Spring bars 2012

Winter may have been mild this year, but there’s still reason to celebrate the arrival of warmer temps. The leads from the new Broadway musical Once guide us through the city’s prime vernal watering holes, plus the refreshing cocktails you’ll be sipping all season long.

By Time Out editors Wed Mar 21 2012

Best bars in New York City

Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti from Once at the Wayland Photograph: Elizabeth Weinberg; hair and makeup: Jen Myles using Makeup Forever; guitar furnished by Martin Guitar and Strings; shot at the Wayland

Bars to visit now
The best places to drink in warm weather.
Ten cocktails to try now
Your winter-to-spring drinking guide.
Hot openings
Put these newcomers on your radar now: They’re where you’ll be drinking when the weather really warms up.
Rooftop bars in NYC
Booze with a view of New York at our favorite hotel-toppers and decks—from lounges with tough doors to affordable, no-hassle picks.
Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti of Once
The stars of the indie-film–based musical dish about their secret cover-band past and Brooklyn bars.
Video: Once preview
Watch "Falling Slowly" and "When Your Mind's Made Up."
Pre- and post-theater bars
If you’re catching Once or another Broadway show, pause at one of these nearby haunts.
Bars with live music
Whether you want jazz with your old fashioned or metal with your PBR, here’s where to take in some tunes while you drink.
Bars for any weather: rain or shine
These bars boast prime outdoor spots and intriguing interiors—just in case the weather gets crappy.
Three bar crawls near parks
Spend a day in the sun at either Central Park, Prospect Park or Astoria Park, then hit up three drinking holes nearby.