Bar
Village Vanguard
A tiny, wedge-shaped basement jazz club on Seventh Avenue South that has hosted the music's greats at the same address since 1935.
The Dead Rabbit
A three-storey Irish pub and cocktail bar on Water Street in the Financial District, named world's best bar in 2016, with a taproom below and a cocktail parlour above.
At a glance
- Type
- Irish pub and cocktail bar
- Area
- Financial District, New York, United States
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- thedeadrabbit.com
Good to know
- Ground-floor Taproom
- Upstairs cocktail Parlor
- Reservations via Resy
- Private events
- Open daily
Why we recommend it
The Dead Rabbit opened in 2013 on Water Street, in the Financial District's historic Fraunces Tavern Block, and quickly became one of the most celebrated bars in the world. Its founders set out to recreate the drinking culture of nineteenth-century New York, and the name refers to the Dead Rabbits, an Irish American street gang active in Lower Manhattan in the 1830s to 1850s. In 2016 it was named the world's best bar by The World's 50 Best Bars, and it has also won the top award at Tales of the Cocktail. Jack McGarry, one of the founding team, now owns the business.
The building has three floors, each with a different character. On the ground floor, the Taproom is a busy Irish pub with sawdust on the floor, pints of stout, whiskey and a well-known Irish coffee, along with pub food served through the day. Upstairs, the Parlor is a more intimate cocktail room where the menu of classic and contemporary drinks is the main event, served at tables in a quieter, more intimate setting. A third floor is used for private parties.
The Taproom is open every day from 11am, closing at 2am from Sunday to Thursday and 3am on Friday and Saturday. The Parlor opens in the evening, from 5pm to 1am from Tuesday to Saturday and from 4pm to midnight on Sunday. Reservations can be made through Resy, which is worth doing for the Parlor, and private events can be requested through the website. Contact is by email.
Prices for cocktails are at the upper end, while a pint downstairs is closer to a normal pub. The bar suits cocktail enthusiasts, groups after work and anyone wanting a sociable evening downtown. Early evening on weekdays fills with Financial District workers; later at night and at weekends the crowd is more mixed. The Taproom is also a good choice for lunch while sightseeing in Lower Manhattan.
The Dead Rabbit is at 30 Water Street, near Broad Street and the Battery. Whitehall Street on the R and W lines, South Ferry on the 1 and Bowling Green on the 4 and 5 are all a few minutes' walk away, as are the Staten Island Ferry terminal and the Statue of Liberty ferries. Stone Street's restaurants and Fraunces Tavern are around the corner.
The Dead Rabbit FAQs
When did The Dead Rabbit open?
In 2013, on Water Street in the Financial District.
Has The Dead Rabbit won awards?
Yes. It was named the world's best bar by The World's 50 Best Bars in 2016 and has won the top bar award at Tales of the Cocktail.
What is the difference between the Taproom and the Parlor?
The ground-floor Taproom is an Irish pub; the upstairs Parlor is a cocktail room.
What are the opening hours?
The Taproom is open daily from 11am to 2am, until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. The Parlor opens Tuesday to Saturday 5pm to 1am and Sunday 4pm to midnight.
Can you make a reservation?
Yes, through Resy, and private events can be requested through the website.
Where does the name come from?
From the Dead Rabbits, an Irish American gang active in Lower Manhattan in the mid-nineteenth century.
How do you contact the bar?
By email at [email protected].
Which subway stations are nearest?
Whitehall Street (R, W), South Ferry (1) and Bowling Green (4, 5).