In the New York night scene, rum bars stand out as temples of mixology. These places have gone from being mere meeting points for business and entertainment to becoming cultural centers in the world of rum.
Prior to the American Revolution, rum was the most widely consumed distillate in the region. Today, New York is one of the largest rum-drinking markets in the U.S., and the festival seeks to celebrate and revive this rich heritage.
Today, both locals and out-of-town visitors can enjoy top rum-focused bars and attend the annual New York Rum Fest. In this city, known for its dynamism and diversity, rum bars have firmly established themselves, attracting both connoisseurs and the curious, each in search of unique experiences that combine exceptional flavors and a welcoming atmosphere.
Attend the New York Rum Festival & Conference 2024
The 7th New York Rum Festival & Conference, hosted by TheRumLab.com, will take place on June 8, 2024, at 100 Sutton St., Brooklyn, NY 11222. This boutique-style event highlights rum education, featuring an exclusive selection of brands that reflect the importance and richness of this spirits category.
This festival attracts not only rum experts and aficionados, but also a diverse audience that includes trade professionals, tourists, and locals.
Top Rum Bars in New York to visit this 2024
Now let’s go over the list of rum bars you should consider adding to your list of “Places to Visit.” We have aligned them in alphabetical order, not necessarily based on preference or location.
Employees Only is an iconic speakeasy located in New York’s West Village, famous for expertly crafted cocktails and a vibrant vibe that captures the essence of classic New York nightlife.
As stated on their website, “Employee Only has been honored with Spirited Awards for “Best American Bar Team,” “World’s Best Cocktail Bar,” and “World’s Best Drink Selection” by Tales of the Cocktail, as well as the #4 spot on Drinks International’s “World’s 50 Best Bars” list in 2015.” For this reason alone, many rum cocktails are guaranteed to be delicious.
Opened in 2004, it has been a pioneer in the cocktails world and has influenced many other bars in the city. The atmosphere at Employees Only is intimate and lively, often filled with a mix of locals and visitors who enjoy the lively atmosphere and impeccable service.
Employees Only’s cocktail menu is both classic and innovative, with drinks such as Manhattan Cocktail, Provençal, and Billionaire Cocktail meticulously prepared with high-quality ingredients.
The food menu, while not the main attraction, complements the drinks with offerings such as hand-cut steak tartare and bacon-wrapped lamb chops, which are highly recommended.
The bar’s design includes Art Deco details and a curved bar, creating a cozy space that encourages mingling and socializing. Employees Only also stands out for its evening dining options, making it a popular place to have drinks or to enjoy a full evening.
Habana Outpost in Brooklyn is a vibrant, eco-friendly Latino restaurant known for its casual atmosphere and outdoor tables, making it a popular spot, especially during the warmer months. The restaurant is part of the Café Habana family, but offers a more relaxed dining experience, in the style of a counter. It’s known for its Cuban sandwiches, burritos, and other simple yet tasty food options.
One of the distinctive features of Habana Outpost is its commitment to environmental sustainability. The restaurant is solar-powered and uses eco-friendly practices such as rainwater flush toilets and biodegradable utensils made from sugarcane and corn. This makes it a unique dining option for those interested in supporting environmentally responsible businesses.
The space is family-friendly and often hosts outdoor movies and other community engagement activities, adding to its charm and appeal as a social gathering point. The restaurant’s design and operations emphasize creating a fun and welcoming environment for guests of all ages.
Jungle Bird is a cocktail bar in Chelsea, Manhattan, known for its tropical theme and vibrant atmosphere. Jungle Bird, which draws inspiration from the well-known cocktail of the same name, offers a lively environment with vibrant murals and cozy leather stools, making it a well-liked location for both casual drinks and group gatherings.
We assume that the name of the bar comes from the famous cocktail “The Jungle Bird” which based on Cocteleria Torres Rosa it – was created by Jeffrey Ong when he worked as a beverage manager at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton hotel’s “Aviary Bar” in the 1970s. He prepared it as a welcome drink for hotel guests and was it after the presence of some tropical birds in the pool area that could be seen from the bar window.–
The bar operates on two levels, each with a unique atmosphere and decorative elements such as large golden peacock taps. The menu includes a variety of innovative cocktails and a selection of dishes designed to complement the beverage offering. Popular options include chicken and lemongrass dumplings, Taiwanese fried chicken, and Togarashi chips.
