Question: with a tagline like “Bourbon. Beer. Rock”, how can you go wrong? Answer: you can’t. Every Friday is Devil’s Night Happy Hour at this good-whiskey-and-craft-beer mecca in the East Village, and if you’re around on September 16th, check out their one-year anniversary party: $1 whiskey shots all night and $1 craft beers until 8pm. Rock on.
(image via metal-army)
25 Avenue B, between 2nd and 3rd St. (East Village)
917-338-7090
“That’s a pretty nice haircut…” Oh, come on, cut us (haha?) some slack for the Pavement reference. We’re just getting nostalgic ’cause we’re old enough to remember when this joint was Drinkland – and if you remember that too, we’ll buy you a beer. By day, you can get an old-fashioned shave, haircut (ask for Gogy), or beard trim complete with free cocktail. By night, head straight for the “secret” back room full of gin, Depeche Mode, low lighting, and lots of dancing.
339 E. 10th St. (between Ave. A and Ave. B), East Village
212-228-2123
Max Fish is dead, long live Max Fish. Or something like that. The rampant rumors that the longtime pinball, pool, and pick-up joint, (favorite of local skaters, alcoholics, part-time rock stars, and us normal people) is closing remain that – just rumors…for now. So check out the Fish in all it’s wacky-art-galley-cum-dive-bar-with-gross-bathroom glory while you can.
(image via Grub Street)
178 Ludlow St., NY (Lower East Side)
212-529-3959
No sign, no name (although according to NY mag it’s been dubbed “Woodpussy” by some locals thanks to the wood decor and tons of attractive ladies), and no attitude. Go for the outdoor backyard, good old-fashioneds, aforementioned girls, bartenders with gold teeth and old-school rock and metal tunes.
The Bar Without a Name/No Name Bar
597 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn (Greenpoint)
Ready for some civilized drinking? You’ve come to the right place. A strict door policy (first-come, first-served; no parties over 7; no standing; “We’ll call you on your cell when your table is available”) might put some people off, but don’t let it faze you. The cocktails can’t be beat, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of a bygone era when men wore fedoras and said things like, “Wiseguy, eh?”, and ladies could throw drinks in their faces with grace.
433 E. 6th St., NY NY (East Village)
212-388-0882
New Nolita spot Mother’s Ruin makes you feel comfortable the second you get there: no attitude, no door policy, no door-that’s-impossible-to-find, and a crowd of friendly, good-looking neighborhood locals. Owner TJ is usually behind the bar, mixing up tasty cocktails (tip: tell him your poison and let him decide how you’ll drink it), and there’s a great people-watching table positioned right at the large windows that open up onto Spring Street.
Mother’s Ruin
18 Spring St., NY (Nolita)
NYCer’s love their happy hours – wait, have we mentioned that? Pretty much every bar has a happy hour, and we would be here all day long if we listed every single one. Here are some old-school, old NY favorites:
Corner Bistro: $2 mugs of McSorley’s and one of the best burgers in town.
331 W. 4th St. at Jane St. (West Village)
212.242.9502
Gowanus Yacht Club: $2 PBRs and hot dogs, all on an outdoor patio.
323 Smith St., Brooklyn (Carroll Gardens)
718.249.1321
Motor City Bar: 2-for-1 drinks, 4pm – 7pm.
127 Ludlow St. (Lower East Side)
212.358.1595
Niagra: $3 beer and well, 4pm – 8pm
112 Avenue A (East Village)
St. Jerome’s: $2 Buds and Bud Light, 6pm – 12am
155 Rivington St. (Lower East Side)
212.533.1810
Welcome to the Johnson’s: 4:30pm-9pm; $2 PBR, $3 Budweiser and Bud Light, $4 well and beer, $5 call liquor…and a pool table.
123 Rivington St. (East Village)
212.420.9911
No matter what your vibe, there’s a place in NYC that can match it. Punk fan? Check. Heavy metal karaoke? You bet. Regular karaoke? That too. Dancing until 6am? Uh-huh. Mellow spot for afternoon whisky drinking? Yup. Motorcycle garage that serves beer? Okay. You get the picture.
Honestly, we don’t have many local tips for drinking in NYC. You’re a pro – no, we didn’t mean it that way, ok? – so you know what to do. Here are a few that might come in handy:
Sing Sing is one of the best spots for karaoke downtown. It’s free in the front, but what you want is a private room, amiright? They’re affordable, you get your own server, and no one is secretly laughing at your awesome version of “The Thong Song”. Tip: they have a half-off karaoke happy hour that lasts until 8pm!
81 Avenue A # 1, NY (East Village)
(212) 674-0700
OR
9 St. Marks Place, NY (East Village)
(212) 387 – 7800
So they told you “old New York” was dead, right? As dead as you’d have been 25 years ago if you went past Avenue A? Oh, hell no. Just stop by Handsome Dick Manitoba’s (yes, THE Handsome Dick of Dictators fame) bar in the East Village and drown yourself in cheap beer ($2 bottles during happy hour), smelly bathrooms, and a jukebox full of Ramones, Dead Boys, Dictators, and other punk legends. Here, “old New York” never died.
Manitoba’s
99 Avenue B, NY (East Village)
