21 Best Themed Bars & Restaurants in NYC for a Unique Night Out (2025)
Tired of the same old boring bars? Let’s be real, sometimes you want more than just a good drink—you want an entire vibe, an escape from reality. Thankfully, New York City is packed with spots that are more like movie sets than bars. This is your ultimate guide to the best themed bars & restaurants in NYC, where the decor, the drinks, and the whole atmosphere transport you to another time and place. Get ready for a night out that’s anything but ordinary.
Note: It’s a good idea to check a spot’s official website or Instagram for the latest on hours, reservation policies, and any special events before you go.
20+ Best Themed Bars & Restaurants in NYC
Tropical & Tiki Escapes
When you need a vacation but only have a few hours, these tiki bars are your ticket to paradise.
Otto’s Shrunken Head
A classic, no-frills, punk rock tiki bar in the East Village. It’s dark, it’s divey, and the tropical drinks are dangerously strong and surprisingly cheap. The vibe is less “relaxing beach” and more “rockabilly luau.”
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Tiki Cocktails
- Location: 538 E 14th St, New York, NY 10009
- Contact: http://ottosshrunkenhead.com | +1 212-228-2240
- Pro Tip: They often have live rock bands or DJs in the back room. It’s one of the most unique bars in NYC for its blend of tiki and punk culture.
Sunken Harbor Club
Hidden on the second floor of the famed Gage & Tollner in Brooklyn, this is a sophisticated, nautical-themed tiki bar. It feels like you’re in the captain’s quarters of a mysterious, old ship. The cocktails are complex, creative, and absolutely top-notch.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Craft Tiki Cocktails
- Location: 372 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Contact: https://www.sunkenharbor.club | (347) 689-3677
- Pro Tip: This spot is tiny and very popular. Reservations are released online and get snatched up instantly. Be ready to book the second they drop.
Tiki Chick
A lush tropical‐oasis style tiki bar on the Upper West Side. The décor is full of palms, bamboo accents, and tropical flair, and the cocktail menu leans heavily on Polynesian / tiki classics with creative twists.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine / Drinks: Tiki cocktails, tropical small plates
- Location: 517 Amsterdam Ave, New York, New York 10024
- Contact: https://www.tikichick.com | info@tikichick.com
- Pro Tip: The covered, climate-controlled patio makes it a good choice year-round
Historic, Fantastical & Literary Haunts
Oscar Wilde
Step into the Victorian era at this stunningly over-the-top bar. Every inch is covered in ornate antiques, chandeliers, and, of course, portraits of Oscar Wilde. It boasts the longest continuous bar in NYC, and the vibe is pure Gilded Age glamour.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Cocktails & Gastropub Fare
- Location: 45 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
- Contact: http://oscarwildenyc.com | (212) 213-3066
- Pro Tip: It gets absolutely packed. Go on a weekday afternoon if you want to actually see all the incredible decor details without the massive crowds.
The Dead Rabbit
Consistently named one of the best bars in the world, The Dead Rabbit is an homage to old New York and Irish-American history. The ground floor is a lively, informal taproom with sawdust on the floor, while the upstairs parlor is a more refined cocktail destination.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Craft Cocktails & Irish-American Food
- Location: 30 Water St, New York, NY 10004 (and other locations)
- Contact: http://thedeadrabbit.com | hello.nyc@thedeadrabbit.com
- Pro Tip: This is hands-down one of the best cocktail bars NYC has to offer. Their Irish Coffee is legendary and the perfect way to end a night.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
A sister bar to Oscar Wilde, Lillie’s offers an equally stunning trip back to the Victorian era. The decor is filled with authentic antiques from a ballroom in Ireland. It has a slightly more “proper pub” feel than Oscar Wilde’s opulent lounge vibe.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Cocktails & Pub Fare
- Location: 249 W 49th St (Times Square) & 13 E 17th St (Union Square)
- Contact: http://lilliesnyc.com |212-957-4530
- Pro Tip: They have a great pub food menu, including a solid fish and chips. It’s a fantastic spot for a themed brunch or a pre-theater drink.
Beetle House
A year-round celebration of all things Tim Burton. This place is a goth fantasy, with spooky decor, themed cocktails, and costumed characters roaming around. It’s campy, it’s fun, and a must-visit for any Burton fan.
