Bar entertainment in New York City
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Bar Below
Tucked underneath the Faan restaurant, which does decent Asian food, Bar Below has a strict 'no sportswear' rule and a loungey, cluby feel even though, in theory, dancing isn't allowed. Once the DJ hits a certain stride though, all bets are off and things start moving.
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Bar Next Door
One of the loveliest hangouts in the neighborhood, the basement of this restored townhouse is all low ceilings, exposed brick and romantic lighting. You'll find mellow, live jazz nightly, as well as the tasty Italian menu of the restaurant next door, La Lanterna di Vittorio.
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Hudson Bar & Books
Ashtrays and elbows line the elegant bar top in an ultrastylish space that allows sipping whiskies and $16 cocktails and cigar smoking. The shelves are lined with books (more for looks than reading), and jazzy lounge music eases the well-dressed night-outers into polite intoxication.
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Barcade
Play one of the two-dozen vintage arcade games (Asteroids, Berzerk) at Barcade. It’s dorky, but futile to resist. Plus there’s a diverse choice of two-dozen $5 microbrews and a bottle-cap mosaic in the front smoking area; drinks are $1 off at happy hour.
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Serena
Tucked into the basement below the quirky Chelsea Hotel, Serena's is a former speakeasy that looks more like a bordello - pink satin and black couches with white filigree lanterns make for a sexy space. The crowd is upscale and relaxed, and the multi-cushioned couches deeply inviting.
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Double Happiness
Enter down a flight of stone steps that lead into a dark basement with no sign - it's all part of the fun though, and the well-mannered crowd inside enjoys the joke enough to come back again and again. The narrow room is filled with flickering candles, lending it a sexy and sinister air.
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Blue Bar At Bayard's
A dark-hued bar with a maritime theme, Blue Bar is tucked inside the opulent brownstone that houses Bayard, a highly-acclaimed restaurant. Blue Bar's sedate atmosphere lightens a bit on Wednesday nights, thanks to the live piano, but it's always a great place for a quiet, romantic drink.
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Botanica
Botanica looks like a tough hangout, but in reality it's anything but. Drinks are a bargain, especially during the nightly 5pm to 8pm happy hour, and when the late-night music starts and people start to sway to upbeat tunes, the unpretentious atmosphere gets even more buzzy and stress-free.
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Bar Veloce
Sip your wine, eat a few panini, watch the well-dressed world walk by, or strike up a conversation with an interesting stranger (or two). What could be better than that? Small and friendly Bar Veloce caters to a sophisticated crowd that likes wine and a few laughs at the end of a hard day.
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Sunny’s
Way out in Red Hook, this super-inviting longshoreman bar – the sign says ‘bar’ – is straight out of On the Waterfront. Every Saturday at 10pm they host a foot-stomping bluegrass jam.
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Rue B
Mellow out over margaritas and jazz in this elegant, romantic Ave B hangout that's quickly becoming a neighborhood hot spot. You can get snacks like bruschetta and olive pate at the bar, and the bartenders are renowned for mixing martinis with fanciful ingredients like blood oranges and pear juice.
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Bar Reis
You've got choices here - climb the spiral staircase to the upper floor and survey the scene from above, or head out back to the wisteria-filled garden, strung with romantic lights, or hang at the street level bar. The drinks are delicious, the crowd is friendly and the vibe sophisticated and relaxed.
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One If By Land, Two If By Sea
Famous for its beef Wellington and graceful, aged location in Aaron Burr's old carriage house, this is quite possibly New York's favorite date restaurant. But it's even better as a quiet watering hole, perfect for a cocktail-hour or late-night libation for those who need a break from the harried streets.
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Ear Inn
Weekly reading series, live music and history are the main features of this 1817 neighborhood bar. It's in the James Brown House (the James Brown, aide to George Washington, not Soul Brother No 1), and is the preferred dive of sanitation workers, stressed-out Wall Streeters and local folk in need of a drink.
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Jeremy's Ale House
An odd mix of frat house and quirky dive bar, Jeremy's is where you'll find bras hung over the bar, cheap pints served in Styrofoam cups and a lovely view of the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a curious place for a quick stop-in - which can happen at pretty much anytime, thanks to its frighteningly early opening hours.
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Brandy Library
When sipping means serious business, settle into this uber-luxe library, with soothing reading lamps and club chairs facing backlit, floor-to-ceiling, bottle-filled shelves. Go for top-shelf cognac, malt scotch or 90-year-old brandies (prices range from $9 to $340). Libation-friendly nibbles includes the sublime house specialty Gougeres (Gruyere cheese puffs). Call ahead about tastings and other events.
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Cherry Tavern
Not for the 40-year-old virgin – hard-drinking 20- and 30-somethings get their flirt on at this small, dimly lit dive. Arrive before 9pm and you have a shot at the bar or a seat at one of the few tables. Otherwise, clunk your quarters down for a game of pool or sidle up to the jukebox filled with indie/alt songs.
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Ava Lounge
The modern, palm-studded rooftop lounge of the Majestic Hotel is a high-up gem Midtown, bringing joy to balmy nights with its stellar views of the sparkling skyline around you. Inside, sink into a sumptuous ottoman and enjoy the retro-modern, honey-hued decor and stylish crowd. It's oh so South Beach, right in NYC.
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Creek
Good for a see-what-happens evening, this local bar has a burrito grill in the back and open-mic and comedy nights, plus films and live performances held in the makeshift theater upstairs. The crowd is a lively mix of Queens-forever locals and newbie pioneers. Occasional live shows tend to favor the distortion pedal.
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68 Jay Street
Paint-spattered but still elegant, with rounded arches and a big columned doorway, 68 Jay Street is a rarity among bars – it turns the music down to a comfortable level for discussion among patrons. Consequently, you hear a lot of art-world buzz as the regulars – all members of said world – dish the dirt over drinks.
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In Vino
Step off the hectic streets for a second and chill out at In Vino, a cavelike little space with hundreds of Italian wines to choose from and a calm, tranquil atmosphere. Jazzy music is the norm, sometimes live, sometimes piped in, and small plates of Italian snacks – paninis, olives, anchovies – are readily available.
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Stonewall Inn
Site of the Stonewall riots in 1969, this historic bar was losing its fan base to trendier spots until new owners came along several years back, gave it a facelift and opened it to a new and welcoming crowd. Since then, it’s been pulling in varied crowds nightly for parties catering to everyone under the gay rainbow.
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Employees Only
Duck behind the neon 'Psychic' sign to find this hidden hangout. The bar gets busier as the night wears on. Bartenders are ace mixologists, fizzing up crazy, addictive libations like the 'Ginger Smash' and the 'Mata Hari.' Great for late-night drinking, and eating, courtesy of the onsite restaurant that serves past midnight.
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Macao
Shhh, here's a secret: skip the lines for Macao restaurant and duck into the dark, red-walled lounge downstairs (look for the red lantern at the door). A fusion of Portuguese and Asian cuisine and liquor, Macao's a hot spot for late-night drinking and snacking, especially if you like inventive, sizzle-on-your-tongue cocktails.
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Evelyn Lounge
Slinky Evelyn's has long, lush banquettes, flickering sconces and lots of theatrical billowy drapes to round out the sharp edges of its cold, stone walls. This sexy boîte isn't heralded for its bar food, but is popular because of its first-floor lounge, which is quiet and romantic during the week and thronged on the weekend.
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