As an uptowner myself (Washington Heights is home!), I’m stoked to share the best bars in Harlem.
There’s so many great options in today’s Harlem, from a swanky cocktail bar that gives early 20th century speakeasy, to local favorite lounges with comfort food where you can ride the spirit of Harlem over Sunday brunch.
I’ve sifted through plenty of places to discover the best options suited for your specific situation (date night to music!) in this guide to the most incredible bars in Harlem!
Best Bars in Harlem for Date Night
1. Sugar Monk
Press the doorbell of this speakeasy for musical cocktails in an intimate setting. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea blew me away – a whimsical cocktail with an aquavit base with plenty of twists and turns: that of woody patchouli, multi-dimensional baharat made from cloves, peppers, cumin among other spices, brightened by tamarind and yuzu.
Co-founder Ektoras Binikos’ deep knowledge of the space is clear. His parents made moonshine in his hometown Greek island of Icaria, and today, Ektoras makes incredible amari, which you can savor at his Brooklyn tasting room, Bitter Monk.
Ektoras runs his businesses with his co-founder and life partner, Simon Jutras.
Their vision was to create a space that pays homage to the speakeasies of the Harlem Renaissance, where those who were marginalized could escape, Ektoras said. “I want to kind of recreate, or pay homage to that notion of inclusiveness.”
The best time to come may be a Monday night, where live jazz flows from 8 to 10pm.
Address: 2292 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York, NY 10027
2. Perch
The vibes are immaculate at Perch, with a solid oak bar with tastefully curved ceilings, well-balanced cocktails and proper bites on the side. This is husband-and-wife team Darcie Siciliano and Leo Lauer’s second bar in El Barrio, following East Harlem Bottling Co. on 107th. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but try the dark and rich Breakfast in Bed, made from a bacon fat-washed bourbon foundation, amaro, cold brew and elevated with chipotle cacao and maple brown sugar ($17). Enjoy $12 cocktails during their weekday happy hour.
3. Musette Wine Bar
This romantic French wine bar is the most charming hidden gem in town, with black steel window doors that flood with plenty of light while the space serves as a cafe (their coffee is not to be missed, either!). Their wine list includes plenty of natural, fermented and funky wines. Musette is the perfect place to catch up with friends or go on a date with a loved one over a few great nibbles.
Best Bars in Harlem
4. Harlem Hops
Brick-walled Harlem Hops serves 15 beers on tap, most of which are from upstate New York. While the selection’s constantly refreshed, the Smiling From A Hole imperial IPA from Wappingers Falls and Harlem Hops’ very own Pier 57 Imperial Lager were my favorites. They’re fully African-American owned and claim to be the only local craft beer in Manhattan to be so. The backyard is a vibe with the iconic Harlem Hops graffiti and old-school R&B sways in the background.
5. Harlem Tavern
A visit to Harlem Tavern is reminiscent of a hot summer day and the carefree joys of childhood (plus alcohol).
Don’t let the festive, colorful cocktails fool you – they’re actually quite well-balanced, delicate and refreshing.
The frozen Harlem Sunset is summer joy in a drink, an energizing fruity punch made from mango, strawberry, white peach over a silver tequila base that you can barely taste (but will certainly feel).
It’s not science: tilt the test tube of Hennessy into the jar of pina colada and drink up ($16).
The space is huge, wonderful for big groups or to stretch out in the rather cramped New York City.
Beer lovers, head inside to a colorful, long row of tap handles. Harlem Tavern’s got you covered with classics like Stella Artois to local favorites like the Montauk Tropical IPA and Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner.
Bar food is typically a little disappointing, but at Harlem Tavern, it freakin’ slaps. Nothing beats a juicy, hunky burger, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at Harlem Tavern.
The thick turkey burger is topped with turkey bacon and glazed with sweet caramelized onions doused in BBQ sauce. It’ll have you looking at turkey different ($16).
Open your mouth wide for the juicy truffle burger, which comes with crispy onions, crunchy bacon and a generous, refreshing slice of avocado ($19).
The veggies in the burgers are fresh and flavorful.
And the fries are just thick enough, meaty, but not boring. I’m pretty sure the fries aren’t vegan – and I mean that in the best way possible.
6. Harlem Public
Harlem Public has an impressive range of draft beers.
During happy hour, beers are $1 off, plus there’s a $7 cocktail that changes daily at this neighborhood favorite with delicious burgers.
- When: Mon-Fri 11am-7pm
- Where: W 149 St and Broadway (West Harlem)
Best Bars with Music in Harlem
7. Silvana
There’s so many layers to Silvana – it’s at once a restaurant, a cafe, a shop full of artisan goods. And did I mention that there’s live music 7 days a week in the basement, which has a bar?
I learned where all the cultural richness came from when I met co-owner Sivan Baron, an Israeli architect who founded this place with Abdel Ouedraogo, her former husband and a musician from Burkina Faso.
Silvana is “a huge community,” Sivan said. “And this was actually the main, I would say, accomplishment for me.” The business partners also run live music venue Shrine, Yatenga French Bistro, and Ouaga Sports Bar – all in Harlem.
8. Angel of Harlem
The cocktails are strong, the music’s bumpin’ and the vibes are great at Angel of Harlem, which becomes one massive party during Sunday brunch. The girls are the bar yell “Arturo” and the bartender gives them a friendly, knowing nod.
A regular chats me up, curious about an unfamiliar face that stands out.
On top of shrimp & grits and the likes of buttermilk fried chicken with waffles, add $35 per person for 1.5 hours of bottomless run punch, mimosa and sangria for brunch.
If you’re stopping by for a drink, cure your drunchies and power up with the Jamaican patties ($10).
Best Bars in Harlem (Conclusion)
In this article, we went over the best bars in Harlem, hands down.
Cocktail enthusiasts will love Sugar Monk, the perfect spot for great drinks and one of the city’s best kept secrets.
If you’re looking for that type of place where you can get a strong drink, soul food all with a great vibe in the heart of Harlem, head on over to Angel of Harlem for their Sunday brunch. It’s a good place for a birthday party, too.
Thank you for checking out my article about the best bars in Harlem!
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