Chelsea bars near the High Line: Where to go for summer drinks (2024)

Author Sebastian Junger (The Perfect Storm) is part owner of this pub, which features a rotating selection of art on its walls. The drink list is extensive (and not terribly expensive; all beers are under $11), and the location—right underneath the High Line—is ideal. Try to get a spot in front, but if it’s too crowded, fear not: There’s also a brick-walled backyard (adorned with a single tree wrapped in twinkling lights) and an indoor space that’s portioned into three smaller rooms. 5-minute walk

Cool off in this sleek, dimly lit Prohibition-style speakeasy (hidden behind the Stone Street Coffee Company), which showcases a copper bathtub at its center. The drinks list was created by fresh talent on New York’s co*cktail circuit—Sean Muldoon of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s lauded Merchant Hotel bar. Choose from his creations, like the off-menu Bijou (gin, rouge vermouth, green Chartreuse, orange bitters, lemon oil; $15). 6-minute walk

While this Chelsea hideaway is best known for its superior Spanish cuisine, it also boasts an exceptional bar program. The open-front tapas lounge provides a fine spot for postbrunch drinks, but wise patrons will want to ante up and order a few of Salinas’s small plates at a table in back. There, a retractable roof enhances the romantic decor of live vines and hanging lanterns. 6-minute walk

A rowdy postcollegiate crowd dominates the scene at the Standard Hotel’s trendy outdoor beer garden, but the rewards of drinking here are paramount. You’ll find German and Austrian brews on the menu, along with Bavarian eats such as pretzels and brats; best of all, everything is available for less than $10. 5-minute walk

This massive co*cktail joint is casual and inclusive, with a long menu by Paul Tanguay and Tad Carducci that includes eccentric hits like the Gin & Chronic (lime, allspice liqueur, whole-dried hops; $12). Escape the usual Meatpacking District attitude and invite your crew to join you at one of the bar’s big round tables, separated by large Persian rugs. 6-minute walk

This breezy bi-level spot is ridiculously popular, and for good reason: Not only are the views (of the Hudson River and the Jersey skyline) stunning, but you can drink aboard a docked 1929 lightship while floating on the Hudson, which is just plain cool. Shade is available on the main level, but the nicest views are from the second-story observation deck. Plan your day so that you arrive early—between 11:30am and noon on weekends, or before 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays—for your best chance at a seat. 10-minute walk

In 1999, brothers Billy and Mark (hence the name) founded this pub, continuing the family legacy of bar ownership into a third generation. The no-frills, no-fuss watering hole that resulted is an homage to their father’s original Queens BillyMark’s, and it’s a most excellent dive: You’ll find $8 beer-and-a-shot specials, raucous regulars and a jukebox that leans heavily on classic rock. 11-minute walk