The Best Lounges in New York

The Flatiron Room Murray Hill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (575) • $$$

"Outstanding evening. The food and ambiance were impressive. Everything was excellent. Our server Josue did an excellent job. Really enjoyed our night."

48 Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (380) • $$$

"Very classy spot to hang out for any type of celebrations. It wasn't chaotic nor extra the vibes was just right and the crowd was cool not crowded. The service was great. The drinks were great.Right in the heart of times Square just makes felt more chill lounge with good dj musics he plays the old and new songs.It's best to make reservations so that you have guaranteed seating."

Le Zie

★★★★☆ 3.7 (383) • $$

"A group of us came here for friends anniversary. We were pleased that they gave us a back room to ourselves.Marina and the crew gave us excellent & professional service, taking care of everyone's requests. They provide the table with delicious bread and dishes of olive oil with garlic cloves. Also when asked, they provided butter.Folks had a variety of appetizers & pasta dishes, which they all said were delicious. and good size portions. This is good because the prices are on the upscale side. I, myself, just had the half lobster salad for an entrée. Although it didn't seem like a half of a lobster, I enjoyed it.I recommend LebZie for a special, nice dining out experience."

Lagos Restaurant and Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.5 (400) • $$

"Lagos is so much fun! They have 3 levels, and each has beautiful decor. There is a flower cove near the bathrooms, which is Insta-worthy. And they even had a stilt walker! The drinks are good, though they could be stronger. We had beef suya, which was OK, but not the best suya. Our first bartender was the best, our second bartender was good, and our third bartender was OK. So experience could vary here depending on who you get."

Ama Raw Bar - East Village

★★★★★ 4.7 (218)

"My poetic travels take me to East Village, Alphabet City in Manhattan, NYC where the staff is very accommodating to our large group of 35+ emerging artists (spoken word performers and musicians) converge in merriment of an open mic. We occupied the rear room and Ama Raw Bar staff provided extra chairs for late arrivals. Our event filled Happy Hour imbibe. My early Sunday dinner comprises of:Vegetable Ramen $18.00Mushroom, soft egg, tofu, chili sesame oil, Chinese vegetable bok choyThe noodles were delicious as well as the broth and the vegetables were tasty. I have always been enamored with noodle soup as my choice of Asian comfort food - first to Dim Sum. No comment on the mushroom as I did not intake due to a disdain.HH Vinho Verde $11.00This white wine was the choice for happy hour which was average. It did not entice my interest to be mesmerized.East Village Happy Hour:Mondays to Fridays 5:00 pm to 7:00 pmSaturdays and Sundays 3:00 pm to 6:00 pmThere is an outdoor small garden patio, but I was grateful that our poetic open mic was indoors. Facilities are available on site and are unisex for usage. Hospitality for customer service is very attentive upon entering for a greeting and directions leading to the rear room and as menus are abundantly provided for review. The male server Austin P. produced a sales receipt upon request which I was grateful. Four stars, I wish there were more selection and variety of main entrées on the menu such as salmon or fish, French Fries, salads, shrimp dumplings or Japanese Gyoza pork chive dumplings, and/or shrimp rice noodles for an authentic Asian culinary cuisine experience.Nota bene: The website's menu contains different prices vs. the restaurant paper menu which is not updated."

Fig. 19

★★★★☆ 4.1 (266) • $$

"A friend of mine booked a table for Fig 19, which made me super relieved as I walked in. Group of 6 that may have grown to 10 as friends of friends came in. At 9pm, it was fairly crowded. By the time I left at 11:30, there was a huge line outside. Objectively speaking, music was decent with some early 2000's throwback mixed with today's popular songs. It's played loudly and conversations are hard to have. For drinks, I got the Rhapsody on the and Polly Jean. The combined ingredients of both were not what I imagined but the alcohol does hit you after a while. A good experience, though not particularly my style."

Casa Lever

★★★★☆ 3.9 (258) • $$$

"Delicious and authentic Italian cuisine. The space is beautiful, elegant, unpretentious. The service was impeccable. We were a party of 9 so we ordered many different things off the menu and every dish was delicious. Molto buono!"

Fushimi Times Square

★★★★☆ 4.3 (198) • $$$

"A beautiful quiet restaurant in the middle of Time Square. We were looking for a restaurant before a Broadway Show. We didn't want to go to the popular/crowded places but something off the beaten path but still close to the show! Fushimi fit all the boxes. The restaurant in on an off street which is great so it keeps the vibe a bit more exclusive and not too busy.It is beautifully created with Modern, Contemporary Asian influences. It's is pretty large w/ a front sitting, and lounge area! The food overall was hit or miss. We both ordered drinks, a roll, edamame and the salmon. I ordered the lychee martini. It was pretty strong but lacked the strong lychee flavor that I expect. The best item was the Spicy Edamame. It was HOT, but very delish.... You'll want to keep eating them, as long as you can tolerate the heat. We ordered the California and Spicy Tuna Rolls, which we found to be average. The salmon lacked any flavor and required the brown butter teriyaki sauce to elevate the dish. I would not suggest the dish w/o the sauce. The sauce should enhance the dish not create it, so although it was good, it's disappointing.Since we did not order anything the server suggested, I would definitely try this place again because I loved the vibe and then hope the dishes are better."

