The after-work client drink is a specific kind of business activity with its own rules. It’s more casual than dinner but still performative — the bar you choose says something about your taste and your local knowledge. It’s shorter than a dinner but should feel unhurried. It’s an opportunity to have a conversation that the structured meeting format doesn’t allow, which means the bar needs to be quiet enough to actually talk.
The bars in this guide work specifically for client entertainment. Several of them are not the most exciting bars in Manhattan for a night out with friends — they’re chosen because they perform the client-drink function well, which is a different set of criteria.
The Hotel Bar Tier: Safe, Impressive, Professional
The Bar at Baccarat Hotel at 28 West 53rd Street is the most visually impressive hotel bar in Manhattan — the crystal and the room design do significant work before the first drink arrives. The cocktail program is serious, the service is excellent, and the choice signals a level of care that clients notice. For a first client drink in a context where impressions matter, this is the most reliable option in Midtown.
The King Cole Bar at the St. Regis at 2 East 55th Street is the most historically significant bar in Manhattan — Maxfield Parrish’s Old King Cole mural has been in this room since 1906, and the Red Snapper (the St. Regis’s version of the Bloody Mary, which they claim to have invented) is genuinely good. The room is intimate, the service is old-school professional, and for clients who appreciate that the city has history, the choice communicates local knowledge.
The NoMad Bar at 1170 Broadway is the best cocktail program in a hotel bar setting in Manhattan. The cocktails are genuinely exceptional — the team behind Dead Rabbit shaped the program — the room is beautiful, and the library space adjacent to the main bar is one of the better spots in Manhattan to have a conversation over drinks. Slightly south of Midtown but walkable from most Flatiron-area offices.
Bar SixtyFive at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is the 65th-floor bar in 30 Rock, which means the views of the Midtown skyline from the western windows are extraordinary. The drinks are competent rather than exceptional, but the view does enough work that the cocktail quality is secondary. For a client who hasn’t been and who will appreciate a genuinely spectacular New York moment, this is a legitimate choice. Reservations required.
The Serious Cocktail Tier: For Clients Who Know Their Drinks
Dead Rabbit at 30 Water Street in the Financial District is the most acclaimed cocktail bar in Manhattan and one of the most acclaimed in the world. The Irish whiskey collection is extraordinary, the seasonal cocktail menu is exceptional, and the Parlour upstairs is the right venue for a serious client who appreciates craft. The Financial District location works for clients based downtown; it requires a commitment from Midtown.
Employees Only at 510 Hudson Street in the West Village has been making excellent classic cocktails since 2004. The prohibition-era aesthetic is executed with enough authenticity that it doesn’t feel like a costume. For a client who’s been in New York enough to have strong opinions about bars, this is a choice that signals real local knowledge. The late-night kitchen until 3:30am is useful if drinks extend into the evening.
The Understated Options: Good Without the Theater
The Raines Law Room on West 17th Street operates without a sign, serves cocktails in the $20-24 range, and has a genuinely intimate atmosphere that works well for a conversation-first client drink. The couch-and-low-table format means you’re sitting beside rather than across from each other, which changes the dynamic in useful ways for certain business conversations.
Corkbuzz Chelsea Market is the best wine bar option for client entertainment — the list is exceptional, the staff are educationally knowledgeable without being condescending, and the Chelsea Market setting is visually interesting without being distracting. For clients who prefer wine to cocktails, this is the clearest choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bar to take a client in Manhattan?
The Bar at Baccarat Hotel (West 53rd Street) for maximum visual impression. The NoMad Bar (28th Street) for the best cocktails at a hotel-bar setting. The King Cole Bar at the St. Regis for the most storied bar in Midtown with serious service. Dead Rabbit in the Financial District for the best cocktail program in the city if your client appreciates that kind of thing.
What makes a bar appropriate for client entertainment in Manhattan?
The ability to hear each other without shouting (avoid high-decibel music bars). A cocktail or wine program that signals quality without being precious. Service that’s attentive but not intrusive. A room that communicates taste — either historically significant or well-designed. Enough ambient activity to feel alive without the bar becoming the center of attention.
How much should I budget for client drinks in Manhattan?
Cocktails at hotel bars and serious cocktail bars run $18-28 each. A two-drink evening for two people runs $80-120 before tip. Wine by the glass runs $16-25 at comparable venues. Budget $120-160 for a two-person drinks session at a Midtown hotel bar, all-in.
Are there any free or low-cost options for client entertainment in Manhattan?
The free outdoor spaces — Bryant Park, the High Line, Hudson River Park — work well in good weather for informal meetings with clients who appreciate that kind of thing. Central Park at dusk before a dinner is a genuinely impressive experience that costs nothing. These options work for clients in creative industries or with established relationships; they read differently with a new client in a conservative industry.
Also see: our client dinner restaurant guide
Also see: our Manhattan power lunch guide
Also see: our Manhattan business travel survival guide