- Price: $$$ (Dinner is a prix-fixe menu)
- Cuisine: Themed Cocktails & American Food
- Location: 308 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003
- Contact: http://beetlehousenyc.com | +1 646-510-4786 | info@beetlehousenyc.com
- Pro Tip: Reservations are highly recommended for dinner. If you just want to grab a drink, you can usually squeeze into the bar area. Try the “Beetle’s Juice” cocktail.
The Cauldron
For all the witches and wizards at heart, The Cauldron offers a magical “potions” class where you get to use a real magic wand to mix your own bubbling, smoking cocktails. It’s an interactive and super fun experience.
- Price: $$$ (for the ticketed experience)
- Cuisine: Themed Cocktails
- Location: 47 Stone St, New York, NY 10004
- Contact: http://thecauldron.io/nyc
- Pro Tip: This is one of the best bars in NYC for young adults looking for an interactive, Instagrammable experience. Book your “class” online in advance.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
Not a “theme” as much as it is a living time capsule. This is one of NYC’s oldest bars, and it feels like it hasn’t changed since it opened in 1854. The floor is covered in sawdust, the walls are packed with history, and the ordering is simple.
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Ale & Simple Snacks
- Location: 15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003
- Contact: https://mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc | +1 212-473-9148 |info@mcsorleysoldalehouse.com
- Pro Tip: This is a cash-only establishment. They only serve two kinds of beer: light or dark. You have to order them two at a time (a “pair”), so just tell the bartender how many pairs you want.
Kitsch, Camp & Divey Fun
Trailer Park Lounge
A hilarious and loving tribute to American trailer park kitsch. The walls are covered in retro signs, random memorabilia, and Christmas lights. They serve up great burgers, tater tots, and strong, no-fuss drinks in a setting that’s impossible not to smile in.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American Comfort Food & Cocktails
- Location: 271 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
- Contact: http://trailerparklounge.com | 917 261 2777
- Pro Tip: Check out the bathroom decor. Trust me. It’s a perfect spot for a fun, casual date or a night out with friends who don’t take themselves too seriously.
Beauty Bar
Get a manicure while you sip on a martini. This bar is designed to look like a retro 1960s beauty salon, complete with vintage hair dryer chairs. It’s a fun, quirky spot with cheap drinks and a lively dance party in the back on weekends.
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Location: 231 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003
- Contact: https://www.instagram.com/thebeautybarnyc | +1 212-539-1389 | michael@thebeautybar.com
- Pro Tip: The “Martini & Manicure” special is a real deal and a classic NYC experience that won’t break the bank.
Barcade
The original arcade bar. Barcade combines a love for classic 80s and 90s arcade games with an amazing American craft beer list. It’s the perfect place to unleash your inner child and get your geek on.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Craft Beer & Bar Food
- Location: Branches in Manhattan, Brooklyn & Jersey City
- Contact: https://www.instagram.com/barcade
- Pro Tip: The games still cost only a quarter to play. It’s a popular after-work spot, so it can get crowded.
Alligator Lounge
This Williamsburg dive bar has a simple but unbeatable theme: free pizza with every drink. That’s it. That’s the theme. And it’s glorious. The vibe is super laid-back, and they have fun extras like karaoke and trivia nights.
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Dive Bar Drinks & Free Pizza
- Location: 600 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
- Contact: https://www.instagram.com/alligatorlounge | +1 718-599-4440 | AlligatorManager@gmail.com
- Pro Tip: The pizza is free, but it’s good form to tip the pizza maker a dollar or two when you grab your pie. The drinks are cheap, so you’ll still come out way ahead.
Barcelona Bar
A wild, unpretentious dive bar in Midtown famous for its massive menu of themed shots, many of which come with a full-on performance from the bartender. It’s a rite of passage for anyone looking for a truly chaotic night out.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Themed Shots & Drinks
- Location: 923 8th Ave (Btwn 54th & 55th), New York, New York 10019
- Contact: https://www.barcelonabarnyc.com
- Pro Tip: Don’t just order a beer. The whole point is to pick a shot from the menu (like the ‘Harry Potter’ or ‘Top Gun’) and see what wild antics ensue.
