
With a cocktail on the side! Though of course a beautiful bar makes a perfect Instagram background, there’s also just something about being in a gorgeously designed space that can add some inspiration and whimsy to an otherwise drab day.
From new nautically-inspired openings to elegant spaces with sky-high views, here are the most beautiful bars we’ve discovered in NYC (in no particular order). Of course, not only are they stunning, but they have enviable cocktail menus too!
The Secret NYC team relies on personal experience, recommendations, editorial reviews, and customer feedback before recommending the best places to grab a bite or sip cocktails in NYC. Since we’re the city that never sleeps, this list is constantly evolving. Please check back regularly.
1. The Panorama Room, Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island — NYC’s narrow, two-mile-long island nestled in the East River between Manhattan and Queen — boasts this glorious rooftop bar, and its design is just as stunning as its views. Because of its unique location, it offers beautiful views across four different boroughs, only matched by its vintage-inspired interior boasting a Orobico Red marble bar top, black mosaic tile columns with geometric chrome sconces, and blush velvet tubular lounge sofas. More details here.
Where: 22 North Loop Rd, Floor 18, Roosevelt Island
2. Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, Midtown & Union Square

Lillie’s Victorian Establishment is also quite known for their holiday decor during the season, but it’s just as beautiful all year round too. The Victorian-inspired interior combines vintage charm with cozy elegance. Sip on cocktails while you enjoy intricate details like the stained glass windows, antique decor, rich colors, plush seating, and classic bar area. It’s a spot that 19th century British actress Lillie Langtry would surely be proud of. Learn more here.
Where:
Midtown – 249 W 49th St
Union Square – 13 E 17th St
Book a table3. Oscar Wilde, NoMad

Known for its over-the-top holiday decorations (see it at Christmas here and Halloween here), Oscar Wilde also looks gorgeous on a regular day! Located in an early 1900s-era NYC building and home to countless unique artifacts like a French fireplace from the 1840s and no fewer than 26 antique clocks, you don’t want to miss this space inspired by the spirited Irish playwright. You an even pull up with a pint next to a bronze replica of Wilde himself!
Where: 45 W 27th St
Book a table4. Nubeluz, NoMad

This swanky rooftop bar is the brainchild of José Andrés, which sits 50 floors up in The Ritz-Carlton in NoMad. Envisioned as a “lightbox in the sky”… it’s precisely that, featuring reflective surfaces, enhanced lighting, opulent textiles, two outdoor terraces, and 270-degree views of the cityscape. If a crown jewel was turned into a strikingly glamorous bar, it would be Nubeluz (which combines the Spanish terms of “cloud” and “light”). Learn more here.
Where: 25 W 28th St
If you’re looking for a bar in the sky, this is one of NYC’s most luxurious options. Seated in the clouds, Nubeluz offers dazzling views of the cityscape from 500 feet up, perfect to look at while you sip on a martini and snack on a bagel & lox cone. And if you’re feeling extra fancy you can add on the Caviar Service. It’s also a great spot when the parents are in town, and maybe you’re not the one picking up the check. 😉 — Justine Golata, Senior Staff Writer
5. Bemelmans Bar, Upper East Side

This beautiful hotel bar in NYC is one of our favorites, thanks to their extensive drink menu and live entertainment options. As for their interior, it’s lined with masterpiece murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the classic Madeline children’s books as well as warm lighting and plush seating with rich tones. Learn more here.
Where: 35 E 76th St
6. Peakaboo, Hudson Yards

Why not have a drink in the clouds, over 1,000 feet above NYC? The Hudson Yards’ restaurant Peak provides stunning, 360-degree views of NYC — and now you can take them in at the bar as well! The illustrious restaurant converts into “Peakaboo” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights once NYC lights up and 10:30 p.m. hits (with live DJs!), so you can sip on inventive cocktails and take in incomparable sights no matter what the hour. Read more here.
Where: 300 Hudson Yard, 101st Floor
Book a table7. Swan Room, Chinatown

Swan Room is a swanky bank teller room turned bar, and their vaulted ceiling, luxurious booths, and pink Tennessee marble walls give it an old-time feel. Their small bites and extensive cocktail program make this place even better. It’s super upscale and deservedly so. Learn more here.
Where: 54 Canal St
Book a table8. The Bar at the Baccarat Hotel, Midtown

Enjoy some buzzing conversation at this hotel bar that’s inspired by the glamorous ballrooms of French hôtels particuliers and the royal stables at Versailles. Between their crimson velvet and merlot-colored walls to the glittering red Baccarat chandeliers, everything in here is glistening. Don’t forget about the leather seats on checkerboard floors and fine art too. Learn more here.
Where: 28 W 53rd St
9. The Sunken Harbor Club, Downtown Brooklyn

Pretend you’re in a nautical fairytale at this one-of-a-kind restaurant in NYC. In the upstairs section of the long-awaited Gage & Tollner in Brooklyn comes “The Sunken Harbor Club,” a home for renowned bartender & restauranteur St. John Frizell’s immersive tropical bar. What was once a weekly pop-up at Red Hook’s Fort Defiance is now a permanent nautically-themed bar helmed by renowned tropical cocktail historian, Garret Richard, where you can drop anchor and enjoy a tropical cocktail. Don’t miss that gorgeous blue port window!
Where: 372 Fulton Street, 2nd Floor
10. Magic Hour Rooftop Bar, Midtown

Magic Hour Rooftop is an “urban amusement park” just waiting to be explored! Home to NYC’s largest indoor and outdoor all-season rooftop bar and lounge, we recommend stopping by for drinks and a view if you’re in the area. It’s truly stunning, and they often host seasonal pop-up activations. Stop by during their newly launched happy hour Monday – Friday, which includes $4 Fries, $6 Beers, $8 Wine, and $10 Mixed Drinks. Learn more here.
Where: 485 7th Ave, 18th Floor
Book a table11. Le Coucou, SoHo

Though you can’t exactly pull up a seat to the bar at this French eatery from revered Parisian chef Daniel Rose, we still had to include it because it’s just that stunning. Enjoy cocktails made to perfection at your table, alongside classic French dishes like foie grois, escargot, and Canette a l’Orange. Of course, you can still grab a photo in front of it!
Where: 138 Lafayette St
Book a table12. The Bar Room at Temple Court, Beekman Hotel

Take a trip back to old New York at this stunning restaurant & bar inside the Beekman Hotel in Downtown Manhattan. Enjoy a hand-crafted drink or a glass of wine on plush velvet seating and stare up through the nine-story Victorian era atrium above you. Maybe even treat yourself to a bite from star chef Tom Colicchio’s menu.
Where: 5 Beekman St
Book a table13. Little Dipper, Chelsea
For all of those attuned to their astrological sign and what the cosmos have in store, this trippy bar serves up cocktails that are as sweet as your horoscope is addicting.
If you are obsessed with your star sign and wish everyone cared as much as you then Little Dipper in Manhattan is the spot for you. All their drinks are based on Zodiac signs and the interior decor makes you feel as if you’re floating through the universe with a drink in your hand 🙂 — Christine Covode, Video Producer NYC
Where: 135 W 30th Street
Book a table14. The Press Lounge, Hell’s Kitchen

Sitting 16 floors above its sister venue, PRINT Restaurant, you’re going to want to check out the rooftop known as The Press Lounge. The space is elegant, complete with a glass walled interior and gorgeous outdoor patio. It’s perfect for sipping on seasonal cocktails and small plates while you take in the sleek space and Manhattan skyline. Learn more here.
Where: 653 11th Ave