7 Of The World's Best Bars Are In NYC

NEW YORK, NY — Need a stiff cocktail to get through the week? Look no further than lower Manhattan. Seven New York City haunts made the prestigious "World's 50 Best Bars" list for 2017.

NoMad, the upscale hotel bar in the eponymous neighborhood, did the best in the city, ranking No. 3 on the list of top bars across the world. The Dead Rabbit in the Financial District — which topped the last year — came in at No. 5.

The Big Apple bars are clustered in Manhattan's southern tip — none is located north of 28th Street. One first opened in 1915, but another just set up shop last year.

William Reed Business Media compiles the ranking each year based on votes from 505 bartenders, drinks writers and "cocktail aficionados" from around the world. Each submits a list of their top seven bars, which must contain at least three spots outside the country where they live.

Check out the list of the New York City bars that made it, along with a description from the World's 50 Best Bars list. Check out the full list here.

No. 3 — The NoMad, 10 W. 28th St., NoMad

"The NoMad feels special from the moment you open the doors into the polished, regal spaces, which incorporate the original Elephant Bar – adjacent to the hotel’s restaurant – and The NoMad Bar itself. The latter, a larger galleried room with its own street entrance but with an interior link to its antecedent, opened in 2014 in response to the overwhelming demand created when the hotel opened two years prior. In its short history, it’s become one of the most essential bars in the city – and now the world, having been crowned Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Nikka Whisky."

No. 5 — The Dead Rabbit, 30 Water St., Financial District

"For more than four years, The Dead Rabbit (from Northern Irish owners Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon) has been the go-to drinking hole in the Financial District and a destination for visitors and New Yorkers alike. The pub-like atmosphere keeps everyone relaxed, while the utter seriousness of the drinks makes for an unforgettable experience."

No. 8 — Attaboy, 134 Eldridge St., Lower East Side

"Though Attaboy owners Michael McIlroy and Sam Ross (with Dan Greenbaum) have found fresh renown in the city through the far more casual Brooklyn spot Diamond Reef, their Lower East Side speakeasy still commands a waiting list. The space, of course, was once Milk & Honey, the legendary Sasha Petraske bar that’s often credited with kick-starting the new cocktail era."

No. 16 — Dante, 79-81 Macdougal St., West Village

"Dante originally opened in 1915 as an Italian espresso spot and has since become a registered New York City landmark, but it didn’t become a drinking destination until Australian bartending legend Naren Young took over in 2015. His Negroni Sessions menu has become one of the must-visit happy hours, offering 12 takes on the classic cocktail for just $10 between 3pm and 6pm on weekdays. That’s not where the bitter pleasures end, either, as Dante is an all-day destination. Start your day with coffee and a frothy Garibaldi, made with fresh orange juice and Campari, stay for lunch and keep going through dinner."

No. 32 — Blacktail, 22 Battery Place, Battery Park City

"How did a bar that opened in 2016 make The World’s 50 Best Bars 2017? Well, its owners, Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon, are the brains and palates behind another downtown New York bar you might have heard of called The Dead Rabbit.

At BlackTail, they have replicated their adoration for and understanding of whiskey with rum, focusing on pre-Prohibition Cuba. After many research trips to the island, they created a tucked-away upstairs space overlooking New York harbour that nails every detail (down to the slope of the bar itself)."

No. 37 — Employees Only, 510 Hudson St., West Village

"Even though Employees Only has been expanding rapidly around the globe, with new locations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Panama City, Miami and more to follow, the West Village original remains as vital as ever in New York City. Opened in 2004 by industry veterans Dushan Zaric, Henry La Fargue, Igor Hadzismajlovic, Jason Kosmas and Bill Gilroy, who wanted to create an alternative to the serious vibes of some of the city’s other leading bars, it continues to be known as the place to go when you’re in need of a rowdier cocktail experience."

No. 42 — Mace, 649 E. 9th St., East Village

"New York City’s East Village certainly doesn’t want for cocktail bars, but that doesn’t mean Mace hasn’t brought a new and essential atmosphere to the neighbourhood since its 2015 opening. In particular, it brings a focus on spice (hence its name, which comes from the nutmeg-like seed).

Founder and owner Nico de Soto, who came to New York after building his name with the Experimental Cocktail Club, has packed the drinks menu with the kinds of surprising elements that will bring you back again and again."

(Lead image: The Dead Rabbit in the Financial District is No. 5 on the 2017 World's 50 Best Bars list. Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for 1893)