We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams. Albert Einstein
Whatever it takes for you to get your groove on, NYC has it all. After all, this is the city that never sleeps. Whether you’re looking for a wild night that ends as the sun comes up or more of a chilled out groove – we’ve compiled a list of the best dance bars in NYC.
Our Criteria
It’s safe to say that there are a lot of restaurants that offer cocktails in New York City. And because everyone’s looking for something different when it comes to their perfect day or evening out eating and drinking, we’ve ranked each of our suggestions based on what you’re looking for. The criteria we have used for this post is as follows:
Price
We’ll let you know how pricey each place is
Food
If you’re looking to dine before drinks or nibbles while you dance
Atmosphere
From music to decor, the vibes have to be right
Customer Reviews
Average ratings based on Google and TripAdvisor
Best Dance Bars For The First Date
Maybe your eyes first met as you shimmied past each other on the dance floor and you’re now looking for that perfect first date follow up, or you’re looking to set just the right first date vibes; we’ve found some pretty cool places to venture out on your maiden voyage together.
1. Kind Regards NY
8/10
Enamoree Score
Kind Regards is a pretty sweet cocktail bar that turns into a party place come the weekend. It’s not a club but when you venture downstairs, it exudes club vibes with its sizable dance floor and of course, it’s eye-catching disco ball. It’s open from 5pm through 4am so you can shake that rump from sunset till sunrise. This place is pretty popular on weekends, so it’s best to get there early to avoid standing in line later on.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$$ | YES |
2. Wonderville, Bushwick
9/10
Enamoree Score
Who doesn’t revel in the idea of cranking up the high scores on independently made arcade games in between dancing the night away? If you dance till you drop and fancy a Randwiches hot dog, topped with turmeric kimchi or kewpie mayo, you can pick one up here. Wonderville’s even got cocktails named after game characters – I know right! This place has got all you need for that quirky first night out – this place might have just enough to sweep your date right off their feet.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | YES |
3. Peachy's
9/10
Enamoree Score
If hip-hop’s your groove and cool, contemporary chic is your style – then Peachy’s might just be the perfect place for a first date. As far as bars with dance floors go, this one is super swish. Picture this – bright pink neon signs illuminating tiger-print wallpaper and an abundance of trailing blossoms, hanging lanterns and flickering tea lights the only illumination – Peachy’s is classy, cool and the cocktails are ridiculously good. What’s not to love about this place? Perfect for first, second, third – hell, even the 100th date.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$$ | YES |
Best NYC Dive Dance Bars
Whilst the name dive bar suggests a place to be avoided, the dive bar is simply an eclectic, old school bar with relatively inexpensive drinks. There are some pretty cool, classic establishments in NYC and we’ve found the most desirable.
4. Home Sweet Home, Lower East Side
8/10
Enamoree Score
Voted the best dive bar to make out in, this dance bar is described as dark, moody and offbeat. Reviews also state the food and the cocktails are yummy and pretty reasonably priced. Old school hip-hop pervades the place till late, late and the DJ’s spin out sweet tunes on vinyl – a music purist’s nirvana.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$ | YES |
Party Hard Dance Bars in NYC
5. Three Dollar Bill
10/10
Enamoree Score
Selling itself as an energetic, late-night gay bar, Three Dollar Bill is the place to go for the dancer who loves to be seen. Stages and platforms a plenty, you can dance outrageously until you can dance no more! After that, you can cool down on the outdoor patio. Three Dollar Bill hosts themed events to get those fancy feet moving until 4am with DJ’s and weekend drag shows.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | NOT YET |
6. Ponyboy, Brooklyn
10/10
Enamoree Score
If you’re looking to party hard and party all night, then Ponyboy has your name written all over it. You can sip on gloriously good cocktails, dine on fabulously good food and then slip into the back and dance the night away in the red lit room. This bar with a dance floor is hip – think vinyl sets and local funk bands. Ponyboy brings a sense of the weekend on a Wednesday or Thursday but also rocks like a nightclub throughout the weekend too.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | YES |
7. The Good Room
8/10
Enamoree Score
Designed with the DJ in mind, walls and walls of vinyl, superb sound system, sizeable dance floor and area for live music – this is among the creme del a creme of best bars to dance in NYC. Loved by the late nighters, The Goodroom is home to Joshua D Houtkin and David R. Pianka’s FIXED Affair.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | YES |
8. Wild Birds, CrownHeights
8/10
Enamoree Score
Open till 2am on weeknights and 4am on weekends, Wildbirds hosts shows daily. Featuring groove-based music from around the world, and all that jazz encapsulates, Wildbirds aims to be an inclusive community space. A dance floor to brag about and an outdoor sidewalk patio where you and your loved one can shake your booty, this place is made to keep your dancing feet on the move.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | YES |
Best Dance Bars With Patios in NYC
9. The Breakers
8/10
Enamoree Score
Beach Party vibes run amok in this place – sadly, you’re not going to be greeted with the sand and the sea but you will get the odd palm tree and the holiday feel as you groove at The Breakers. On weekends you can hang out and dance the night away in their big backyard and pretend that you’ve seen the waves crashing, not that far away.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | YES |
10. Elsewhere, Brooklyn
8/10
Enamoree Score
Open six days a week Elsewhere is the place you go to dance, dance, dance. What sets this place apart is the roof-top venue – here, you can enjoy a bar with a dance floor that allows you to watch the sunrise as you shake your good stuff.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | NO |
Best Dance Floors in NYC with Chill Vibes
11. Lover's Rock
8/10
Enamoree Score
A rum-bar with a reggae vibe – what’s not to fall in love with. If you and your significant other are hoping for a night filled with rum, reggae and a little bit of romance, Lover’s Rock has your name on it. Decent caribbean themed drinks and a dimly lit ambience gives this place a chilled out vibe that will inspire you to return regularly.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$$ | NO |
12. Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn
8/10
Enamoree Score
Selling itself as a down-home, honky-tonk saloon and serving up beer, games, and live country music, Skinny Dennis has a well earned reputation as being one of the best country dance bars in NYC. So pull on those dancing boots because you can enjoy a two-step around the dance floor here.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Danceability |
$ | NO |
“The body says what words cannot.” — Martha Graham
No matter the reason you’re planning on having a spin around the dancefloor – whether you’re hoping to find someone whose feet will move in harmony with your own, or you’re taking out your favorite and most cherished dancing partner, New York City has the perfect dance bar for you. Perhaps you’re going to work your way through this list or you’ve found your forever place – have fun and dance, dance, dance the night away.
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