The Up & Up

On our list of the best cocktail bars in New York.

In the space that once held the famous Gaslight Cafe on MacDougal Street, three bar-industry veterans, James Beard nominee Matt Piacentini among them, opened this unusually wide room by New York standards, with the comfortable, spread-out feel of a proper lounge rather than a squeeze-in speakeasy. The list runs from bottled cocktails made by touring bartenders to sherry and "halfies," half-sized pours for trying more than one drink; the Foster Avenue pairs Scotch with pear eau de vie, honeydew melon and orange bitters. Pearl named it a Recommended Bar in 2025, and reservations help on busy nights even though walk-ins are welcome.