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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 longtime favorite LGBTQ+ bar draws fun queer crowds starting from its 6 pm–9 pm daily happy hours to its wee-hours last call (usually 4 am). Industry's long bar is always hopping, as are its lounge and dance spaces, stage, and pool table nook. Programming is full of sparkly fun, so expect to find special events like RuPaul's Drag Race viewing parties, live shows, DJ nights, and the wildest, most flirtatious crowd in Midtown.
One of the last true dive bars left in the West Village, you can spot Johnny's bar by the neon sign that lights up Greenwich Avenue, simply reading "BAR." Inside, the narrow space is bedecked with bumper stickers and posters and there's always some classic rock, soul, and funk on the jukebox. As befitting of any dive, well drinks are poured with a heavy hand and bartenders are always happy to chat.
In a space that housed an old-school Italian place for decades, La Diaspora is a fun bar (with an adjacent restaurant next door). Cozy up to the long bar, order a mezcal margarita, and chat with the always-friendly bartender. If you get hungry, the adjoining restaurant has a long menu of pan-Latin fare, including birria tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and shrimp quesadillas that you can eat at the bar.
End or start your night with views of the Williamsburg Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline at this new rooftop bar. LilliStar is an Indo-Australian-inspired venue with DJs spinning vinyl, creative cocktails, and tasty light bites. Make sure to try the Shroom Barbacoa, with spinach and pineapple salsa. The cocktail that's a must-try is the Hot Doggin It, made with tequila, vermouth, tomato water, and mustard-seed agave—it sounds unusual but is perfectly refreshing.
A beloved neighborhood institution, McSorley's is one of New York's oldest saloons (established in 1854) and the motto on the current menu says, "We were here before you were born." The menu is simple: there's just two kinds of beer—McSorley's Light and McSorley's Dark—and the pub food is better than you'd expect. Weekends get busy (don't even think about getting in the door on St. Patrick's Day) but it's perfect for a cozy afternoon. Note that it's cash only.
Ruining livers since 1880, dark, narrow, and grungy Milano's is one of the best dive bars in the city, its Italian name a reminder of the time when Little Italy stretched all the way up to Houston Street. After entering, let your eyes adjust to the lack of light and then grab a stool at the long bar. Patrons and bartenders might appear intimidating at first but after a few potent well drinks, you'll stagger out of Miliano's with a few new friends. Open from 8 am to 4 am every day.
This "Monster" is a friendly one. This local-favorite gay bar has anchored its prime corner spot since 1969 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.
Named for a 19th-century bar at or nearby this address, this tiny, charming, divey craft-beer bar is often passed by unnoticed. But ring the bell to enter a hushed, low-lit subterranean bar with funky decor and rabbit images, where the menu dazzles with exotic and seasonal brews on tap and by the bottle (along with a few nice wines).
The proudly unpretentious Old Town is redolent of old New York, which makes sense since it's been around since 1892. The low-key atmosphere and pub-style grub make it a perennially popular spot but it can feel a bit bro-y when the after-work crowd descends.
If the life-size statue of Oscar Wilde sitting on a bench out front doesn't catch your eye, the flamboyant interior surely will. Step inside to behold Manhattan's longest bar (at 118½ feet) and one of the city's most visually striking establishments, where every inch seems occupied by art and objects that blend busy Victorian and baroque styles, colors, and materials—from antique clocks and stained glass to a giant carved-marble fireplace (and Wilde quotes). The building was once home to the 1920s Prohibition Enforcement HQ, but now the bar serves expertly concocted, authentic, Prohibition- and Victorian-era tipples. The pub-style food is good, too.
A historic landmark (where O. Henry was a loyal customer), this is one of the bars that claims—with its 1864 date—to be the oldest continuously operating watering hole in the city. Pete's has charm to spare, with its long wooden bar and cozy booths, where locals crowd in for a beer or a fantastic burger. When the weather warms up, sidewalk tables with red-and-white-checkered tablecloths on scenic Irving Place are a neighborhood favorite.
