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New Yorkers are fond of the "work hard, play hard" maxim, but the truth is, Gothamites don't need much of an excuse to hit the town. Any day of the week could easily be mistaken for a Friday or Saturday; the bottom line is that when the the mood strikes, there are always plenty of choices in this 24-hour city. Whether it's raising a glass in a historic saloon, a dimly lit cocktail den, or a swanky rooftop lounge; checking out the latest band; or laughing it up at a comedy show, it isn't hard for visitors to get a piece of the action.
The nightlife scene still resides largely downtown—in the dives and speakeasies of the East Village and Lower East Side, the classic jazz joints and piano bars of the West Village, and the Meatpacking District's and Chelsea's "see-and-be-seen" clubs. Midtown, especially around Hell's Kitchen, has developed a vibrant scene, too, and plenty of upscale hangouts dot the Upper East and Upper West Sides. Brooklyn and Harlem are go-to destinations for in-the-know locals.
Keep in mind that when you go is just as important as where you go. A club that is packed at 11 pm might empty out by midnight, and a bar that raged last night may be completely empty tonight. Time Out New York magazine has a good list of roving parties (www.timeout.com/newyork), as does Urban Daddy (www.urbandaddy.com/new-york). Scour industry-centric websites, too, like Eater and Grub Street, which catalog the comings and goings of many a nightlife impresario. New York magazine and the New York Times have listings of cabaret and jazz shows, the latter mainly in its Friday and Sunday Arts sections. Bear in mind that a venue's life span is often measured in months, not years. Phone ahead or check online to make sure your target hasn't closed or turned into a polka hall (although, you never know—that could be fun, too).
Inventive cocktails, decadent bar bites, and a sultry, upscale atmosphere attract those with a thirst for finely crafted drinks at not completely outrageous prices. You can order classic cocktails but this is the kind of place where you can try something new and inventive and know that the flavor profiles are spot on. All patrons are seated, so there can be a wait to get in, but the host outside will log your name and text when something opens up.
The dark bartop with cozy wooden booths at Dutch Kills—a cocktail den with a nod to the neighborhood's historic roots—serves finely crafted drinks for $17 each. Try the Para Ti, made with mezcal and house-made falernum, or the Horse Before Cart, a refreshing, zingy concoction with gin and aperol. Expect precisely chiseled chunks of ice and skilled bartenders who, with a few queries into your preferences and curiosities, can create a concoction just to your taste.
Housed in a former corner market, this easygoing neighborhood craft beer and cocktail bar, led by head bartender Patty Dennison, changes their cocktail roster seasonally, each with funny names to go along with the season's quirky theme. The kitchen keeps up, preparing light bites to pair with them.
A multitime World's Best Bars honoree, this 8th Street cocktail bar is in its third home in a handful of years and hopefully it will stay put here for a while. French mixologist Nico de Soto is the man behind the bar (both figuratively and literally), crafting inspired libations using unorthodox ingredients in a sleekly designed, dimly lit atmosphere. Things like dates, black sesame, pine nuts, corn puree, and something called "Champagne acid" are all likely to find their way into your glass. And it will taste fantastic.
Tucked away down a winding lane deep in Chinatown (look for the "Chemist" sign), this cocktail apothecary is a surprising but happy find in a neighborhood known more for soup dumplings than creative tipples. Influenced by the 19th-century absinthe parlors of Paris, this bar is all about drama and presentation, but the results (described as "prescriptions" on the menu) are a delicious feast for all the senses. They also offer cocktail classes.
In the space that was once home to the legendary cocktail bar Milk & Honey, Attaboy continues the tradition of serving exemplary cocktails to an ultratrendy crowd. The "Penicillin" cocktail, a spicy-smoky mix of Scotch, honey, and ginger, is a must here—it was invented by Sam Ross, one of the current owners. Hint: There's no sign but look for the door marked with "AB."
At this stylish spot from an alum of the Pegu Club, one of the city's foremost cocktail dens, you can expect high-quality, innovative concoctions that make use of the Japanese theme: the Sakura martini is made with sake, gin, maraschino, and cherry blossom, while the Kyoto old-fashioned incorporates rice vodka, gin matcha, and sencha. Small plates to accompany your drinks include miso-slathered wings and savory cabbage pancakes.
If you woke up this morning and thought: I'd really like to drink a cocktail in 1920s Japan, you're in luck. This stylish bar, whose name is the Japanese equivalent of a "flapper," shakes up classic American cocktails using Japanese spirits and ingredients. The food menu is equally unique as it focuses on yoshoku cuisine, Western-influenced dishes that were created when Japan ended its two-and-a-half-century isolation and opened up to the West in 1868—sort of a time-warp cuisine that marries perfectly with the ethos of this bar.
Underneath the Bryant Park Hotel—and dramatic arched ceilings—is one of the more unexpected and spectacular spaces in Midtown, thanks to its Moroccan decor and Mediterranean-inspired cocktail and light-fare menus. Expect to sip herbally aromatic craft drinks while international pop music plays and fashionistas and media types unwind in style.
This sophisticated, sleek, bi-level dining and nightlife venue is known for its mix of Caribbean and Southern-inspired cuisine. Well-heeled regulars flock here for Sunday brunch (shrimp and grits, or fried chicken and red velvet waffle); late-night noshers come for the food as well as the live DJs and specialty cocktails.
With its art deco light fixtures, marble-top tables, and cute leather banquettes, this cocktail bar elevates itself from a neighborhood hangout to a destination. Here, sample creative concoctions based on the classics. While charcuterie boards are available, the spicy PB&J on the snack menu surprisingly pairs nicely with boozy vanilla shakes or espresso martinis.
The dimly lit, wood-clad Forty Four is the comfortable lobby bar of the boutique Royalton Hotel. Kick back in a leather sofa to enjoy the chic decor, well-done craft cocktails, and large fireplace—a sexy and popular spot to gear up or wind down after a Broadway show.
Head downstairs from Marcus Samuelsson's renowned Red Rooster restaurant and find yourself in a glamorous lounge that seems right out of the 1920s. The cocktails are classic with a modern flair, and there is live music and/or DJs throughout the week, as well as a Sunday gospel brunch. Walk-ins are welcome, but advance reservations are recommended.
This two-floor Japanese cocktail bar hits the mark on all notes. Perch yourself at the bar on the second floor, and watch the bartenders shake up sensational Japanese-accented libations, such as a shiso-laced G&T or a "Meguroni," with genever (a ginlike liquor), aged umeshu (a fruit liqueur), and Caffo bitters. There's also a menu of satisfying izakaya-style snacks like uni-topped deviled eggs and charred Japanese eggplant.
At this southern-inflected bar you can have your cocktails and eat your fried oysters and smoked cheddar biscuits, too. Located in far West Chelsea (a short walk from the 7 line's 34th St.–Hudson Yards subway station), this relaxed watering hole from New York restaurateur and hospitality king Danny Meyer is an intimate space to quaff and nibble the night away. The bar also offers a nice happy hour with discounted signature cocktails from 3 to 7 pm on opening days.
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