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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).
Head to this low-key club that lends a stage to both aspiring comedians and veteran comics who pop in to polish their material. Catch a preshow drink in the front bar, then join the laughter in the back room for the price of a ticket from $10 online; $25 in-person and on weekends) plus a two-drink minimum ($18). FYI to parents: the comedy showroom is open to guests 16 and up, as long as those under 18 are with a guardian. There are free shows on Monday (one drink minimum).
The narrow bi-level floor plan might seem a little odd, but friendly service and convivial, colorful crowds transform this renovated warehouse into a welcoming, quirky neighborhood spot. The kitchen's organic menu changes seasonally, but the real action is at the bar, where stiff concoctions are poured near the orange-felt pool table. There are also weekend DJs and monthly local artist shows.
This unpretentious lounge is high on the sweet factor and luckily low on the vicious attitudes, which helps explain why it's been consistently popular since it opened in 1998. There's a lovely back garden that's more private than the sceney bars you might otherwise hit in SoHo and NoLIta.
This two-room spot is one of the best wine bars in the Village, thanks, in part, to the fact that it offers over 100 different wines by the glass. So you can spend an evening here switching up your libations and locations, going from Napa to Rioja to the Republic of Georgia to even Slovakia. Tasty snacks include beef meatballs, cacio e pepe cheese puffs, and Calabrian chili-topped deviled eggs.
A true charmer, this second-story haven for blues lovers is a cozy Greenwich Village club surprisingly short on NYU students (unlike other places in this neighborhood). Everyone from great national acts like Buddy Guy to local R&B artists grace the stage year-round.
A neighborhood favorite, this fine wine bar is impressive to oenophiles and welcoming to everyone thanks to an extensive list that includes well-priced options by the glass, bottle, or sizable tasting pours. The bar is easy to walk right by on charming Harrison Street, but once inside you will find seats at the bar for wine-centric conversations with the sharp staff or more private nooks for a romantic evening of wine and cheese.
The Victorian-style lounge brings a touch of downtown chic to the sometimes suburban-feeling UES with candlelit tables, high tin ceilings, and velvet couches. Rap and hip-hop fans should look elsewhere (and no baseball caps or real fur are allowed), as the only tunes coming out of this joint are usually alternative and rock. If you find yourself downtown on the Lower East Side, check out its sister bar, a speakeasy called The Back Room, once frequented by gangsters like Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky.
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. The food menu is similarly upscale, with small plates and a short list of mains.
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 dazzle. 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 glass of bubbles; just reserve prime seats in advance.
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.
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.
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 mike 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.
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.
It may have all the fixings of a typical sports bar, but this new spot on the corner of 120th Street is far from average. Decked out with chic, striped wallpaper, black and white photos of sports stars, and a modish quartz bar top and stainless steel tabletops, The Fox caters to locals with impossibly delicious small bites, beer on tap (plus weekly happy hour), and high-quality cocktails. Try the refreshing hibiscus-infused gin and the angus beef blue cheese sliders while you catch the game (they also show women’s sports, lacrosse, and cricket) on any one of the nine flat screens around the bar.
This "Monster" is a friendly one. This local-favorite gay bar has anchored its prime corner spot since 1970 and still serves as a lively piano bar and watering hole at street level, with an energetic disco downstairs that features a variety of nightly events, including Sunday tea dances.
Head to the far-west, dimly lit Otheroom for a flight of fancy drinking in good company. The menu is reliable and creative, with dozens of microbrews and international wines available by the glass—though choices change weekly, just to keep it interesting.
Manhattan's preeminent venue for burlesque, magic, and the "circus arts," has been showcasing the city's talented performers since 1999 and it's still going strong. Some shows have reserved seating, with a two-drink minimum, others are general admission, and the intimate space seats about 200 over two floors. Bring dollar bills to tip the performers.
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