A Guide to Our Favorite Martinis in New York City

Claudia shares her list of bars and restaurants serving up her favorite cocktail

Jul 11, 2025

I learned to make a martini when I was 10. My dad had one every night with dinner and wanted me to know what it took to be a good bartender at a very young age. Tanqueray. Vermouth. A lemon twist. At the time, I thought it tasted like nail polish remover.

Now, I’m weeks away from turning 30 and I finally see why he loved this classic cocktail so much. It’s simple, cold, and chic as hell. And living in New York, I have a world of really good martinis at my disposal. I don’t drink them every night with dinner, but I do drink them every chance I get. Though I prefer them dirty, which I don’t think my dad would approve of if he was alive today.

Through my years of research, I’ve discovered a handful of bars and restaurants in the city doing martinis right. In no particular order, here are my favorites:

The Spot: A new, vibrant, New Orleans-inspired spot with incredible seafood

The Martini: Ice cold, perfectly dirty, & served in incredible glassware

Swan Room, Dimes Square

The Spot: A chic, swanky lobby bar in Nine Orchard. The architecture is incredible because it’s actually a famous old bank. This is the place that inspired us to name our newsletter The Martini Service!

The Martini: Served with a side of incredible olive juice so you can choose your own level of dirty.

Cecchi’s, West Village(ish)

The Spot: A cool, modern take on an old New York supper club

The Martini: Generously-sized, served with the good olives, and only $25 for a martini & fries.

Keen’s Steakhouse, Herald Square

The Spot: My favorite, old-school steakhouse in the world. It’s a white tablecloth type of place and full of history.

The Martini: As classic as it gets

Portrait Bar, Midtown

The Spot: Located in the historic Fifth Avenue Hotel, this swanky bar feels like a little dirty secret. It’s my favorite place to go before a broadway show.

The Martini: Perfectly-chilled, generously-sized, and served with an assortment of garnishes over ice

Brooklyn Social, Carrol Gardens

The Spot: A cozy, romantic sort of hole in the wall. There’s a back patio and a pool table, making it the perfect place to spend hours.

The Martini: Crisp, cold, and perfectly-dirty

Saraghina Caffè, Fort Greene

The Spot: An elegant, Italian spot that’ll transport you straight to Milan. They have a great happy hour special with cheap martinis and little snacks.

The Martini: Perfectly-dirty and served with the good olives

Strip House, Union Square

The Spot: A cheeky, somewhat tacky (but in a good way) kind of steakhouse that writes happy birthday in chocolate on your plate and serves your steak with an entire head of roasted garlic

The Martini: Honestly, not that good. But the vibes are so good that it’s ok.

Monkey Bar, Midtown East

The Spot: A chic, old New York place that reminds me of why I love this city so much. The murals on the wall, the little red lamps, and red booths. It’s perfect.

The Martini: As classic as it gets

Honorable Mentions:

Happy sipping!

Claudia