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New York Nightlife and Clubs

NYC.com's guide to New York nightlife features expert reviews and recommendations for the top hot spots, dance clubs, jazz and live music venues, not to mention information on all types of bars, from dives and local hangouts to nightclubs and lounges in Manhattan and beyond. Also check out our guides for comedy fans, bar-hoppers, music lovers, the under-21 crowd, plus our all-new Best of New York Nightlife, packed with great features!

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New York Nightlife

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Cellar Bar

Midtown

A cavernous underground bar with a gothic subway station feel where bad boys and girls go to be discreetly naughty and listen to DJs spinning an eclectic mix of sounds.

Frames

Bowling, Billiards, Drinking, Dancing what more do you want! Frames provides a chic lounge, with a dress code, a dance floor, billiards, and, indeed bowling! Tucked in the charming bowels of the Port Authority Bus Terminal (Southwest Corner of 40th and 9th, 2nd Floor near Gate 230), the joint proves to be great place for groups and after work fun, with cocktails to loosen you up for the dance floor!

Night Of Joy

Williamsburg

Elegant cocktail bar with lovely rooftop patio for the warmer seasons. Check their website for list of DJs and upcoming events.

Nitecap

Lower East Side

Well respected bar in the NYC haute cocktail scene from Natasha David, Alex Day and Dave Kaplan.

Upstairs

Midtown

Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel is a 4,000 square foot rooftop lounge with sweeping, panoramic views of Midtown that will be available year-round thanks to retractable glass ceilings and walls and heated floors!

Henry's Rooftop Bar

Midtown

Henry's Rooftop Bar at the Roger Smith Hotel sits on the 16th floor with spectacular views of Midtown, including the Chrysler Building, and operates a full bar with plenty of food to choose from.

The Way Station

Prospect Heights

Steampunk and Victorian England meet curiously in Prospect Heights. Hence the TARDIS in the front room. Popular music and performance venue with up and coming acts.

Alphaville

Wasting away in Alphaville maybe your own damn fault, but really you would find no one to blame in this classic Brooklyn dive bar, restaurant and music venue. Don't expect U2 or Bon Jovi, do expect the fun up and coming bands in a down to earth setting that will serve you cheap beer and reasonable food.

Lexington's at the Court Hotel

Located in The Court Hotel, Lexington’s professes to help bring the city to “Life after Five. Menu offers classic cocktails, homemade sodas and small plates. Elegant decor includes plush banquette and ottoman as well as vintage billiard table and fireplace.

Surf Bar

Williamsburg

Beach party in Billyburg! Surfer atmosphere created by the sandy floor and beach decor. Outdoor seating perfect for warm weather. Cold beer and funky beach themed cocktails. Limited but tasty seaside menu.

Pulse Karaoke

Theater District

New York's only multimedia karaoke lounge, with private suites, programmable lighting systems, Rock Band, and a fully stocked bar.

T.G. Whitney's

Midtown

Average bar in Midtown East with occasional karaoke. Crowd tends to the young corporate types. Those who wash away another day of office drudgery with beer, and use whisky as a talisman to ward of questions of the ethical quandaries their work puts them in.

Tonic — East

Kips Bay

Spiffy upscale three-level sports bar serving typical pub fare along with new American cuisine with an Asian twist. Popular brunch spot, and known for its cool rooftop bar area. Roughly a bazillion TVs and enthusiastic crowds - on off sporting nights just the boys trying to meet the girls and vice versa - and during big games, well "the game" is sidelined however briefly.

Flaming Saddles Saloon

Hell's Kitchen

Country & Western-styled saloon for the gay and lesbian crowd in Hell's Kitchen.

Arlene's Grocery

Lower East Side

The building that houses Arlene's used to be an archetypal Lower East Side bodega, hence the name and authentic signage out front. Divided into two sections, the main room—lovingly titled the Butcher Bar—is without fail jam-packed on the weekends, owing partly to the heavy-handed bartenders and the selection of beers on tap. In the rear of the main room is a section of tables and benches for more intimate drinking with groups of friends, or a little one-on-one time. On nights with live music—read: most nights—those tables can be taken over quite quickly be bands-in-waiting who make use of the stage entrance (and bathroom) at the rear. Arlene's hosts a slew of bands on any given night, representing the wide swath of genres found in the New York scene. It usually costs something to get inside the band room, of course, but you can be assured that the drinks are poured with the same generosity as the main bar. Bands will enjoy the backline at Arlene's, lovingly provided by Gibson, and the spectacular sound, curated deftly by Howard. There is also the ever-popular, recently documented, metal and punk karaoke night, where Joey Ramone lives on through his fans. The sound is always great even if the actual voices aren’t. New talent gets a chance to perform at the weekly open mic night, which has the unusual benefit of a Saturday timeslot, even if it is from 3-7pm.

Backbar

Hidden entrance? Check. Models? Check. Expensive drinks? Check. Great music? Check. Yep, this is the secret spot that everyone knows about. Slick, elegant, beautiful little place that is crammed with people on the weekends. Excellent djs spin some great music, creating great vibe and caution is reservedly thrown into the wind as bodies begin to sway. From the team behind nearby Toro and Willow Road.

Drunken Horse

Chelsea

Turks & Frogs offshoot with a wine bar tilt.

Revival

Elegant and intimate place, with beautiful outdoor patio for warm times and a fireplace in their upstairs lounge for the cold times. Beautiful wood paneling and exposed brick, ornate brass ceiling. Here is where you take a date to impress, or meet up with a group of friends, or have an intimate drink with that someone special.

Sharlene's

Prospect Heights

For folks in the Park Slope and adjacent areas of Brooklyn, the Commonwealth stamp means a good deal. Sharlene's—from one of the CW's former managers—takes the concept of simplicity in drinking establishments to Prospect Heights, with no TVs to kill the atmosphere and plenty of good vodka.

Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar

Bromberg Brothers Blue Ribbon empire ain't just for food. Here they have elegant cocktail and wine bar with limited menu including small plates, fancy toasts and egg shooters. Excellent place to unwind for intimate afterwork or pre-dinner drink. Or take your mother there. Mother's like this kind of place.

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