A hip East-meets-West cocktail bar in Greenwich Village has been named North America’s high watering gap for 2026 in a brand new “World’s 50 Greatest” survey.
“Sip & Guzzle” — helmed by a pair of internationally acknowledged New York Metropolis-based mixologists — was tops amongst greater than 800 trade consultants score bars throughout the US and Canada based mostly on their expertise, in response to Restaurant journal, which oversees the report.
“We’re a love story between New York cocktail tradition and Tokyo cocktail tradition,” stated Steve Schneider, the supervisor and head bartender at “Guzzle” — a no-frills American bar that types the fashionable dual-lounge institution by teaming up with moody, pensive Japanese counterpart “Sip.”
“And I believe it’s a fantastic factor to see how these issues affect one another,” Schneider stated.
“I believe that’s one of many issues that makes it so particular.”
The twin-floor Manhattan cocktail bar, which solely opened in January 2024, was impressed by the longtime friendship between trade veteran Shingo Gokan, beforehand of neighboring West Village bar Angel’s Share, and former Worker’s Solely bartender Schneider, stated “Sip & Guzzle” proprietor Justin Weitz.
Each “Sip” and “Guzzle” options nods to New York, Tokyo and nautical fare stemming from the legend of 77 samurai who made their first voyage to the Massive Apple in 1860.
However whereas Gokan’s famed SG Membership bar in Tokyo imagines the American bar that the samurai would’ve opened in Japan, “Sip & Guzzle” theorizes if the swordsmen have been to sling cocktails in Manhattan as a substitute, Weitz stated.
“It’s all about our personalities,” Schneider advised The Submit, calling his no-fuss outpost that includes “consolation” drinks a polar reverse to Gokan’s “Sip,” the place each drink is a considerate, paced expertise.
Schneider’s drink menu consists of riffs on classics with the “Miami Vice Negroni” and “Rum & Cola With out Cola,” whereas Gokan’s program presents libations that “require a bit extra speaking, a dissertation, in the case of what it’s and the way it’s ready.”
“Sip” drinks, as an illustration, embody the Tomato Tree, which makes use of “each ingredient” of a tomato plant, from its fruit and flower to leaf and sap.
“Guzzle is extra social gathering and informal, which displays Steve,” Weitz stated. “Shingo is wonderful, however undoubtedly somewhat extra quiet, extra reserved.
“[‘Sip’ is] extra of an intimate expertise — and the meals bridges the hole.”
The bar’s menu — served at each “Sip” and “Guzzle” — presents what Weitz calls an American twist on Izakaya, from its $150 “Royale with Cheese” A5 wagyu sandwich to mochi fries with nacho powder.
Its Tavern Burger, constituted of Wagyu, has been getting consideration in its personal proper, being named the most effective in North America by World’s Greatest Steaks.
The bar’s laundry listing of different accolades embody being named No. 39 greatest bar on the planet and No. 5 on North America’s 50 greatest bars listing in 2025.
“The extra we’re open right here, the extra we’ve settled into our personal,” Schneider stated.
“I’ve obtained the ‘Guzzle,’ crowd, [Gokan] has ‘Sip,’ there’s somewhat one thing for everybody.”
