My husband and I will be traveling to NYC between 12/26-12/30 and are in our mid 20's.

We have things planned for the day, but we are looking for things to do after dinner or after a Broadway show. Can you recommend any bars that we might enjoy or other nightlife experiences we should have while in NYC. We don't want super expensive and super classy/ritzy, but just some happening places that we might enjoy at our age. Help please! Thanks!

Our hotel is in the Murray Hill area if this helps anyone, but we are willing to travel wherever by taxi.

I notice you asked the same question a few days ago and got no responses. I don't feel qualified to make recos for your age group. May I suggest you repost once again and make sure to choose "New York." The posters who can answer may search (as I do) for New York posts and this one doesn't come up.

I will suggest the rooftop bar at the Affinia Shelburne is supposed to have great views (and good burgers).

If you like singing and cabaret, check out "Don't Tell Mama's" on 47th (I believe) between Broadway and 8th. Has paying cabaret shows and no cover piano bar. Both of highest quality. Can go after the theatre. USUally very crowded at that time.

Manhattan has many hundreds of great bars, lounges & clubs in every imaginable category. I suggest two things.

First, visit Sheckys & Citysearch to get some ideas.

Second, approach it by neighborhood. Perhaps one night go to Schiller's Liquor Bar and then the Back Room on the Lower East Side, for example.

Good luck!

As a 20-something living in Manhattan, Gekko's advice is perfect. Spend a night on the LES. (I suggest starting with dinner at Stanton Social or THOR - personally, I much prefer the decor at SS, but Thor has more sophisticated food and a recent two star NY Times review.) Spend a night in the East Village.

I see you are staying in Murray Hill. There are a bunch of bars on 3rd ave in the 30s. While none are at all trendy (see how many boys with striped button downs and gelled hair you can fit in one room) they are always crowded and could be good if you wanted a last minute night cap.

Stay out of midtown.

A suggestion on Broadway shows if you've never seen any... see Phantom of the Opera..
On most long standing shows you can go to the Tourist Information in Times Square and ask for Broadway show discount coupons. Some can be upto 50% off and they help avoid standing in the TKTS line (depending on which show you wnat to see as not all shows have discount coupons available). Once you have the discount coupon you can go staright to the theatre and book your seats.
As far as dinner / nightlife. Try BAO 11 and ton of places in Lower East Side (LES) and the Village that are nice but relatively inexpensive. Around Times Square...if you walk to 8th or 9th Avenue there are lots of places....Sosa Borella, Brazil Grill, Serafina's, John's Pizzeria, Zanzibar (it's a bar), Amarone, Turkish Kitchen..... if you feel like it..you can also check out the Mandarin Oriental Hotel...there are two bars in the hotel...drinks are pricey and the crowd can vary... Good Luck! Hope you have fun.

As a 20 something year old, do not go see Phantom of the Opera. ugh, blech. Go see Avenue Q if you are going to a Broadway Show.

I agree with the other poster who had the recs about the LES, follow their advice. It was spot on.

You might want to read the nightlife section of NY Metro just to get a feel for areas.

In defense of Phantom of the Opera...it's a classic. I will agree that Avenue Q is great..I've seen it too and loved it. But in terms of sets etc...Phantom is hard to beat. Classic Broadway was Madame Butterfly...Les Miserable...
either ways..following other posts I think ljk1982 already made their choices and Avenue Q is one of them. Am interested to know what they think of Wicked.