sharone

We will soon be visiting NY for the first time and would appreciate any info on what to do at night. Coming from the UK we are used to a pub culture but are aware this doesnt exist in America. We have already booked a show for one night and wonder if we are safe just to wander round at night. We would appreciate any tips on where to eat, we are staying near Times Square and will be eating out each night so dont want anywhere too expensive. Many thanks

Gekko

The UK pub culture certainly does exist in NY, as does the Paris cafe culture and the ubiquitous club culture. (But you'll need to get out of Times Square to find them.)

NYC has thousands of nightlife options. I suggest you visit Citysearch, DigitalCity & Sheckys for more info.

(And, with few exceptions, Manhattan is safe to wander at all hours south of 110th Street -- just be aware like you would in any large city.)

mclaurie

For many people, a restaurant meal is the night's entertainment. Most NYers eat late, about 8pm and linger over a nice meal.

Comedy clubs, piano bars, Broadway and off Broadway shows, jazz clubs, nightclubs, etc.

If you're under 35, sheckys.com is a good website for bars and clubs.

Kennedy's is an Irish pub on west 57th st that I like that's friendly and has good food.

nytraveler

New York has an incredible variety of nightlife from small jaxx combos in casuale restaurants to cabarets, hotel clubs for the moremature set, dance clubs (some very exclusive and expensive - and hard to get in unless you are rich and famous)as well as shows, movies. comedy clubs - and yes a bunch of bars - which are neighborhood hangouts usually combined with restaurants.

Thekey thing is to get out of Times Square and into the residential neighborhods - the Village, upper west side and lower east side will have tons of options.

Consult New York Magazine and Timeout New York for ideas. Or pick one of those neighborhoods and just wander for someting fun looking. (On the upper west side wander Broadway and/or Columbus or even Amsterdam avenue - every block will have 2 or 3 restaurants, cafes, bars, etc. And the prices will bemuch less and the fodd better than in Times Square.

suzanne

No pub culture in NY? {gasp!}
Not true. Pub culture is alive and well. There are hundreds of Irish & English pubs throughout the city. They are a great way to meet laid-back locals and get some good grub. Not far from Times Square: O'Flaherty's, Rosie O'Grady's, Kennedy's, Connolly's, Playwright Tavern...

However, if you go to pubs outside the Times Square area the prices tend to be cheaper and the food better. As much ad I like O'Flaherty's on W 46th (always meet fun people there) the food is just nasty.

You can find many excellent pubs if you head further downtown - many with lots of history such as Cedar Tavern, Pete's Tavern, White Horse Tavern, Walker's, South's, Nancy's Whisky Bar...can you tell I frequent many?

And it is VERY safe to wander anywhere in Manhattan south of 96th St (i.e., most of the island).