NYC's best fireplace bars

What is it? One of the oldest bars in the U.S.A

Why we love it: During Prohibition, too many of the local politicians and cops drank at McSorley’s for it to even pretend to close. Lincoln is said to have had a mug here and the place probably looked the same then as it does now. Old photographs and yellowing newspaper clippings cover the walls, and turkey wishbones, left by doughboys before they shipped out in World War I (or so the story goes), hang above the bar. The fireplace is in the back room–stately. They’ve got two beers: light and dark. They’re both good.

Time Out tip: Bring cash, because cards are rejected, and mind the house motto: be good or be gone.

Address: 15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am–1am; Sun noon–1am

Expect to pay: ~$5-8/beer; ~$7-12/plate of food

What is it? A tiny Gowanus wine bar made to look like an upstate cabin.

Why we love it: A wood-burning brick fireplace warms the main room, and outside there’s a fire pit and a deck full of Adirondack chairs. The inside is dim and low-key, with farm tool salvage on the walls. They offer about 30 wines by the glass and plus hot mulled wine when it’s cold. Tuesday is fondue night. We love fondue.

Time Out tip: There are no reservations, so get there early if you want a seat near the fireplace.

Address: 415 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 3pm–midnight; Fri 3pm–1am; Sat 1pm–1am; Sun 1pm–midnight

Expect to pay: ~$10-17/glass of wine,~$32-62/bottle of wine; ~$11-14/cocktail; ~$7-17/small plates

What is it? A NoMad (shudder) whiskey parlor and supper lounge.

Why we love it: The room has old-money vibes. Vintage wallpaper, chandeliers, reclaimed plank floors, and–of course–a fireplace. Whiskey is the draw: the list has over 1,000. The “Bottle Keep” program lets you buy a bottle and keep it on premises with your name on it. The kitchen offers sushi rolls, small plates and an eye-wateringly expensive tomahawk steak that feeds several.

Time Out tip: Book ahead (a reservation is good for two hours, and late cancellations and no-shows cost $45 a person), or come on weekdays from 5pm to 7pm, when selected cocktails are $14.

Address: 37 W 26th St, New York, NY 10010

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5pm–midnight; Fri, Sat 5pm–1am; Sun 5pm–midnight

Expect to pay: ~$21-23/cocktail; ~$19-35/glass of wine,~$90-500+/bottle of wine; ~$24-72/plate of food, plus group orders that range way up to $195 depending on how many people you’re feeding. 

What is it? A lovely Cobble Hill cocktail bar.

Why we love it: Clover Club is a crowd pleaser–part neighborhood bar, part cocktail destination, part bistro. The service is wonderful—the staff is friendly and accommodating even if the place is packed. The front room has a handsome long bar down the middle, with red leather banquettes and marble tables along the walls. The fireplace is in the back room, which private groups tend to reserve, so don’t count on it being free. But it might be! 

Time Out tip: Come for weekday happy hour. The deals are worth your while; not exactly cheap, but a nice little discount.

Address: 210 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4pm–midnight; Fri 4pm–1am; Sat noon–1am; Sun noon–midnight

Expect to pay: ~$8-13/beer; ~$17-25/cocktail; ~$17-19/glass of wine, ~$50-150/bottle of wine; ~$16-22/small plates; ~$19-39/mains

What is it? A grand hotel lounge.

Why we love it: The lobby is full of dark wood paneling, pretty rugs and tiles, and comfy seating. Namely, velvet furniture, which encircles the classy stone fireplace. The bar in back pours classic cocktails and, in winter, fragrant mulled wine. It’s worth going even if you’re not a guest.

Time Out tip: The couches by the fireplace are for hotel guests, so go early on a weeknight and try your luck. A stool at the bar isn’t a bad choice, though.

Address: 335 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Sun-Wed 5pm–2am; Thu-Sat 5pm–4am

Expect to pay: ~$10-12/beer; ~$17-19/cocktail; ~$15-35/glass of wine,~$60-150/bottle of wine

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tiffany | Fashion, Food & Lifestyle (@tiffanybubblegos)

What is it? A lounge with nightly live jazz and, yes, a fireplace.

Why we love it: It’s silly, with impressive salvage pieces: a carved marble fireplace, designy Art Deco wallpaper, teller windows from Grand Central. If you find yourself over in Murray Hill, it’s worth the cost of a drink just to take a look at the stuff–it’s pretty cool. Live jazz goes up nightly, which is a reason in itself for a visit.

