-
Double Seven
The owner of hipster Lotus has added a haven for more mature audiences (read: 30s) right across the street. This small cocktail lounge is an intimate den with high, cushiony leather stools, filled with sophisticates who don't mind doling out close to twenty bucks for a single drink - probably because they're uncommonly delicious, and come with a side of designer chocolates.
-
Eagle
Leather- and Levi-clad men descend on the Eagle for cruisey fun and thematic nights that include live S&M action. Come summertime, its open-air roof deck is the place to be.
-
Ear Inn
A 12-story condo project will tower over this great old dive in a couple of years, but the landmarked Ear Inn, sitting in the 1817 James Brown House (the James Brown who was an aide to George Washington, not Soul Brother No 1), isn't going anywhere. Patrons range from sanitation workers to bikers and poets - and they all of them love it (as well as the bar's famous shepherd's pie).
-
Easternbloc
The newest gay spot in the 'hood is home to a kitschy iron-curtain theme replete with Bettie Page videos, Communist-era posters and adorable Eastern European-looking bartenders. The go-go dancers appear Thursday through Saturday.
-
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.
-
Film Forum
Frequently showing retrospectives of particular artists, like Fellini or Truffaut, and consistently bringing great movies back from the grave, Film Forum is a favorite place for celluloid buffs. Its annual summer new wave series is always a sellout. But in general, tickets - even to the most obscure flicks - tend to go fast. Buy in advance when possible.
-
Flatiron Lounge
A simple nook with a classic vibe, this mahogany bar from 1927 serves up specialty cocktails made with fresh, seasonal ingredients - pomegranate, Granny Smith apples, mint, lychee nuts - in a setting that's both historic and retro, decorated with red leather booths and stained-glass lamps. The dramatic entrance, through a low-lit archway, only adds to the elegant excitement.
-
Fontana's
Kitschy posters on teal-colored walls, and red booths in front of the bar give Fontana's a faded, 1960s appeal that seems to have hit a chord with neighborhood drinkers. The three-level bar packs in the best live bands (in the basement) and the spinning-est DJs (main floor), and a knowledgeable and friendly crowd unassumingly nods along to the beats.
-
Galapagos Art Space
They call it an art space , but it's more of an atmospheric hang-out of late 20-year-olds in collared shirts and their SOs seeking a diverse line-up of experimental music, disco and campy ukulele bands singing about gay paradise. Some nights Hipsters Feud is held - a spoof on the game-show Family Feud , based on polls taken of Billyburgians.
-
Gallery At The Gershwin
A convenient perk for those bedding down at this hip, budget hotel, it's a pretty cool destination for anyone, solo travelers especially as it's a sure bet you'll meet other globetrotters here. Either way, stop in and relax on one of the high-backed red banquettes and enjoy the vibe - artistic (huge paintings grace the walls), mellow (lounge DJs set the vibe) and clever, with cocktails named after luminaries from Pablo Neruda to Jean-Michel Basquiat.
-
Advertisement
-
Ginger Man
The most exciting watering hole to hit Midtown in a while, this high-ceilinged, handsome pub is heaven to those who take their suds seriously. Based in Texas (with three locations in that state and just one in these parts), this place will thrill beer connoisseurs, as it's got an extensive selection of global bottles and drafts, not to mention a range of scotches, wines and even cigars.
-
Ginger's
Let-love-rule lesbian bar with ruby-red walls that sees a lot of gays and straights at its long bar up front and big garden in the back. More laid-back than Manhattan's lesbian bars? Sure, this is Brookburg, baby.
-
Good World Bar & Grill
Slide on in to this popular hot spot, where late-night revelers heave to DJ sounds and reach for the excellent Swedish meatballs, handed out free when the mood strikes the staff. Gravlax, fish soup, potato pancakes and more are on the late-night menu, but most patrons are more into quaffing the on-tap Stella Artois.
-
Gym
This new sports bar for men is nothing like the rowdy straight sports bars that pepper Midtown side streets. Here the decor is classy - wide-plank wooden floors, high ceilings and a long, sleek bar - the men are polite, and ice-skating championships are as popular as basketball playoffs (which are beloved only thanks to the hot players' booties).
-
Half King
A unique marriage of cosy beer pub and sophisticated writers' lair. You'll often catch top-notch literary readings in this wood-accented, candlelit watering hole. Its myriad seating-area options are bound to seduce everyone - especially in warm weather, when a front sidewalk cafe, main indoor room, cosy back section and mellow backyard patio are all open.
The food's pretty good too, revving up standard bar fare with nice salad and pasta additions.
-
Happy Ending
Ignore the hideous pink, purple and spangled decor at Happy Ending - it used to be a 'massage parlor,' and the new owners clearly didn't feel the need to refurbish. Focus instead on the groove, hip-hop, funk and electronica. Tuesday nights are 'We Bite' and 'Shit Hammered' events; Wednesday nights have literary readings (before the dancing starts).
-
Happy Valley
If you can't get into Tuesday night hotspot Cain, Happy Valley's the next best thing. You may not get in here either, but with three pulsating floors to fill, your chances are better. Come dressed to impress, but remember, this club is anything but staid - it's got go-go dancers, disco balls, mirrored ceilings and an electro-pop sensibility.
-
Here
An acclaimed and perpetually underfunded theater group that supports the independent, the innovative, and the experimental, HERE helped develop Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues ; Basil Twist's Symphonie Fantastique ; Hazelle Goodman's On Edge ; and Trey Lyford & Geoff Sobelle's all wear bowlers . Production times and prices vary, but the on-site café offers a great opportunity to check things out.
-
Hiro
The decor is urban Japanese chic with a touch of yachting flavor; hanging red lanterns, bamboo wall dividers, and low-slung banquettes with pretty appliqués. If you like sleek lines and eye-catching accessories - and we're talking about the crowd now - Hiro's a great choice, especially on Thursday and Sunday nights when a gay crowd from surrounding Chelsea hits the sprawling dance floor.
-
Holiday Cocktail Lounge
You want a dive bar? You've got it, right here. This old-school, battered yet charming place feels as if it's from another era - and with around US$3 drinks, it might as well be. Expect crotchety service, the never-ending blare of TV shows, and a curious mix of nostalgia seekers, penny-pinching alcoholics and various cheapskates.
-
Advertisement
-
Iridium
The cover is high, but you get what you pay for at the Iridium. Great food, perfect sight lines, and glossy, sophisticated jazz that will carry you away on a swell of music. Space is tight so reserve early, especially for the Les Paul trio on Monday nights and the Mingus Big Band on Thursdays.
-
Irving Plaza
An old-time hall, Irving Plaza shows run the gamut, from classic hard rock to emo to punk - sometimes in the same night, depending on who's opening for whom. U2, Prince, Rufus Wainwright and others have played here. A nonprofit organization hands out free condoms at the door, and proceeds from ticket sales go toward AIDs initiatives in developing nations.
-
Jazz At Lincoln Center
Of the three venues, the fancy Rose Theater and Allen Room, it's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola that you're most likely to wind up in, as it's got nightly shows. And how lucky for you, since, with the exception of its awful name, the nightclub is flawless, with stunning views overlooking Central Park and excellent lineups of both local and touring artists.
-
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.
-
Joseph Papp Public Theater
Every summer the Papp presents its fabulous Shakespeare in the Park productions at Central Park's Delacorte Theater, one of its many contributions to the city's cultural lift. Started by a wealthy progressive more than 50 years ago, Joseph Papp Theater continues to help both beginner and established actors develop their craft through groundbreaking productions.
