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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).
When multitalented actor Alan Cumming opened his namesake club in 2017, the East Village saw a welcome return of queer cabaret culture in a former gay-nightclub space. The club hosts nightly musical and comedy cabaret shows (sometimes multiple shows per night; usually free) by cutting-edge artists. While they're worth a peek, the compact space is often too popular (i.e., crowded) to view the stage—so if you'd like a little elbow room, aim to catch an early show on a weeknight.
Every night, laughter fills this exposed-brick space beneath the writer-friendly Olive Tree Café. The bill features a range of comedians, from hilarious up-and-comers to television and movie personalities like Jon Stewart and Amy Schumer.
This spacious, family-owned, tri-level Irish pub often hosts live music including Irish bands, both traditional and with a modern edge. Daily happy hours (11 am--3 pm) cover beer, wine, and well drinks. Full Irish breakfasts are served all day long, for a taste of Dublin just off Times Square. FYI, Connolly's has a second location on East 47th Street near Rockefeller Center.
Opened in 1961, this lovable neighborhood saloon serves what many think are some of the best (and most affordable) burgers in town. Once you actually get a seat, the space feels nice and cozy, but until then, be prepared to drink a beer amid hungry, sociable patrons.
With nearly 20 beers on tap, sports on big screens, and bar food that's anything but boring (everything from braised lamb shank to chicken parm), it's no surprise that this neighborhood favorite is packed on weekends. Their brunch menu includes classic soul food with a spin, like the fried chicken and waffle with bacon, topped with Cholula honey cheesy sauce, and well-balanced salads like the Asian calamari salad, made with fried calamari, fresh vegetables, and a sesame ginger dressing.. In warm weather, an outdoor patio gives you a front-row seat to the scene on Lenox Avenue.
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.
Opened by a former high-school English teacher, the appropriately named Dead Poet is the place to go for a properly poured Guinness, a shot of Irish whiskey, or—if you're looking to tie one on—the namesake cocktail, which manages to taste like grape soda despite being made with seven liquors (and a splash of sour mix). Other cocktails are named for books (Moby Dick, for example) and authors (Hemingway). For conversational inspiration or life contemplation, the mahogany-paneled walls are full of poetic passages, literary quotations, and black-and-white photographs of some authors. There's even a bar library so you can sign out classic literature.
This cocktail parlor invites you inside with its name, the beginning of an imaginary love letter to Irving Place, on which the bar resides. Interiors themed for different eras are chic and refined, and just as at sister property Raines Law Room, there are private sections of tables and couches for intimate conversations. Reservations are recommended (make them online), but you can sometimes get a table if you just show up.
From the palm-studded rooftop deck (heated in winter, breezy in summer) to the ground-floor lounge and down to the basement venue where DJs and rock bands hold court, the multifaceted Delancey, at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge, is a versatile spot for thirsty lounge lizards.
Despite the generic name, this is far from a traditional dive bar. Yes, there’s a long list of domestic microbrews and imports on draft, along with whiskeys and other spirits, and there are TVs playing sports. But this dive bar features an extensive and inventive menu with daily mussels specials, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, and even poutine, the stick-to-your-ribs dish from Québec (fries topped with gravy and cheese curds). The kitchen is open late and the bar even later—until 4 am daily.
At this intimate supper club, an integral part of Jazz at Lincoln Center, you can enjoy jazz, dinner, and drinks along with stellar views of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park. The food is hearty and Southern-inflected (catfish po'boy, gumbo), but the top-notch music provides the main attraction. There are two sets; the late-night sessions are ideal for after-dinner nightcaps of classic drinks with new twists. Tickets start at $20, and there is a $21 minimum food and beverage order per person, per set.
Composer-lyricist hopefuls and established talents show their stuff until 2:30 am nightly at this convivial Theater District cabaret. Extroverts will be tempted by the piano bar's open-mic policy as well as by the other showroom's singers, comedians, and drag acts. As with many NYC cabarets, there's a two-drink minimum and cash is king. The attached restaurant Kitchen 46 ( www.kitchen46nyc.com) serves refined American and Italian dishes and creative cocktails.
No matter who's performing, the big, gay audience hoots and hollers in support of the often kitschy talents at this music-scene staple on busy Sheridan Square, open since 1951. Singers and comedians hold court in the cabaret theater, while those itching to take a shot at open mic head downstairs to the lively piano bar. Warmer seasons bring a most welcome outdoor seating area that offers some of the neighborhood's best people-watching.
Set in an erstwhile horse stable, The Eagle is the New York City hub for the community of leather fetishists and an institution in the local gay community. Leather daddies and those who love them frequent this bi-level chainlink-clad bar to show off their leather-clad bodies and sip beer and cocktails. The bar is also a den of sorts for the local bear community. During the warm-weather months, the anything-goes rooftop bar is open. One need not be dressed in leather or particularly hirsute to enter. Everyone is welcome.
Since the early 1800s, this watering hole (at one time also a bordello) has been a sturdy New York landmark in a rapidly changing downtown, and it still draws a laid-back crowd of locals for drinks and pretty good pub grub, too. There's live music several times a week. Note that the location is pretty far west, closer to the Hudson River.
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 their take on the espresso martini.
The only thing better than hanging out in Lincoln Center on a lovely night is hanging out a dozen stories above and taking in city views. Thanks to the Empire Hotel's sprawling rooftop bar—most of it outdoors, covered by a retractable roof, and heated in winter—you can enjoy that pleasure even on nights that are less than lovely, whether or not you are a hotel guest. Check online for the schedule for live music and dancing under the stars.
The dapper, white-coated bartenders at this cocktail bar mix delicious, well-thought-out tipples with debonair aplomb and freshly squeezed mixers. Sip one in the dimly lit bar area, and you might feel like you've stepped back in time—if it weren't for the crush of trendy West Village locals and visitors at your back. Look for the green awning that says "EO" and the neon "Psychic" sign out front. Tasty, if pricey, fare is served in the restaurant at the back.
Linger over lunch or a beer at this well-worn neighborhood bar and restaurant, a down-to-earth SoHo landmark that's been serving drinks (and good burgers, sandwiches, and old-school pasta dishes) since 1847. The old-timey photos on the walls add to the vintage atmosphere, as do the no-nonsense bartenders.
Each of New York’s five boroughs has embraced the craft beer trend and Staten Island is no exception. Located just a short walk from the ferry terminal, this proudly Staten Island microbrewery has a sizable taproom that plays an eclectic music playlist (almost always including an obligatory Wu-Tang song or two) for the patrons playing cornhole, or convening at one of its long communal tables. On tap: their rotating lagers, pilsners, stouts, and IPAs—Blood Orange being one of the more popular ones—all made in the other room.
A quasi-subterranean bar with a nautical theme and a penchant for rum drinks, the Folly is a cool, refreshing place to chill out when the temperatures are high. The frozen painkiller—rum, creme de coconut, and pineapple juice—soothes the misery of a blazing day. The happy hour goes until 8 pm on weekdays and the snack menu includes crab mac and cheese and roasted garlic hummus.
