Clover Club, 210 smith street, brooklyn, cloverclubny.com

Many New Yorkers would never have imagined they’d see a bar of Clover Club’s calibre in Brooklyn – luckily for them, and Cobble Hill residents in particular, they’ve got one that’s won every major award. But Clover Club hasn’t let the success go to its head, which is why it has been able to evolve its consistently well-run programme over the past five years. 

Owner Julie Reiner cites the emergence of Brooklyn’s culinary culture as playing a huge role in defining Clover Club over the years. “Our clientele are adventurous and sophisticated drinkers who know their booze. So we are able to put more challenging drinks on our menu that we probably couldn’t get away with in other parts of the city. But at the same time no one makes a fuss about any of it.”

The combination of expertly crafted cocktails, an exceedingly accommodating staff and inspired takes on classic bar food add up to an ideal New York drinking experience. “People in Brooklyn don’t just want a great drink and then to run out the door. They want to sit, eat and chill.”

The NoMad, 1170 Broadway, New York

New Yorkers are yearning for livelier places to go for a good cocktail and I can’t think of a better place to let loose than the bar at The Nomad. 

It is a classic cocktail bar with remarkable polish, but with a jolt of New York eccentricity. The thoughtful seasonal menu stays rooted in the classics but pays respect to the surrounding neighborhood, which back in the day was known as the Tenderloin, a vibrant and lively hub for Manhattan’s food and beverage scene.

Kick off your night accordingly with the aptly named Start Me Up, a dangerously easy-drinking variation on a Whiskey Sour that melds Elijah Craig 12-year-old bourbon and Scarlet Ibis rum punched up with spicy ginger syrup and mellowed out by the honeyed herbaceous flavours of Strega.