There are times when I miss these trips to NYC so much that I decide to make posts to share tips with you! Come see where to drink in New York: the coolest places we visited on our trips there to have a beer or good drinks!
“Stop posting your problems on Facebook and come to the bar like everyone else.”
Old Town Bar
I have a great friend who is from New York and, whenever we meet there, the destination is the same: Gail is a super fan of the Old Town Bar, which is in Upper (the region where she lives). From the first time I was there I was able to see that it is a really cool place to eat a burger and have a pint of beer in a totally New York atmosphere that looks like it came from a mafia movie set. O Old Town Bar (45 East 18th Street) is, in fact, one of the oldest in the city, operating since 1892.
When it opened, it was a place that only served drinks, but during Prohibition, the bar was forced to change its name to Craig’s Restaurant and begin serving food and operate clandestinely as a speakeasy. After prohibition ended and the nearby 18th Street subway station closed in 1948, the bar began to fall into decline. In the late 1960s, Larry Meagher (who still runs Old Town today) took over operations and the bar saw a resurgence in popularity.
The decoration and furniture are original, and a super old (and noisy) wooden staircase leads to the second floor, where the kitchen is located and there are a few more tables (which tend to be quieter than those below). The bar was the setting for several scenes from films such as “Last Days of Disco”, “Bullets over Broadway” and even music videos (such as “Bad Girl”, by Madonna) and television shows (“Sex and the City” and “ Mad About You”), in addition to opening the program Late Night With David Letterman.
Me and Gail in front of the Old Town Bar
McSorley’s Old Ale House
Good, cheap beer in one of the city’s most classic bars? Yes, it is possible! McSorley’s Old Ale House (15 East 7th Street) is even older than Old Town and was founded in 1854, being considered the oldest in NYC and still operating with the same tables, chairs and decor from when it opened – or In other words, being there is a real journey through time.
The bar was visited and loved by celebrities from around the world, including Teddy Roosevelt, John Lennon, Babe Ruth, Harry Houdini and even Abraham Lincoln himself – in fact, his chair can be seen resting in a cabinet behind the bar. Fun fact: the bar was only opened to women in 1970.
Don’t expect ostentation or pomp: there, only two types of beer are served: a light one and a dark one, both recipes from the original owner, the Irishman McSorley. And it’s perfect that way, in my opinion – the price is right ($5 for two pints) and the beer is spectacular! Oh, and bring cash – that’s all they accept as payment.
Stonewall Inn
The Stonewall Inn (53 Christopher St) is where the pro-LGBTQ+ rights movements began, when the bar was invaded by brutal police officers in the summer of 1969. In other words, the bar is not only historic, it is considered a world heritage site and is in the heart from Greenwich Village, NYC’s bohemian neighborhood.
We went to just have a drink and ended up spending many hours there. The drink is not that expensive, a shot of vodka and energy drinks costs 12 dollars and a beer costs 6 dollars. On some nights, there is super fun karaoke and the crowd is very lively. In addition to the bar, it’s worth visiting the place for its historic position in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, but if you don’t enjoy the action, don’t go on the weekends, okay? The people are party people and noisy! 🙂
Backroom NYC
How about drinking gangster style? The Backroom, which is located on the Lower East Side (102 Norfolk St), is one of only two bars in New York City that operated during Prohibition and still exists today. The bar is a perfect timeless example of New York’s underworld past. O speakeasy The 1920 original, known simply as “The Back of Ratner’s,” played host to many stage and film actors from the “Roaring Twenties,” as well as famous gangsters of the time (Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky were known to use the space for “business meetings”). As the name suggests, there is a secret room at the back of the bar where these meetings took place.
Following the tradition of speakeasy, they serve alcoholic drinks in tea cups and beers in brown paper bags. The entrance is secret – to gain access to this speakeasy, look for a sign that says “LOWER EAST SIDE TOY CO”, with a staircase. From there, you go down, go through a tunnel with peeling walls and reach the bar, which has luxurious decor and has been the setting for films and series such as Broadwalk Empire.
The incredible 1920s atmosphere of the bar
Attaboy
I really love the bohemian area of the Lower East Side, so I couldn’t help but recommend my favorite drinks bar there, Attaboy (you might find the name strange, but know that this is an informal expression of encouragement). When you ask what is the best bar in NYC, Attaboy is always recommended and the place also has the fourth best bar in the world on the list of the 50 best.
