Five best Upper East Side bars

Avoca feels like a homey bar connected to your backyard. This modern exposed-brick bar has a warm feeling inside, followed by an open-air verdant patio lined with wood paneling and fairy lights. An event here with your best friends will feel like an intimate and nostalgic summer night on your childhood back deck (but now with alcohol). While reminiscing, make sure to order from their mouth-watering menu. Crafted by their staff who have 25 years of experience, Avoca serves American classics with a refined flare, like their chipotle spice-infused burger and more.

Avoca can host private events; for parties over 10, call the venue directly.

Melody’s Piano Bar truly emits the stylish atmosphere of the Upper East Side. The menu features unique and creative cocktails like the Green with Envy, which features green tea vodka, coconut cream, pandan, lemon, and Thai basil. If you feel peckish, their high-end menu offers snacks such as caviar with potato chips and salmon tartare. While savoring the delights, tune in to the soothing piano man – because everyone’s in the mood for a melody, as Billy Joel says. A drink, snack, and a song are enough to feel like you are in the upper echelons of NYC, even if you are just passing through.

Melody’s Piano Bar hosts private events; contact the venue for capacity information.

Kaia Wine Bar sheds light on the overlooked South African wine scene. This wine bar stays true to its roots, with almost every wine offering sourced from the Rainbow Nation, and has an extensive list of unique house cocktails. Staying on theme, the menu is a diverse flavor explosion, offering South African street food, oxtail tacos, and peri-peri deviled eggs to pair with your wine. Kaia is NYC’s only South African wine bar, so wine and dine for an exclusive glimpse into this cuisine.

Kaia Wine Bar hosts semi- and full-private events of any size. To reserve, contact the venue directly.

Jeremy’s is an American and Austrian fusion bar with gorgeous lighting and a sleek marble counter space. Their drink menu features a list of house cocktails with an entire separate list of negronis if you like the bitter side of the bittersweet spectrum of cocktails. Order a few Eastern European delicacies to pass around with your friends and dance the night away to their live entertainment to wash it all down.

Jeremy’s allows private events with up to 20 guests For larger parties, you can book a complete venue buyout.

Dorrian’s Red Hand has been an Upper East Sider’s go-to place for a girl's night out and brunch since 1960. Events throughout the month include live music like karaoke and DJs, or get all the drama and gossip by attending their live Bachelorette viewing party. If you can muster up the energy to debrief last night’s party, come back for brunch – or book an event, if it's that intense – with unlimited mimosas, bloody marys, and screwdrivers.

Dorrian’s Red Hand can host private events with up to 150 guests. Amenities include DJs, karaoke, hostesses, and A/V tech.