47 New Yorkers Share Their Favorite Martini in NYC

Image via Bemelmans Bar.

Whenever my wheels touch down at JFK, I get a craving for a hotel bar martini. Given my usual itineraries when I go to New York City, it only makes sense that my habits revolve around those two things. After a long work day last year, the only thing I cared about—outside of crawling into my bed at The Bowery—was having a Gibson in the bar beforehand. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.

While my experience in the city is somewhat limited to my 3-day jaunts there, I thought it was time for Sunday Scaries to have a reader-guided map for the best martinis in the city. From what I can tell, the Sunday Scaries following is filled with experts and aficionados. Give yourself a pat on the back.

Here’s everywhere our readers love to have a martini (or two).

People will tell you Dante’s but the answer is the Vesper at Employees Only.

The Spicy Pickle Martini at Albert’s is life-changing.

Cecchi’s - a classic NYC Martini and/or Appletini, sipped over top tier people watching.

The Chelsea Hotel. Like $33. Who cares. So fucking good.

Sour cream and onion at the Corner Store.

Bemelmans at The Carlyle. If you’re lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar and a jazz trio starting its the best, very old time New York. A special occasion evening for sure, pricey even by NYC standards but worth it. Great people watching and celeb spotting.

100% got to be Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle!

The Cajun Martini from Dirty French. Tequila based with jalepeno. Doesn’t taste as marg-y as it sounds.

Cozy Royale in Williamsburg. Served ice cold and to the brim in classic coupe. Always garnished with olives. $10 M-F during happy hour.

Bistrotini, Nightly’s, Upper East Side. Herbs de Provence and olive oil infused gin with dill and other fun light add ons, like the dirty martini’s older sister who is nice and smooth without salty after bite … pairs well with fries.

Gallaghers steakhouse. Sit at the bar, get shrimp cocktail. Enjoy. Ice cold and large glasses.

I’m sure this will come up a lot but it has to be said: Temple Bar vesper with a caviar bump. This is the place that started the bumps years ago, and it does not disappoint.

The back saloon at The Oyster Bar in Grand Central pours a quick and ice cold martini with the extra poured into a small carafe over a bed of ice for you to refill. A commuter classic!

Lobby bar at the Hotel Chelsea. Experienced bartenders who know what they’re doing and can recommend little tweaks to suit your tastes.

The Wall Street hotel has a “build-your-own” martini market that is worth the trip. Follow it up with another in the lounge and you’re sitting pretty.

Bemelmans is the classic best — their snack game is fire too. King Cole bar at St Regis and monkey bar are also up there for me.

Pomegranate martini at Balthazar. Or classic dirty at The Polo Bar. Or espresso at Bowery Hotel. Can’t go wrong with any.

Grapefruit martini at Nobu!

The Olive Martini at the Warren Street Bar & Restaurant. A perfectly vibey, underrated hotel location, the drink is savory and served ice cold, and includes Tanqueray 10, olive gin, finocchietto, olive bitters, agrumato oil. Simply perfect.

Don’t knock it until you try it but Appletini at Cecchi’s. Forget your grandma’s neon green Appletini, these ones are tart and refreshing. Plus the vibes of this spot are unparalleled.

Misi, Williamsburg. They are tiny, cold, and perfect.

By far my favorite martini in NYC is at Hillstone (378 Park Ave S). I order a classic dirty martini and it’s made to perfection every time. What’s more, when I’m about halfway in, they change out my glass to a new chilled one. The last sip tastes as good as the first!

Francisco’s Hideaway. Vibes, immaculate. Martini, filthy. They even have a Girl Dinner of Caesar salad and fries. Incredible all around.

Corner Store has a whole table side martini service but their sour cream and onion one? *chefs kiss*

Bemelman’s Bar. The UES energy, dim lighting and live piano make the crisp martini that never misses even more special.

50/50 from Cervo’s. It’s the lemon twist + olives that do it.

For a classic Martini, Bemelman’s hands down! I also love a good dirty martini and El Quijote’s is my favorite. They use a Gordal olive brine which has notes of garlic, citrus and/or chili.

The bar at Gramercy Tavern.

Pastis. Basic but never misses.

3 a.m. at J.G. Melon with the best burger in the world. The cure or the perfect capper for any kind of night.

Cosmo at The Odeon, everything about it is old New York.

Torchitini at Kubeh — Gin martini; garnished with homemade pickled vegetable(s).

Under the non traditional category: the martinis at Theodora are unreal. Offbeat flavors but still 100% martini vibes. Plus a sidecar.

Bemelmans. Easy.

The original Dante on MacDougal. NOT the West Village location on Perry St, that one feels like an influencer/Instagram trap. Best cocktails and classic New York vibes. If you want a DIRTY and briny cocktail, Fish Cheeks on Bond.

Jac’s on Bond (caprese), Bar Valentina (pizza martini stands out but ALL are fantastic), Tusk Bar (their Gibson is great but the real standout is the mini tinis paired with a seasonal oyster).

Signature martini at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle. Jazz piano. Old New York. Perfect.

Dirty martini at Gage & Tollner in downtown Brooklyn. Old steakhouse vibes and a small carafe of bonus martini, iced on the side.

Clover Club in Brooklyn. Their gin martini with apricot eau de vie is perfect. Obviously comes with a few extra ounces on ice on the side.

Juan’s martini at French Roast on 85th and Broadway. He works all but Sunday and Wednesday.

The caprese martini at Jac’s on Bond. So smooth.

Gene’s on 11th in the Village. 107 years old, white table cloth Italian, epitome of class without being pretentious. Colder than the blizzards this winter.

Hotel Chelsea Martini with gigantic, deliciously sanguine pimento stuffed olives. I still dream about that martini in the hotel lounge with tasseled low lit lamps and big velvet cushions.

A dirty gin martini or two with an order of fries at the Roxy. Enjoy the jazz at Django or the movie theater downstairs after.

Balthazar. Enough said.

Dukes martini Chelsea hotel lobby bar. No other answers this is the best anyone else is lying.

The dirty martini at Cafe Cluny in West Village, with garlic-infused vodka and tomato water. Just perfection to my palate.