Jungle Bird is renowned for its bright and fresh flavors, using colorful ingredients that contribute to its welcoming and playful spirit.
The upstairs area, known as The Canopy Room, offers a beautiful space for private events and meetings, adding to the bar’s appeal for hosting special occasions.
Those interested in visiting or planning an event at Jungle Bird can make their reservations through Resy. Bar hours are extended into the wee hours, especially on weekends, to accommodate late-night patrons looking for a lively spot in the heart of New York.
Located in New York’s East Village, this bar is iconic for its delicious, food, amazing evening party, and its proper rum portfolio. Miss Lily’s 7A, offers a culinary experience with a strong emphasis on Caribbean, especially Jamaican flavors. The venue is known for its lively atmosphere, decorated with colorful vinyl and Jamaican concert posters, creating an energetic atmosphere that complements its menu.
The Miss Lily’s 7A menu features dishes such as jerk chicken, cod fish fritters, and ackee dip with banana chips, offering a balance between authenticity and culinary creativity. In addition, the place serves a variety of Caribbean cocktails, such as the famous rum punch and innovative creations of pineapple and ginger mojitos.
Miss Lily’s 7A is also a popular brunch spot, offering unique dishes like Jamaican Rancheros and Coconut Pancakes. The restaurant promotes a complete experience with reggae-electro music that keeps the atmosphere cheerful and dynamic.
But now let’s talk about what matters, RUM. With over 100 rums available from all over the Caribbean, primarily Jamaican, and its cocktail menu, it is one of NYC’s official rum destination.
For those interested in visiting or making reservations, Miss Lily’s 7A is available on Resy, making it easy to plan a visit.
It is a prominent Caribbean restaurant located on the Lower East Side of New York. The restaurant, run by Chef Omar Walters, is famous for its innovative Caribbean dishes with a New York twist. Chef Omar’s culinary approach is deeply influenced by his Jamaican roots and extensive Caribbean travels, which inspire a vibrant and flavorful menu.
The restaurant stands out especially for its brunch and dinner offerings, with dishes such as curry and coconut bulltail and Escovitch fish, along with a creative rum bar serving cocktails such as Jamaican mule and spiced apple cider. The atmosphere is designed to evoke Caribbean warmth and hospitality, making it a welcoming place for dinners and social gatherings.
Omar’s Kitchen operates Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 11 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to midnight, allowing customers to enjoy its offering. For those interested in trying Omar’s Kitchen, it is advisable to make a reservation or visit during opening hours to ensure seat availability.
Photo by Otto’s Shrunken Head on Instagram @ottosnyc
Located in New York’s East Village, it offers a unique and vibrant tiki bar experience. Known for its eclectic and extravagant atmosphere, the bar features a décor that includes candy-colored blowfish lamps and walls adorned with tropical 1950s prints.
The bar is famous for its varied range of cocktails, focusing on tiki staples such as piña coladas and margaritas. The drinks menu is extensive, with classic and innovative concoctions served in the characteristic tiki cups, which customers can buy as merch. Otto’s also serves as a venue for various live events, including musical performances and open mic nights, adding to its eclectic charm.
Guests appreciate the loud cocktails and lively music, ranging from surf rock to more alternative genres, ensuring that the atmosphere is more Californian surf than Balinese beach. The venue’s opening hours cater to night owls, making it a popular option for night outs.
For more details on their offering or to plan a visit, check out their website or reviews on platforms like Time Out and Restaurant.
Paradise Lost offers a haven within New York City, where the tropical atmosphere transports visitors to an exotic getaway without leaving the metropolis. With décor that captures the essence of paradisiacal islands, this bar uses natural elements, warm lights, and music to complement the tropical immersion experience. Many rum brands consider the venue as one of the newest and hottest rum bars in NYC.
Paradise Lost mixologists use fresh ingredients and innovative techniques to create beverages that are as visually pleasing as they are tasty, offering everything from reinvented classics to on fire in-house creations that surprise the most discerning palates.