Living Room Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.5 (296) • $$

"I came here to celebrate my friend husband's birthday. I was pleasantly surprised about this hidden gem in Brooklyn. Two burly security men greet us as we entered the business. The decor was very beautiful and staff was welcoming. The music was definitely on point. We were escorted downstairs to a private room for our party reservation for 26 people. Staff did not waste any time giving out food and drink menus. I kept it simple and ordered chicken tenders with fries. However, a few people ordered steamed mussels which smelled delicious. Although, I did not order a drink, I heard that the drinks were great. The Living Room staff handled our reservation excellently and orders came out piping hot and quickly. The belly dancers were phenomenal. Although, I did not stay long I enjoyed my time at this wonderful business. I plan on visiting again real soon."

Ama Raw Bar - West Village

★★★★★ 4.5 (138)

"Quick shoutout to *AMA's Raw Bar*--because this happy hour was a win! Oysters for just $1.25? Say less. And the lychee martini? Only $11 and *so* good. That's a deal in my book! I sat at the bar, vibed in a cute spot, and got great service from the super polite staff. Definitely coming back for happy hour! I only have a photo of the remnants of greatness lol"

Holiday Cocktail Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (185) • $$

"Alex the bartender was awesome! Alex shared so much insider knowledge bar info with us--Alex is a skilled drink slinger, a fantastic conversationalist, and an excellent historian! Did you know this is one of the last remaining punk bars in the east village? It's also one of the oldest having been around since the 1950s. They have their original phone booth in the corner and kept the layout of the bar intact, only slightly shifting the dimensions of the main room. The name comes from the electrical situation back then where holiday lights were used to light the place because the bar was having trouble with more traditional lighting technology back then. I forget the exact details... I was half listening because my attention was hyper focused on the amazing drinks! The bar is a real delight with a cult-like fan following. The drinks are a work of art in both flavor profiles, ingredients, craft, and decoration! Many drinks come with a kitchy compliment like a dinosaur, barrel o' monkey, glow stick, or finger skateboard!The food menu is creative and diverse but tough for people with multiple food allergies. I had trouble finding vegetarian and gluten free and dairy free. Definitely ate my food allergies last night and do not (yet) regret that poor life choice!"

Nora Thai

★★★★☆ 3.8 (178) • $$

"Okay I loved everything about Nora except for 1 thing! Since there's only one con I will start with that. When I went, the restaurant was out of the cocktail, Purple G & T. Just read how amazing this drink sounds:Empress 1908 Indigo Gin,St. Germain, JuniperBerries, Orange &Lavender BittersIf you know me you know I love lavender everything so I was a little salty that I could order this drink plus it was one of the cheapest in the menu, only $12!Okay besides that little disappointment everything was absolutely fantastic! The food felt like it took only seconds to make which was great because we weee hungry. We got an appetizer the Gozya which were cooked perfectly, you only get 5 though so I feel like it's more of a personal appetizer rather than one to share.I got the Green Curry and my friend got the Pad Thai. I like that you can choose your protein with no up charge and they have a ton of vegan versions of all the dishes. I chose pork with my green curry and I'm still dreaming about this meal it was so incredibly delicious.The ambience is very nice. They play modern music and it's decorated with some traditional Thai elements mixed with high ceilings and low lighting. I like how the bathroom has open individual stalls and a claw foot bathtub for the sink, very original very cool!"

Sandbar Rooftop

★★★★☆ 3.9 (161)

"This view didn't disappoint since it was a party of ten and we was celebrating a birthday...The bar and the weather was nice but still a bit warm with the I imagine this bar is even better when the weather is nice and cool to open the roof, but we expected the music to be a bit louder not that quiet to the point we can hear others conversations but still we had a great time. Service was good, drinks were good, the cheese board and the Nutella pinsa was absolutely delicious! And sorry we didn't take any pictures completely forgot because of the drinks was that good so I managed to take one picture at the end which sum up a blessed Celebration night!"

