Nate Danker
Bar: The Belfry
Been a bartender for: 2.5 years
Signature drink: Smoke Signals
The best thing about being a bartender is: Being able to be as creative as you want and making the perfect cocktail for the patron in front of you.
Whether you’re a fan of dive bars, beer bars, rooftop bars, romantic bars or any other kind of bar, you can always find what you’re looking for in New York—most of us don’t even need to leave our neighborhoods to visit a bar (and bartender) we love. If your favorite bartender made it to the shortlist below, vote for them, then come back on March 17 to see if they made it into the final 50.
Bar: The Belfry
Been a bartender for: 2.5 years
Signature drink: Smoke Signals
The best thing about being a bartender is: Being able to be as creative as you want and making the perfect cocktail for the patron in front of you.
Bar: Professor Thom’s
Been a bartender for: 7 years
Signature drink: Bulleit Old Fashioned
The best thing about being a bartender is: All the different people I get to meet and the insane bar stories I've collected along the way.
Bar: The Crocodile Lounge
Been a bartender for: 11 years
Signature drink: Anything from my drink menu I created
The best thing about being a bartender is: Taking someone from an introvert to the life of the party—in four drinks or less.
Bar: Narcissa
Been a bartender for: 23 years
Signature drink: Spanish Fly
The best thing about being a bartender is: Taking care of people and giving them things they never knew they wanted. With a background in photochemistry, I approach cocktails through a science lens. I never know what's trendy/cool, but I do know what sounds delicious. It’s like a magic trick.
Bar: Donostia
Been a bartender for: 5 years
Signature drink: Bamboo Cocktail
The best thing about being a bartender is: For me, the best thing about bartending is the amount of hospitality given out during the course of a shift. I love it when friends come in and everyone is hanging out together or when you meet someone for the first time and you make them feel special.
Bar: Ducks Eatery
Been a bartender for: 9 years
Signature drink: Mezcal Hug
The best thing about being a bartender is: Regulars, high five garnishes, boomerangs and the USBG.
Bar: Angelina’s
Been a bartender for: 12 years
Signature drink: Martinis
The best thing about being a bartender is: Meeting people and the energy of the night.
Bar: Pouring Ribbons
Been a bartender for: 15 years
Signature drink: All things agave
The best thing about being a bartender is: A chance to save the world, one cocktail at a time.
Bar: The Third Man
Been a bartender for: 4 years
Signature drink: The Dowey Laugh
The best thing about being a bartender is: Getting to meet all different kinds people, listening and laughing with them.
Bar: Armor y Amargo
Been a bartender for: 13 years
Signature drink: Campfire Old Fashioned
The best thing about being a bartender is: I live for service. I love being a part of my guests experience.
Bartenders are such a big part of our day-to-day life in New York that it’s easy to take them for granted, but where would we be without their beer-pouring, drink-mixing, sob-story–listening, make-all-your-evenings-magical-through-the-power-of-booze ways? That’s why we’re celebrating them with a competition to find the absolute best bartender in NYC.
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