AperiBar
Midtown-Times Square, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
The Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
AperiBar, located inside the LUMA Hotel Times Square, operates daily from mid-afternoon to late evening, making it a convenient midtown option for pre-theater drinks or early aperitifs. The bar's flexible hours and central location suit drop-in visits better than destination cocktail hunting. If you need a straightforward drink near Broadway without a reservation, it solves that need; for a more polished or food-focused experience, Charlie Palmer Steak IV or Valbella At The Park offer stronger programs within walking distance.
About AperiBar
AperiBar is in New York City and operates seven days a week, opening at 2 PM or 3 PM depending on the day and closing at 11 PM or midnight. Verified hours are Monday through Wednesday from 3–11 PM, Thursday from 3 PM–12 AM, Friday and Saturday from 2 PM–12 AM, Sunday from 3–11 PM. The verified dress code is smart casual.
Beyond the hours and dress code, specific public details such as menu, pricing, service style, beverage focus are not verified here. Treat AperiBar as a New York City option to consider when its afternoon-to-late-evening schedule fits your plans, confirm any menu or reservation needs directly before going. For broader planning, New York City's cocktail bar scene offers other options to compare.
What to Try Across Two or Three Visits
Because verified details on AperiBar's menu and signature offerings are not available here, the safest approach is to use a first visit to confirm what is currently being served. If you return, compare the experience against your first visit: timing, comfort, service, whether the smart-casual setting fits the kind of stop you want. A third visit is only worth considering if the hours continue to make it convenient for your New York City plans.
How It Compares With Other Options
AperiBar's clearest verified advantages are its seven-day schedule and afternoon opening times. If you are comparing relevant options, Charlie Palmer Steak IV, Jake's, Valbella At The Park, Planet Hollywood New York, Mari.ne Handroll are other names to consider, but confirm current menus, booking policies, hours directly before choosing among them.
AperiBar is best evaluated on the facts that are confirmed: New York City location, smart-casual dress code, hours that run from afternoon into late evening every day. If you are already browsing New York City's restaurant roster, use AperiBar as one possible stop and verify the current details that matter most to your visit.
The take
The Take
The Vibe
AperiBar treats the Italian aperitivo as its organizing idea, transplanting a Milan- and Turin-style pre-dinner ritual into a Midtown hotel setting. The bar feels approachable and relaxed rather than performative: drinks arrive alongside salty, snackable bites and the room functions as social infrastructure for the early-evening hour. Located in the LUMA Hotel near Times Square, it serves a mix of travelers and a transient hotel crowd while offering a restrained, classic take on Italian aperitivo culture. The result reads as a refined, low-key alternative to downtown cocktail theatres—rooted in tradition and quietly convivial.
Best For
AperiBar is best when you want a pre-dinner pause: think aperitivo hour, after-work drinks, or a casual meet-up before heading to dinner. Its hotel location also makes it a convenient stop for business travelers and tourists looking for a quick, well-curated drink and a small plate without the downtown craft-cocktail fuss. The format suits groups gathering for a short social window as much as solo travelers seeking an approachable introduction to Italian aperitivo rituals. It works well for private events that favor approachable drinks and shareable bites over theatrical service.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the aperitivo format: order a Spritz or Negroni and pair it with salty, shareable snacks. The menu’s Italian focus makes the Mortadella + Zucchini Panino and Funghi Pizza natural companions to bitter or bubbly cocktails, while heartier plates like Pollo Cacio e Pepe and Mafaldine a la Vongole readier for diners leaning toward a full meal. Pace drinks with small plates and favor the wine-and-amaro selections highlighted by the program—the setup rewards sampling and sharing rather than single, high-production cocktails.
Planning details
Location
LUMA Hotel Times Square, 120 W 41st St, New York, NY 10036 · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Charlie Palmer Steak IV, Notable alternative
- Jake's, Notable alternative
- Mari.ne Handroll, Handrool Bar, Handrool Bar
- Valbella At The Park, Notable alternative
- Planet Hollywood New York, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
AperiBar's primary edge over nearby options is its daily afternoon opening and proximity to the Theater District. Charlie Palmer Steak IV delivers a more structured bar experience tied to its steakhouse menu, but you'll need a reservation for dinner service and the bar can fill up quickly during evening hours. If you're looking for Italian-focused food alongside drinks, Valbella At The Park offers a more defined menu and a quieter room, though it sits slightly farther from the theater core. Jake's provides a similar hotel-bar convenience but with a broader American menu if you want more than small bites.
Planet Hollywood New York skews louder and more tourist-focused, with a themed environment that works for groups but lacks the aperitivo angle. For a Japanese-leaning alternative, Mari.ne Handroll offers a handroll bar format with sake pairings, though it's located outside Manhattan proper and requires more planning. AperiBar fits best for drop-in visits when you need a drink between 3 PM and 8 PM without advance booking, its flexibility and location make it the easiest option in this, even if the cocktail program isn't as polished as dedicated bars elsewhere in the city.
For value, AperiBar likely sits in the middle of this group: hotel bars in Times Square rarely undercut neighborhood spots on price, but you're paying for convenience and hours rather than a signature cocktail menu. If you're a regular who's already explored New York City's top cocktail bars, use this as a low-stakes option when timing or location constraints rule out your first-choice spots.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full AperiBar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare AperiBar
| Venue | Cuisine | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| AperiBar | Easy | 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence | |
| Charlie Palmer Steak IV | Unknown | No published awards | |
| Jake's | Unknown | No published awards | |
| Mari.ne Handroll | Handrool Bar | Unknown | No published awards |
| Valbella At The Park | Unknown | No published awards | |
| Planet Hollywood New York | Unknown | No published awards |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AperiBar good for a special occasion?
It depends on what you want from the occasion. AperiBar's verified dress code is smart casual, but specific details about atmosphere, menu, pricing, service style are not verified here. For a special occasion, confirm current offerings directly before booking or visiting.
What should I order at AperiBar?
Verified menu details are not available here, so there is no confirmed signature order to recommend. Check the current menu when you arrive or check the venue's official channels before your visit.
How far ahead should I book AperiBar?
Booking requirements are not verified here. AperiBar is open Monday through Wednesday from 3–11 PM, Thursday from 3 PM–12 AM, Friday and Saturday from 2 PM–12 AM, Sunday from 3–11 PM; check the venue's official channels to confirm whether reservations are needed.
Is AperiBar good for solo dining?
Solo suitability is not specifically verified here. The confirmed facts are that AperiBar is in New York City, has a smart-casual dress code, keeps afternoon-to-late-evening hours daily. If seating style or food availability matters, confirm those details directly.
What are alternatives to AperiBar?
Other venues to compare include Charlie Palmer Steak IV, Jake's, Mari.ne Handroll, Planet Hollywood New York, Valbella At The Park. Check each venue's current hours, menu, reservation details before deciding.
Is lunch or dinner better at AperiBar?
Lunch service is not verified here. AperiBar opens at 3 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, at 2 PM on Friday and Saturday, then closes at 11 PM or midnight depending on the day. Use those confirmed hours to decide whether it fits your plans.
Does AperiBar handle dietary restrictions?
Dietary and allergen accommodations are not verified here. If you have a restriction or allergy, check the venue's official channels before visiting.