Skinos

★★★★☆ 3.7 (159)

"I feel sooo bad giving this place two stars Aesthetically this place has a lovely set up! I mean all over social media its tooted as the best date spot, the prettiest place in NYC, etc. And there's no denying how much attention has been taken to it's appearance. It's Beautifully decorated from the outside all the way through to the bathrooms. YES, even the restrooms were decorated for photo ops!I was invited here for an event dinner and it was a nice invite and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. However, the way I got sick afterwards?!? Whew! I wouldn't wish that on anyone! My stomach was in turmoil for a good three days if not more. I had a salad and the steak and fries. Other people in our party had ordered the shrimp, lamb lollipops, and kabobs. The waiter was really attentive and made sure we were all situated. I believe his name was Nicoli but I could be totally wrong. The service and ambiance were really pretty nice but the way that food shut me down, I'd be beyond hesistant to go back. Upon leaving I saw the restaurant received a 'B' rating. I do wish I noticed that beforehand. Maybe it would have saved me a lot of pain and suffering. Go here to take phots but somewhere else to eat for sure"

Glass Ceiling Rooftop

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (171) • $$$

"I was shocked when I saw that Glass Ceiling had reservations available for a table on a Friday night in December. Seems like this place is a solid kept secret because the ambiance is warm, moody, very "New York City." It is quiet, dark, romantic, has a spectacular view of the Empire State Building - but be careful, their drinks aren't for the faint of heart! They're absolutely delicious, but they do have a true and generous pour. I recommend getting something to eat while sipping on cocktails. I highly suggest grabbing drinks and a bite here for happy hour, maybe before the Rangers game or a concert - it's close to MSG, a few blocks away, absolutely worth it!"

Holywater

★★★★☆ 4.2 (75)

"Did not spend a lot of time here, so this review is based on my experience of not actually eating dinner in the dining room area. To start off, the service of the staff was great. Hostess, manager - both great! The bar was a little slow, but it is a pretty small bar so I wasn't exactly surprised. Usually if you are seated at the bar though they check in when they see an empty drink or you are served quicker (reason to sit at the bar!). Boyfriend ordered a dirty martini and it came basically halfway full - definitely did not add the ingredients to meet the size of the glass (which I want large). Ambiance is really really cool. Just so many things to look around at and see some unique pieces they found to decorate. Very highly recommend for that reason alone. Just to note, it does get crowded. And we got there early and still couldn't get a place at the bar. We were just stopping in for a drink and app so didn't want to sit in the back. For the app, we did the caviar on tater tots (based on reviews here) and it did NOT disappoint at all! It was amazing and very much worth the money! In all, highly recommend Holywater!"

Wooga K-Bar & Steak Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (65)

"Found this hidden gem in midtown a couple of blocks from Madison square garden. The food was so amazing. We had the cheese topoki, Parmesan fries, soy garlic wings and takoyaki. The drinks were good we had soju and beer. The staff were all so friendly and welcoming. The place was large so we had a lot of space for dining. We were seated right away. Lots of cute little signs all around"

Bee's Knees & Honey Lounge

★★★★★ 4.5 (31)

"Went here on Halloween and loved the vibe. They decorated the place so well to the point I wondered how they did it. Drinks were nice and strong. The staff are very attentive and friendly. Are the appetizers only, but judging by them, the other food should be good, too."

Plum Restaurant and Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (58)

"I enjoyed this restaurant. The service was great and it was pretty calm for a Friday evening. We did get to get in for happy hour which was a plus. The happy hour food was really tasty. Everything was well seasoned and presented well. The vegetable spring rolls were my favorite. The decor was beautiful. It is a good restaurant for any occasion. Parking is definitely available on the surrounding streets. The bathroom was tidy."

The Grand Salon and The Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (11)

"Wow, The Grand Salon and The Bar was simply mind-blowing. Location and service was great. Pretty much every menu item that we have purchased was incredibly fresh and flavorful. I became very good friends with the staff, who are all awesome and super courteous. I highly recommend it."

Pazza Notte

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"*** Homey ambiance and delicious. ***I really enjoyed this spot for Italian food.Not contempo or sleek, just hearty good.*** Fusilli, salad + 2 for 1 martinis ftw. ***"

Le Bernardin

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$$$

"The food was absolutely delicious. The montauk shrimp were light and flavorful. The lobster was perfectly cooked with an excellent broth. The black bass was recommended by our server and did not disappoint- very crispy skin. The pistachio dessert was definitely the highlight amazing flavor. The service was impecable as was the ambiance."

