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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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New Amsterdam Theater
If your kids are into theater, watch their eyes pop as they pass through the art deco entrance, into the art nouveau interior of carved and painted plaster, stone, wood, murals and tiles - all of which evoke early-20th-century theater-going - on their way to see Mary Poppins , the musical.
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New Victory Theater
Budding thespians and dancers alike flock to the upbeat energy of this kid-focused theater. New Victory puts on comedy, dance, music, puppetry and drama shows for the 12 and under set, and a range of offerings for the older folk (teenagers), and adults aren't forgotten either--in between 'Hip-Hop Legends' and 'Speedmouse,' there's also The Bluest Eye, an adaptation of a novel by Pulitzer Prize winner Toni Morrison.
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O'Connors
All dive-bar infrastructurally, with fluorescent lights, old wall paneling, and Yankees games flickering on the TV, O'Connor's cheap drinks (gin-and-tonics are around US$3 !), its glorious 1931 roots and quiet vibe bring in the hipster youth too.
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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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Orpheum Theater
A Yiddish theater in the beginning of the 20th century, the Orpheum feeds off creative East Village energy. Currently it's home to 'Stomp,' a dance-happy beat fest.
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Perk's
On the weekends Perk's is packed with hip swinging dancers who take over the floor and move to the fusion sounds produced by the DJ. On weeknights this sedate looking club pulls in the best local jazz artists to play live sets. You can't go wrong either way.
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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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Pianos
Nobody's bothered to change the sign at the door, a leftover from the location's previous incarnation as a piano shop. Now it's a musical mix of genres and styles, leaning more toward pop, punk and new wave, but throwing in some hip-hop and indie bands for good measure.
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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.
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Single Room Occupancy
Just one of a growing number of places that make you do a bit of work to get in - here you have to know to ring the doorbell - SRO is one spot that's worth it. It's got a speakeasy vibe in the air, and a nice selection of wine and beer on the menu. But, it's very small and kind of cave-like, so claustrophobic tipplers best not apply. Most others should find it titillating.
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Smoke
Smoke has defied the odds of its no-man's-land location (not deep in Harlem but north of the Upper East Side) and flourished as an intimate and welcoming club. It's long dark drapes and fluffy sofas give it a homey feel, and the low covers appeal to the local student population.
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Sobs
SOBs - aka Sounds of Brazil - means lots of people shaking it to samba, Afro-Cuban rumba and salsa, reggae and more. The cheery (if kitschy) decor and decent food make it a popular choice for after work parties; the real dancing doesn't start until . Check out the weekly Basement Bhangra, a six-year-old party that's become a mecca for the rapidly growing number of Asian-hip-hop fanatics, and La Tropica on Monday nights to see some seriously old-school throw-down Latin moves.
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Splash Bar
First it was Splash, then SBNY and now Splash Bar. Still, not much has changed (a good thing) at this Chelsea staple, a multi-levelled spot that's part lounge, part club, and home to some of the hottest, most scantily-clad bartenders around. Sunday's Trannyshack is a popular drag queen party.
