
If you’re looking for a good time in New York City, you can usually expect to end up in one of the Bars on the Lower East Side.
Summer is in full swing now, so the NYC interns and transplants are coming out of their cages and taking in the city’s vibrant atmosphere. By now, everyone’s social batteries have defrosted—making them ready to enjoy summers in New York. There is an endless array of things to do here, but one of the most popular neighborhoods bustling with nightlife is New York’s Lower East Side. With its many types of bars (wine, dive, speakeasy, you name it!), it’s the perfect area to find yourself in to socialize and unwind.
Here are the 10 Best Bars on the Lower East Side with amazing drinks and vibes…
Bars on the Lower East Side
1. Double Chicken Please
Double Chicken Please has been one of the hottest bars in New York City in the past year (I believe it was listed as the second best bar in the world as of 2023). Reservations are hard to come by, as some of my friends have stood in line for 4 hours to get a seat. DCP is known for their innovative cocktails, but they also have a food menu with creative twists on classics.
For cocktails, I had the Japanese Cold Noodle ($20) and my friend had the Cold Pizza ($21). The drinks tasted EXACTLY like their namesakes. I don’t know how they were able to capture the essence of those dishes in drink form, but they did. The Japanese Cold Noodle was light and refreshing; the sesame oil really brought it home. I had a sip of my friend’s cocktail and I especially loved the creaminess that the egg whites added. I don’t usually opt for savory drinks, but these two impressed me.
We also ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich ($16) and Popcorn Chicken ($12) for some snacking. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and crispy for both dishes. The five spice seasoning reminded me of all the popcorn chickens I’ve had at Taiwanese restaurants or boba shops at home, which I loved.
DCF is my favorite cocktail bar that I’ve tried so far and I have to say, it is worth the hype! The menu is one of the most unique—if not the most—ones I’ve seen.

📍115 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
2. Kind Regards
If you’re looking for a place to grab drinks and dance, Kind Regards is the right one! I would consider it to be a bar/nightclub that leans more towards club. They have a basement where they play music and you can let loose on the dance floor; keep in mind that there is a $20 cover charge to go downstairs. The interior is swanky and fun, as there is a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.
They have a few set cocktails on their menu and I ordered the Famously Naked ($17). It had tequila, passion fruit, aperol, yellow chartreuse, and line. Aperol spritzes are my favorite, so I absolutely loved the combination of passion fruit and aperol. I tend to go for more fruity drinks and this one checked every box.
The dance floor can get crowded on Friday and Saturday nights because of its small and intimate setting (but that’s a sign that the club is popping!). Overall, I had a really good time at Kind Regards! They played EDM on the night I went, but I heard the music is dependent on the DJ playing. Would recommend coming here with friends for a fun night!

📍152 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
3. Mr. Fong’s
Mr. Fong’s is a hole-in-the-wall dive bar tucked away in Chinatown. It’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, but once inside, the overall ambiance is great. It’s chill and—as a lot of people like to describe it—funky. There was comfortable seating and even a jukebox towards the back!
Looking at the menu, the drinks are much more reasonably priced than other places in NYC. I’ve paid as much as $27 for a cocktail in the city before (which is absolutely ridiculous, if you ask me), but the drinks here hover around that $15-20 price range. I ordered one of their signature cocktails: Fong’s Colada ($15), which had turmeric infused gin, pandan, coconut, ginger, and lime. Mr. Fong, you truly know how to make a mixed drink! It was packed with tropical flavor without being overly sweet. You can also order Scorpion Bowls ($55) here, which would be a great option for a group of people.
A relaxed atmosphere and reasonably priced drinks? Sign me UP!

📍40 Market St New York, NY 10002
4. Gugu Room
You can find Gugu Room, a Filipino-Japanese izakaya spot, on Orchard Street. Fusion places usually disappoint, but Gugu room executed both cuisines well.
I loved their creative cocktails that had an Asian influence with flavors like ube, calamansi, yuzu, and even wasabi! I’m not the biggest fan of wasabi, but I do like margaritas; so, I had to try their Wasabi Mar-Gari-Ta ($15). This had blanco tequila, cointreau, calamansi honey, lime, wasabi, gari (pickled ginger), and a smoked maldon salt rim. I’m used to a jalapeno kind of spice when it comes to spicy margaritas, but they nailed the sharp, nasally wasabi spice. Even so, the drink was really enjoyable!
They had a variety of options on their menu to satisfy different diets, which I really appreciated. There were quite a few vegetarian dishes to choose from. I just wanted a few light bites, so I got the Blistered Shishito Peppers ($7) and the Agedashi Tofu ($9). The peppers were crunchy and full of umami flavor, while the tofu was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. SO delicious!
Definitely want to come back to try some of their larger entrees and happy hour!

