4 Best Nightlife in New York City, New York

This sprawling space, with its own taproom and backyard, is as good a sign as any that the Bronx’s time has finally come. It's a true local gathering place, too—one that brings in DJs, hosts basketball tournaments, and acts as a home base for the Bronx-founded Empanology, serving innovative empanadas and sandwiches. The brewery's expansive list of beers created in-house include a mix of year-round and seasonal. They've since opened locations in Manhattan's East Village and Hudson Yards.

This brewery put the borough's once-active craft beer scene back on the map when it opened in a former matzo factory in 1996. There are free tours on Sunday, while weekday Small Batch Tours offer an in-depth look and a chance to try and give feedback on new experimental beers. Tap offerings in its sizable, convivial taproom include their signature Brooklyn Lager and crowd favorite Pulp Art Hazy IPA.

Each of New York’s five boroughs has embraced the craft beer trend and Staten Island is no exception. Located just a short walk from the ferry terminal, this proudly Staten Island microbrewery has a sizable taproom that plays an eclectic music playlist (almost always including an obligatory Wu-Tang song or two) for the patrons playing cornhole, or convening at one of its long communal tables. On tap: their rotating lagers, pilsners, stouts, and IPAs—Blood Orange being one of the more popular ones—all made in the other room.

Awarded New York Brewery of the Year two years in a row, Grimm certainly knows how to make a good brew. Fans of IPAs, sour beers, and goses (warm fermented beers) will definitely appreciate a session here; many of their beers lean in those realms of the beer spectrum. Some nights at the taproom feature DJs sets—except Wednesdays when it's BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl) and the music vibe is in the beer drinkers' hands.