Meet Your Mixology Match: 7 of the best restaurants with great cocktails in NYC
Dinner with a difference is sometimes the best thing to add to your love life’s romance menu. A glass of wine or beer is fantastic with some fine food – but sometimes it’s great to push the boat out and indulge in a meal that has some great mixology in it too.
Restaurants with cocktails are getting more popular, booking ahead is often essential, and what’s more – you can eat your way around the world (as we’ll see here) without ever leaving the city. You’re also guaranteed to find exactly the right drink to match your meal – authentic tastes and authentic drinks. What’s not to love?
Great meals can be turned into sublime ones when they’re taken in cocktail bars. Pairing combinations of wines, spirits, and juices with the cuisines of the world can open your foodie horizons to many new possibilities. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best cocktail bars in NYC that also serve wonderful food.
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
Location
We’ll tell you if the menu will have your mouth watering
Beach
Date night isn’t complete without romance – so the mood has to be right
Customer Reviews
Average ratings based on Google and TripAdvisor
Restaurants with great cocktails in NYC
1. La Fonda Boricua
8/10
Enamoree Score
This retro-inspired venue has been providing the best in Puerto Rican cuisine for over 30 years, including fine delicately spiced chicken stews and seafood dishes like Shrimp Mofongo.
The outside of the restaurant is painted with vibrant, colorful murals of Puerto Rican people, a real delight to see and highly Instagrammable!
Whilst you’re indulging in some South American spice, you can enjoy some of the establishments’ wonderful signature drinks from the cocktail bar – they have their own house mix called the La Fonda Flip, a delicious blend of blackberries and maple rum. Brunch is also a real winner here, best enjoyed with a Mimosa Tower.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Book now |
$$$ |
2. Elite Williamsburg
9/10
Enamoree Score
Their house special is a customized cocktail made with watermelon – it’s highly advised you order ahead if you want to try it – as it’s served in the fruit and can be personalized with a design of your choice. Perfect for romantic gestures or relationship milestones!
The food is hearty, delicious fare – anything from mac and cheese through to ‘wings and tings’ to tempt your appetite.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Book now |
$$ |
3. Tiki Chic
9/10
Enamoree Score
Tiki Chic is the place to go to experience vibrant food, in a location that makes you feel like you’re on vacation – without actually going anywhere!
It’s a tropical-inspired paradise that serves fun, fruity cocktails like the Gone Bananas and the Basic Beach (a yummy mix of lemon, rum, and banana). It’s one of the best cocktail bars in NYC.
Food choices include substantial sandwiches like the chicken-based Stiki Tiki and the off-the-scale indulgent doughnut breakfast sandwiches are not to be missed. Fill your tummy and your heart with good things here!
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Book now |
$$ |
4. LouLou
8/10
Enamoree Score
Quirky and classy are the watchwords for LouLou. This French Bistro is a restaurant with cocktails right in the heart of the Chelsea area of New York.
You can eat lightly, with one of their vibrant green salads – or go for something more hearty like their signature LouLou burger which has a deliciously spicy Aleppo Aoili served alongside.
Their cocktails are perfectly blended classics like the Mimosa or you can opt for a pitcher of Sangria. Not to be missed is the LouLou house cocktail, named the Mexican Stiletto, which is served in a bird-shaped glass and consists of a refreshing mix of grapefruit and Don Julio.
The surroundings are delightfully old school and have a relaxed retro feel to them – in comforting neutral shades, sure to make you feel calm and comfortable whilst you eat and chat.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Book now |
$$$ |
5. Via Carota
10/10
Enamoree Score
If you’re looking for rustic elegance and charm then you needn’t go anywhere else but Via Carota. This utterly beguiling venue oozes history as it’s inspired by a 17th-century villa that one of the founders lived in, in Italy.
The food, the drinks, and the ambiance all pay homage to the founder’s experiences and an evening here will provide a real authentic taste of the country, without leaving the West Village.
Whether you want a simple dish of Insalata Verde or a substantial plate of Polpette, this is the place to be. Unsurprisingly, the drinks and cocktail bar all have a distinct flavor of Italy, too – and the house Negroni is worth a special mention.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Book now |
$$$ |
6. Evalina
10/10
Enamoree Score
You couldn’t ask for a nicer Mediterranean inspired venue for dinner and cocktails than Evalina. It’s situated on Dekalb Avenue in Brooklyn and the food is exciting and vibrant. There are plentiful pasta dishes such as burrata squash ravioli and cacio e pepe salad. Desserts like the flourless chocolate cake are moreish, as is the delicious variety of gelato on offer.
Their eponymously named house cocktail is a sprightly mix of prosecco and cappelletti, and they also cater to mocktail drinkers too – handy to know if you’re with someone who wants something either low or no alcohol. A particular favorite is the house Rasperry Paloma, which mixes refreshing lime and grapefruit soda with a twist of raspberry cordial.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Book now |
$$$ |
7. Lilly’s
8/10
Enamoree Score
The cocktail bar menu changes with the seasons so it’s always best to check ahead to see what’s on offer – at the time of writing, current favorites are the Spiced Apple Hot Toddy and the Lilly’s Cider, a comforting blend of Hennessy VSOP, apple cider, fresh lemon juice, honey and Prosecco with a caramel cinnamon sugar rim.
Price | Food | Atmosphere | Customer reviews | Book now |
$$ |
Whether it’s a rustic Mediterranean charm, or something fun and uplifting, with simple but hearty fare – you’re sure to find something to suit your taste, budget, and companion with our list of the best restaurants with great cocktails in NYC. Sit back, relax and enjoy precious time with your loved one – not to mention the beautiful food and inspiring drinks.
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