Where the Bartenders Drink: NYC’s Best Late-Night Industry Hangouts
After the last round is served, the register is counted, and the bar stools are flipped, where do New York City’s bartenders go to unwind?
While the rest of the city sleeps, bartenders, chefs, and hospitality pros head to their own secret haunts—unmarked speakeasies, underground wine bars, and industry-favorite late-night spots. These are not your average after-work bars—these are the places where the people who make your drinks go to drink.
From no-menu cocktail hideaways to unpretentious dive bars where world-class mixologists grab a beer and a shot, this is where NYC’s bartenders actually drink after hours.
1. Employees Only – The Industry’s After-Hours Speakeasy
📍 West Village
For nearly two decades, Employees Only has been the bartender’s bar. Founded by a group of industry insiders, this Art Deco speakeasy is where NYC’s top bartenders go after their shift for perfectly crafted cocktails, late-night camaraderie, and an atmosphere that feels both exclusive and welcoming.
The bar is unmarked, with only a glowing neon “Psychic” sign marking the entrance. Inside, bartenders sip on classic stirred cocktails, amaro, and Fernet shots while catching up on the night’s war stories.
Why Bartenders Love It:
✔ Late-night eats: The kitchen stays open until 3:30 AM.
✔ Bartender-friendly menu: Industry pros can order bespoke off-menu drinks.
✔ Legendary hospitality: Even celebrity guests are treated like regulars—no VIP nonsense here.
🍸 Must-Try Drink: The Manhattan Cocktail Service—a tableside, stirred-to-perfection Manhattan prepared just for you.
2. Attaboy – The No-Menu Cocktail Lab
📍 Lower East Side
A bartender’s dream bar, Attaboy operates with no menu. Instead, the bartenders craft a cocktail tailored to your exact taste preferences, making it a place where mixologists can actually appreciate the art of a well-made drink.
Originally home to Milk & Honey, one of NYC’s most influential cocktail bars, Attaboy has carried on the tradition of low-key excellence. It is small, intimate, and always filled with off-duty bartenders looking for an expertly crafted nightcap.
Why Bartenders Love It:
✔ No menu—just pure mixology skills.
✔ Low-key, intimate setting with no pretension.
✔ A cocktail geek’s paradise.
🍸 Must-Try Drink: Whatever the bartender makes for you—they’ll ask what you’re in the mood for and create something custom.
3. Bemelmans Bar – Classic Cocktails with a Side of Luxury
📍 Upper East Side
Some bartenders prefer to trade in the chaos of a packed dive bar for something timeless and elegant—and that’s where Bemelmans Bar comes in.
Located inside The Carlyle Hotel, this legendary piano bar is an industry favorite for those who appreciate perfectly executed martinis, vintage ambiance, and live jazz in an old-world setting. After a long shift, some bartenders just want a strong drink in a classic, quiet setting—and this is where they find it.
Why Bartenders Love It:
✔ Live jazz and a slow-paced, elegant atmosphere.
✔ One of the best martinis in the city.
✔ A chance to experience luxury without the velvet rope attitude.
🍸 Must-Try Drink: A Carlyle Martini—a gin martini served ice-cold with a side of sophistication.
4. The Ten Bells – The Natural Wine Hideaway
📍 Lower East Side
Not all bartenders unwind with cocktails—some prefer a great glass of wine, and The Ten Bells is their go-to.
This cozy, dimly lit bar specializes in natural, biodynamic, and small-producer wines. It’s affordable, unpretentious, and a favorite for bartenders and chefs alike.
Why Bartenders Love It:
✔ Natural wines that don’t break the bank.
✔ Low-lit, intimate, and always open late.
✔ Industry-heavy crowd, meaning great conversation and excellent recommendations.
🍷 Must-Try Drink: A funky, unfiltered orange wine—bartenders love to experiment with flavors outside the norm.
5. Riff Raff Club – Where High-End Mixologists Go to Play
📍 NoMad
Perched on the 39th floor of the Virgin Hotel in NoMad, Riff Raff Club is a new industry favorite, founded by celebrity mixologist Charles Joly.
This elevated yet relaxed cocktail lounge is where bartenders go when they want to experience the best craft cocktails in a laid-back setting. It offers a "Liquid Library" of rare vintage spirits, and the staff actually appreciates serving industry pros who know their drinks.
Why Bartenders Love It:
✔ The best spirits collection in the city.
✔ Industry-only specials and cocktail experiments.
✔ A balance of sophistication and fun.
🍸 Must-Try Drink: A bartender’s choice highball—because sometimes, you just want something simple and perfect.
6. The Library – A True Industry Dive Bar
📍 East Village
For those who want cheap drinks, loud music, and zero pretension, The Library is the ultimate after-hours bartender hangout.
It’s a classic NYC dive bar, complete with graffiti-covered walls, a killer jukebox, and $5 beer-and-shot combos. The drinks aren’t fancy, but after a 10-hour shift of shaking, stirring, and crafting intricate cocktails, sometimes all a bartender wants is a cold beer and a shot of whiskey.
Why Bartenders Love It:
✔ Cash-only, no-frills dive bar energy.
✔ Rock and punk music on the jukebox.
✔ $5 shot-and-a-beer specials.
🍺 Must-Try Drink: A PBR and a shot of Fernet—a bartender’s classic nightcap.
The Ritual of the Shift Drink
For bartenders, drinking isn’t just about the alcohol—it’s about community. After spending hours making drinks for others, they seek out places where they can unwind, connect with fellow industry pros, and enjoy drinks that are made for them, not customers.
The bars on this list aren’t just places to drink—they are spaces where NYC’s bartenders come together, share stories, and enjoy the kind of hospitality they provide to others every night.
So next time you find yourself at one of these bars, take a look around—you might just be drinking next to the bartender who made your cocktail earlier that night.
