If you’re looking for the best dirty martinis in NYC, just know you’re officially drinking like a local. A good dirty martini is a personality: cold, salty, a little dramatic, but ultimately reliable, exactly like the people who order them.
Here are the bars serving the dirtiest, coldest, most “I’m becoming a better person tomorrow” martinis in New York.
1. Clandestino — The Downtown Icon
35 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
Clandestino shakes their martinis like they’re trying to exorcise a demon. The result: an icy, briny masterpiece that literally might arrive with tiny frozen shards on top. It’s effortlessly cool, dimly lit, and full of beautiful people pretending not to look at each other.
Perfect for:
People who appreciate an aggressively cold martini and a bar that doubles as a personality test.
2. The Swan Room — The Downtown Luxury Martini
Nine Orchard Hotel, 9 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
The Swan Room is where elegance goes to drink. Their dirty martini is crisp, perfectly salted, and dangerously smooth. High ceilings, hushed glamour, and the kind of lighting that makes everyone look 15% more mysterious.
Perfect for:
People who whisper “I deserve this” while signing the check.
3. The Nines — The Velvet & Vodka Experience
9 Great Jones St, New York, NY 10012
This place is basically a supper-club fantasy. Red velvet booths, candlelight, a pianist who is absolutely doing the most, and a dirty martini that tastes like old-school glamor without the cigarette smoke. Strong, theatrical, unforgettable.
Perfect for:
People who dress for dinner like it’s an audition.
4. Bar Valentina — Big ’Tini, Teeny ’Tini Energy
55 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Bar Valentina is peak downtown casual-hot. Their dirty martini comes in two moods: the full size that says “I’m here for the night,” and the teeny ’tini that murmurs “I’m pretending to be responsible.” Both are crisp, briny, perfectly chilled, and dangerously drinkable. The bar feels like a neighborhood secret, stylish, unpretentious, and just chaotic enough.
Perfect for:
People who arrive saying “just one” and decide what size that means in the moment.
5. Deux Chats — Paris but Make It Brooklyn
198 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
With its Belle Époque aesthetic and golden glow, Deux Chats makes a dirty martini that feels flirtatious in a very French way: clean, cold, briny, and chic as hell. A martini that begs for lipstick marks on the rim.
Perfect for:
People who bring a book to the bar for “atmosphere”.
Whether you’re into icy-chaotic martinis (Clandestino), chic-luxury martinis (The Swan Room), or cinematic velvet martinis (The Nines), these are the best dirty martinis in New York City right now. Perfect for first dates, last dates, friend dates, or crying in the bathroom between courses.
Text by: Wika Soto-Hay
