51 Best Nightlife in New York City, New York

Named for the address of a historic Black tavern in the Five Points neighborhood, 67 Orange Street has been a Harlem staple of the craft cocktail movement for more than a decade. The cozy space is surrounded by exposed brick and wood-clad walls, with flickering candles lining the bar and a handful of tables. The Manhattan After Dark cocktail is a standout: bourbon, port, ginger liqueur, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters are combined and then poured through a cigar smoke–filled decanter. There's also a kitchen serving small bites like truffle fries, fried calamari, and chicken wings.

This original location of the Beauty Bar (which has become a minichain across the United States) made a name for itself offering drinks and manicures in the made-over salon starting at 5 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on weekends. The DJ spins everything from new wave to soul, and it's open until 4 am Wednesday through Sunday.

From the same father-son team who made Jacob's Pickle a neighborhood fave, this pleasant restaurant is deservedly famous for its French-dip sandwiches, melts, and other filling dishes. But its "old-school but progressive" cocktails, wine, and beer menus keep both of its separate bars busy. This is the sort of place where one visit will make you a regular.

Transport yourself to New Orleans in this dimly lit, yet lively cocktail and oyster bar, known for an extensive absinthe selection, a food menu spanning light fare to hearty braised beef cheeks, and above all, an impressive selection of oysters hailing from both east and west coasts. Cozy up at the horseshoe-shape bar or dine at a cast-iron table inside—or in the back garden on warm days.

One of the first of the retro speakeasy bars in NYC, PDT ("Please Don't Tell") made a name for itself with top-line cocktails and it's "secret" entrance, and although it's not much of a secret anymore it's still a great spot for excellent drinks with a touch of cloak-and-dagger. Make a reservation online, then head to the unassuming Crif Dogs hot dog restaurant, where you'll be escorted through the phone booth's false back. The upscale cocktails are perfectly complemented by the hot dog specials from the neighboring shop that are also served here.

Classy tipplers and well-dressed commuters pack into this Grand Central Terminal bar (especially during the evening rush), but you can still have a romantic time in one of Manhattan's more beautiful rooms. The restored space dates from the 1920s, when it was the private office of an executive named John W. Campbell, who entertained friends and colleagues here. Sample the good life as you sip cocktails from club chairs and banquettes. The proprietor also offers the smaller Campbell Palm Court and enclosed, outdoor Campbell Terrace; the latter is just outside in the former taxi driveway.

"Drink craft beer" is the motto here, so grab a stool, saddle up to the bar or around one of the barrels fashioned into a table, and take your time poring over the video board displaying various lagers and ales, along with hard ciders and seltzers. There's a heavy focus on NYC and New York State brews. Take advantage of the daily happy hour from 4:20 to 6:20, when beer, wine, and well drinks are all $7. The kitchen stays open late, serving bar fare to soak up some of the suds.

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).

Bar B is kind of an odd duck, but in the most charming of ways. It's a narrow, no-bigger-than-a-hallway venue with no seats—just standing room at a long counter (unless you can nab a sidewalk table). It's also a hybrid, of sorts: there are cocktails, like an excellent Negroni, but the largely Japanese staff also offers excellent Italian and Iberian snacks, too. Sip a glass of wine and nosh on chicken-liver-pate-topped bruschetta, or tuck into a bowl of penne all'Amatriciana. Best of all, everything is very nicely priced.

Gen Xers will certainly get nostalgic at this mostly 80s video arcade, featuring classics Ms. Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. However, any generation can enjoy the 8- and 16-bit gameplay, or the row of pinball machines, as long as they're adults, since this place doesn't typically cater to children—unless it's a special family day listed on their website's calendar. As the portmanteau of "bar" and "arcade," it's very much as good a beer bar as it is a retro arcade, specializing in dozens of rotating taps from microbreweries around the country. However, this original location has no proper kitchen, so there's no bar food—only bagged snacks are available—so plan on grabbing a bite elsewhere.