Death & Co

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"Headed over to Death & Co for our last night in New York. Arriving at around 7:30 we were seated immediately in a cozy booth toward the back. Our server, James, was very friendly and knowledgeable about the extensive menu. I started off with the Beyonder which tastes like a Negroni and a black Manhattan had a baby, in the best way. Smooth and boozy with a little bitterness on the end. My SIL liked her Paradise Lost, which was citrusy and refreshing with a strong flavor of green chili at the end.We really enjoyed the fried chicken, chips and dip, and bruschetta with butter beans. The fried chicken was moist and well seasoned. It comes out as boneless chicken strips. The butter beans on the bruschetta were firm and tangy with vinegar, which balanced out the bread.I would skip the crudo. It was a bland with a strong fishy taste. Can't wait to come back and try more drinks on the menu!We were able to get $50 off our bill using a gift certificate via the inKind app."

The Flatiron Room - NoMad

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$$

"After seeing a play, we were looking for a place that stays open late for a bite to eat. We found the Flatiron Room, read that they have live music nightly and didn't close until midnight. We walked in at 10:47pm and asked if they were still serving. We were told that we have 13 min. Fine, we can order in 13 minutes. Then we were immediately told "no beanies inside." As if I'd wear a beanie inside a restaurant, but it was 22 degrees outside, so if you're not sure if I'm a Beanie Offender, just give me a minute to remove my 47 layers. We were taken to our table and reminded TWO more times that we only had 13 min by the same guy, which is odd because, at that point we surely only had about 12 minutes. We ordered shishito peppers, French fries, octopus and two cocktails: the Triumph and the the charred dirty martini. They didn't have the shishito peppers, and the martini was served in a glass with (someone else's) lipstick on the rim. While the martini was better, neither was amazing, and they certainly weren't worth the $24 investment. The French fries were lukewarm, the restaurant was chilly inside (if only I had a beanie!), and the "live music" was a bored Deejay playing boring music really loud while we ate cold fries and drank out of dirty glasses. Do better, Flatiron. Our waitress was nice, and the martini was impressively served with a pretty glass (minus the lipstick), and a small bottle on ice to refresh it as you drank. My final vote is...skip it."

Please Don't Tell

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$$

"A NYC classic - we bring all of our visitors here, and it doesn't disappoint. The experience entering the space is fun, but the drinks are even better. Creative and tasty in a perfectly intimate setting, this is perfect for friends chatting or for a first date.Sometimes a loud or obnoxiously drunk tourist can ruin the vibe, but they tend to be one and done and leave pretty quickly, whether on their own or because of gentle pressure by staff. The ability to order food from Crif Dogs is great but unless you're a bit buzzed (as I am usually) it's cheaper to just leave and eat outside haha"

Victor's Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"The place is near the theater so it was a great spot for lunch. The decor is set differently throughout in each section. The automotive hand fans that hang above are super cool to look at, not for cooling. There are seats for couples and groups. The umbrella table inside makes you feel like your outside. It also happened to be restaurant week. I ordered from the special tasting menu while my guests had the standard items. The place is visually pretty. Nice vibe. The food was well received and tasty. The presentation of the dishes were lovely. The Cuban coffee was better than the american.. go figure it's a Cuban restaurant!. I tried the creamy corn grits and shrimp. I would have loved some garlic in that. The battered shrimp were ok in the mix. As an entree the shrimp in a spicy creole sauce with wine boniato puree with boniato crisps. What is Boniato right?...a sweet potato. The Spanish description said camerones enchilados. This was tasty and not too spicy. The shrimp were medium sized. The puree combinations in the entrees for the snapper was sweet plantains. They dress the plates nicely. This came with delicious white rice and black beans If you like a puree you're winning. The tastting menu for restaurant week also came with flan. All nicely done. Others had the Cuban sandwich they asked for some garlic aoli. The flavors need a punch. Unfortunately, one guest had to send her meal back, the snapper wasn't fully cooked. The warning is that the location for the bathrooms are down stairs which wasn't favorable for the older guests. It's not disabled friendly. They recommend that you go next door to the hotel. Also, if you can make the trip downstairs, the walls are adorned with pictures and diffusers. The place smells nice. Note: The toilets go from very low to mid height. Stay away from the one on the far right if you are tall. It's for children. Nice place for ambiance for sure."

Refinery Rooftop

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$$

"I was traveling to Manhattan with Vanity Fair for a sponsored trip years ago when I was a blogger. The company set up reservations for all of us to stay at this hotel and to my ACTUAL shock it was across the steeet from Atlas. As a massive fan of Project Runway, and self proclaimed Tim Gunn super fan.... I was starstruck of a building lol While we were stayed there a couple of my blogger friends had a local friend in the area and she met us at the rooftop for drinks and libations. The drinks were amazing. We had a wonderful time. Service was good and the entire trip was magical. Thank you Refinery!"

Freemans

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"I wish they had a dedicated fryer because the fries look so good, but they are not gluten-free. Plenty of GF options. Very good and has been for years. Its always fun to walk down the alley. It feels like time travel in there."