Bar in New York City, United States

Dear Irving

145Pearl Points

Cocktails First

About Dear Irving

Dear Irving is worth targeting for a two-person cocktail date in Midtown when the room and drink program matter more than dinner. It is a poor fit for spontaneous groups or food-led plans, but a strong choice for a polished pre- or post-theater stop if availability lines up.

Is Dear Irving worth considering in New York City? The strongest verified signals are limited but useful: Dear Irving has smart casual dress guidance and a confirmed World's 50 Best North America's Best Bars #26 recognition from 2022. It is also listed as a Tales Spirited Awards Best U.S. Hotel Bar Top 10 Nominee for 2026.

Because the verified public details here are narrow, plan around what is confirmed rather than assuming specifics about reservations, menu format, food, pricing, seating, hours, or service style. If those details matter for your night, confirm them directly with the venue before committing.

Best for a smart casual New York City bar plan

Dear Irving is best framed as a New York City bar choice with notable bar-world recognition, not as a complete dinner plan or a venue with verified details on food, pricing, or service format. If you need to build a fuller itinerary around it, use our full New York City restaurants guide for dining separately.

For broader bar planning, use our full New York City bars guide, or compare the mood with other options such as Broadway Lounge, The Skylark - Rooftop Bar, Dallas BBQ Times Square, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, and Smith's Bar.

The booking call: confirm the details that matter

Before making Dear Irving the fixed point of an evening, confirm practical details directly with the venue. The verified facts do not establish hours, reservation policy, seating, pricing, food service, or walk-in availability, so those should not be assumed.

If the broader trip includes a stay, cross-check the area with our full New York City hotels guide. If the night is part of a wider itinerary, use the full New York City experiences guide for planning beyond a single bar stop.

The verdict: choose Dear Irving if you want a smart casual New York City bar with confirmed recognition from World's 50 Best North America's Best Bars. Skip making assumptions about the rest of the experience until you verify the current details with the venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dear Irving have happy hour deals?

Happy hour details are not verified here. Check the venue's official channels for the latest information.

What's the crowd like at Dear Irving?

The specific crowd is not verified here. Dear Irving does have confirmed bar-world recognition, including World's 50 Best North America's Best Bars #26 in 2022.

Is the food good at Dear Irving?

Food details are not verified here. If food is important to your plan, confirm current offerings directly with the venue before going.

Do I need a reservation at Dear Irving?

The reservation policy is not verified here. If you need a specific time, check directly with Dear Irving before planning around it.

Is Dear Irving good for a date?

It may fit a smart casual New York City bar plan, but specific details such as seating, noise level, reservations, food, and pricing are not verified here. Confirm the current setup with the venue if those factors matter.

Location

310 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018

New York City, United States

Compare Dear Irving

Value Check: Dear Irving and Peers

Venue	Booking Difficulty
Dear Irving	Near Impossible
Dallas BBQ Times Square	Unknown
The Skylark - Rooftop Bar	Unknown
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ	Unknown
Smith's Bar	Unknown
Broadway Lounge	Unknown

Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.

Also Consider

Dallas BBQ Times Square, Notable alternative
The Skylark - Rooftop Bar, Notable alternative
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Notable alternative
Smith's Bar, Notable alternative
Broadway Lounge, Notable alternative

How it compares in Midtown

Dear Irving is the cocktail-first pick in this set. Dallas BBQ Times Square is better for value-driven groups that care more about volume and ease than atmosphere. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ makes more sense when food is the anchor of the night, especially for groups who want the table experience to be the activity.

For ambiance, The Skylark - Rooftop Bar is the stronger choice if a skyline setting is the point. Dear Irving is better when the priority is a more cocktail-focused date rather than a view-led outing. Broadway Lounge is the safer hotel-bar fallback for visitors who want convenience in the theater district without making the bar itself the centerpiece.

Smith's Bar is the looser, easier-feeling alternative when the night does not need to feel planned. Choose Dear Irving for a higher-effort date-night drink; choose Smith's Bar or Dallas BBQ Times Square when the group wants lower friction and less reservation pressure.