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: Blue Water Grill
Been a bartender for: 17 years
Signature drink: Stay Cation
The best thing about being a bartender is: All the people you get to meet and the places you get to travel to! Been around the world because of bar tending. Amazing!
Bar: Park Bar
Been a bartender for: 12 years
Signature drink: Manhattan
The best thing about being a bartender is: The characters I meet on a daily basis.
Bar: Florian
Been a bartender for: 18 years
Signature drink: Diavolo Zafferano
The best thing about being a bartender is: The best thing about being a bartender is being able to represent 'the modern-day alchemist'—mixing nightlife, philosophy, and sensuality with hospitality, charm and good spirit—all garnished with love and passion.
Bar: Gotham Bar & Grill
Been a bartender for: 20 years
Signature drink: All of them
The best thing about being a bartender is: As the creative mind/mixologist to some of the city's best eateries and bars, I really enjoy the creative aspect of developing seasonal menus. I love the whole process of sourcing fun, unique ingredients and spirits harmonizing them and wowing my guest.
Bar: Brother Jimmy’s
Been a bartender for: 6 years
Signature drink: Gin cocktail with St.Germain, pineapple and lemonade
The best thing about being a bartender is: Honestly, I love brightening people's day. So many people get caught up in the negativity of life and I do want I can to make my customers smile, be happy and get messy wasted!
Bar: Eleven Madison Park
Been a bartender for: Over a decade
Signature drink: Start Me Up
The best thing about being a bartender is: The creative process, the team and the guests.
Bar: Trattoria il Mulino
Been a bartender for: 3 years
Signature drink: Italian Amaro and Vermouth cocktails
The best thing about being a bartender is: Hanging out with all the regulars makes the bar feel like my living room rather than place of work.
Bar: Cosme
Been a bartender for: 11 years
Signature drink: A mezcal Old Fashioned variation
The best thing about being a bartender is: Meeting new people and having fun.
Bar: Harding’s
Been a bartender for: 10 years
Signature drink: The Black Forest
The best thing about being a bartender is: By far, the best thing about being a bartender is simply entertaining guests as if they were guests in my home. Just creating an experince that is unequivocal to anything else they have encountered in New York is what truly drives me.
Bar: Les Halles
Been a bartender for: 10 years
Signature drink: Manhattan
The best thing about being a bartender is: Everyday you can pretend to be someone else—the advice giver, the bitch, the strong independent woman, the ditz, the slut or the snob.
Bar: Marta
Been a bartender for: 10 years
Signature drink: Black Manhattan / Manhattan
The best thing about being a bartender is: Awkward first dates.
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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