Bars in NYC.... recommendations

[SVX]

As per the title, Mrs. SVX and I are spending a few days in NYC, wondered if the FD&R crew could recommend somewhere to go for a drink after dinner, that's not a tourist trap. We're staying in midtown, but have NYC passes.

Cheers, SVX.

[Bullett]

The Rainbow Rooms, 65th floor of the Rockefeller Centre.

Amazing view, it's f-ing expensive though.

[Boozy]

What sort of place are you after? oh and what time of year as well.

[Greys0n]

Burp Castle
Please Don't Tell
169 Bar

[CardinalBlue]

Top Hops - as the name suggests it's mainly (only?) beer, but well worth a visit. Plus it's round the corner from Katz Deli http://www.tophops.com/

[RDMcG]

Dead Rabbit ,30 Water Street the very bottom of Manhattan. My favourite bar in Manhattan.

[malks222]

there's a nice rooftop bar @ the 'dream downtown' hotel. just round the corner from the chelsea market.

round the corner on 9th avenue/west 18th there is 'bathtub gin' which is a little hidden speak easy in through a coffee shop.

also in that neighbourhood, 9th avenue/ west 13-14th is a pretty nice little area (soho house/ gansevoort hotel) lots of nice little bars that you can sit outside and watch the world go by!

[Matt Harper]

The bar at The St Regis is great (but close to Trumpton).

[Wadeski]

I live in NYC - these are all great recommendations but VERY different kinds of places.

Dead Rabbit is a super cozy Irish bar that happens to have world-class drinks & service. PDT is a tiny hipster speakeasy you have to jump through hoops to get into. Dream Downtown rooftop (PHD) is a blingfest with great views. Rainbow Rooms is an iconic, historic spot that is very fancy but charges and arm and a leg (like a top hotel bar).

in other words, all these are good options but I think more information is needed on what kind of a place you are looking for!

[C70R]

Wadeski said:

I live in NYC - these are all great recommendations but VERY different kinds of places.

Dead Rabbit is a super cozy Irish bar that happens to have world-class drinks & service. PDT is a tiny hipster speakeasy you have to jump through hoops to get into. Dream Downtown rooftop (PHD) is a blingfest with great views. Rainbow Rooms is an iconic, historic spot that is very fancy but charges and arm and a leg (like a top hotel bar).

in other words, all these are good options but I think more information is needed on what kind of a place you are looking for!

Yeah, Dead Rabbit is good, but it's definitely trading on a LOT of hype. If you reserve ahead and get into the first floor bar, the experience is great. If you just drop in and are lucky enough to find a table on the ground or second floor, it's like a lot of other Manhattan bars and not really worth the effort of trekking all the way down there (the Guinness is a 7/10).
Sunday night live music (disclaimer: I've weirdly only ever been on Sundays, so no idea if it's the same every night) is ace on the ground floor, but it gets pretty packed in there.

ETA: Jimmy's Corner is cool if you want a dive bar, and Pocket Bar is nice if you're looking more upmarket. However, there are lots of great places all over Manhattan.

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 4th April 20:42

[Tony Angelino]

Just on this, we're due to go with a 12 year old for New Year. Do they have any sort of family friendly bars suitable for all that we could get something nice to eat in or are bars very different to the eateries?

thanks

[Mr Roper]

Wadeski said:

Dead Rabbit is a super cozy Irish bar that happens to have world-class drinks & service. (like a top hotel bar).

Just had a google of the Dead Rabbit. That's now on the list of bars to visit when we go in July.

Keep the suggestions flowing.

[Mr Roper]

C70R said:

.

ETA: Jimmy's Corner is cool if you want a dive bar,

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 4th April 20:42

I do indeed. Cheers.

[C70R]

Mr Roper said:

C70R said:

.

ETA: Jimmy's Corner is cool if you want a dive bar,

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 4th April 20:42

I do indeed. Cheers.

If you're a fan of cheesy 90s movies, Point Break bar (themed after the movie of the same name) is also pretty fun for a dive bar.

[Wadeski]

A good "pair" of bars to eat and drink at are Dear Irving and Casa Mono on Irving Place. They are opposite each other.

Dear Irving is a very good, beautifully decorated cocktail bar and Casa Mono is arguably the best tapas bar in the city, with great wines and sherries. Drinks at Irving followed by food at Mono is a nice way to spend 3hrs.

If you like just weird experiences, Soju Haus is a korean bar/restaurant (they serve beer with a frozen head, and soju party cocktails) that all the hipster Korean kids go to. Its just bizarre and not like anything I've seen in the UK. Its by the Empire State building.

[Greendubber]

Mr Roper said:

Wadeski said:

Dead Rabbit is a super cozy Irish bar that happens to have world-class drinks & service. (like a top hotel bar).

Just had a google of the Dead Rabbit. That's now on the list of bars to visit when we go in July.

Keep the suggestions flowing.

We'll be heading there in Dec, looks decent!

[Cardiff_Exile]

+1 for Please don't tell, a surreal experience with a hot dog included

I like McSorleys https://mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc/ as its kinda different. If you want a roof top another option is the skylark in midtown or at the Empire hotel Columbus Circle.

NYC is full of 'chi chi' and 'foo foo' bars

[malks222]

Wadeski said:

Dream Downtown rooftop (PHD) is a blingfest with great views.

you're not wrong there! we were actually staying in the hotel, was very strange coming back from doing touristy stuff to see a line of people all queued up/ dressed for the club...... then i stroll past them all a sweaty mess in shorts/ tshirt/ trainers and just walk in.

oh and a bottle of wine they sold for $50/60 downstairs at the pool area during the day, they wanted $350 a bottle on in the roof top bar/ nightclub bit!! great views though

[C70R]

Cardiff_Exile said:

+1 for Please don't tell, a surreal experience with a hot dog included

Eisch... another one trading too heavily on the hype, IMHO. Spending a week trying to call and make a reservation isn't my idea of a good bar.

[anonymous-user]

The William Vale in Brooklyn.