By Gus Saltonstall
There is no more popular time for “best of” lists than the turn of the year, and a leading New York restaurant-recommendation website just named its best bars on the Upper West Side.
The Infatuation published a ranking in the last week of December of the 18 best bars in the neighborhood, which includes a mixture of “fancy cocktail bars, real dives, fake dives, and more.”
“The Upper West Side has plenty of drinking options. There are cocktail bars with live music, lots and lots of sports bars, and wine bars with people on first, second, and fiftieth dates,” an introduction to the list reads. There’s also a stretch of Amsterdam Avenue full of college bars, where you’ll find things like beer pong and people tapping on multiple car windows asking if this is their Uber.”
Without further ado, here’s the list that Infatuation reporters Will Hartman, Bryan Kim, Neha Talreja and Matt Tervooren put together of the 18 best watering holes in the neighborhood.
- Scarlet Lounge: 468 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 83rd Street)
- Tiki Chick: 517 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 85th Street)
- Vanguard Wine Bar: 189 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 69th Street)
- E’s Bar: 511 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 85th Street)
- The Owl’s Tail: 215 West 75th Street
- Prohibition: 503 Columbus Avenue (near West 84th Street)
- Blondies: 212 West 79th Street
- Caledonia Bar: 424 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 80th Street)
- The Hamilton: 998 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 109th Street)
- George Keeley: 485 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 83rd Street)
- Bodega 88: 573 Columbus Avenue (near West 88th Street)
- The Dead Poet: 450 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 82nd Street)
- Dive 75: 101 West 75th Street
- Vin Sur Vingt: 66 West 84th Street
- Bob’s Your Uncle: 929 Columbus Avenue (near West 105th Street)
- Amsterdam Ale House: 340 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 76th Street)
- Pier I Cafe: In Riverside Park near West 70th Street
- Jake’s Dilemma: 430 Amsterdam Avenue (near West 81st Street)
Let us know in the comment section if you think any Upper West Side bar got left off the list.
Subscribe to WSR’s free email newsletter here
I’m not a bar-goer anymore so can’t comment on this list.
But as a 60-something person, is there a nice bar on the UWS where I can grab a drink after the theater? A nice place that’s quiet, relaxed, and doesn’t have TV screens showing sports?
Tessa… you will not be disappointed. Fabulous cocktail list, nice dim lighting. Easy to hold a conversation, attentive staff. On Amsterdam low 70’s..not a sports bar at all.
Scarlet is barely open, what, 2 months ? How in the world is it possibly considered one of the best on the UWS ? Have you read the social media reviews ? They are not positive.
E’s is a fabulous “dive bar” for all ages, and those who love games.
Another vote for The Wallace Lounge, especially post theatre. Such an inviting atmosphere. One of the only refined “adult” bars on the UWS. Great music too with no cover or minimum.
The Lincoln
Take a look at the bar at the Arthouse Hotel on 77/Broadway. Nice atmosphere and live jazz a few nights per week.
The Wallace Lounge
242 W 76th St
thewallacelounge.com
The cocktail lounge on the ground floor at the Wallace Hotel on W. 76th between Broadway and West End. I think it’s what you’re looking for.
After the third drink they are all great, I
solid list but prohibition is an awful bar. the “roaring 20s” aesthetic is a nightmare and the drinks are exorbinantly overpriced. food is decent, but thats about it.
What?? Prohibition is the rare place with excellent food and excellent cocktails. Oh yes and live music. It is really good. Go during happy hour if you want a discounted drink but they are no more pricey than any other place
Prohibition is all about the live music
Broadway Dive should be tossed into this mix. Good spot! 2662 Broadway
Love this bar… always something cool and unexpected on the screens, interesting patrons up for conversations, chill vibes, live music now and again and pro staff not to be messed with (Hi Erin!!). A tasty selection of spirits, if that’s your thing and a very impressive selection of seasonal beers on tap (and to-go), if that’s yours.
Broadway Dive is true neighborhood watering hole
Among the best!
It’s a fine list but a huge omission is “Nobody Told Me” on Amsterdam
Absolutely. That and The Hoptimist on Amsterdam and 80th are the two big omissions.
Malachy’s
lol a tourist trap with no personality (it isn’t a dive, it isn’t an Irish pub, it is just bad) and consistently bad service. One of the worst in the neighborhood
liked it more before the renovation
Gotta say, The Wolfe on Amsterdam between 80th and 81st is a great addition to the neighborhood. We’ve been three times and every time the food is fantastic and the service has been great. Plus they did a nice job fixing up the space.
I really liked it and think it is a good addition but the one time I went for dinner it was unbearably loud. I’m in my 40s and found it so uncomfortable that I told my husband I didn’t want to go back. We were there around 7 pm and crowd was largely older folks and families who probably weren’t looking for a night club vibe. Hopefully they have addressed this so that the uncomfortably loud bar music doesn’t kick in until later.
UWS bar list without The Dublin House? Unconscionable.
I really really want to like that place because of the sign but it’s not a nice bar. Friends of mine came uptown just to go there and left pretty quickly. It’s just a basic Irish bar with a fancy sign and no food. Blondies is right across the street.
It’s depressing. Worst drinks and service on the UWS.
The Ellington on Broadway has a fantastic bar! The staff is friendly, fun and talented mixologist. This should have been at the top of the list .
The Emerald Inn at 250 W 72nd St deserves to be on this list. Hospitable staff, good food, neighborly vibe.
Agree that the Emerald Inn is a great spot.
I remember “no buybacks” even for regulars who imbibe.
Inconsistent re both staff and food in my (limited) experience. Don’t go there any more.
