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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).
This neighborhood standby has something going on just about every night. On the main floor, two bocce courts and library nooks with couches are popular hangouts. There's a backyard patio open in good weather. Their menu of tasty burgers, wings, and hot dogs served in three styles means the patrons tend to settle in for the evening. Downstairs, there are smart comedy shows with both high-profile and up-and-coming performers, eclectic talks, or DJs spinning. Events are either free or have a modest cover (from $5).
This prototypical jazz club, tucked into a cellar since the 1940s, has been the haunt of legends like Thelonious Monk and Barbra Streisand. Today, you can hear jams from the likes of Bill Charlap and Ravi Coltrane, and, on Monday night, the sizable resident Vanguard Jazz Orchestra blows its collective heart out.
Perched atop the Arlo Williamsburg, overlooking its rooftop pool, this ambitious bar serves inventive albeit pricey cocktails, and is one of four party venues within the hotel. Not actually one of New York’s iconic, functioning water towers, but rather a conical glass structure made in tribute to them, the bar attracts both scenesters and those just coming to take a selfie with its jaw-dropping view of the Manhattan skyline.
This corner bar has been a cozy outpost for Greenpointers during much of the riverfront's transformation from industrial to industrial chic. With a wood-burning stove for warmth in the winter, and outdoor space to drink and dine in the summer, Achilles Heel is known for simple yet creative cocktails, and a small, eclectic, gourmet menu. Often crowded on weekends, get there on the early end to snag seats, or reserve a table in advance.
A sleek, smart, and dimly lit cocktail bar, Agency of Record is an ad-agency-theme drinking spot. The seriously retro late-'50s/early-'60s vibe of the place will give you a yen for sipping a classic cocktail like a dirty martini or a grasshopper, as DJs spin vintage tunes and the kitchen cooks up sliders, Japanese-style fried chicken, and charred carrots.
Located in the heart of Harlem's Restaurant Row, Angel of Harlem is a neighborhood favorite for a good time. From weekday happy hours and local artist performances, to live DJs spinning R&B, hip-hop, and reggae, the energy is always high. Stop by on a weekend and experience the seamless transition from lively brunch (where, for $35, you can add bottomless rum punches, mimosas, and sangria) to bustling nightlife scene. On the menu, contemporary American cuisine prepared with local, fresh ingredients, mingles with Latin and Caribbean flavors. For a larger appetite, try the Frederick Douglass burger or lobster ravioli. If you're just looking for a bar nosh, the Jamaican beef patties are a favorite for a reason.
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.
Crowds of youngsters and longtime New Yorkers have been packing into Arlene's since 1995 for live rock and roll as well as the occasional variety shows, burlesque, and live-band karaoke. The drinks are cheap, and the vibe is all about the good times.
The design is red-on-red here, and the Asian-style cocktails are particularly polished at this Japan-meets-1950s-America lounge. Listen to live jazz while nibbling on American and Japanese-inflected treats and sipping inventive libations with international twists.
The slick rooftop bar of the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC hotel would be worth visiting even without its sweeping Hudson River and Manhattan views. Sleek and glossy, B On Top has blue Portuguese tiles, an abundance of natural light, cool furnishings, and sexy servers. The music isn't too loud, and there is ample space—indoors as well as out. Cocktails are predictably pricey, but there are weekday happy-hour specials from 5 to 7 pm.
Bar B is kind of an odd duck, but in the most charming of ways. It's a narrow, no-bigger-than-a-hallway venue with no seats—just standing room at a long counter (unless you can nab a sidewalk table). It's also a hybrid, of sorts: there are cocktails, like an excellent Negroni, but also excellent Italian and Iberian snacks, too. Sip a glass of wine and nosh on chicken-liver-pâté-topped bruschetta, or tuck into a bowl of penne all'Amatriciana. Best of all, everything is very nicely priced.
The bar in the basement of the Andaz 5th Avenue hotel may have a generic moniker, but it certainly has pedigree. Alchemy Consulting, a joint venture from Chicago's Violet Hour and New York's Death & Co., designed the cocktails here; look for spins on the Negroni and Manhattan in the sleek subterranean space. Sample a curated flight of New York State whiskeys, or choose between a fine range of Negronis and Japanese highballs. The New York--sourced food menu is similarly upscale, with small plates and a short list of mains.
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 2½-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.
It doesn't get more intimate than this dark, inviting music den downstairs from the Italian café La Lanterna. An ever-changing roster of musicians takes the stage here, from emerging artists to featured trios. Come early to grab a seat and tuck into a good thin-crust pizza. In summer, hang out in the lovely garden for a prelude.
