The Auction House is a warm and pleasantly unpretentious bar, one with real character. Boasting a working fire-place, thick maroon velvet drapes and an elegant mahogany bar, it’s an attractive space that draws a refined, youngish crowd. It does a nice line in reasonably priced cocktails, mostly classics respectfully executed; the wine list, on the other hand, is a bit limited. A decent bar that wo…

Located a few blocks east of the buzz of Time Square, the Lantern's Keep is the name of the elegant new bar at the Iroquois, a hip boutique hotel. It's easy to miss this place, as there's no indication of its existence at street level, but once you've found it, you'll encounter a cozy cocktail'salon' (their term), a haven from the outside grind. Taking as its inspiration the Parisian salons of the…

As the name implies, the new open air bar at the Soho Grand has the relaxed atmosphere of hanging out in a friend's backyard. The bar is attractive, all cream and green, with strings of tiny white lights spread around a cedar pergola. There are cozy cafe tables lit by nifty electric candles, some day beds for reclining as the sun sets and the place resounds with the amiable noise of laughter and m…

Above 6 at six Columbus, is the latest in a line of elegant cloud-scraping cocktail spots to adorn the city’s rooftops. Perched far above Columbus Circle, this is a deeply stylish space (complete with retractable roof in case it rains) that really comes into its own around sunset. An elevator takes guests up to this impressive venue from the team behind Above Allen, all steel and glass with comfy…

What joy! A luxury hotel on the Upper East Side with a top-draw bar to boot. A hop skip and a jump from Central Park, there's no mistaking its entrance with its black canopy and its pair of cornucopias atop the window above. Once inside, ignore the glories of the atrium and head for Bar Pleiades, passing Cafe Boulud as you do so. Here, for what it's worth, under the aegis of Chef Daniel Boulud,…

Tenpenny, the Gotham Hotel's American bar and restaurant, has a classic quality. It's a handsome space, all dark wood and brick walls, clean and masculine in appearance - stylish but unfussy with it. There's a granite bar for perching with a cocktail and a smart dining area for lingering over dinner. The cocktail list is full of intriguing and enticing drinks - the Unstrung Harp mixes prosecco wit…

Dating back to 1855, The Vault at Pfaff's is proud of its history. The bohemian basement space was frequented by Walt Whitman, Mark Twain and other literary notables, something which the new owners are keen to celebrate. The subterranean venue is decorated with era-appropriate photos and the large wooden bar, which dominates the space, is over a century old. Drinks are excellent and the menu is un…

The elegant rooftop bar at the Hudson has everything one could want on a sweltering New York afternoon. Located on the fifteenth floor, it’s an urban oasis, complete with games room and a hammock with a view of the river and beyond. Popular drinks include the house sangria (ideal on a summer’s day) and a splendid range of martinis, including the Pink Prozac, a refreshing mix of vodka, lime, grape…

This Little Italy drinking den is very on trend. It's got the unmarked door and more importantly it's got the custom-made cocktails. What this means in practice is that instead of a plump drinks menu for you to thumb through there's just a chalkboard which lists the fresh fruits they have in stock (this changes regularly). You get to tell the bar tenders what you fancy, something rum-based say,…