we are 4 friends about 30's, coming from Europe,going in NYC in the middle of october for 8 days.
we'd like to know some huge and cool places where we can meet young people, same ages of us or about 20's. we read that cool bars, clubs and lounges change in a very fast way.could u help us?

Yes - New York nightlife does change very quickly.

Also - if you want the trendy places (where Paris, Lindsay and those minute twins hang out - Butter, Bungalow 8, Plumm) getting in is EXTREMELY difficult. If you're not on "the list" - either well known or know someone - you may wait forever and never be allowed in. For these places your clothing must be very trendy and (at least look) expensive and you must be young and beautiful. (I hate to say it - but 30's is getting up there for the most trendy places unless you are someone special.) (I have all this on the authority of my 21 year old step-daughter, who does frequent these places occasionally. It's much easier for 1 or 2 young single striking women to get in.).

Go for it if you want to try to see someone famous (on the way to the VIP area). Your bet chance is to get there early - before 11pm - and hope they let you in so you can watch for the famous to arrive. Drinks are expensive - $15 and up - and often you get to occupy a table only if you buy bottles. (There are also old stanbys like Marquee.)

However, there are literally hundreds of places - depending on what style of music you want, what your budget is, etc - and most places you can get in without a wait.

In NYC Fri and Sat nights are bad for clubs (go to a show, or nice dinner at a jazz place or something). Thurs and Sun are the big nights out.

Suggest you check the web sites of both New York Magazine and Time Out New York before you arrive - to see what's hot and what special events are happening. (For the latest trendiest places look at the most recent issue of the supermarket tabloids - to see where people's pictures are being taken.)

thank u very much nytravel!
just another question: we found an hotel in Chelsea. do u think chelsea and soho still are cool districts for night life? and second: is NYC like Europe (especially Italy and Spain) where night life start very late in the night or we'll be able to find lounges and bars with people also in the late afternoon?.
thank u again.

Hi,

SOHO and Chelsea are both great neighborhoods for nightlife. Check out www.sheckys.com to get an idea of bars in the neighborhood.

I think a fairly typical timeline for a night in NYC is having dinner at nine, drinks at a lounge after (11), club/lounge/bar around 12. Almost all bars/lounges/clubs are open until at least 4. Most clubs stay open until dawn.

Let me know if you have questions about a specific bar.

I'll try to answer your last questions. Both Chelsea and Soho are good, "cool" areas. I don't think there are a lot of clubs in Soho, though. I think it's more restaurants, bars and shopping.

The lower east side has a lot of what you want and not so expensive. There's one "cool" hotel there, the Hotel on Rivington.

If you're looking for a "cool" hotel, be careful b/c many of the coolest in NYC have really tiny, tiny rooms. If the 4 of you are planning to stay in one room, make sure you read reviews on tripadvisor. There are a few hotels in Chelsea that, while well located, are not all "cool."

You might be interested in having a look at hipguide.com

Wow is this thread making me feel old! Besides being a 30-something (and I knew that made me old in the eyes of NY nightlife!) I had no idea that Sun night was a big "go out" night!

what about clothes to wear.
is a shirt enough trendy?
thanks

I would probably wear pants too

You can wear jeans into 99% of the clubs and lounges as long as they are trendy, premium jeans. Most men pair this with either an oxford shirt or a blazer and a trendy top underneath.

If you go to any of the Irish bars or dive bars, golf shirts and t-shirts are fine.

I can be a bit more descriptive if you tell me which bars you are looking to visit. A lot of it is driven by neigh borhood (ex, E. Village - very casual, hipster; Soho - dressier, more European crowd).

thanks lissiea06.
we don't bother the kind of bars or lounges or clubs.
we just want enjoy ourselfes and meet young people(actually we prefer to meet girls:u know we are italians ;-)...).
we prefer trendy places and we are giung to have hotel in Chelsea, but I can see is not a problem to move in night time from a district to another. or do u suggest us to choose every night a different district and then stay in that district all night long, just jumping from a place to onether?
thank u!!!