would definitely come here again, it's one of those places that just feels like home. So beyond cozy. The reason for the 4 star is only because some of the portions are insanely TINY. For example, the pasta that we ordered... that in itself is maybe 3-4 bites at most. So we were disappointed in that, the other things we ordered were sized decently. But I do wish that they would give just a bit more.

Update: Recently came here again, and it’s truly a magnificent spot with incredible food!“

“The oysters were on point!“

“Very nice service and selection. I am here 1nce a week or every other week. The Bartender is great and attentive without being overly so. Cheers!!“

“Came here on a rainy Sunday with the toddler. And as beer places should be, they were super chill and welcoming. Great beer list that skews more local than the other top beer bars in the city, which is refreshing AND leads to the list being things we don’t see (a definite win). 10/10 would recommend, which is what I’m doing right now.“

“Vibes here are so laid back and the happy hour specials are so affordable. It feels like an oasis compared to the surrounding bars.

Bartenders are so chill and talented. Shout out to Al for being such an awesome person to talk to. If you are waiting on a res to a nearby place, this is the place to hang out“

“Fun atmosphere and fantastic people on both sides of the bar!“