How many bars and pubs are there in New York's busiest areas?
We counted 1,088 bars and pubs within 1 km of the centres of 14 New York areas. East Village is the most crowded at 67.2 per km²; Harlem is the least, at 4.1.
Mapped
1,088
in 14 areas
Busiest area
67.2/km²
East Village
Average rating
4.4★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Bars and pubs by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Village4.3★ average | 21167.2/km² | 67.2 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| Midtown4.4★ average | 16251.6/km² | 51.6 | 4.4★ | INTENSE |
| SoHo4.3★ average | 13543.0/km² | 43.0 | 4.3★ | INTENSE |
| West Village4.3★ average | 11837.6/km² | 37.6 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Chelsea4.3★ average | 11737.2/km² | 37.2 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Williamsburg4.4★ average | 10734.1/km² | 34.1 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Bushwick4.5★ average | 4915.6/km² | 15.6 | 4.5★ | HIGH |
| Astoria4.5★ average | 4915.6/km² | 15.6 | 4.5★ | HIGH |
| Park Slope4.6★ average | 3410.8/km² | 10.8 | 4.6★ | MODERATE |
| Upper East Side4.4★ average | 278.6/km² | 8.6 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Downtown Brooklyn4.5★ average | 258.0/km² | 8.0 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Upper West Side4.5★ average | 247.6/km² | 7.6 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Flushing4.3★ average | 175.4/km² | 5.4 | 4.3★ | MODERATE |
| Harlem4.4★ average | 134.1/km² | 4.1 | 4.4★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
- HarlemLOW
13 bars and pubs within 1 km (4.1 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- FlushingMODERATE
17 bars and pubs within 1 km (5.4 per km²), averaging 4.3★.
- Upper West SideMODERATE
24 bars and pubs within 1 km (7.6 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
Fewer bars and pubs is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 1,088 bars and pubs in the 14 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up449 (41%)
- 4.0 to 4.4484 (44%)
- 3.5 to 3.965 (6%)
- Below 3.528 (3%)
- Under 10 reviews62 (6%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Stout NYC3 outlets · 1 area
Check competition at your exact address — free
Drop a pin on the street you have in mind and see every competitor around it on a map, with ratings and review counts. The scan is free with an account.
Questions
Is New York saturated with bars and pubs?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 14 area centres we mapped, density runs from 4.1 per km² in Harlem to 67.2 per km² in East Village. 8 of the 14 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which New York area has the most bars and pubs?
East Village, with 211 within 1 km of its centre (67.2 per km²). Next come Midtown (162) and SoHo (135).
What is the average rating of bars and pubs in New York?
4.4 out of 5, across the 1,026 bars and pubs with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Park Slope (4.6), the lowest Chelsea (4.3).
Which bar chains are most common in New York?
In the areas we mapped: Stout NYC (3 outlets in 1 area).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every bar on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of New York.