The best bars near Union Square are a mix of cozy record bars, 130-year-old taverns and one very new rooftop. The neighborhood has always been better for a drink than people give it credit for, and 2026 gave it a real reason to come back.
This is a short, opinionated list of spots we would actually send a friend to. Every one of the best bars near Union Square below sits within a ten-minute walk of the park, so you can hop between them without a subway card.
Here are the 5 spots serving some of the best bars near Union Square, whether you are after a quiet cocktail, a historic pint, or a skyline.
Another Country – 🏆 Bowery Beat Editor Top Choice
Address: 10 E 16th St, New York, NY 10003
Style: Record bar with craft cocktails and shareable plates
Vibe: Cozy, low-lit, and soundtracked by vinyl
Price: $$$ (cocktails run in the high teens)
Website: anothercountry.nyc
Another Country took over the old Chat ‘n Chew diner space just off the square, and it is the best argument that the neighborhood can still do a good bar. The concept is a record bar (named for the James Baldwin novel), which means the music is chosen, not streamed, and you can actually talk over it.
The cocktail list is short and confident. Think a tropical mezcal and rum number called The Plural of Vinyl is Vinyl, or a stirred rye drink called Rufus. The small plates come from a chef with an Estela pedigree, so eat something.
It is walk-in friendly early in the week and gets tight on weekends. Go on a Tuesday if you want a stool and a real conversation.
Old Town Bar
Address: 45 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 529-6732
Style: Historic tavern with burgers and pub food
Vibe: Dark wood, tin ceiling, zero pretense
Price: $$ (beer and a burger without a second thought)
Website: oldtownbar.com
Old Town has been pouring since 1892, and it looks like it. The long mahogany bar, the pressed tin ceiling and the old-school booths feel like a movie set, because the place has appeared in plenty of them (and in the opening credits of Late Night with David Letterman).
The kitchen is upstairs and the burgers arrive at the bar by dumbwaiter, which is a great answer to the question of what to eat. Yes, the 1910 Hinsdale urinals are a thing people go to look at. No, you do not have to.
Among the best bars near Union Square, this is the pick for a cheap, no-fuss pint after work. Come early on Thursday and Friday, because everyone else has the same idea.
Pete’s Tavern
Address: 129 E 18th St (at Irving Place), New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 473-7676
Style: Historic Irish-leaning tavern and restaurant
Vibe: Old New York, a little touristy, still charming
Price: $$
Website: petestavern.com
Pete’s says it has been open since 1864 and calls itself the oldest continuously operating bar in the city (McSorley’s would like a word). Either way, it is a Gramercy landmark with a good story: legend has it O. Henry wrote The Gift of the Magi in one of the booths.
It was disguised as a flower shop during Prohibition, which tells you everything about how long this place has been finding ways to stay open. The room is warm, a bit cramped and full of history.
It is one of the best bars near Union Square for a second stop, a short walk east of the park, so it works as the second stop in a night that started somewhere flashier.
Guardian at the W
Address: 201 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003
Style: Rooftop cocktail bar with a retractable roof
Vibe: Dressy, skyline-first, very much a date spot
Price: $$$$ (reservations have carried a $75 per-person minimum)
If you want a view, the Guardian is the answer, and until this spring Union Square did not have a rooftop bar at all. It opened above the W hotel at the end of March 2026, with a wrap-around terrace and a roof that retracts, so it works past the warm months.
You enter through the hotel and climb a graffiti-lined stairwell near the top, which is a fun little reveal. Book through Resy if you can, since seated tables are where the minimum applies.
It is the splurge among the best bars near Union Square. Save it for a birthday, an anniversary, or a night you want to impress someone. For more elevated options across the city, see our guide to the best rooftop bars in NYC.
Lillie’s Union Square
Address: 13 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 337-1970
Style: Victorian-style Irish bar and restaurant
Vibe: Ornate, loud, and made for groups
Price: $$
Lillie’s goes big on the Victorian look, with wood paneling and fittings brought over from Belfast. The beer list is long (around 25 on tap) and the room is built for a crowd, whether that is coworkers, a birthday, or a pre-show warm-up.
It gets very busy around happy hour, so expect to shout a little. That is part of the charm, and also the reason to come with a group instead of a date.
If you want something quieter, walk two blocks to Another Country. If you want more noise, you are already in the right place.
So, What Are the Best Bars Near Union Square?
Picking the best bars near Union Square really depends on what you are in the mood for.
If you want a great cocktail and a good record, Another Country has it.
If you want history, Old Town Bar and Pete’s Tavern deliver.
If you want a view, the Guardian at the W is the one.
If you want a loud night with a crowd, Lillie’s is hard to beat.
There is no single answer, and that is kind of the point. If you are planning a night out, you will also like our picks for the best cocktail bars in NYC for a date and the best wine bars in NYC.
Pick one, grab a stool, and let the night go where it goes.
