NYC's 4 Best Bars For Business Drinks

To get ahead in business, it's all about who you know. So if you are looking for a casual place to break the ice for a business meeting or networking session, you'll want to pick a bar that isn't too dark, noisy, or crowded. Here are some watering holes that fit the bill for schmoozing — just be sure not to drink too much, or you may leave your guests with a sour taste instead of a sweet impression. By Selena Ricks-Good.

Related: NYC's 6 Best Oyster Happy Hours, 2014

Pegu Club

77 West Houston St.
New York, NY
(212) 473-7348
peguclub.com

As refined as the cocktail maven who opened this second-story lounge in 2005, Audrey Saunder's Pegu Club is stylish and sophisticated without overdoing it. Soft velvet chairs allow small groups to gather and unwind, and with gems such as the Earl Grey MarTEAni (Earl Grey-infused gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white) the cocktail menu does not disappoint.

The Empire Room

(credit: The Empire Room)

350 5th Ave.
New York, NY
(212) 643-5400
hospitalityholdings.com

On the ground floor of the landmark Empire State Building, this cocktail lounge's Art Deco theme oozes with Mad Men-style retro glamour. Its central location makes it ideal for liquid lunches or post-work martinis. Be warned, the drinks and bar snacks are priced to match the real estate, so be sure to put the tab on your business account.

The Ace Hotel Lobby Bar

(credit: The Ace Hotel)

20 W. 29th St.
New York, NY
(212) 679-2222
acehotel.com/newyork

Buzzing by day with freelancers addicted to the WiFi and Stumptown Coffee, the massive lobby bar at the Ace Hotel attracts a more fashionable crowd after office hours. Sink into a leather chair or gather your colleagues on a U-shaped red sofa for cocktails or beer while you take in the rock-and-roll scenery.  Bar food like their famous Breslin lamb burger should keep you from passing out on the furniture.

Tom & Jerry's

(credit: Tom & Jerry's)

288 Elizabeth St.
New York, NY
(212) 260-5045

Like Cheer's for the digital generation, this casual Noho bar has become a hangout for bloggers and Internet start-up types. Why here? Perhaps it's the cozy neighborhood vibe or the free sesame snack mix or the cucumber lemonade that draws an after-work crowd from nearby media offices. If you're looking for a no-nonsense locale for a laid-back meeting where it's OK to have your phone on the table, this is your spot.

Selena Ricks-Good writes about drinks and produces events as The Dizzy Fizz.

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