Time Out tip: No-shows for reservations pay $45 a head, so make sure you’re committed. Order the smoking Old Fashioned–it’s aromatic and wow-inducing.

Address: 9 E 37th St, New York, NY 10016

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 5pm–11pm; Thu 5pm–midnight; Fri, Sat 5pm–1am; Sun 5pm–11pm

Expect to pay: ~$10-12/beer; ~$21-23/cocktail; ~$19-35/glass of wine,~$90-650/bottle of wine; ~$10-40/small plates; ~$26-195/mains

What is it? A Gramercy Irish pub with a sawdust floor and a bar at this address since 1895.

Why we love it: Real logs burn in the fireplace through the winter. All kids love logs! The place just feels comforting. People gather around the fire while they wait for a table for dinner–pub-style Irish fare. The bar is dark mahogany, and old portraits line the walls. Picture the perfect pub to duck into on a snowy evening for a pint of Guinness and a shepherd’s pie. That’s Molly’s right there.

Time Out tip: You don’t have to eat here, but you’ll want to. The food doesn’t make it a destination, but it’s tasty and part of the whole experience.

Address: 287 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

Opening hours: Daily 11am–4am

Expect to pay: ~$10-11/beer; ~$12-17/cocktail; ~$7-18/smallplates; ~$13-29/mains

What is it? A West Village craft beer standby with 28 rotating taps, hand-pumped cask ales, and a fireplace on Bleecker Street.

Why we love it: One of the city’s best-known craft beer bars. That’s a double-edged sword–it can get packed. But if you catch it right, you’ll find a beer lineup that changes constantly. They’ve got over 15 taps plus bottles. And they can make cocktails, too. Old wood beams and a fireplace give the room character. This place is a must for beer enthusiasts.

Time Out tip: Go on a weekday afternoon, get a seat near the fireplace, order a grilled cheese.

Address: 281 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am–4am; Sat, Sun 10am–4am

Expect to pay: ~8-12/beer (with higher prices for large-format bottles); ~$6-16/small plates; ~$12-18/mains, ~$9-14/cocktails; ~$14/glass of wine, ~$56/bottle of wine

What is it? A wood-paneled whiskey bar inside a 1719 building on Pearl Street.

Why we love it: Fraunces has several bars, and this one has a fireplace. It’s also got leather armchairs and an old-world look with vibes to match. This place is historic for a lot of reasons—mostly that it’s been here for so damn long. You can have one experience in one bar, and another in another. Plus dinner. Wander to the bathroom with care–it’s easy to get lost. The back bar lists more than 500 whiskies from Ireland, Scotland, and beyond. 

Time Out tip: This isn’t the main bar. That’s often populated by finance bros decompressing after a long day, poor guys. Walk through that as you enter and head left to find the Whiskey Bar.

Address: 54 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 11:30am–midnight; Thu, Fri 11:30am–1am; Sat 11am–1am; Sun 11am–midnight

Expect to pay: ~$8-12/beer; ~$16-22/cocktail; ~$16-20/glass of wine,~$62-80/bottle of wine; ~$6-36/small plates; ~$22-60/mains

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dynaco (@dynaco_bar)

What is it? A Bed-Stuy bar with a wood-burning fireplace in its back room.

Why we love it: Dynaco reopened after nearly a year, when a fire forced them to close their doors. The back room and its fireplace thing (NOT the culprit—it was the apartment upstairs) escaped the flames. They make excellent cocktails here, with a great menu for beer lovers, too. Out back, benches and stools circle the fire pit/hearth/thing.

Time Out tip: Dynaco is cash only, and the seats by the fireplace go first.

Address: 1112 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5pm–2am; Sat from 4pm

What is it? A Greenwich Village cocktail bar with a spice-centered menu.

Why we love it: Mace was No. 18 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list in 2023. It continues ot get shout-outs for cocktail excellence. Each cocktail is designed around a specific spice’s flavor profile. It’s a fun, novel approach to cocktailing. And, if you’re a visual person, the menu is illustrated, which is helpful and charming. The fireplace makes the room more inviting in colder months, but don’t expect to just waltz in and plop down–space is scarce.

Time Out tip: Reserve ahead. 

