5. The Belfry

Photograph by John Seniszyn. Courtesy of The Belfry

It’s easy to miss this rustic bar among the many restaurants and shops around Union Square, but if you keep an eye out for the plants and flowers spilling out of its entrance, you won’t be disappointed. Open year round and always seasonally decorated, The Belfry is an old-fashioned bar with high ceilings, antique Harry Potter-esque chandeliers, candles on the walls, and plants hanging from the ceilings. Its usual cocktail menu and beer selection are sublime, and its winter decorations and seasonal drinks are tasteful and original.

In addition to tasty winter cocktails, it offers its famous “Pickles to Drink” drinks, which are mixed with pickle brine to ease the burn. If brine is not your go-to winter beverage, then give the Mezcal Margarita or Downeast Seasonal Cider a try. Address: 222 East 14th Street