The Sip & Guzzle, in bar-paradise West Village, was elected the best North American cocktail bar in 2026, just after two years of life, so it had to be my first stop in a recent NY bars mini-marathon.
The bar is the result of a collaboration between NY barstar Steve Schneider (former Employees Only, another place you HAVE to visit) and Asian bartender Shingo Gokan, and stems from a fantastic story. In 1860, a crew from the Japanese consulate, including 77 samurai, reached New York City and became aficionados of the legendary Broadway bar by Jerry Thomas, where the Professor himself created his “Japanese Cocktail” in their honour. Well, the Sip & Guzzle is nothing more than what these travelling Samurais would have created as their own bar, with the best of New York and Tokyo (a twin bar exists in Tokyo as well). The ground floor is the “Guzzle” area, a beautifully dark and busy 1860s New York saloon, the lower floor is the “Sip” space, more sophisticated and intimate inspired by old Tokyo.
Having read this story in advance, I admit I imagined a rather posh Japanese-style venue, but I was luckily wrong. Lucky enough to get in without a reservation, I ordered a Martini: very cold, prebatched, simply crafted (Ford gin and Dolin), and delicious. Also, while the price of other cocktails is rather New York standard (means high), the Martini was just ten dollars: affordable perfection.
But the most impressive thing, apart from the Miami Vice Negroni that I had afterwards, was the fact that I felt at home in no time: chatting with bartenders and drinkers, discussing details about the perfect Martini craft of the place, and getting advice on which bars to visit next. Yes, this is a place where on the menu you can find a list of other cocktail bars where the bar crew likes to go.
I did not have time to sit in the Sip area and to enjoy the food there, which seems to be also very good, that will be for the next time. All in all, congratulations to the bar creators and crew: mixing top quality drinks in a very cool environment with such a relaxed vibe really deserves an Award! Classic Martini rate: 9.
The Martini Hour 