Keeping up with New York’s new bars is a full-time job, so we narrowed it to five recent openings that matter: a snug wine bar, an aperitivo-focused outpost, a forward-thinking nonalcoholic-forward spot, an Indian-inspired cocktail kitchen, and a relaxed Bed-Stuy hangout.
How we picked these bars
These places were chosen independently by our editors and visited in person by a travel journalist. We looked for standout drinks, friendly service, a strong sense of place, and attention to sustainability when relevant. We included both elevated and approachable concepts. “New” means roughly within a year of publication; we will update this list as more noteworthy bars open.
Stars — East Village, Manhattan
Why go: well-priced wines by the glass and a tiny, perfect shrimp sandwich
Stars is a compact, wood-clad wine bar with about a dozen seats wrapped around a U-shaped zinc counter and a little standing room. By-the-glass options hover in the $11–$19 range, and bottles skew into double digits. The snacks are small but well considered; the standout is a diminutive shrimp sandwich on soft milk bread with melting American cheese and crisp iceberg lettuce. From the team behind Claud and Penny, Stars feels casual, convivial, and built for quick, delicious pit stops.
Dante Aperitivo — West Village, Manhattan
Why go: classic and inventive aperitifs paired with seafood-forward bites
The newest member of the Dante family leans into aperitivo culture. The cocktail list highlights negroni variations and lighter aperitifs — expect riffs like a negroni bianco 2.0 or a pear negroni with reposado. The small-plate menu tilts toward seafood: crudo dressed with lime-ginger granita, seared scallops, shrimp with zippy horseradish cocktail sauce, and caviar tarts topped with oyster cream and Champagne pearls, plus a bucatini with Maine lobster. There are also rich vegetarian options and meatier plates like steak tartare and fried chicken. The dining room is compact and intimate, perfect for a focused aperitivo experience.
Golden Ratio — Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Why go: thoughtfully rebuilt nonalcoholic cocktails that stand on their own
Golden Ratio is a minimalist corner bar making an argument for inclusive drinking. Every cocktail, listed by its primary ingredient (Nasturtium, Pine, Mandarin), can be made alcoholic or alcohol-free. The NA versions aren’t just spiritless copies; they’re rebuilt with texture, carbonation, and flavorful substitutions — for example, a Purple Shiso turns into an effervescent coupe with bread and lemon verbena notes. The menu’s simplicity — pick an ingredient, then choose alc or none — is a smart evolution from the 2010s mixology era and makes it a great stop for groups where some want booze and others don’t.
Folk — South Slope, Brooklyn
Why go: bold South Asian–inspired cocktails with hearty, spice-forward plates
From the team behind Lore, Folk is a cocktail-forward bar meant to be eaten at. The kitchen translates South Asian flavors into bar-friendly small plates: biryani arancini with korma, curry-leaf pesto crab risotto, and a pot pie stuffed with chicken tikka. Cocktails ($14–$18) echo those flavors — think a Mangalorean with rum, pineapple, and amchur-curried coconut cream, or a lychee-forward Hanami Bloom. The room, anchored by a green bar and a wall of decorative pink glass, feels sultry and local; many staff and regulars are from the neighborhood, so it reads like a community bar with inventive food and drinks.
Don’t Call Me Shirley — Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Why go: a low-key, late-70s–tinged neighborhood bar with outdoor space
Don’t Call Me Shirley is an easygoing bartender’s bar with a warm, retro tilt. The sanded-wood counter is the centerpiece; seating includes booths, a cozy back room with armchairs and a faux fireplace, and a disco ball that spins on weeknights. In warmer months there’s a backyard with picnic tables. The menu is simple and well executed: cocktails, a few beers on tap, and a rotating selection of reasonably priced wines. It’s cash-only and already feeling like a place you’ll want to become a regular.
Practical tips
– Seating can be limited at some of these spots (Stars, Dante Aperitivo); arriving early or being prepared to stand and sip helps.
– Golden Ratio is the place to go if someone in your group wants a serious nonalcoholic cocktail — the NA drinks are full-flavored and carefully composed.
– Folk pairs adventurous cocktails with substantial plates, so come hungry or plan to share.
– Don’t Call Me Shirley is neighborhood-focused and cash-only.
– Check each bar’s website or socials for reservation policies, hours, and seasonal changes like outdoor seating or rotating menus.
Taken together, these five bars show different directions in New York’s drinking scene: tight neighborhood wine bars, an aperitivo revival, serious NA options, regionally inspired cocktail kitchens, and relaxed local rooms. Each offers something distinct and is worth visiting on your next city bar crawl.