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Low-Bar
Low-Bar, an offshoot of the popular Rice eatery in Manhattan, serves the same delicious mixtures of black, green and long-grain rice, but it also has a secret gathering spot in its basement that's a popular nightclub on weekends. It starts out slow but generally heats up after midnight, when the dancing breaks out and people start to live a little.
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Magician
Pick out an old classic on the jukebox, take your pick of microbrewed beers or specialty cocktails (mixed with a generous hand) and enjoy the spacious, never-crowded bar at Magician's, a low-key neighborhood joint that hasn't been discovered by the 'in' crowd.
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Manchester Pub
Thirsty for a taste of England? Head to this popular, cozy pub then, where you'll find solid pub grub, icy pints (Guinness included, natch) and a really cool Internet jukebox that lets you download any song you fancy. Get here early, though, as local fans mob the place by .
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Mare Chiaro
Take a moment and pay your respects to Ol' Blue Eyes - Frank Sinatra used to belly up to this very same bar and charm the gruff waiters into giving him a double.
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Marquee
Glamorous masses, with their fair share of A-listers, try to slip past the velvet rope at this roomy space, where mainstream fare rocks the house and voyeurs gather on the mezzanine to peer through a glass wall at the 1st-floor action.
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Mercbar
An intimate hideaway where you can actually hold a conversation without having to scream over the soundtrack is a big draw for the after-work publishing crowd, which likes to sip martinis and rub tweedy elbows.
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Milano's
For nearly a century, hole-in-the-wall Milano's has withstood the hipster onslaught and stayed true to its divey self - with offerings like $3 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers and a selection of potato chips that hang behind the worn, wooden bar. Crusty regulars and curious young visitors mix it up easily.
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Mobay Uptown
An extension of MoBay's in Brooklyn, this Caribbean eatery (with Jamaican, Haitian and vegetarian dishes) likes to add a little jazz to its cooking. It has jazz nights every Tuesday to Sunday from until midnight in the lounge (where you can order nibbles) and gospel brunches every Sunday from to , and then a live band comes in for the evening.
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Moca
Save your best moves for Moca because you're going to need them! The thumping sound system (no live music) really has the dancefloor heaving on weekend nights, mostly to reggae, salsa and hip hop. Don't let the security frisk at the door bother you - it's just standard procedure. Two drink minimum on weekends, but there's a nightly happy hour, too.
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Morrell Wine Bar & Café
This mega grape-geeks' haven was one of the pioneers of the wine-bar craze in NYC. There are 2000 bottles of wine to choose from, with a whopping 150 wines available by the glass. And the airy, split-level room, right across from the famous skating rink, is as lovely as the vino.
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Movida
Meant to look like a three-floor luxury yacht, and succeeding fairly well, Movida's a strange brew of deliberate glitz and rowdy bonhomie. Liberal entrance policies, a relaxed but hip crowd, and a real affinity for retro punk, post-punk, new wave, rock and electro have put Movida on the downtown map. The Robot Rock party on Saturday night is a favorite; a second happy hour when drinks are half-price runs from - nightly.
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Odessa Café
You may not have to be buzzed into the bathrooms for security reasons anymore, but this Polish-diner-turned-bar, right on Tompkins Sq Park, is classic East Village scruff. The decor has never been updated (witness the gaggy red, bumpy ceiling), but liquor was added into the mix a few years ago, and the grungy-fun clientele couldn't have been happier.
And after your $4 cocktail and plate of rib-sticking pierogi, you'll be right there with them.
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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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Pete's Tavern
This dark and atmospheric watering hole is a New York classic - all pressed tin and carved wood with an air of literary history. You can get a respectable burger here, and choose from more than 15 draft beers. The crowd draws in everyone from post-theater couples and Irish expats to no-nonsense NYU students.
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Peter Mcmanus Tavern
James 'Jamo' McManus, the founder's grandson, still tends bar when he can. This family-run business has been around since the early 1900s, and it's got the paraphernalia to prove it - Tiffany glass windows, wooden phone booths and more.
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Plunge
Located in the 15th-floor penthouse of the hopelessly trendy Gansevoort Hotel, this Meatpacking District star affords great views of the Hudson River and New Jersey, best seen in the glow of sunset. It helps tremendously to get here early - and on a weeknight, to boot - or else you'll risk being packed in like well dressed sardines with hordes of scenester-searching wanna-bes. And don't even think about plunging into the lounge's pool - it's for guests only, and the security crew will not be fooled.
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Pyramid
The promoters at Pyramid love a good theme, so sometimes its punk night and other times its rock night - the crowd is mainly gay dancers and the straight people who love them. Without a doubt, the favorite night is Friday, 80s night, when you can't help but dance your ass off.
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Revival
Swing by for happy hour, when drinks are two for one, and try the Frangelico-flavored Harlem Hazelnut specialty cocktail, or the chocolate martini that's named for Frederick Douglass - they're delicious! Revival is a sleek, upscale restaurant and a pleasant place to have a drink at any time of night.
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Rise
What better place to sip a drink then 14 stories over the Hudson River? Rise is a sleek, sexy, comfortable bar that's great anytime of year, but absolutely phenomenal in summer when it opens up the outdoor patio. Dress code calls for 'casual chic,' meaning smart but not fussy.
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Roxy
This legendary megaclub keeps the good times rolling with the freewheeling Wednesday roller disco. John Blair promotes the big, ever-popular Saturday-night bash, a Circuit Party-like massive gathering of shirtless gay men, humping to the sounds of big names from Manny Lehman to Junior Vasquez. The boys are still talking about how Madonna herself made an appearance here to promote Confessions on the Dance Floor in late 2005.
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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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Sapa
Thanks to an inspired, modern look by award-winning designers, the stylish bar at this French-Vietnamese eatery has become a Flatiron hotspot - drawing not only local professionals and destination diners but the occasional clutch of celebs. Enjoy the slim walnut bar, whisper-thin scrims and work-of-art lighting schemes.
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Sapphire Lounge
Pile in to what has to be the smallest club in the world and get ready to sweat - you can find a seat on a mini-banquette against the wall, but it's just as easy to get out onto the dance floor. Expect eclectic mixes of hip-hop, dance, reggae and techno, and don't worry if you don't have a partner. At Sapphire, you'll find one.
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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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Shalel
Craving some downtown style? Then enter the Greek Metsovo restaurant and head down the candlelit stairway to the cavernous, underground thriller of a Moroccan lounge. You'll find low couches, flickering votives, tossed pillows and even an in-house waterfall. A good selection of spicy wines adds to the mystique, and private little dining rooms can add to the romanticism.