Paradise Lost also becomes a cultural meeting place with events such as live music nights ranging from jazz to Caribbean rhythms, as well as rum tastings that educate attendees about the different varieties and their history.
The bar regularly hosts themed events that transform the space and offer visitors a new experience.
Located in New York’s East Village, it’s a vibrant cocktail bar that offers a tropical vibe with lush decor and a creative menu. The bar features pink plush sofas, pineapples that adorn the space, and a lively atmosphere that makes it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
It is especially famous for its innovative cocktails, such as Fight Milk, a clarified jungle bird that features dark rum and blackstrap rum, and the Pineapple Old Fashioned, which features dark rum as well as Planteray (formerly Plantation) Pineapple rum, both cocktails have become fan favorites.
The Pineapple Club menu includes a mix of American and Caribbean influences with options suitable for brunch, dinner, and late dinner. The cocktail menu is very wide, with classic concoctions and unique creations by expert mixologists, which add a modern touch to the theme of the tiki bar.
This bar stands out for its energetic and welcoming atmosphere at the same time, which makes it an ideal place for a night out with friends or a fun brunch. Given its popularity, especially on weekends, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and make reservations if you want to visit during peak hours.
For more details or to check their menu and make reservations, you can visit their official website or their profile pages on restaurant review platforms.
Rockaway Tiki Bar is a quirky beachside spot in Queens, New York, known for its laid-back vibe and extensive tiki-inspired beverage menu.
This bar stands out for its commitment to creating an authentic tiki experience, offering a variety of tropical drinks made with freshly squeezed juices and homemade syrups, like the Painkiller, a combination of white rum, Hamilton Dark Pot Still and Rum Bar Gold Rum, a blend that coupled with coco lopez, pineapple juice and orange juice is a sure crowd pleaser in the summer days.
The bar has an extensive Rum list featuring some of the smaller distilleries from the Caribbean, mixed by Amy Tichenor (Head Bartender) and her team. Actually, Tichenor was one of the 2023 US finalists in the Chairman’s Reserve Spice Lab with her Spiga Spiced Rum creation.
The decoration of the Rockaway Tiki Bar includes classic tiki elements, such as bamboo and Polynesian-inspired carvings, which contribute to its exotic atmosphere. It’s located just one block from the Atlantic Ocean, making it the perfect place to enjoy a drink after a day at the beach. The bar serves a selection of bar bites to complement your tropical drinks, perfect for sharing during a casual outing.
For those interested in visiting, Rockaway Tiki Bar operates year-round with a daily schedule from noon to 10pm, running until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s a place that doesn’t take reservations, welcoming walk-ins, which suits its casual beachside vibe.
Rogers Garden in Brooklyn, New York, is a lively cocktail bar that stands out for its Caribbean-inspired atmosphere and varied selection of rum. This place isn’t just a bar, it’s also a community space that celebrates Caribbean culture, with an air-conditioned garden decorated by local artists and hosting various culinary pop-ups from local vendors. The menu includes specialty cocktails and light snacks, making it a perfect place for social gatherings.
Rogers Garden operates daily, with extended hours on weekends to accommodate the evening crowd.
For more information, you can visit their official social media account or read user feedback to get a sense of the community’s take on this unique establishment.
Located above Gage and Tollner in downtown Brooklyn, it’s a tropical-themed cocktail bar with unique nautical decor featuring elements like ropes and buoys. Initially a weekly pop-up event, it has now found a permanent home, offering a distinct and immersive experience that combines stories of adventure and mystery with an expert cocktail menu.
The venue is famous for its creative libations and features a cocktail program that balances seriousness with whimsical touches. Drinks include classics like Mai Tai and unique creations like Immortal Martini, reflecting a wide range of tastes and preferences.
The bar is an excellent destination to enjoy high-quality cocktails in a setting that evokes the charm of a shipwreck. It operates from Sunday to Thursday (5 pm to 11 pm) and from Friday to Saturday (5 pm to 12 am). The club is walk-in only, so you must arrive early!
Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, it stands out as a cocktail bar that emphasizes a rum-centric menu in an environment accentuated by contemporary Caribbean style.
