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The Best Bars and Nightlife in Washington Heights

Where to drink in Washington Heights: neighborhood pubs, tapas and wine bars, a hotel bar, and cocktail rooms, with notes on happy hours and late hours.

Updated

The public stairway from the end of Pinehurst Avenue down to W 181st St, with a street lamp, railings and apartment buildings on both sides.
Beyond My Ken (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

Nightlife in Washington Heights ranges from dark-wood pubs and tapas bars to cocktail rooms and a hotel restaurant with a full bar. This guide is for people who want an evening out uptown without defaulting to a trip downtown.

We built it from the bars, cafe-bars, and restaurants with bars listed on Washington Heights Guide, and ranked them by how well they work as a night out. Picks are editorial: the order is our judgment, not star ratings, review counts, or any scoring system, and every place is a listing on Washington Heights Guide with its own page, sources, and verdict.

Bar hours are the least stable detail in any listing, and several places here have sources that disagree. Check the listing page, and call before a late night.

  1. 01

    Best neighborhood pub

    Bar

    Le Chéile

    A two-floor Irish pub that its website says has served the neighborhood for over a decade. A 2023 Infatuation guide mentions a view of the George Washington Bridge and singled out the wings; it is open until 2am Thursday through Sunday.

  2. 02

    Best for beer and baseball history

    Bar

    Hilltop Park Alehouse

    Named for the 1903 ballpark that was the original home of the team that became the Yankees. The Infatuation describes a long list of beers and ciders, and NYC's tourism listing mentions Tuesday trivia and Sunday live jazz.

  3. 03

    Best before a show

    Bar

    Manolo Tapas

    A Spanish tapas and wine bar across from the United Palace, open 4pm to 10pm daily with a weekday happy hour from 4 to 6pm. Its website says it is cash only, with an ATM inside.

  4. 04

    Best full bar with table service

    Restaurant

    Radio Restaurant

    The restaurant and bar at the Radio Hotel. Its site lists a bar open daily from noon, a happy hour from 4pm to 7pm Tuesday through Friday, and an events and music calendar.

  5. 05

    Best for cocktails after coffee

    Cafe

    The Uptown Garrison

    An all-day cafe that turns into a cocktail bar with a daily happy hour from 4 to 6pm, according to its hours page. A 2023 Infatuation guide mentioned affordable cocktails and wines on tap.

Sources