The drag shows and freewheeling, flirty dance nights are what lure a mostly male crowd to this cute, casual neighborhood hangout, far less pretentious (some might say it's adorably divey) than some of its grander Chelsea neighbors.

Plunked down in the rapidly transforming industrial section of the South Bronx, this neighborhood hangout, with its breezy deck seating, relaxed vibes, and fruity, tropical cocktails, has become a local favorite for DJ beats or just watching football on game day. Stop by for a beer from their rotating list of over 20 craft beers on tap, or for brunch bites, the cheap lunch special ($10.95), or happy hour.

Despite the generic name, this is far from a traditional dive bar. Yes, there’s a long list of domestic microbrews and imports on draft, along with whiskeys and other spirits and there are TVs playing sports. But this dive bar features an extensive and inventive menu with daily mussel specials, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, and even poutine, the stick-to-your-ribs dish from Québec (fries topped with gravy and cheese curds). The kitchen is open late and the bar even later—until 4 am daily.

Since the early 1800s, this watering hole (at one time also a bordello) has been a sturdy New York landmark in a rapidly changing downtown and it still draws a laidback crowd of locals for drinks and pretty good food, too. There's live music several times a week. Note that the location is pretty far west, closer to the Hudson River.

Linger over lunch or a beer at this well-worn neighborhood bar and restaurant, a down-to-earth SoHo landmark that's been serving drinks (and good burgers, sandwiches, and quiche) since 1847. The old-timey photos on the walls add to the vintage atmosphere, as do the no-nonsense bartenders.

At this gay bar, the plentiful flat-screen TVs and cheap Budweisers draw sports enthusiasts of every stripe, from athlete to armchair. The bar also sponsors—and frequently hosts parties for—a number of local gay sports teams. The two-for-one happy hour in the early evening on weekdays is one of the best deals in the neighborhood.

Launched by three graduates of Historically Black Colleges, this cozy pub specializes in “beer, booze, bites, and beats." Bites on the casual menu include a Bavarian soft pretzel, craft beer bratwurst, and a variety of spicy guma pies (similar to a flaky samosa or empanada), and everything pairs well with an accessible selection of innovative small-batch beers. A second location is opening at Pier 57 in Hudson River Park.

A juicy burger and more than a dozen craft beers on tap make this the type of neighborhood watering hole every New Yorker wants on their corner. Plenty of stools fill the sprawling space, along with a scattering of tables on the sidewalk in warm weather. The peanut butter burger and loaded grilled cheese and avocado fries are crowd favorites, and there’s live music during special events. It's an unfussy spot to raise a glass after a day of exploring vibrant Harlem.

The nightly parties at this laid-back West Village HQ for the Sapphic set attract young professional women, out-of-towners, and longtime regulars. Because the DJ and pool table quickly create a crowd, though, lesbians arrive early to stake their claim to a spot, especially on weekends.

The fantastic neon signs, padded black walls, large round mirrors, and L-shape bar here make you think you've wandered onto a 1930s movie set. Settle into a booth or banquette, and watch the neighborhood bons vivants (and bon-vivant wannabes) leap into action nightly, be it early for the daily happy hour or late weekend nights. A raw bar serves seafood and sushi to wash down your boilermakers.

If you've been in the city long enough, you'll remember the Holiday as the quintessential New York dive bar, with dim lighting and basic drinks, where everyone felt comfortable despite the slightly uncomfortable bar stools and banquettes. If you've just arrived here, you'll be treated to a similar welcoming ambience, but with new upholstery, trendier drinks, and bar food that ranges from Wagyu corn dogs, kimchi pancakes, and deep-fried pickles to a somewhat questionable s'mores nachos.

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.

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 DJ's spinning vinyl, creative cocktails, and tasty light bites. Make sure to try the Rendang Bao, filled with short ribs that have been braised for 24 hours. The cocktail that's a must try is the Kuya Krusher, made with Ketel One vodka, sorrel (hibiscus) juice, and spiced ginger—it's perfectly refreshing, especially on warm summer evenings.

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.

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.