There are cocktail bars, and then there are mixology temples. With two New York locations in Chinatown and NoMad (walk-in only and reservations recommended, respectively), Apotheke offers an entire atmospheric submersion even if a drop never crosses your lips. But that would be your error, because the brains behind this speakeasy literally wrote the book on restorative cocktails. You’ll find two tequila cocktails you can order with Teremana under the “stimulants” category: the Paid Vacation and the Matador. The former combines tequila with mezcal, hickory-smoked pineapple, cucumber, lime, agave, and habanero bitters, while the latter brings red pepper and cantaloupe to the mix. Overall, Apotheke approaches its drinks holistically, considering every aspect from décor to drinkware — show your reverence by wearing your Sunday best. 

Though it might wear the nomenclature of Dublin, the crowd puts paid to any pub illusions at this NoHo hotspot, whose lounge vibe never takes itself too seriously. (It does pass out free popcorn.) Sleek millwork, checkered tile, and low lighting make the oysters feel like the most appropriate choice, but consider the rest of the menu here, where bar top fare becomes a head-turner with steak cubes, salmon crostini, and smoked-salt chocolate chip cookies. All in all, it’s a perfectly situated place to park it, order a Salty Flamingo with Teremana, and enjoy the low-lit vibe. 

Short Stories relaunched in September under new ownership and absent its previous Filipino food focus, though it seems to have kept much of its cozy mid-century modern vibe. By all accounts the new Americana dining menu, focused on straightforward — though not exactly simple — fare is stunning. The artfully assembled ingredients in the cocktails, though, just might trick you into thinking you’ve had a full trip around the kitchen. For an impressive take on a classic margarita, order the the Claro Que Si, which combines Teremana with orange liqueur and lime. We think you might want to make this your first stop, because its Bowery location is prime to become popular, and the longer you wait, the likelier you might find you’ve missed your chance to get in.

In October 2021, Semma opened. In October 2022, it won its first Michelin star. In October 2023, you’re still having a hard time getting a reservation, though walk-ins might have luck parking it at the bar with a Teremana cocktail. The latest restaurant debut from Unapologetic Foods proves the restaurant group is winning with every new initiative, defying local expectations by sticking to what works. Semma is a fully formed expression of Chef Vijay Kumar’s life growing up in Tamil Nadu, though staples from other South Indian states also show up to wow. With the imminent arrival of Naks, a similar launchpad for Dhamaka’s chef de cuisine Eric Valdez to showcase Filipino dishes, Unapologetic is starting to feel like an incubator for resetting and realigning New York’s dining preconceptions.

When all your friends from SoCal kvetch that there’s no great Mexican cuisine in New York, they’re really saying there’s no Cali-Mex that evokes their fondest food memories. Correct their misconception with a trip downtown to FiDi’s Mezcali, a place so on point it was founded by two skateboarders from LA. Order up the ranch water, which combines Teremana with aloe liqueur, lime, cucumber, and sparkling mineral water for a sampling of the tequila-forward drink menu. Beyond tasty cocktails, the restaurant dares to tout “The best tacos in NYC!” — happily test that bold claim with the birria dumplings, which offer an interesting twist on the xiao long bao formula.

Well you know that Teremana cocktail’s going to be mixed right when an agave spirit is more than half of a venue’s name. The Silva family has been running restaurants around NYC since the ’40s, and has made the Upper East Side home base for over half a century now. Margaritas are a specialty here, with a lengthy tequila focus, and there are options for everyone from the newbie to the enthusiast. Maz Mezcal prides itself on pulling out all the stops to make you feel welcome, and with a track record measured in decades, whatever they’re doing is working. 

While you might hesitate to order the “day-old spaghetti” — dont. It’s the top pick here. The rest of the menu stands firmly planted at the intersection of Quirk and Works: tomato pie, cottage cheese tortilla chips, an elevated version of a simple baloney sandwich with mortadella and top-notch mustard. The drink menu runs along similar lines: Simple combinations of high-quality ingredients that hover just above the duo end of the cocktail spectrum, and it works. For example, ask for Teremana in the El Pacino, which combines chile de arbol bitters with ginger beer and wine. Of course, a jukebox that plays actual records feels like a natural fixture here, emphasized by the guest DJ sets. 

Beloved by discerning New Yorkers, and still here from its 20th-century opening, Sala is a great place to settle in for a long evening on a slow roll. The Astoria edition opened in 2022 and immediately drew the same type of praise as the Bowery original. If you’re out with someone who gives great conversation, here’s where you can indulge each other’s thoughts in a relaxed setting.  While the drink menu definitely leans toward wine time, the seafood-centered tapas list can spar with a Teremana Anejo — assuming you can bring yourself to make food so visually appealing vanish.

If you’re dressed up — and in NoMad, who isn’t? — you might just find yourself reserving a seat at this hotel’s private wine bar. And though that wine list is indeed impressive, its spirit selections are all just as expertly curated — as is its menu of gorgeous cocktails. Everyone in this lounge is sporting too much savoir-faire to ever snap a social media pic, but the swanky atmosphere does make the ideal setting for a pour of Teremana Blanco. Pair it with a menu of snacks — or light bites, if you’re fancy — that are crafted under the auspices of award-winning chef Greg Vernick.

In the heart of it all lies the luxurious Langham Hotel, and in the heart of that waits darling Ai Fiori, where French and Italian comingle without getting too Alpine about it. The meals have drawn praise from all quarters, while exotic cocktails seduce you to test their complexities. Beyond the cocktail menu, you can also try all three expressions of Teremana here: blanco, reposado, and anejo. Ai Fiori is an industrial-scale operation, meaning it can accommodate your larger party, but the quality is such that it remains a good date spot even if it can feel a bit cavernous for an intimate tete-a-tete.

You have your choice of Kymas: Hudson Yards or Flatiron District. What you can’t choose is how hard you’re going to fall in love with fresh ingredients full of bright flavors, combined smartly to emphasize their tastiest qualities. When it’s flying in fresh fish every day from halfway around the globe, you know a restaurant is committed to recreating the joys of Greek dining. Although you might want to cinch that experience while the weather’s warm by dining outside, Kyma does have space heaters in colder months. Inside is utterly gorgeous, anyway, particularly at the gently lit bar. As if you needed a reason to pull up and see how Mediterranean dishes pair with your Teremana.