The 3 Best Cocktail Bars In Queens
Dutch Kills
27-24 Jackson Ave.
Long Island City, NY
(718) 383-2724
dutchkillsbar.com
Inside an otherwise drab exterior on an industrial strip in Long Island City, stumble into a dark wood scene recalling the days before Prohibition. Settle into a booth or pull up a stool at the bar in back and try classic-inspired drinks like the Horse Tonic (dark rum, Cruzan Black Strap Rum, Velvet Falernum, ginger syrup, lemon juice and egg white). On Monday nights, a ragtime piano player brings the old-time atmosphere to life.
The Astor Room
34-12 36th St.
Astoria, NY
(718) 255-1947
astorroom.com
Formerly a private club at the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios, this restaurant's mahogany "Beaver Bar" features a drink menu designed by Lynnette Marrero and Jim Kearns. Cocktails such as The Fairbanks (London dry gin, dry vermouth, apricot brandy liqueur, grenadine and lemon juice) harken back to Astoria's heyday as a hub of Old Hollywood glamour. Look for a regular rotation of silent movies and live music to keep things interesting.
Sweet Afton
30-09 34th St.
Astoria, NY
(718) 777-2570
sweetaftonbar.com
The team behind the West Village's Wilfie and Nell opened this rustic Astoria cocktail bar in 2009, bringing the neighborhood a drinking alternative to its popular beer gardens. Sporting reclaimed wood and Edison bulbs, the gastropub offers a cozy vibe and a list of classic and house cocktails. Try the Rye Root Beer (Rye whiskey, homemade root beer and vanilla) or the Dirty Pickle Martini (vodka, McClure's pickle juice and McClure's pickles) and you'll feel like a local in no time.
