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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).
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.
The same year that the Brooklyn Bridge opened (1883), the Temple Court building welcomed its first visitors—though back then it was an office tower, not the lushly restored hotel it became in 2016 (The Beekman). The Bar Room is among the neighborhood's highlights, a splendid ground-floor lounge where libations are priced as much for the landmark setting and elegant furnishings as for their quality. Nevertheless, there's no other hotel bar in New York where you can gaze up a nine-story atrium lined with ornate ironwork while sipping a tipple; just reserve prime seats in advance.
Gen Xers will certainly get nostalgic at this mostly '80s video arcade, featuring classics Ms. Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. However, any generation can enjoy the 8- and 16-bit gameplay, or the row of pinball machines, as long as they're adults, since this place doesn't typically cater to children—unless it's a special family day listed on their website's calendar. As the portmanteau of "bar" and "arcade," it's very much as good a beer bar as it is a retro arcade, specializing in dozens of rotating taps from microbreweries around the country. However, this original location has no proper kitchen, so there's no bar food—only bagged snacks are available—so plan on grabbing a bite elsewhere.
New Yorkers love a speakeasy. Hidden behind a clandestine door inside jewel box–size Stone Street Coffee, 1920s-esque Bathtub Gin is a dark, brooding yet sleek spot for elevated and creative libations using unlikely ingredients like quail eggs, salt-and-vinegar potato chips, and graham crackers. Not surprisingly, the bar stocks an impressive array of gin, but cocktails are also made with rum, vodka, whisky, and other spirits. There's a food menu of bar bites like chicken sliders and charcuterie.
Guests pile onto long benches at communal tables at this Bavarian-style beer hall, as costumed barmaids serve imported German beers, liqueurs, pretzels, and shot-skis (a ski with shot glasses attached). Along with having a 50-foot balcony, a glass ceiling retracts in the summer, ensuring that a stop here is always a good time. Appetizers are large, and beer can be ordered in a 2-liter (glass) boot if you wish.
This place gets its name from saxophone great Charlie "Yardbird" (or just "Bird") Parker, so expect serious musicians such as John Pizzarelli, the Dave Holland Sextet, jazz guitarist Frank Vignola, and the famous Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra (on Sunday night). There's a $20 food minimum, and the dining room serves moderately priced Italian, and American fare with a Cajun accent.
On a fabled bohemian block, this Greenwich Village standby has served its share of talent since 1961, with Billy Joel, David Crosby, and Dr. John among the stars who've played here. These days you're more likely to find (much) lesser-known musicians playing blues, rock, funk, and jazz.
Warm summer nights and cold, frothy beers have been savored by locals for over 100 years at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden. With pitchers of beer, picnic tables, live music, and Czech and Slovak dishes like schnitzel and goulash, this sunny garden is an ideal spot for getting together with old friends—or making new ones over big mugs of Paulaner and Pilsner Urquell. They also have a decent selection of house wines, as well as handcrafted cocktails. Some of the outdoor seating is covered, but in the event of rain, the well-worn indoor bar is just as inviting, though comparatively tiny.
Not to be confused with Botanica Bar in Manhattan, this classy, dimly lit yet casual cocktail bar got its name because it's in a space that used to sell face creams with botanicals. As the tasting room of the Widow Jane small-batch distillery next door, bartenders not only serve whiskey tasting flights, but mix their spirits with other ingredients to make inventive cocktails. Bar snacks are available, albeit on the light side; however, outside food is welcome.
The most important book in this exquisite wood-paneled "library" is the leather-bound menu listing hundreds of brandies and single-malt scotches. The bottles are on handsome backlighted shelves, though, and you can learn what makes each of them special by chatting with the spirit sommelier—or by buying into one of the lounge's "Spirit School" tasting classes. This bar is decidedly sophisticated, with house rules prohibiting loud or vulgar talking.
At this intimate uptown saloon and piano bar, the singing waitstaff warms up the crowd, getting everyone in the mood to belt out their favorite Broadway and pop tunes. Live music starts at 9:30 nightly; there's no cover charge, but the bar has a two-drink minimum per person. It can get crowded so get there early to snag a table or enjoy the music from the bar area. A schedule of performers is listed on the bar's website.
Opened in 2004, when the Meatpacking District was just starting to become trendy, the wood-clad Brass Monkey is still around and more popular than ever. And what a minor miracle that is, given that it's a true neighborhood bar, lacking the glamour and glitz that attracts scenesters to the area from far and wide. This might well be part of the bar's appeal. Also appealing, though, is that, in warm weather, you can plant yourself on the rooftop, enjoy the sun and the views, and raise your glass to that funky monkey.
Plunked down in the rapidly transforming industrial section of the South Bronx, this neighborhood hangout, with its breezy deck seating, relaxed vibes, and fruity, tropical cocktails, has become a local favorite for DJ beats or just watching football on game day. Stop by for a beer from their rotating list of over 30 craft beers on tap, or for brunch bites, the cheap lunch special ($10.95), or happy hour.
Expect to find established and rookie comics taking the stage at this busy, long-running club, with three rooms on two floors, and multiple shows nightly. Plenty of big names have performed here, including Wanda Sykes, Brett Butler, and Sarah Silverman. It's best to buy advance tickets, arrive early to snag good seats, and get your two-drink-minimum orders flowing before comedians start dishing out the laughs.
This sprawling space, with its own taproom and backyard, is as good a sign as any that the Bronx’s time has finally come. It's a true local gathering place—one that brings in DJs, hosts basketball tournaments, and acts as a home base for the Bronx-founded Empanology, serving innovative empanadas, sandwiches, and pizza. The expansive list of beers created in-house include a mix of year-round and seasonal. They've since opened locations in Manhattan's East Village and Hudson Yards.
This high-gloss club presents established names as well as comedians on the edge of stardom. Janeane Garofalo, David Alan Grier, and Colin Quinn have all headlined, and sometimes their sets are recorded here for TV and streaming shows.
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.
It's a restaurant. It's a bar. It's a winery. But above all the newish location of City Winery at Pier 57 is a music venue, attracting top-notch artists and comedians. The 350-seat auditorium is an intimate spot to catch a show. Singer Rufus Wainwright, comedian John Mulaney, and musician Norah Jones have graced the stage. Even the late, great Prince put on unannounced shows at City Winery. The in-house eatery serves everything from burgers to seafood to flatbreads, and the bar has 12 different wines on tap.
