Bar in New York City, United States

Mace

490Pearl Points

Awarded cocktail bar

About Mace

Book Mace when the night calls for a serious cocktail bar rather than a casual fallback. Its World's 50 Best Bars and North America's 50 Best Bars recognition make it a strong date-night choice in New York City, but plan early and do not rely on it for dinner, outdoor seating, or a flexible group hang unless those details are confirmed separately.

Top 500 Bars Best Bars listed Mace at No. 246 in 2025, giving this New York City venue a clear, verified recognition signal. The confirmed details are limited, so the safest way to plan is to treat Mace as a recognised bar in New York City rather than build expectations around unverified specifics such as menu format, pricing, seating, hours, or a particular service style.

The awards history is the strongest grounded reason to pay attention: Mace was also listed as World's 50 Best Bars #28 in 2016 and World's 50 Best North America's Best Bars #18 in 2023. That does not answer every practical question about a visit, but it does place Mace among bars with notable recognition. The verified dress code is smart casual.

For a date, make this a recognised New York City bar choice

Mace is easiest to recommend when the decision is based on confirmed recognition and a smart casual dress code. There are no verified details here for food, happy hour, outdoor seating, pricing, or a specific menu structure, so avoid making those assumptions when planning the rest of the evening.

The practical move is to build the night around what is verified: Mace is in New York City, has a smart casual dress code, and has several confirmed bar accolades. If you want to compare it with other options, browse Our full New York City bars guide and cross-check choices before committing.

Plan around the confirmed facts, not unverified extras

Because the available verified profile is narrow, Mace is best approached as a New York City bar with notable recognition rather than as a venue with confirmed details on reservations, group size, food, outdoor seating, or discounts. If any of those details matter for your visit, confirm them directly before you make plans.

For wider planning around the city, use Our full New York City restaurants guide for dinner options, Our full New York City hotels guide for a stay in New York City, and broader New York City guides for the rest of the night.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the crowd like at Mace?

There are no verified crowd details for Mace. What is confirmed is that Mace is in New York City, has a smart casual dress code, and has recognised bar accolades including World's 50 Best Bars #28 in 2016 and Top 500 Bars Best Bars #246 in 2025.

Does Mace have happy hour deals?

Happy hour details are not verified here. If a discount window matters, confirm directly with Mace before planning your visit.

Is the food good at Mace?

There are no verified food details for Mace. If you want to plan a meal separately, you could compare other dining options such as Jeffrey's Grocery, while treating Mace as a New York City bar with confirmed recognition.

Does Mace have outdoor seating?

Outdoor seating is not verified here. If outdoor seating matters, confirm directly with Mace before planning a weather-dependent visit in New York City.

Is Mace good for a date?

Mace can be a sensible date choice if you want a smart casual New York City bar with confirmed recognition. Compared with Bar Blanc or Marlton Espresso Bar, use the verified details rather than assumptions about format, food, or seating.

Do I need a reservation at Mace?

Reservation requirements are not verified here. If timing matters, check directly with Mace; for comparison planning, American Bar - New York is another option to consider.

Is Mace good for groups?

Group suitability is not verified here. If you are planning for more than a few people, confirm directly with Mace before relying on it; Kazumi Omakase is a separate option to compare depending on the kind of evening you want.

Location

35 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011

New York City, United States

Compare Mace

Worth the Price? Mace vs. Peers

Venue
Mace
Kazumi Omakase
Marlton Espresso Bar
Bar Blanc
Jeffrey's Grocery
American Bar - New York

Comparable nearby venues by cuisine and price for this tier.

Also Consider

Kazumi Omakase, Notable alternative
Marlton Espresso Bar, Notable alternative
Bar Blanc, Notable alternative
Jeffrey's Grocery, Notable alternative
American Bar - New York, Notable alternative

How It Compares

Choose Mace over Marlton Espresso Bar when cocktails are the point of the night, not a casual hotel-adjacent meet-up. Marlton Espresso Bar is the easier-feeling choice for a low-pressure conversation; Mace is the stronger pick for a date where the bar itself needs to carry the evening.

Kazumi Omakase is a better fit when the priority is a structured dining format, while Mace makes more sense as a drinks-led stop before or after dinner. If the night needs food as the anchor, start with Kazumi Omakase or Jeffrey's Grocery; if it needs cocktail credibility, keep Mace higher on the list.

For a polished alternative, compare Mace with American Bar - New York and Bar Blanc. American Bar - New York reads better for a classic New York night, Bar Blanc is the cross-shop when the evening leans dining-room rather than cocktail-room, and Mace is the pick when awards-backed drinks are the reason to go.