Good list! I’d add Gebhard’s Beer Culture on 72nd, b/w Broadway and West End. Great beer selection, nice bartenders, relaxed vibe, and (key for me) open late.
Dublin House should be here for their fabulous neon harp sign and original 1921 bar! It’s also just a very chill place to have a pint. https://www.westsiderag.com/2019/01/06/mrs-maisel-scene-brings-new-customers-to-a-classic-uws-bar-the-harp-is-always-shining-at-dublin-house
Having visited Scarlet recently, I struggled to taste any alcohol in their semi-boring drinks – as did my partner (and no, we weren’t drunk, this was pre-dinner at 5:30pm). For $20 a pop (plus tax and tip), we expected more. The decor is great but the tight space (one has to stand up for the server to walk past when reaching out to other patrons!) and weak drinks were not well received here.
Hi Life Bar and Grill on 83rd and Amsterdam and Da Capo on 75th and Columbus should be on this list.
Bin 71, Columbus @ 71st. Tiny “sister” bar of Owl’s Tail.
Hi-Life has a great bar and friendly atmosphere. And I think the food is great also.
Da Capo!
Obscenely overpriced
The Emerald Cafe at 250 West 72nd Street
The Dublin House on West 79th Street is what you call a very good drinking bar
It’s not trashy enough for whomever put this list together.
Dive 96, Busceo, High Life should all be on here! Maybe we just have a lot of great bars on the UWS 🙂
I’m surprised to not see Da Capo on here. That’s my favorite spot for pre-dinner drinks or for a nightcap. Their signature cocktails are the best.
No. And since this list includes Jakes Dilemma, the list is illegitimate.
Tellingly most of the places are in the west 80s, which are avoided by those interested in bars.
Found the old.
Um, a bit insecure about your bar choices I see.
Jake’s was trashy, when it opened when I was in my 20s. Hasn’t changed.
The Dive Bar near W 96th on Amsterdam has great food in addition to being a bar. Been going there over 30 years.
Tessa on Amsterdam between 76-77 has a great happy hour Tuesday-Friday 11-6
Left out. Suites on 109th and Amsterdam avenue.
Glad to see Owls Tail get the recognition it deserves! I love going there at the start of each season to see what drinks they added. Plus the deviled eggs and cheese plate is delicious.
The Hi Life Bar and Grill. Great atmosphere, great food. Reasonable prices. One of my favorites.
Dive 75 is fine but Dive Bar’s flagship location at 96/Amsterdam is the ideal neighborhood bar with excellent food/beer list, attentive staff and welcoming vibe. Broadway Dive doubles as an excellent to-go bottle shop. And Dive 106 has a great heated shed and wonderful rituals like the annual Ulysses reading. For a quiet, civilized spot, the Ellington Bar is very elegant (and their summer setup in Riverside Park a boisterously fun place to order pitchers & pizza)
Could not agree more
The Wolf
Nobody Told Me
FRED’S
What about the bar on Broadway somewhere between 101 & 105 Sts. which welcomes dogs?
That’s Broadway Dive. Great house band on Friday nights.
Actually I think it’s Tap a Keg on Broadway and 104th
Tap A Keg is awful and depressing. Broadway Dive is a nice, small spot with a decent beer list, though.
Genuinely thrilled that “Bob’s Your Uncle” made the list because it’s an awesome spot and I didn’t think anyone who didn’t love very near it knew about it.
*live very near it
How could Malachy’s Pub, 103 W. 72nd have been overlooked? Great food, affordable drinks, great bartenders and a new party room.
Because the service is appalling and it has nothing unique about it?
“appalling service”?
Have you ever dined there? Doubt it.
Malachy’s one of the best in the city…great staff and regulars and the food terrific the Brisket sandwich a must try! Fridays 3-5pm they host Jonny Knowledge and his “Le Club” which is always entertaining…
The list needs little descriptives. Which is the sports bar and which is the first date bar? Which is cozy for anniversaries and which is a pick-up joint? Which also has good food and doubles as a dinner place? Which is best for 20 year-olds and which is best for a mature crowd?
Or to sum it up, why were these places chosen? What is special about each one?
That’s for you to find out about.
What about Da Capo on Columbus Ave?
ST. JAMES GATE – It’s been there a long time, has the best (and biggest) martinis, great community local vibe. Food is pretty decent too.
P and G cafe . Oh wait never mind . 20 years ago this would be at top of the list.
Scarlet Lounge??? Place opended up just “hours” ago!!!! I’m sure it is a nice place working out its kinks, but to add it to any list is pre-mature. To omitt Dublin House or Gin Mill??? Gin Mill has the best Happy Hour Specials and bar food in the UWS, hands down! Dublin House is an institution here in the UWS. ps: Gin Mill was the site of one of the first UWS Bars that at one time was so popular, it had patrons waiting behind a velvet rope (The Quarter Moon Saloon).
Vanguard has a great wine selection, can’t go wrong there.
I love good cocktails and if it comes with good food, friendly service and not too noisy then I’m thrilled. Prohibition fits the bill. The Wolfe is worth checking out unless you hate TV screens. Owl’s Tail deserves respect. But here is what I would also suggest: Travel north sometimes to Harlem or Hamilton Heights and check out bars there. Cocteleria Perla Negra has amazing cocktails as does Sugar Monk. And others mentioned Nobody Told Me.
Fun debate!
If we’re going to Hamilton Heights we have to include the Honeywell on 148th and B’way, and ROKC on 141st.
Or, if you want to go even further north to the Upper Upper West Side, there’s the Uptown Garrison on 181st.
But coming down a bit closer to Earth (i.e., Morningside Heights) there’s the Expat on Tiemann and Arts & Crafts on Amsterdam and 116th.