Among Hell's Kitchen's gay lounges, Posh offers an array of special party nights and drag shows, ample room for flirting and dancing, plenty of neon decor (plus artwork by local artists), and long hours to suit any schedule, from 2 pm to 4 am. Daily happy "hour" from 2 to 9 pm draws a steady clientele.
A rare, old-school watering hole in TriBeCa, Puffy's has been pouring drafts, shots, and plenty more strong drinks since the 1940s. Expect to find good prices (including daily 4–8 pm happy hours), filling sandwiches, sports on TV, a darts lane, and friendly atmosphere inside at the bar or tables, or outside in summer.
At this effervescent Hell's Kitchen gay hot spot, crowds put on the ritz every night for bargain happy hours (4 pm–9 pm) and late-night dancing on two floors 'til 4 am. Expect extra-packed weekend fun, with crowds flocking here for drag-queen DJs, women's nights, male go-go dancers, all-night drink specials, and weeknight variety shows.
Classic tiki drinks are served with Hawaiian-inspired bar bites at this fun woman-owned hideaway under the A train. Think zombie cocktails, poke bowls, and kitschy island decor, plus a chill vibe with friendly service. Just because they're a tiki bar doesn't mean they aren't serving up some killer eats. Go for flavor-packed bites like miso mushroom bao buns, edamame or seared shrimp dumplings, a stacked tuna tower, and a kimchi dog, naturally all best washed down with a frozen cocktail.
If you're feeling inspired by the music and musicals of Broadway, don't miss a visit to Manhattan's most eclectic karaoke bar. The subterranean space has a lively bar that serves youthful songbirds, plus 17 private rooms, each decorated individually by theme and with an array of vintage items and posters. Karaoke fans will especially love that many of the huge selection of songs show lyrics over the original music videos. At ground level, pop into RPM Vinyl to browse the wild assortment of old- and new-school records, with a few weirder ones for sale in the bargain bins out front.
Polished downtown Manhattanites sip quality libations at this tiny gem of a gin mill, where mixologists dispense elixirs (and oysters) from a handsome bar. There are cozy table nooks for couples, and although the small bites are worth a visit, locals come here late when a craft-cocktail craving hits.
This local dive bar has occupied the same corner, in various guises, since 1920, making it a true stalwart among the neighborhood's glam boutiques. Staff pour cheap well drinks and beer at all hours. It lives up to its motto—"Life is short. Drink early."—by opening at 8 am six days a week.
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.
With slate floors, wood-paneled walls, and a small stone-filled pond, the design at this spacious lounge in Hell's Kitchen is as upscale as its mostly male clientele, which includes older uptown professionals and the twentysomething hipsters who love them (and vice versa). Hungry? There's a solid menu of small dishes.
As the name suggests, Tom and Jerry's is pretty much an every-person's bar, a casual mainstay on the New York scene that caters mostly to locals who come for everything from casual afternoon beers to late-night cocktails. There's seating at the long bar or at picnic tables under the windows.
Few bars can rival the harbor views of this festive Seaport spot occupying Pier 15. Watermark is an all-season bar that's open-air most of the year (with pop-up igloos and chalets through winter). Thirsty patrons enjoy breezy weekday happy hours, prix-fixe drinking-dining events, and deals on wine, beer, cocktails, plus daily and seasonal specials like Wine-Down Wednesday and Oktoberfest. A variety of bar food and weekend brunch balances out the robust drinking options.
This stalwart of the lower Manhattan bar scene—as about a classic an East Village watering hole as you'll find—is technically called WCOU but everyone refers to it as the "Tile Bar," and you should too. Bartenders are friendly, yet no-nonsense, and the drinks are potent and cheap—especially at the daily happy hour 'til 8 pm when well drinks are a measly $4.
