The NYC Bar Hit List: Great New Bars In NYC

"Sometimes it's critical to sip sweet cocktails through a bendy straw and eat a bathtub's worth of queso—that's what this new Ridgewood bar from the Rolo’s people is all about. Sure, you’ll drink more balanced rum cocktails in your lifetime (we hope). But the red-lit space with giant jaguar taxidermy and good Mexican bar food makes Hellbender worth visiting. The next time you're looking for a fun place to hang out in the neighborhood, bring a couple of friends and order lamb carnitas on soft corn tortillas and churros with a rich chocolate sauce. " - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick