The best bars in SoHo, NYC

This corner bar on Spring and Elizabeth is unassuming from the outside, but it packs a punch. The drinks menu is littered with caricatures of Homer Simpson and an AI Lizard wearing a Top Hat. DJs spin til’ late. Free comedy shows are on Sunday evenings, rumored to have been frequented by Neil Patrick Harris and Elliot Page. As Vig Bar says, if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for you.

House cocktails include Weird Weeks (mezcal, sherry, lemon) and Punches, Kicks, and Barbs (rum, rhubarb, salted strawberry). You can also order from their Q&A cocktail menu, which answers questions like “Are you awake all night unpacking secret messages from the new Taylor Swift Album?” (Hint: Espresso Martini). For food, order some iconic Lombardi’s pies or bring in outside food from local restaurants.

The back room fits 50-60 guests, the main room and bar fit 120, and you can also rent out the streetside patio area for large and small groups.

You deserve a spot in SoHo that doesn’t ask for over $20 for a cocktail — and this is it. There’s no better place to find it than Botanica Bar, a true dive with red and black checkered floors, leather booths, and chairs that are more stable than they look.

With fancy house cocktails at just $12, you can try Leo Rising (a lemon lavender G&T) or Bikini Bottom (passionfruit daiquiri). Get a marg or pina colada for $11, or a draft beer for as little as $5. If that’s still too much, Happy Hour is daily until 7 pm, and you can get $2 off beers and $6 wines and well drinks. Outside food is welcome from neighborhood favorites like Prince St. Pizza or Lovely Day.

The purple-lit back room is available to rent for events with up to 30 people seated and 45 standing.

There aren’t any cocktails named after outdated viral memes on this menu. South SoHo Bar is an intimate spot bordering Chinatown and Little Italy. The bar is colorful, with stained-glass style lights illuminating the liquor bottles – which, by the way, are piled so high that they need a sliding ladder. Yeah. They know their stuff.

On the menu, you’ll find a variety of classic martinis, negronis, sours, and spritzes. If your signature needs something a little extra, ask the bartenders. They’ve got quite a variety to choose from. Snacks include chicken nuggets, steak sandwiches, and fries. You can also order beer, wine, or an espresso if you need a pick-me-up while you mingle.

Due to the small size, it’s first come, first serve. Or, you can rent the full bar for 28 seated and 55 standing.

This Spring St. bar has been in the neighborhood since 2007, occupying the historic Dennison and Lydia Wood House. Inspired by the East End of Long Island, the seaside touches inside Lazy Point include white wooden benches, nautical decor, and white exposed brick walls. The casual atmosphere is reminiscent of a beach house you’d rent out with your friends in college.

You’ll find classic and original cocktails, like the Pistachio Mule, which features pistachio-infused vodka, or the Lomax Paloma, a classic with added lavender. Comforting bar snacks are on the food menu, like fish tacos, grilled cheese, and spicy chicken sandwiches. Happy Hour deals include a $10 beer and burger combo – try finding that in SoHo these days.

The full venue can be rented out for up to 200 standing and 125 seated.

An ode to the once-iconic Milady’s dive bar which operated in the same space for over 50 years, the new Milady’s has the same down-to-earth feeling, with an emphasis on fun and approachable bar culture. The owners, including famed Clover Club cocktail queen Julie Reiner, have honored that atmosphere with a modern twist, with comfortable mustard booths, ornate tiled floors, and a disco ball spinning all day.

Bar food includes comforting classics like loaded potato skins, soft pretzels, and chicken tenders. Try cocktails like Craaazy Good, which has a hint of nostalgia with Strawberry Poptart Cordial, or the Big Apple Martini, a NY twist on a classic. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 pm Monday to Thursday and includes $11 cocktails and $12 for a half dozen oysters.

The semi-private space can be rented out for up to 20 guests, or accommodate 100 for a full buyout. Party packages are available, with a variety of passed and stationary hors d’oeuvres for a variety of occasions.