Where to Drink in New York: the 8 Best Bar Tours

1.NYC: Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 474 reviews · from $36Our pick

Spend three hours walking through Midtown and visiting three very different historic bars, lounges, and speakeasies. Your English-speaking guide connects immigrant life, Gilded Age women, gangsters, bootleggers, and the fall of Prohibition. Guides such as Ariel, Ryan, Katie, Katherine, and Rori are known for lively storytelling. Drinks cost extra.

“Rori, our tour guide was full of energy and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend her!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.NYC: Bar, Lounge and Rooftop Nightlife Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 442 reviews · from $36

Spend three hours with an English-speaking NYC nightlife host, visiting at least three Midtown venues, including a rooftop lounge, cocktail bar, and local pub or speakeasy. Hosts such as Jonathan, Ryan, Annie, and Kate add neighborhood stories and help solo visitors meet people. Admission is included, but drinks and food cost extra.

“Thank you so much Bella for an excellent tour around the bars of NYC. It was a great mix of venues and very fun to meet new people. Also very interesting how you described the history of the different bars and the neighborhood. Your enthusiasm and pride in being a new yorker makes you a great ambassador for your city. This is one of our best memories from our visit. Jenny and Lars (Sweden)”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Guided Speakeasy Walking Tour of New York City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 336 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $34Best value

Start at 67 Clinton Street with a guide such as Alex, Lyonel, Lily, or Darius, then walk to up to seven concealed bars in Lower Manhattan. Expect unmarked doors, reserved tables, Prohibition stories, and cocktails purchased separately. The route usually ends near nightlife and subway stations on Chrystie Street.

“This was a great experience and so much fun! Highly recommend this tour. The guide was fabulous and really knew his history.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.The Speakeasy Adventure: A Tipsy Trip Through History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 220 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $38Top rated

Walk Midtown with a local guide such as Ryan, Ariel, Kate, Tim, or Emily, stopping at three bars tied to New York’s drinking past. You’ll hear stories of Prohibition, Restaurant Row, Broadway, and immigration, with express entry and one complimentary drink. Bring photo ID, dress upscale casual, and budget about $20 per drink.

“This was a fun tour that made it easy to see a couple speakeasies without any of the work to research or find them yourself. Ariel was a great guide who shared some knowledge and was very personable. It was also pretty fun checking places out in a group and meeting new people. Lots of interesting/fun drinks at the various bars. They rotate venues depending on availability for the evening, and some are a little less "speak-easy-ish" than you might expect, but it was still a lot of fun regardless.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour NYC

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 204 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $38

Spend about three hours walking Midtown with guides such as Ryan, Ariel, Julian, Walter, or Katherine, learning about Prohibition and New York’s Gilded Age while visiting three distinct cocktail bars. Admission and preferred entry are included, but drinks and gratuity cost extra. Expect upscale casual dress, valid photo ID, and a maximum group of 18.

“The tour was so much fun. We had just gotten into the city and weren’t sure what to do because the weather was iffy. We had looked at this option earlier in the week and just didn’t know what night to go for it. We are so glad we did! Ryan was phenomenal and his knowledge and presentation of the stories and history made the night. The spots were hit were each very unique and different from the others which made each stop that much more fun. Not only did he know a lot about the locations and histories of the areas, he knew the staff at each location which…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.NYC: Night Out Prohibition History Bar and Speakeasy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 128 reviews · 3 hours · from $36

Walk from 8th Avenue to Times Square with a local guide such as Ariel, Ryan, or Sarah, stopping at three Midtown bars, pubs, lounges, and speakeasies. You’ll hear stories about Prohibition, immigration, politics, and Midtown’s changing streetscape while enjoying priority entry. Drinks and food cost extra, and upscale-casual dress is required.

“My husband and I had the best Saturday night on this tour led by Steven. He was very knowledgeable and personable. Each place we went to was rich in history with delicious drinks and food!! It’s so much fun exploring the city with others!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.New York City Nightclub Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 117 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $85

Start at a Chelsea lounge around 10:30 pm with a host such as Uncle Sam, Dmitry, or Sam, then travel by luxury coach to two Manhattan nightlife venues. The package promises priority entry, one lounge drink, two club drinks, and transportation. A VIP upgrade adds a private table and unlimited bottle service, but reported organization has varied sharply.

“The girls at the all places we went were stunning to say the least. Combined with the Vegas type atmosphere of the club and the friendliness of the host really topped of my night. Now I can say I have experienced the allure of NYC nightlife.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Guided Walking Tour of Greenwich Village Nightlife

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $39

Meet your guide at Astor Place at 7:00 pm for a two-hour walk through Greenwich Village nightlife. You’ll see the Stonewall Inn, Comedy Cellar, and sites linked to Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, and Chris Rock. Guides such as Gaby and Ceclia add stories, theater context, and practical recommendations. Food, drinks, and club entry cost extra.

“Excellent walking tour. The guide was knowledgeable and made the tour very enjoyable for everybody providing historical background, personal experience and interesting descriptions of the what we visited.”

Check availability →Read our full review