This venue is praised for its inventive approach to classic Caribbean food, beautifully paired with a range of creative rum cocktails. The atmosphere is enhanced by a lively outdoor patio, making it an ideal place to enjoy good drinks and socialize in an informal, yet lively atmosphere.
The bar displays a wide range of rums on a wall dedicated to showcasing these spirits, inviting both rum enthusiasts and new explorers alike to immerse themselves in the world of sugarcane-derived spirits.
Its menu highlights dishes such as jerk chicken spring rolls and macaroni cake, which complement tropical and innovative drinks such as Cuban Daiquiri, a classic cocktail that mixes white rum, squeezed fresh lime, and homemade simply syrup.
For those who want to visit or learn more about its offerings, The Rum Bar BK operates with schedules that cater to afternoons and evenings, perfect for meetings and date nights under the stars of Brooklyn’s vibrant nightlife scene.
The Rum House is a prominent cocktail bar located in the heart of Times Square, at the base of the Edison Hotel in New York. This venue is highly regarded for its classic vibe, where live jazz and piano music mix with the hustle and bustle of the city, creating an authentic New York experience.
The decoration of the place combines elements of copper and wood that provide a touch of vintage elegance. As far as Rum offerings we have a wide range of Rums from around the world 114 and counting we are a small but mighty Rum Cocktail bar offering an ever changing seasonal cocktail list our Happy Hour is filled with Rum Punch and Daiquiris as well as a Mai Tai.
“Our house originals favorite is a Rum Fire Colada made with Rum Fire , Green chartreuse, velvet falernum, pineapple, coconut crème, lime and bitters we recently started up our Rum Flight Selection again with five selections that will change up regularly. Some of our most popular Rums are The Real McCoy, Ten to one, Planteray, Four Square and Santa Teresa to name a few.” – Kenneth B. McCoy, partner at The Rum House.
For the last 6-7 years, this has become a staple bar for Federico Hernandez, founder of TheRumLab, to visit and enjoy a daiquiri. “I love The Rum House. Ever since we began the New York Rum Festival, The Rum House has been a great partner. Their rum selection is amazing.” – Federico J. Hernández, founder of TheRumLab
Located in the vibrant Upper West Side of Manhattan, Tiki Chick offers a tropical escape that reinvents the classic tiki bar ambiance with a modern, fun twist. Renowned for its lively atmosphere and inventive cocktails, the bar serves a variety of drinks, including the signature frozen Piña colada, classic Mai Tais, and unique creations like (Not Your) Basic Beach, along with large-format cocktails perfect for sharing.
The bar’s decor features bamboo accents, colored lights, and tropical-themed elements, creating a welcoming space for guests. The food menu at Tiki Chick complements the festive beverage offerings, with items like $5 Fried Chicken Sandwiches and a Spam and Pineapple Loaded Chili Dog, adding to the overall tiki experience.
As a part of Pickle Hospitality, Tiki Chick offers dining and takeout options, with newly expanded seating available both indoors and outdoors, making it the ideal spot for an evening with friends or relaxing in our tropical oasis.
The most popular rum cocktail at Tiki Chick is undoubtedly the Frozen Pina Colada, blending Marti Plata Rum with Guyanese coconut rum, further enhanced with a 151 float on top! Other favorites include the Jungle Bird with its distinctive Jamaican rum, the Zombie (limited to one per guest per visit) packed with boozy overproof rums, and the Mai Tai, whose blend changes seasonally but currently combines Salvadoran and Agricole rums.
“The rum program was crafted with the intention of including rums from as many regions of the world as possible, showcasing over 60 different bottles. We love demonstrating to our guests how impactful terroir can be when experiencing different styles of rum. Some of our most popular sipping rums include Plantation Pineapple Stiggins, Appleton 12yr, and the Clairin series.” Selina Ardan, Beverage Director at Tiki Chick
The bar stays open late, especially on weekends, making it a favorite destination for late-night revelers seeking a taste of the tropics in New York.
In conclusion, the presence of rum bars in New York has significantly enriched the city’s cocktail culture. These spaces have introduced New Yorkers and their visitors to the depths of rum, offering everything from vintage and premium varieties to innovative blends that highlight rum’s versatility. In doing so, these bars create sensory experiences that combine taste, aroma, and aesthetics.
