This is a sort of under-the radar speakeasy (it's quite popular, but you wouldn't know it was a speakeasy if you walked past it on the street [you would also probably not walk past it under normal circumstances]). 

Their mixologists wear white coats and the bar actually looks like an apothecary. The drinks are not my favorite in the city, but they're pretty good regardless. 

I would suggest coming here with a larger group, and on the earlier side of the evening if possible, to avoid long lines. 

You can trust Beauty & Essex to never disappoint in terms of the crowd. There's good drinks & music. Tends to get really loud upstairs.

This is a great little spot in Williamsburg to visit either during the day on the weekend, or potentially in the evening during weekdays (even though I haven't tried that myself yet). I came here on a late Saturday afternoon once, and then on Saturday evenings a few times after that, and it was quite busy (in a nice way though) during all three times. They have a very extensive list of delicious cocktails, as well as wines by the glass, bottle, and some other drinks and bar snacks. 

This is a cute little place to grab drinks and eat some bar snacks if you enjoy them as much as I do. Their French fries are A-MAZING.

This is a "Russian-inspired" basement speakeasy in SoHo/Nolita. Very spacious, so people aren't on top of each other. You have the option to sit at the bar or at one of the many tables (especially if you want to have dinner). All of their cocktails are tasty' I'd highly recommend the Cucumber Margarita as a light, summery option, or The Nolita if you're in the mood for something sweeter.

This is a tiny spot in Williamsburg with a tiny back yard that has string lights and flowers hanging from the ceiling. They have live music most nights (which can get a little too loud if you're sitting inside), which is fun to listen to if you're sitting outside and can actually have a conversation at the same time. Their cocktails are pretty strong, and their staff are very friendly. 

This is a hidden gem in Williamsburg. The restaurant itself looks cute (although a little dark), but the back yard where you can't get any food service is spectacular. It's a huge back yard surrounded with tall brick walls, lots of trees, leaves on the grass floor below your feet, string lights, and some chairs and tables to sit on and around. My friend and I grabbed a bottle of wine from inside and spent hours just chatting outside, enjoying the beautiful weather. 

This is a fun speakeasy in Chelsea Market. Their cocktails are tasty and the music isn't deafening so you can actually hear the person next to you if you're trying to have a conversation. 

few drinks worth trying are their Moscow Mule, Booty Collins, Chelsea Smash, and the Birthday Shot (only if you're into shots--I'm not-- and this one's almost like a liquid dessert). 

This is the rooftop at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg. You should go here for the following reasons:

- Beautifully decorated interior 

- Amazing view of Manhattan skyline

- Generally speaking, pretty good music