Boobie Trap
This Bushwick spot is a hilariously raunchy, pirate-themed dive bar filled with mannequin parts, quirky art, and a super laid-back vibe. It’s unapologetically weird, and that’s why people love it.
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Dive Bar Drinks & Bar Food
- Location: 308 Bleecker St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
- Contact: https://boobietrapbrooklyn.com | (718) 381-9000 | boobietrapbrooklyn@gmail.com
- Pro Tip: They have free BBQ in their backyard on some summer days. Check their Instagram for announcements. It’s the perfect spot for cheap beer and a good time.
House of Wax
Located inside the Alamo Drafthouse cinema, this bar is surrounded by a creepy yet fascinating collection of 19th-century wax anatomical models. It’s a moody, unique spot for a drink before or after your movie.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Cocktails & Bar Bites
- Location: 445 Albee Square W #4, Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Contact: http://thehouseofwax.com | +1 617-927-9560
- Pro Tip: It’s surprisingly less crowded than many other themed bars, making it a great place to have an actual conversation surrounded by some truly bizarre art.
Secret Speakeasies & Hidden Gems
Apotheke
Hidden in a dark alley in Chinatown, this bar is styled like an old European apothecary. Bartenders in lab coats mix up incredibly creative “prescriptions” using exotic herbs and botanicals. It’s one of the most mentioned spots on any unique bars NYC reddit thread.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Craft Cocktails
- Location: 9 Doyers Street, New York, New York 10013 (and other locations)
- Contact: https://www.apothekemixology.com | (212) 406-0400 | info@ApothekeNYC.com
- Pro Tip: There’s often live jazz music, which adds to the mysterious, sophisticated vibe. Dress up a little for this one.
The Back Room
A real-deal speakeasy that actually operated during Prohibition. To get in, you go through a hidden gate, down an alley, and up some stairs. They serve cocktails in teacups, just like they did in the 1920s to hide the booze.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Speakeasy Cocktails
- Location: 102 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002
- Contact: http://backroomnyc.com | (212) 228-5098 | thebackroomnyc@yahoo.com
- Pro Tip: Look for the sign that says “The Lower East Side Toy Company” – that’s your entrance.
Please Don’t Tell (PDT)
The quintessential modern speakeasy. You enter through a vintage phone booth inside Crif Dogs, a hot dog joint. Once inside, it’s a small, intimate, and sophisticated bar known for its impeccable and inventive cocktails.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Craft Cocktails
- Location: 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009-5158, United States, New York, NY, United States, New York
- Contact: https://www.instagram.com/pdtnyc | +1 646-922-8522 | info@pdtnyc.com
- Pro Tip: Reservations are notoriously hard to get and open at 3 PM for the same day. Be ready to call right on the dot. Grabbing a wild hot dog from Crif Dogs on your way out is a must.
BlackTail
From the same team behind The Dead Rabbit, this stunning bar evokes the spirit of Prohibition-era Havana, when thirsty Americans flocked to Cuba for a good time. The cocktails are creative, complex, and absolutely delicious, with a focus on rum.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Cuban-inspired Craft Cocktails
- Location: Pier A Harbor House, 22 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004
- Contact: https://www.instagram.com/blacktailnyc
- Pro Tip: It’s a bit of a trip to the southern tip of Manhattan, but the incredible cocktails and the stunning views of the Statue of Liberty make it well worth the journey.
RPM
A rock ‘n’ roll vinyl bar that feels like you’re hanging out in your coolest friend’s basement listening room. The main theme is the music itself, with an incredible sound system and DJs spinning all-vinyl sets of rock, soul, and funk.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Location: 246 west 54th street, New York, New York 10019
- Contact: https://rpmunderground.us | (914) 439-5065 | info@rpmunderground.us
- Pro Tip: It’s a small, intimate space. Perfect for music lovers who actually want to listen to and appreciate the music without shouting over it.
This list of the best bars NYC has to offer should give you plenty of options for an unforgettable night out. Cheers to finding your new favorite weird spot.
Looking for Something a Little Spookier?
If you love a good theme, especially a spooky one, you’re in luck. Check out our guide to the Best Halloween-Themed Bar & Restaurants To Dine In NYC for year-round haunts and seasonal pop-ups.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, details such as operating hours, prices, and reservation policies are subject to change. Please verify all information with the official venues or organizers before making any plans.
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