Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
5 Places To Get Boozy Bowls Of Punch In NYC
By
Nell Casey
Published Mar 21, 2014
Modified Mar 21, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Nell Casey
Published Mar 21, 2014
Modified Mar 21, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New Yorkers can be prickly about sharing things like subway seats and sidewalk space but everyone can get behind communing over a giant bowl of chilled punch. And were not talking the stuff ladeled out during the post-church hour; we're talking the delicious nectar filled with all kinds of lovely alcohol products. Gather up ye boozing comrades and drink up ye hearties, yo ho!
The Dead Rabbit (via Facebook)
DEAD RABBIT: With its exhaustive cocktail menu receiving top honors both locally and nationally, this Financial District gem won't disappoint regardless of your predilection. But if a frothy bowl of communal punch is your aim, the bar's Parlor area offers six different flavors to please everyone in your party, ladled out of beautiful bowls into charming tea cups. They've got versions with rum, if that's too your taste, or concoctions made with whiskey and other spirits for something a little less sweet.
Bowls serve four ($55), six ($75) or eight ($90) but if you can't scrounge up a group, don't worry! They've also got punch available by the glass ($11) or flagon ($60) in the Tap Room, with combos to please all kinds of palates. They've also been known to give out a gratis cup of punch just for walking through the door.
The Dead Rabbit is located at 30 Water Street, 646-422-7906; deadrabbitnyc.com
The Drink (via Facebook)
THE DRINK: Though they serve other cocktails and booze, this Williamsburg joint specializes in spiced punches, which they conveniently offer by the bowl ($43) or by the glass ($5) with one of their rotating specials. There are lots of rum and bourbon-based offerings, like The Coxswain with Barbancourt Rum, lime, sorrel flower, ginger and tiki bitters. For a less traditional concoction try Smoke on the Water, a bracing mixture of Pueblo Viejo tequila, Sandeman’s Tawny Port, lapsang suchong smoked green tea, lime and xocolatl mole bitters. The old timey Maritime decor is fun but it's the backyard area that really sells this spot in the summertime.
The Drink is located at 228 Manhattan Avenue in East Williamsburg, 718-782-8463; thedrinkbrooklyn.com
Cienfuegos (via Yelp)
CIENFUEGOS: This East Village Cuban restaurant scores big points for its serious dedication to rum, which can be found in all ages and styles in one of their 12 different punches. For heat seekers, try the Por Avion (Barbancourt Blanc, jalapeno, honey, lime and champagne); if you like it sweet, opt for the Anchor Punch with spiced rum, guava, ginger, lime and apricot liqueur. The restaurant offers a few different sizes for convenience: Con un Amigo bowls ($38) service two to three drinkers up to The Royal ($114) which serves nine to 10. No trip would be complete with an order of their Crispy Avocado ($8), a kind of avocado tempura; you'll need something to soak up all the booze.
Cienfuegos is located at 95 Avenue A, 212-614-6818; cienfuegosny.com
Zombie Hut (via Foursquare)
ZOMBIE HUT: While not punch in the strictest sense of the word, we'd argue that the potent Scorpion Bowls ($26) at this Carroll Gardens tiki hut satisfy the major components: fruity, voluminous and served in a fancy vessel. Plus fire! No fancy bitters or artisan tinctures here; just brandy, juice and enough high octane Bacardi 151 to put down even the most seasoned boozer. Sometimes you just need lowbrow, ya know? Pair that with the bars killer outdoor space and you'll be ready for a night you'll never remember!
Zombie Hut is located at 273 Smith Street, 718-875-3433
FRONT TOWARD ENEMY: We love a good bottomless brunch and this Astoria newcomer rocks a Punch Brunch that includes unlimited glasses of the stuff during their weekend brunches from noon to 4 p.m. It's true you won't get a big bowl, but when they're offering the drinks for free there's really no cause for complaint. Order up a brunch entree like Egg's Benedict ($14), Brioche French Toast ($12) or Slow Roast Duck & Beans ($14) and you'll be treated to glasses of sweet and tangy punch for the duration of your meal.
They're currently offering two flavors: the Purple Drank Punch with tequila, grapefruit, lemon and violet liqueur and the Love Drunk Punch with rye, lemon, cinnamon and framboise.
Front Toward Enemy is located at 40-11 30th Avenue in Astoria, 718-545-2269; fronttowardenemynyc.com
Tagged
cienfuegos
dead rabbit
front toward enemy
punch
the drink
zombie hut
original
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .