-
11th St Bar
Grab a spot on one of the soft sofas and prepare to be entertained -locals come in throughout the night in a steady stream, each one with a tale to share. It's the adopted watering hole of young reporters from the Daily News too, so it's more like a cozy community room than a bar.
-
68 Jay St
Paint-spattered but still elegant, with rounded arches and a big columned doorway, 68 Jay St is a rarity among bars - they turn their 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.
-
718 Sessions
This monthly party, held at an otherwise unremarkable club space, is a riot of old-school dancing to deep, soulful house from DJ Danny Krivit and occasional live performers, like the recent New Year's Eve show from Joi Cardwell. House parties rage on Fridays with DJ Marc Anthony.
-
Abilene
Chess and domino lovers will feel right at home at this low-key beer and bourbon joint, where the back tables are set aside for gamers. The bar has a good assortment of beers on tap, and the usual assortment of well drinks, but its the gentle aura that pulls in the regulars.
-
Alligator Lounge
In Williamsburg's northern reaches, the Alligator draws a mixed crowd of hipsters and working-class locals, who sit on U-shaped leather settees or Japanese tea-house nooks in the back. The real draw is the free, freshly made brick-oven pizza. And, hey, a pitcher of Yuengling is around US$14 . Karaoke on Thursday, live jazz on Sunday.
-
Amsterdam Billiards & Bar
A flight above Amsterdam Ave, this expansive boîte featuring exposed brick and a friendly vibe is way more than a bar - though the drinks are well-mixed and the stools cozy. The main event is the collection of about a dozen well-maintained pool tables.
-
Angel's Share
Behind the Japanese restaurant on the same floor, this is a tiny gem of a hideaway, with creative cocktails and well-suited waiters who won't let you stay if there's no table for you to sit at. This often turns out to be the case, so try to stake your claim early.
-
Another Room
This is the kind of place that lures you inside, whether you were looking for a drink or not. It's tiny and narrow, with an industrial-chic, cement-floor sort of style, and its walls hold works by local artists. There are no cocktails, but the wine and beer list is great, as is the mellow and diverse crowd that settles in nightly.
Additional outposts - in other neighbourhoods but with the same lovely vibe - are Other Room and Room.
-
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.
-
B3 Bar
A pretty, bi-level bistro that opens onto the street, B3 does grand pub fare, and is a good place to sip a mojito, listen to the live band and watch the street parade go by.
-
Advertisement
-
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.
-
Bar East
Kind of off the beaten path (it's quite a hike from the subway, after all), this friendly neighborhood bar is tricked out with a pool table, good pop-rock DJs, darts and a nice mirror-backed bar. If you want to see locals drinking and yammering without pretense, head east and grab a stool.
-
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.
-
Beauty Bar
A kitschy favorite since the mid-90s, this homage to old-fashioned beauty parlors pulls in a cool local crowd with its gritty soundtrack, nostalgic vibe and around US$10 manicures, with a free Blue Rinse margarita thrown in, from Wednesday to Sunday.
-
Bellevue Bar
It ain't pretty, but it sure is fun! Despite being something of a dive, Bellevue is one of the most popular places in this rapidly-gentrifying neighborhood--could be the blues music on Mondays, one-dollar sandwiches, daily - two-for-one happy hour and three-dollar margaritas, or the interesting mix of youngish newcomers and graybeard Hell's Kitchen residents.
-
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.
-
Brass Monkey
While most Meatpacking District bars tend toward chic, the Monkey is down-to-earth, appealing more to folks who put more thought into their favorite beer than which shoes to wear. The small, stripped-wood facade is comforting, and the interior just keeps putting you at ease: low, wood-beam ceilings, friendly bartenders and a nice long list of beer and scotch. A small bar menu offers snacks from mussels to bangers and mash.
-
C Tabac
Smoking is allowed (and encouraged) at C Tabac, where more than 150 types of smokes are sold. It makes specialty drinks like the Gingersnap (ginger-infused vodka, crystallized ginger and champagne), or you can just grab a beer and hang out in the art deco lounge with its bamboo walls.
-
Cain
Plenty of wanna-be partiers would commit fratricide for a glimpse of the safari-themed interior of Cain, known for its rather hoity-toity entrance policies as much as for its wild dancing, a DJ booth carved out of a boulder, and live drummers accompanying the funk, house and rock music. Don't miss a Tuesday night if you're a fan of celeb sightings, but be prepared to work some magic at the door if you want to get in.
-
Campbell Apartment
Take the lift beside the Oyster Bar, or the stairs to the West Balcony, and head out the doors to the left to reach this sublime cocktail spot. This used to be the apartment of a landed railroad magnate and has the velvet, mahogany and murals to prove it. Cigars are welcome, but sneakers and jeans are not. The Apartment is a great way to enjoy the grandeur of the train station, martini in hand.
-
Advertisement
-
Cattyshack
Two floors of pulsing beats, raw industrial views and a queer friendly atmosphere that's mainly for the ladies but also welcoming to gays, trannies and heterosexuals. Weekend nights turn into a dance party; weeknights tend to be slower and more communal.
-
Chi Chiz
A small Christopher St favorite, especially for African-American gays, Chi Chiz offers the best drinking deal in the Village: everything half price from until closing on Sundays. Monday its karaoke, Tuesday its bingo, and it's a favorite late-night munchie hangout any day of the week.
-
Chibi's Bar
This tiny, romantic sake spot has a delicately curved wooden bar with ice-blue stools, plus a loungier room to one side. It works its magic through smooth jazz sounds (live on Sundays) and the dangerously delicious flavors of specialty sakes, saketinis , and a unique bar menu boasting treats from edamame (fresh soybeans) to salmon caviar.
-
Cielo
House music lovers of the world unite! Thanks to your support Cielo is still here, pulling in its regulars with fantastic' Deep House' Monday nights and monthly 'Turntables on the Hudson' danceathons. Regular DJs include Willie Graff and the celebrated François K; their alluring, hypnotic sounds draw everyone, sooner or later, to the dancefloor.
-
Clubhouse
Dance the night away at this straight-but-gay-friendly hotspot that has a rotating cadre of clever DJs and an open, welcoming design that has cute nooks to collapse in when the beat has worn you down.
