The affluent neighborhoods of SoHo and TriBeCa are abundant with some of the city’s best upscale watering holes. Unlike the East Village, better known for its cheeky dives, or the Greenwich and West Villages, home of quirky-cool college-style spots like Off the Wagon, the selection of bars in SoHo and TriBeCa are highly reflective of its well-heeled, upperclass denizens (although there are a handful of great, messy little dives hidden in there). To make your life easier, we've whittled down a definitive list of the two hoods' best drinking spots based on ratings, reviews and of course, our own fieldwork (tough job, we have). So, whether you're the stereotypical young SoHo sophisticate in search of your new favorite after-work cocktail lounge, or a regular Joe after some reasonably-priced pours at a down-to-earth little pub (yes, they do exist in this neighborhood) we've found a spot to suit your tastes.
Sway - Best Upscale Bar With Fantastic Cocktails
First on the list is the New York Magazine 'Critic’s Picked' Sway, nestled in SoHo's northern perimeter on Spring Street. This beautifully exotic, Moroccan-themed bar is one of the hottest nightspots in town according to Club Planet, scoring rave reviews from Yelpers for its free cover, great music and mixed crowd, and a 4/5 star average from NYC.com. Citysearch reviews praise Sway's 'amazing music, gorgeous waitresses' and 'best cocktails in the city,' while NYC Daily Deals proclaims that its long-running Sunday night Smiths/Morrisey Party, deejayed by the uber hip Ben Cho and Brian DeGraw, is hands-down one of the best Sunday night parties in the city.
Spring Lounge - Best Laid Back Bar
If you're looking for a spot that's a little more laid-back and low-key though, it's essential you check out the NearSay Staff Pick Spring Lounge (also widely known as 'the shark bar,' thanks to the large stuffed sharks proudly and prominently displayed throughout). The delightfully quirky Spring offers $1 off draught beer and well drinks during Happy Hour every weekday (5:00 - 7:00 pm) free hot dogs to soak up the alcohol every Wednesday from 5:00 pm, and free bagels on Sundays at noon (meant for pairing with a Bloody Mary or three as the ultimate hangover cure, they promise). Still not convinced? It's been proclaimed by L Magazine as the 'Best Bar to Drink in Before Noon,' and has been featured in the bestselling Jef Klein book The History and Stories of the Best Bars in New York (Turner Publishing). And with a tagline like 'Start Your Day Off With a Stiff Drink: Open at 8am,' you know it's a winner.
The Anchor - Best Swanky, A-List Bar
If you're after something a little more typically SoHo-glam, then you can't beat The Anchor. Nightlife experts Club Planet voted The Anchor as one of 'NYC's Best Bars 2010,' and declared it 'stands strong on [their] list as one of the best bars in New York...the music is always on point, the bar is not too big and not to small, the crowd is eclectic, and the doormen are nice.' These sentiments are echoed by New York Magazine, who 'Critic's Picked' the bar and revealed it's heavily frequented by A-Listers like Johnny Knoxville, Charlotte Ronson, Doug Aitken, and Drea de Matteo. No surprise, really - with The Anchor's swanky, antler-shaped chandeliers, upscale-vintage decor and plush leather banquettes, it's an atmosphere perfect for the pickiest of socialites.
The Nancy Whiskey Pub - Best Dive Bar
Looking to kick back and booze it up somewhere a little less fancy? We highly recommend TriBeCa's classic local hang (and the news desk's favorite little dive, admittedly) The Nancy Whiskey Pub. Totally unpretentious with delightfully down-to-earth bartenders, this unassuming-looking little spot on the corner of West Broadway and Lispenard offers up a great selection of cold beer, some of the best pub burgers you'll ever taste (we get them every Wednesday) and good vibes all around. But don't just take our word for it: Nancy Whiskey's been pronounced by the Village Voice as one of 'New York City's Best Dive Bars' in 2010, scores a 4/5 star average and rave reviews by loyal clientele on Yelp, a 100% rating on Urbanspoon, and even a 'Critic's Pick' from New York Magazine (note: we knew none of this prior to the research of this article, we just liked their pork chops and booze).
Lani Kai - Seriously Fun Mixed Drinks and Tropical Bar Food
Last but not least, we've got Hawaiian cocktail bar Lani Kai, the top-rated, Julie Reiner-owned 'new bar on the block' that was making headlines even before it officially opened its doors this October. The Village Voice recently went hunting for the scoop on the flashy new 'modern-tropical' bar and came back with patrons raving 'their drinks are really, really strong and it's absolutely beautiful inside.' And it's no surprise, as Reiner takes her cocktails seriously (we counted around thirty different cocktails on the menu; they also offer champagne, a great selection of red, white wine and even sake). Of all the libations on offer however, we highly recommend Lani Kai's 'Crystal Skull' cocktail - jalapeno-infused tequila fused with maraschino, absinthe and orange bitters.
The Best Bars in SoHo and TriBeCa
Sway is located at 305 Spring Street, between Hudson and Greenwich Streets.
Spring Lounge is located at 48 Spring Street, near Mulberry Street.
The Anchor is located at 310 Spring Street, near Renwick Street.
The Nancy Whiskey Pub is located at 1 Lispenard Street, at West Broadway.
Lani Kai is located at 525 Broome Street, between Thompson and Sullivan Streets.
