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
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
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
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:
Billed as “Long Island’s premiere live music venue”, The Inn also has a restaurant that boasts nightly specials like Taco Tuesdays with $1 tacos and $3.50 Dos Equis, and Extended Happy Hour Fridays, with cheap-ass drinks and 2 for 1 entrees from 7pm – 10pm.
(image courtesy Thomas Brookins)
943 West Beech Street, Long Beach
516-432-9499
So many new hotels are opening in the city, and the Mondrian Soho (you may be familiar with its L.A. or South Beach version) is one of the latest, with a design inspired by Jean Cocteau’s cinematic interpretation of “La Belle et la Bête”. In-house seafood restaurant by famed chef Sam Talbot, Imperial No. Nine, has tons of people talking, as does model and design-nerd (what a mix, right?) lounge Mister H (see our Nightlife guide). In direct contrast to the rest of the hotel, Mister H has a Chinatown/opium den-type vibe, with a neon sign reminding us, “This is not a brothel. There are no prostitutes at this address.” Um, these aren’t the Droids we’re looking for?
9 Crosby Street, NY NY 10013 (Soho)
reservations: 212.389.1000
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Ace, the hotel where even locals hang out 24-7. It’s a bit further uptown than other spots we recommend and located in a nondescript neighborhood with not much in the immediate vicinity, so keep that in mind. But the Ace boasts some of the best restaurants in the city with The Breslin and The John Dory, along with cult coffee fave Stumptown Coffee Roasters and No. 7 Sub Shop. There’s even a small outpost of uber-hip Opening Ceremony in the lobby, where you can pick up an outfit as complicated as you are. Rooms are decorated with murals from up-and-coming artists, like Matt Maust from Cold War Kids, Dana Tanamachi, and Timothy Goodman (pictured below).
20 W. 29th St., NY NY 10001
reservations: 212.679.2222 or enquire.nyc@acehotel.com
The Allegria is, hands down, the best hotel in Long Beach. First of all, it’s walking distance from the LIRR, which is so key. Second, it’s right on the beach, with easy access to the boardwalk. Can’t beat that! It’s modern, with glass staircases, a transparent wine cellar and bar right out of the Jetsons, trippy lamps that look like jellyfish, and lots of light wood. It feels the way a hotel on the beach is supposed to feel, with an airy, open, upscale-and-updated-not-sleazy-South-Beach vibe. And for those times you find yourself sick of the beach (or yelling, “Pool party!” after a few cocktails), there’s a rooftop pool. SCORE.
Oh, you want to know about the food? Well, check out the Atlantica, with their massive shrimp the size of a baby’s head (okay, we’re exaggerating, but they are really big), array of tasty shellfish, and lobster bisque. And now we’re hungry.
80 West Broadway, Long Beach, NY 11561
reservations: 516.889.1300
You may know The Standard from its locations in L.A. and Miami, but it has developed quite the reputation here in NYC. The design isn’t the only thing that’s crazy – the hotel’s Boom Boom Room and Le Bain Rooftop have hosted some wild events (think 3am pool parties with Kanye DJ’ing – and check out Good People’s Select Summer Fridays at Le Bain, every Friday from 1pm-8pm), as have the guest rooms. How do we know that? Well, we’ll give you some advice – close your shades if you want some privacy, since The Standard faces one of the best new parks in the city, The High Line (see our Destinations category for more on that).
A few more tips: The Standard Shop isn’t your typical hotel gift shop. You can pick up stuff like a copy of Monocle magazine (how sophisticated of you), headphones, or limited edition Ryan McGinness nudie playing cards. The hotel’s Standard Grill has the best snow pea salad and roast chicken we’ve ever had. And finally, make sure to check out the Biergarten, right under the High Line. Prost!
(Biergarten image via NYT)
848 Washington Street, NY NY 10014 (Meatpacking)
reservations: 800.550.4646
