With the craft cocktail revolution firmly in its groove for some time now, New York City’s bars have entered their latest phase: specialization. They’re following a restaurant-esque path of centering around the cuisines of different regions around the globe.
For this list, we’re focused on the flavors and ingredients of India, Korea, Mexico, Peru, and more. Now, you can experience them mixed into world-class cocktails. If you’re feeling wanderlust, scratch the itch the same evening with a mixological visit to the region of your choice. Next, we’re visiting France and Japan
France
Le Dive
Located in the hip Dimes Square section of the Lower East Side (with a newer location in the West Village now, too), Le Dive feels impossibly chic in a specifically Parisian way. Its decor is authentic Paris down to every last detail, from gold-rimmed bistro tables and a formica bar to warm lighting and cheeky neon signage.
The star of the show is the natural wine list, with a Crémant de Bourgogne, a Grolleau Gris, a Côtes du Rhône Rosé, and a Minervois Rouge served chilled. There’s also plenty of classic cocktails such as the French 75, Dirty Vesper, and Daiquiri Banane, to name a few. Enjoy yours with Radishes & Butter, raw oysters, a cheese selection, Escargot Gratin, Petit Salad, a Croque Madame, and/or Roast Chicken. 37 Canal St., Lower East Side; and 192 7th Ave. S., West Village, ledivenyc.com
Bar Rêve
Alexander Buchholz and Victor Triebel opened their Cobble Hill spot in 2025 to bring a bit of Belle Epoque Paris to Brooklyn. From the decor to the cocktails to the menu itself, Bar Rêve
Is inspired by and connected to French art around the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. Dark marble, plush banquettes, and subdued pops of pattern and texture throughout the space set a sophisticated tone.
The menu—itself more like a mini coffee table book—walks guests through each cocktail that is paired with a painting. The pairings are intentional and feel like fun little art lessons. Take Scandale, for example, a vivacious cocktail with yellow chartreuse, mezcal, Aperol, and lime; it’s paired with Édouard Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe, which did indeed cause a scandal when it debuted in 1863.
Also try the Tutu, made with vodka, Combier Pêche, Champagne, and lemon, which is a light and effervescent delight matched with Edgar Degas’s 1874 La Classe de Danse. The cocktails are classic with subtle twists that serve complexity, flavors to mull over while perusing the artworks printed in the back of the menu. 222 Smith St., Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, barreve.com
Japan
Katana Kitten
The Japanese cocktail scene contains multitudes. The drinks are made with precision and extreme attention to detail, but they’re not always served up in a quiet, pristine setting. Katana Kitten is a Japanese cocktail bar with a laid-back, welcoming, and sometimes even a bit rowdy (in the best way) vibe. The cocktails are so approachable, it’s easy to forget they’ve been painstakingly conceptualized. However, it’s impossible to forget they’ve been masterfully executed.
Keep it simple with a highball, like the Shiso Gin & Tonic; Melon-Lime Soda with vodka, Midori, lime, and matcha; or the Sakura Highball with gin, salted cherry blossom, and bisongrass. Some of the highballs can also be made non-alcoholic. The Hinoki Martini is a showstopper, with junmai daiginjo and hinoki tree essence, arriving nestled in a little crate of ice. The Amaretto Sour has umeboshi and yukari shiso rice seasoning, and the Ichigo Fizz is a treat with umeshu, strawberry-chrysanthemum soda, and condensed milk foam.
There’s also sake, Japanese whiskey, beer, and wine. While you sip, nosh on soba noodles, Popcorn Fujimi Chicken, Buffalo Tofu Fingers, Osaka Street Calamari, and a selection of sandos. 531 Hudson St., West Village, katanakitten.com
Cocktail Omakase
Cocktail Omakase opened in March 2026. Greg and Jessica Boehm of Cocktail Kingdom Hospitality Group (also behind Katana Kitten) are avid fans of sushi omakase and frequent Japan’s cocktail bars. The pair envisioned combining the two experiences. So, they moved into a former sushi restaurant and outfitted the space to specialize in unique tasting sessions.
Guests book one of the evening’s several time slots and settle into the 12-seat tasting bar. They can choose non-alcoholic, low-ABV, or “spirited”; they’re then served four cocktails (even if you choose spirited, you start with zero-ABV, move to low-ABV, then get two more spirit-forward drinks). These are accompanied with thoughtful bites, not necessarily pairings but good accompaniments. These menus change every two weeks to capture seasonal flavors and ingredients.
Expect classics with a twist as well as completely original creations, like a Tomatillo Shiso Sour, a Sushi Sazerac, and an aged Mizunara Negroni. There’s also an à la carte space in the back, Bar 7, for lingering or more casual pop-ins. 217 Eldridge St., Lower East Side, cocktailomakase.com
Martiny’s
The city is rich with exemplary, award-winning cocktail bars bringing Japanese cocktail tradition stateside, from Sip & Guzzle to Bar Goto with a crackerjack handful in between. Martiny’s, though, may just be the best introduction to what makes Japan’s cocktail scene so special: precision, refinement, and a striking simplicity that allows artful technique to shine.
Founder Takuma Watanabe helmed the bar program at the seminal Angel’s Share before opening Martiny’s. Savor drinks like Tea Ceremony, with bourbon, cacao, matcha, and coconut water; the B&B Gibson, with black garlic- and black pepper-infused gin; or simply an impeccable martini. For bites, try the Wagyu Sando, Japanese Scotch Egg, or Silky Scallop Custard. 121 E. 17th St., Gramercy, martinys.com
