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The Best Cocktails for Summer in New York City

New York City is full of inventive cocktails to cool down and relax with after a warm summer day of exploring the urban jungle. Many bars have a cocktail with their own unique twist that have the critics raving, but these few spots are always crowd pleasers on summer evenings in New York City.

Citrusy Cocktails

Raines Law Room (48 W 17th St) is a favorite among the speakeasy bars in New York City. The atmosphere is dark and intimate and the cocktail menu is extensive. There’s a whole section of the menu dedicated to the “Bright and Crisp” drinks, all which have refreshing citrus flavors. The South Side Ricky is a must on a warm summer day, composed of fun, lime juice, simple syrup, fresh mint and club soda. The Bramble is gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and muddled blackberries. Another favorite of many patrons is the Gold Rush. Bourbon, lime juice and honey make for a sweet and simple but potent combination. Enjoy any (or all) of these drinks on the outside patio to make for a perfect warm, summer evening.

Rooftop Martinis

New York City is known for some of the most amazing rooftop bars, with breathtaking views, glamorous people and unbelievable cocktails. Salon de Ning (700 5th Ave) is a top choice for drinks one day this summer, and the variety of cocktails they offer ranges from refreshing berry flavors to rich indulgences. The Ning Sling combines Absolut Mandarin, Soho Lychee Liqueur and fresh mint with lychee and passion fruit juices. This refreshing drink is the perfect way to cool down on a summer’s evening while enjoying views of Central Park and 5th Avenue.

Magnificent Margaritas

As un-refreshing as that may sound to some, the jalapeno lime is one of the specialty margaritas at Barrio Chino (253 Broome St) on the Lower East Side, and a favorite by many. This Mexican restaurant has a wide variety of margarita flavors, and all of them are perfect ways to cool off in the New York City summer heat. The restaurant has quite a few unique twists on the classic summer favorite, like the aforementioned favorite, the Habanero-Infused Grapefruit Margarita is a must-try for the spicy daredevils. Pair these spicy cocktails with their famous Guacamole and a few tacos and you’ve got the makings of a fabulous summer evening on your hands.

Happy Hour at Hush

Hush Cafe Lounge and Garden (70-10 Grand Ave, Maspeth) is a cool and modern spot to hang out in Queens, and they’ve got the happy hour to lure just about anyone over to this borough. Tuesday is ladies night with $5 Martinis, Wednesday order a pitcher of sangria for half price with a cheese plate and Saturday drink half price between 8-9pm. These hot prices aren’t all that’s drawing the crowds in this summer though. All the cocktails are exotic, premium and made with fresh fruit. The Hush Mojito is a refreshing class, and the Raspberry Rich Chocolate Martini is enough to bring any girl out to Queens. The outdoor lounge is a little slice of paradise, and creates the perfect ambiance to enjoy drinks one summer evening on a date or with friends.

What’s Summer Without Watermelon?

Nothing cools you down on a hot day like a juicy slice of this sweet fruit. Yerba Buena (23 Avenue A) has just the menu for you, from the watermelon fries. The go-to cocktails is the Sun-dia, made up of tequila, St. Germain, watermelon, jalapeno cordial and lime. This sweet cocktail with a tangy twist brings out the summer season and will have you reminiscing of cookouts and picnics with every sip.

This post was written by Lizz Riggs, editor from NYC Tourist.com