When the late Sasha Petraske opened Milk & Honey on the Lower East Side in 1999, he started the first wave in a sea of change in how bars crafted both cocktails and the environments in which we consumed them. Quality spirits were key, naturally, but so were things like fresh juices and clear, properly cut ice -- not to mention attention to technique. And the spaces themselves were austere, with rules ("no name-dropping, no hooting, hollering, shouting or other loud behavior") that helped to encourage a sort of reverence for the art of the cocktail. Of course, a whole lot has changed since then. Now, it's almost a challenge to find a bartender incapable of making a proper Old Fashioned or Manhattan, whether you’re at a sports bar, a rooftop lounge, a singles joint, or a dance hall. So when determining which cocktail bars in NYC are the best today, it obviously isn’t enough that the staff knows how to properly stir (not shake!) a martini (gin, not vodka!). Nearly 20 years after Petraske opened his seminal location, a different sort of atmosphere and approach are key, with many of the top bars in the city dropping (or at least modifying) some of the rules and rigidity of their forebears in favor of a little more adventure and fun -- while holding on to the standards that kickstarted the cocktail revolution all those years ago. Now, you’ll find neighborhood spots, newcomers, and, naturally, pseudo-speakeasies among the best cocktail bars in New York City.

Anyone who thinks New York City’s outdoor recreational opportunities begin and end in Central Park needs a wake-up call. Thanks to ambitious urban development projects in recent years—including renovations to the bike path on the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway and the flourishing of Brooklyn Bridge Park—the country’s largest city is providing ever more opportunities to get after it under the Empire State sun. As one might expect from a city of over eight million people, New York’s great strength lies in its diversity—there really is nothing you can’t do. Want to go gym climbing at 11 p.m.? You got it. Want to go on a century ride through rolling, lush terrain? Easy. Want to have the entire world’s cuisine at your disposal for your post-race meal? Done. Despite the evidence that seems to point to the contrary, as far as big cities go, New York can really be an outsider’s playground. Here's how to make the most of it.