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New York City has never exactly struggled to make a great martini—or a great anything, really—but now it has fresh bragging rights. The 2025 edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars just dropped its extended ranking of spots sitting at No. 51 through No. 100, and four NYC watering holes made the cut. Even better: One of them is brand new to the global stage.
The highest debut belongs to Schmuck, a East Village bar that snagged the No. 59 spot. The cheekily named newcomer has quickly earned buzz for playful cocktails, theatrical presentation and a vibe that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a major coup to land on the list in the first year of eligibility, especially given the global competition that stretches from Bangkok to Buenos Aires.
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Alongside Schmuck, three local stalwarts returned to the rankings. Attaboy, the speakeasy-style bar on Eldridge Street, climbed 12 places to No. 72, proof that its choose-your-own-adventure approach to cocktails still charms judges more than a decade after opening. Martiny’s, a Japanese-influenced cocktail bar in Gramercy helmed by mixology veteran Takuma Watanabe, held steady in the mid-70s at No. 75. And Employees Only, the West Village institution that helped kickstart the modern cocktail revival, showed it’s still got it, landing at No. 95.
Altogether, the U.S. put eight bars on the 51–100 list, with New York representing half of that total. San Francisco’s True Laurel (No. 64), L.A.’s Mírate (No. 93), Chicago’s Kumiko (No. 97) and Miami’s Café La Trova (No. 82) rounded out the American winners.
“The extended 51–100 list is another opportunity to celebrate the passion, creativity and world-class hospitality that define the very best in the business,” said Emma Sleight, head of content for The World’s 50 Best Bars. “From brand new destinations and emerging markets to beloved favourites, the extended ranking shines a light on even more of the world’s finest bars.”
This isn’t the final word—The World’s 50 Best Bars will reveal its main list, counting down the top 50, at a live event in Hong Kong on October 8. But for now, New York can raise a very stylish glass: The city’s bar scene is still setting the pace for the rest of the world.