The top bars in Lower Manhattan

We’re not even making a joke. In 2019, Nicholas Braun and Justin Theroux invested in what was imagined as a normcore neighborhood hangout. Despite its targeted mediocrity, it was a howling success: Ray’s has the aura of a red-state honkey tonk with an American flag pinned to the ceiling and country tunes blasting on the jukebox. It’s got the chummy energy of a dive bar without the sticky, Budweiser-soaked tabletops.

The main dining room has wooden paneling and checkered floors with vintage box TVs and random photos that look like they were sourced at a suburban yard sale. Downstairs, beyond a shag carpet entrance, there’s a private event space lined with tartan and leather sofas. Bathed in a yellowish light, it feels more like your grandparents’ basement than a secret speakeasy. Both spaces are available to rent for private parties: 125 for a full buyout, 75 in the dining room, and 60 downstairs.

You’ll find various synonymous house cocktails on the menu, like the Lana Del Rey (a St Germain spritz) or the Ray Liotta (a Miller High Life with Aeperol). Don’t forget to chow down on classic All-American staples like onion rings and hot dogs.

New York meets Belfast at this three-story pub and cocktail cathedral. Despite its location, The Dead Rabbit is as authentic as you can get on this side of the pond. A tribute to the city’s legacy of Irish immigrants (including the owners themselves), the interior is comfortable and tavern-like with a sizable whiskey list and Guinness on tap (obviously). A love letter to past and present Ireland, the walls are lined with contemporary Irish art and the furniture is custom-made in Cork and Tipperary.

Each floor in The Dead Rabbit is available to rent for private events. The Taproom on the ground floor serves classic U.K. pub grub (like fish and chips and savory pies) and can hold up to 150 people. The second floor holds the famous cocktail bar, which has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the world – try the iconic Irish Coffee variations for a pick-me-up – and the adjoining Green Room and Parlor can be hired for 35 guests. The occasional room on the third floor is a dedicated events space, hosting receptions and banquets for 30.

Saturday Night Fever may have taken place in Brooklyn, but if Bandits was around fifty years ago, we’re sure Tony Manero would’ve made the trek across the East River. Pockets of nostalgia line this Greenwich Village bar, with its retro Formica tables and padded swivel stools. The decor is subtly kitschy, with fringe lamps, rotary phones, and lava lamps. The streetside enclave evokes a roadside diner rather than a patio, each booth with its own windows and speakers.

Predictably, the fare is diner food with a twist: everything bagel shishito peppers, spicy mozzarella sticks, and four (yes, four) different kinds of loaded tater tots. The cocktails are creative with names like “Murray Hill Guy Who Just Discovered Tinned Fish”.

The divey atmosphere means it’s intimate – the whole joint can be rented out for 32 seated guests, leaving plenty of room to boogie under the golden disco ball.

You might’ve come across The Flower Shop while looking for a last-minute place to order bouquets for your partner on Valentine’s Day, only to realize that it is, in fact, not a flower shop. Consider it a happy accident. This LES hotspot, despite its Michelin star, is a rare unpretentious find, inspired by the laid-back, welcoming atmosphere of Australian pubs.

The decor is flea-market-chic, with an inviting basement space that feels straight out of a sitcom. The lower-level lounge has a pool table (infamously used by Lenny Kravitz) and a fireplace, and the main dining space is gallery-like with illustrations covering the walls above camel-colored booths. A full buyout is available for up to 120 guests, and the basement is available to rent for smaller parties.

A simple menu boasts four cocktails at a reasonable $14 – a steal in this day and age – and contemporary comfort food like shrimp tacos and loaded fries.

Cocktails always taste better when you’ve spent 10 minutes looking for the entrance. The address of Sincerely, Ophelia will lead you to a restaurant called Chicken & The Egg, its sister spot, though the two couldn’t be more different.

The cocktail bar, hidden behind a nondescript door, is catered to Gen Z gatekeepers – neon lights, glow-in-the-dark graffiti, and Basquait-inspired art are a far cry from the typical classic NY speakeasy. It’d almost feel rave-like, if not for the creepy old-fashioned family portraits that line the walls.

This speakeasy is relatively spacious and there are three spaces available to rent for events. The VIP room, a fully private space with its own bar, can fit up to 80 guests. A TV lounge fits up to 50, and you can stream your own music or video. The semi-private mirrored banquet area can be roped off for 40 people, so you have seats waiting for you while you dance.

The signature cocktails have simple ingredients but are masterfully crafted, and they’re known for their housemade hard seltzers. If it seemed tempting upon arrival, don’t worry – you can order fried chicken sandwiches from the restaurant next door.