📍143 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
5. Jadis
I came to Jadis for a birthday celebration and had a great time. The atmosphere definitely makes a perfect spot for special events! Their dining room was pretty spacious, as there were a couple of tables in their seating area.
We had a bottle of chilled red wine and a carafe of orange wine for the table. The red wine was smooth and rich, while the orange wine had a unique, fruity complexity. I was partial to the orange because it had a distinct flavor that had a good balance of sweetness and bitterness. As for food, we ordered a few small plates to share. My favorite was definitely the Burrata Cheese, Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Basil, and Flaky Salt ($15). The burrata was creamy and even better when paired with the olive oil and fresh tomatoes!
Our server was so attentive and provided excellent service, which I really appreciated. We brought our own cake in and they provided us with a candle and cake cutting (for an additional fee). Would definitely recommend hosting your next event at Jadis!

📍42 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
6. Lullaby
With its relaxed atmosphere and intimate setting, Lullaby would make an ideal spot for a first date! It’s a super cute speakeasy cocktail bar serving up some cool cocktails. The moody, warm lighting, combined with the low ceilings, makes the space feel very cozy and inviting.
They have a House Punch ($13) with a rotating selection and The Whiskey Drink ($16) that’s described to be “like a rhinestone cowboy”. The Dole Whip ($19) caught my eye because I 1) love dole whip and 2) have never had an alcoholic version of it. It was pineapple-y and fresh with the right amount of alcohol added to it!
It was pretty packed when I went on a Saturday night (peak hours I guess), but the bartenders were so accommodating; they were efficient and managed to help out everyone who needed assistance. They were also very meticulous when making each drink; you could tell that they really cared about the quality and craftsmanship. The service alone is a good reason to come back!

📍151 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
7. Attaboy
Once called the “Best Bar in North America” by Vogue, Attaboy is a local favorite to grab both unique and classic cocktails. The outside of the bar is so unsuspecting; I walked past it a few times before I realized where the entrance was. What’s cool about Attaboy is that there is no menu; instead, the bartender whips something up based on what you tell them. The drinks are definitely pricier than other places, but what can you expect from a place that custom makes you a drink?
I mentioned to the bartender that I would usually go for a vodka drink (especially ones that leaned more fruity and floral). I also added that my favorite drinks I’ve had all had some kind of egg white foam thing going on. Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly what he used to make my cocktail—but it was delightful! It was light and refreshing, but the foam on top really made it so enjoyable.
Attaboy is walk-in only and they only take groups under 6, so be prepared to wait for one of the best cocktail experiences. It’s probably best to come when they first open!

📍134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
8. Mr. Purple
Mr. Purple is a rooftop bar on the 15th floor of the Indigo Hotel. I’ve heard it being compared to The Roof, which is on the top of the Public Hotel. I haven’t been to that one, so I can’t confirm nor deny that claim. What I can say is that the vibes here are immaculate.There are no better places than a rooftop bar than on a sunny New York summer day. The views of the New York skyline are amazing and they played great music.
They have an extensive list to choose from; after 15 minutes of going over the menu, I finally decided on their Casamigos Margarita ($21). Even though they had a bunch of really unique drinks, I was just in the mood for a classic margarita. The tequila went down smoothly and the tartness of the lime juice balanced it perfectly. Next time, I’ll have to try their LES Spritz ($21) because it has St. Germain in it. That’s one of my favorite liqueurs.
Overall, Mr. Purple is a solid rooftop bar to get a drink at and soak in all the New York City vibes! I was sipping my margarita while looking directly at the Empire State Building in the distance…

📍180 Orchard St 15th floor, New York, NY 10002
9. The Flower Shop
The Flower Shop is the kind of place that would draw a retro-cool crowd. With its funky, 70s-esque decor, I felt like I was getting a blast from the past (but in a good way!). They have a full bar and dinner menu here, as well as a pool table and fireplace. The inside is huge and definitely gives pub vibes…especially after seeing Fish & Chips ($25) on the menu.
I got a Cold Brew Martini ($15), which I thought was an interesting twist on the typical espresso martini. To be honest, I couldn’t tell the difference between the use of cold brew and espresso…it was still delicious though!
The atmosphere was lively here, as the TVs were playing in the background and people were gathered around the pool table and fireplace. It felt like I was in a giant basement at a friend’s place—a very comforting feeling to have. If you’re looking for a place that will offer a bit of nostalgia, you should come here!

📍107 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
10. Skin Contact
A few streets over from Orange Glou (my favorite orange wine store) is this natural wine bar. Skin Contact opened in 2020 and has been a staple of New York’s Lower East Side since then. Wines are their specialty and there is no shortage of different wines to choose from here. I thought their name was very clever, as it alludes to how orange and rose wines are made. Those wines get their coloring from the skin of the grapes!
The staff was lovely here, as they were very knowledgeable about various types of natural wines and were able to suggest one based on my personal preference. They also offer small plates to be paired with the wines. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, which is nice given that the space is a bit small.
Wine bars are always so calming and inviting, so definitely check Skin Contact out. I left with so many fun little facts about wine that I can’t wait to drop into conversations!

📍76 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Bars on the Lower East Side
Whatever vibe or mood you’re in, these are the 10 Best Bars on the Lower East Side…
- Double Chicken Please
- Kind Regards
- Mr. Fong’s
- Gugu Room
- Jadis
- Lullaby
- Attaboy
- Mr. Purple
- The Flower Shop
- Skin Contact
Pin Me for Later!

Leave a Reply