There’s an art to day drinking. No, it’s not as simple as downing a ton of cocktails before the sun sets. In contrast to the rush of a crowded bar on a Thursday or weekend night, it’s an ideal way to sip slowly. Luckily, quite a few New York City bars and restaurants open the doors early, have beautifully decorated indoor and outdoor seating, and offer happy hour deals.
If you’re entertaining out-of-town guests or just looking for a place to chill with your favorite summer fling, these NYC and Brooklyn spots are the best for day drinking. You’ll get great views, tasty cocktails and light bites, and you’ll still have the day ahead of you to do as much, or as little, as you want.
Dante Aperitivo
Happy hour lovers are pretty familiar with Dante for the Martinis and Negronis, but the latest outpost from the husband and wife team, Nathalie Hudson and Linden Pride, is Dante Aperitivo. It’s inspired by the couple’s time spent in Italy and leans into the culture of aperitivo, that pre-meal sipper meant to whet the appetite. This isn’t the spot where you rush. Instead, take your time and share a few of the dishes.
When ordering, it’s fine to stick with the classic brunch cocktails, but you’d be remiss to skip a Martini. With nearly a dozen options (lychee, pornstar, cornichon, etc.), you can slowly sip your way through the menu. 51 Bank St., West Village, dante-nyc.com
Loulou Petit Bistro & Speakeasy
Nothing makes New Yorkers want to linger and drink more than a perfect sunny day, outdoor dining, and people watching. Brunch at Loulou starts as early as 10 a.m. on weekends, and with the interior and sidewalk seating draped in vines and florals, the drinks are equally as vibrant. In fact, some, like the Firebird, come in photo-worthy glassware.
The classics are done with a twist, like the smoked Honey Nut Old Fashioned or the refreshing La Panthere Rose that’s topped with strawberry caviar. Also, no need to leave your pup at home. There’s a dedicated dog menu, as the establishment is named after owner Mathias Van Leyden’s rescue. The bistro opens at 11 a.m. weekdays, and at 10 a.m. on the weekends, so no need to wait until the evening hours to imbibe. 176 8th Ave., Chelsea, loulounyc.com
Lulla
Another Chelsea option with prime outdoor seating is Lulla, and it hosts a daily aperitivo hour from 3 to 7 p.m. On said menu look for $12 cocktail selections, including the house Negroni and a line up of spritzes from the Hugo to Aperol to seasonal delights. Wine too is on special, with house selections of red, white, rose, and bubbles for $10.
Pair a glass with the Aperitivo Box for two ($28), which comes comes filled with goodies such as the House Focaccia with rosemary, olives, and garlic; Crispy Fingerling Potatoes with pistachio romesco; ’Nduja Crostini with stracciatella; and more. 113 W. 24th St., Chelsea, lullanyc.com
The Rum Bar
If sipping a rum cocktail on a Caribbean island isn’t exactly in your budget or your PTO, then The Rum Bar can satisfy that itch. The menu highlights rum from Puerto Rico, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Jamaica, and other tropical islands. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., and includes $2 off any cocktail or beer.
When choosing, consider the Piton Rum Punch, a nod to St. Lucia’s two mountains. Or go light and refreshing with Miss Ting, composed of Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum and Ting, an imported grapefruit soda. Whether you choose the bar or head straight back to the patio, the vibe is undeniably Brooklyn and Caribbean, super fitting for the Crown Heights neighborhood. 733 Franklin Ave., Crown Heights, Brooklyn, therumbarbk.com
Mace
On Monday through Thursday this storied bar offers happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., and from 2 to 7 p.m. on Fridays. With more than a decade on the NYC cocktail scene, Mace keeps the cocktail menu interesting by switching up spices and spirits each season. For example, the Habanero, a tequila-based drink with habanero salt; and the Horseradish, made with bacon fat and horseradish vodka, tomato, celery, and shiitake.
These are drinks meant to be savored and enjoyed over hours long conversations catching up with old friends or on a date that’s going way better than you expected. Best part, when you go for happy hour you can also get $2 oysters. 35 W. 8th St., Greenwich Village, macenewyork.com
Yesterday’s
Though a new edition to Greenwich Village, Yesterday’s is already showing and proving why it’s a new restaurant worth visiting. It has an elevated-sports-bar feel and, from Friday to Sunday, it opens at noon. These hours make for the perfect excuse to pop in, get a little tipsy, and head home before the sun goes down.
Off the menu, gin lovers will appreciate an abundance of options, starting with Yesterday’s Martini and the yuzu-forward Purple Negroni. Pair a drink with one of the wood-fired pizzas, especially the Spicy Pesto or Cup n’ Char Pepperoni. 157 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village, yesterdaysnyc.com
Jazba
Jazba is a love letter to the diverse cuisine of India. But would you really expect anything less from the team behind the Michelin-starred Junoon? While Jazba has made its culinary mark in less than three years since opening, mixologist Hemant Pathak’s cocktail menu is not to be slept on.
Come on the weekend for day drinking and brunch. Or, visit the daily cocktail hour, from 5 to 7 p.m., which is complete with wallet-friendly drinks inspired by Indian spices. The Peepli is described as “eastern pipali pepper meets western jalapeño” and the Jazba Pickleback switches it up with a pickled apricot amla brine. 207 2nd Ave., East Village, jazbanyc.com
Fish Cheeks
Fish Cheeks, the Thai go-to, has locations in NoHo and Williamsburg, which makes for options when you want to drink during the day. The restaurants open at noon, and until 5 p.m in NoHo and 6 p.m. in Williamsburg you can get cocktails and wine for under $15 during Cheeky Hour. Add on a two-tier seafood tower (oysters, shrimp, marinated crab) and a couple of crisp Singhas for $2 off, and it’s hard to beat this spread. 55 Bond St., NoHo; and 661 Driggs Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, fishcheeksnyc.com
One40 Rooftop
Opened earlier this Spring, One40 Rooftop (an extension of the One40 restaurant) is the Financial District spot to impress and do some early-afternoon drinking. The Golden Hour experience, daily starting at 3 p.m., doesn’t just provide stunning views of the neighborhood, but it’s the perfect combination of high class and chill.
Once there, get as decadent as you want with the nearly $60 Martini and Kaluga caviar pairing. Or, keep it light and shareable with the deviled egg flight, truffle fries, or social media stunner, the Amethyst, a cocktail made with gin and ube. The Affogato, which you can add a spirit to, is the perfect summer-friendly drink while watching the sun set from 20 floors up. 140 Washington St., 20th Floor, Financial District, one40rooftop.com
Turtles All the Way Down
There are few things in life you can depend on, but having a great time at Turtles has never let anyone down. The bar can feel a bit random for newcomers–and yes, they have monthly turtle races–but it’s a staple in Bed-Stuy’s rapidly changing neighborhood.
In a sea of $20-plus cocktails and gentrification, it maintains that beautiful dive bar feel with a beer-and-a-shot deal for less than $10, and a bar and patio that encourages making new friends. Even if you’re not in need of a caffeine hit, the boozy frozen coffee drink is served in the ol’ school Greek coffee cup and tastes delicious. Best part, happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 12 to 7 p.m., so it’s the perfect spot for day drinking. 236 Malcolm X Blvd., Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, no website