From the outside you would never imagine that there is a bar that will satisfy all your alcoholic desires, but come in and tell me what you think! Tip: arrive early so you can get in and sit down. They don’t work with menus, so you explain to the bartender the type of cocktail you like or what you are hoping to drink. The drinks are spectacular and, if you’re in a group, even better because you can try as many aromas and flavors as possible. They do not accept reservations, knock on the door to enter – but knock gently, as the notice on the door requests.
The surreal entrance to one of NYC’s most famous bars and its “secret” interior
Vazacs Horseshoe Bar (7B)
Vazacs Horseshoe Bar, also known as 7B (108 Avenue B), is an East Village institution with a star-studded history. The castle-like doors and rustic brick exterior served as the facade of the Life Café in the movie “Rent,” and the interiors were used in the movie “Crocodile Dundee,” the “Godfather” series (especially the second film) and also for Marvel’s “Jessica Jones” and HBO’s “Sex and the City”.
For East Village residents, this bar is known as the perfect place to meet your friends and enjoy cheap beers – there are 31 beer taps available there, plus a beautiful selection of labels. The soundtrack is punk rock and the bar was opened in 1930. If you go during the day, you’ll find a lot of those bar guys, making the vibe of the place a bit depressing. During the afternoon, things change – and, if you want, there are still several pinball machines for your enjoyment! The atmosphere is dark and the bartenders They are usually friendly – my husband said that the whiskey he tried there was the best he had in his life, it’s worth a try! 🙂
Dead Poet
This charming mahogany barrel-lined pub has been an Upper East Side favorite for happy hour for over a decade. The crowd mixes locals and students, all thirsty for a pint of Guinness at the end of the day. Dead Poet (450 Amsterdam Ave 2) has Irish origins and the drinks are all named after authors. The atmosphere is super relaxed and charming, almost like a place that would be in the Bay Area, not in the city’s fanciest neighborhood. I ordered the JD Salinger, which is a very good drink. old school, and I found it super tasty, full-bodied and different from anything I’ve ever drunk! Another great drink is the Matsu Basho, with Japanese whiskey, sugar, orange peel and lemon. Delight!
If the night is warm, grab an outdoor table. And, to eat, potatoes with jalapeño, tacos, hamburgers or the good old sandwich.
Terroir
Terroir (24 Harrison St, TriBeca) is the Manhattan bar for wine lovers. There is an immense diversity of wines from different parts of the world and the food is simply delicious! The servers are friendly and help a lot with choosing your wine – whether you are a connoisseur or an amateur, like me! If you go during happy hour, prices tend to be friendlier!
The original Terroir was designed as a bar attached to co-owner Paul Grieco’s restaurant. But Terroir Tribeca is a larger, independent operation than originally conceived, with 65 seats, an expanded menu and a charming atmosphere. The menu is generous: there are fourteen types of cheese available at the new Terroir (compared to eight at the original) and a profusion of sandwiches, salads and assorted snacks (try the fried risotto balls with oxtail).
Like the original Terroir, Terroir Tribeca’s menu is an ancient document filled with numerous sections and subsections (there are eight), along with a tasting option of unspecified price and content called “Just Put Your Ass in the Seat and Let Us Feed You” (“Sit your ass on the chair and let us feed you”, in a free translation). If you’re hungry for a more substantial feast, I suggest the veal meatballs (softened with ricotta). All this accompanied by beautiful wines suggested by the staff!
Macao Bar
Portuguese and Chinese food in the same place? Only in Macao (311 Church St), which was opened in 1940 and is still in business! Created based on the decor of Macau’s opium bars and brothels, the bar is dark and has attention-grabbing posters of Chinese pin-ups on the wall, as well as Tibetan fertility symbols. Capitalizing on Macau’s unique combination of Chinese and Portuguese culture, the upstairs kitchen offers a delightful mix of Eurasian fusion dishes: chicken and pork belly dumplings, crab chops, and charred octopus. The bar is always packed, with just enough space for a waiter to navigate toward the waiting tables and stools. But somehow, the food arrives on time and the drinks are never spilled. A unique place, as only NYC could offer!
Brandy Library
The Brandy Library (25 N Moore St) is a refined bar, with a bold gastronomic menu for those who want (and can) spend a little more on their trip to Manhattan. The place itself is practically a brandy library and the dedicated bartenders work hard to find the best options on the shelves. Don’t think there are books here: the book everyone wants to check out is the huge menu that showcases refined Cognacs (including a 1918 Darroze Armagnac that costs $650 per liter), rustic Calvados, and anything else you can imagine , including more than 115 classics and the famous house cocktails. A place that New Yorkers love – but you have to be willing to spend a little more.
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