Address: 35 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 4pm–midnight; Thu 4pm–1am; Fri 2pm–2am; Sat 1pm–2am; Sun 1pm–11pm

Expect to pay: ~$19.50-23.50/cocktail; ~$12-16/plate of food

What is it? A Lower East Side hotel lounge.

Why we love it: It’s got an industrial-loft look, which isn’t exactly convincing. It’s bohemian hip with couches, cowhide chairs and chandeliers. The limestone fireplace is handsome to be sure. There’s a garden courtyard, too. Cocktails and wine are the thing here.

Time Out tip: Come on a weekday afternoon, when the leather couches near the fireplace are least likely to be occupied. But even so they may very well be. In that case, you must sit and wait, perched like an eagle ready to strike.

Address: 180 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am–11pm; Fri, Sat 11am–1am; Sun 11am–11pm

What is it? A sprawling 5,000-square-foot Park Slope bar.

Why we love it: Few Brooklyn bars put a reading room, bocce and a comedy venue under one roof. Plus hamburgers. Union Hall is a draw–it would have to be to pull young people to Park Slope. Up front, tufted leather couches and armchairs sit around fireplaces in a room lined with ceiling-high bookshelves. The two bocce courts await in the large space at the back. And downstairs there’s live music and comedy most nights. It’s perfect for a big group or a low-pressure date.

Time Out tip: The bocce courts are free and first-come, first–served, except during league play. Check the schedule if you’re dead set on playing.

Address: 702 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4pm–2am; Fri 4pm–4am; Sat 1pm–4am; Sun 1pm–2am

Expect to pay: ~6-12/beer; ~11-12/glass of wine, ~$35-48/bottle of wine; ~$16-18/cocktail; ~$8-16/plate of food

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Art Bar (@artbarnyc)

What is it? A reliable dive-lounge for more than three decades.

Why we love it: It’s a dive at heart; an unpretentious standby that’s consistent and doesn’t ask much of its guests except that they enjoy themselves (and tip the bartender). Roomy round booths, local art on the walls, a wooden bar and a jukebox–Art Bar delivers where it counts. Past the curtain in the back room, there are couches and an ice luge. Just kidding. It’s a fireplace. There’s a happy hour every day of the week.

Time Out tip: The kitchen stays open late here, so this is great for a post-work or post-movie bite.

Address: 52 8th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Daily 4pm–4am

Expect to pay: ~$5-13/beer; ~$10.50-20/cocktail; ~$7.50-10/glass of wine, ~$33-125/bottle of wine; ~$7/mixed drinks; ~$5-15/small plates; ~$10-16/mains

What is it? One of the only actual speakeasies left.

Why we love it: The Back Room was open during Prohibition–hidden behind Ratner’s, the vegetarian kosher restaurant. You have to go on a bit of a quest to get in: start at the gate on Norfolk Street and follow the alley. It’s dimly lit, with velvet seating, a fireplace and a rotating bookcase that conceals a VIP room. Cocktails are served in china teacups, and the beer comes wrapped in paper bags. There’s no food, so eat first.

Time Out tip: Live jazz on Mondays is free. Keep in mind that Fridays and Saturdays are strictly 25 and over, and there’s a short dress code: no baseball caps or flip-flops.

Address: 102 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002

Opening hours: Mon 6pm–1am; Tue-Thu 6pm–2am; Fri, Sat 6pm–3am; Sun 6pm–1am

Expect to pay: ~$9/beer; ~$17/cocktail; ~$13/glass of wine, ~$65-500+/bottle of wine

What is it? A bar atop the ModernHaus SoHo hotel.

Why we love it: The indoor lounge is 18 floors up. Huge windows frame the city with some dramatic icons in the picture–it’s pretty cool. The conversation pit is all bluuuuuuue velveeeeeeet and leather, which is fun. A fireplace is a real boon in cold months. This place turns up on weekends—especially during the summer when the roof deck and its pool are the destination.

Time Out tip: Get there right at 5pm on a Monday or Tuesday to claim your place by the fire.

Address: 15 Thompson St, New York, NY 10013

Opening hours: Mon, Tue 5pm–midnight; Wed, Thu 5pm–1am; Fri, Sat 5pm–2am; Sun 5pm–midnight

Expect to pay: ~$9-11/beer; ~$23-26/cocktail; ~$20-45/glass of wine,~$95-1k+/bottle of wine; ~$20-30/mixed drinks; ~$12-24/small plates