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Ian Hunter's Guide to New York's Best Restaurants, Bars, and Gourmet Markets

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LOWER EAST SIDE/ LITTLE ITALY (Houston to Canal; E of Layfayette) Higher #- closer to Houston.
>West-East goes: Layfayette; Mulberry; Mott; Elizabeth; Bowery; Chrystie (2nd Ave); Forsyth; Eldridge Allen (1st Ave); Orchard;
Ludlow; Essex (Av A); Norfolk; Suffolk; Clinton (Av B) *Bars listed West to East.
>North-South: Houston; Stanton; Prince (W of Bowery); Rivington; Spring (W of Bowery); Delancy; Broome; Grand; Hester; Canal

 

Epistrophy: Wine Bar. 200 Mott St @ Kenmore-Spring; Decent selection of affordable wines; Nice menu; More of an afternoon/ early evening café;  Perfect pit stop; Hang with friends, a date, or chill alone.

 

Spring Lounge: Neighborhood Tavern. 48 Spring St. @ Mulberry; Opens at feel; Cozy welcoming bar;  Great for after Work or taking a break from Soho shopping. Superior beer list; Seating and decent food. Unpretentious.   

 

Vig Bar: Lounge. 12 Spring @ Elizabeth;  Low key elegance; Upscale looking décor; Front and a back room; Ideal for a party for a more tasteful group of friends; Sophisticated yet still fun; Not terribly cheap.

 
Von: Wine/ Beer Bar. 3 Bleecker @ Bowery; High end yet affordable wine and beers from Europe; Village crowd; Not pretentious; Ideal date spot or starter bar; Chill Scene, Romantic; Relaxed. Happy hour 2 for 1 until

 
Slainte: Irish Pub / Sports Bar. 304 Bowery @ Bleecker-Houston; Party and watch game; Laid back for the area; Tradition pub feel; Great Grub; Happy Hours: 2 for 1  Known for sweet potato fries.  


R Bar: Bar / Live Music. 218 Bowery @ Prince-Spring; Live Rock/ Classic music; DJ playing the same other nights; Private Parties- birthdays; Cool spot; Hugely big; Has 4 stripper poles in back; Endless bar. Great beer & cocktails specials.   


Blvd: Lounge. 199 Bowery @ Spring;  Enormous nightlife compound with lounge, dance floor & restaurant under one roof; Singles scene; Party/ drinking scene. DJs; 18,000 sq feet. Great food. Private Parties. Club you can go to.  See website.

 
Loreley: German Beer Garden. 7 Rivington @ Bowery; Huge Steins. Great German food. Classic Bavarian bar. Beer selection highly traditional. Two levels; Private Parties; Munich feel- drink from a liter stein.  


Bowery Ballroom: Large Live Music Venue. 6 Delancey St @ Bowery;  Live music- style: Rock, Indie, Alternative mostly;  Big, cheap, 3 bar set-up; Cover charge usually for great bands.  Easily the best live music venue in the city.


La Caverna: Restaurant/ Lounge. 122-124 Rivington @ Bowery; Very cool interior; Also an excellent Italian restaurant; Sexy Date spot or meet singles; Downstairs is a huge man-made cave with couches – dark décor- absolutely cool. Even a waterfall. Very unique.   

 
Stanton Public: Pub. 17 Stanton @ Bowery-Christie; Happy Hour M-Sat to check out. Has a beer club.

 
Kush: Moroccan Lounge 191 Christie @ Rivington – Stanton; Romantic. Great for private Party; Better than most in area.  Very cool Middle Eastern décor; Mixed drinks well made. Excellent food. Hookah Pipes.

Happy Ending: Lounge. 302 Broome @ Forsyth – Eldridge; Lounge w/ DJ and singles scene down below. Bar up top; Major hook up spot; 20s-30s;  Private Parties;  Banquettes on top floor are cool; Lots of dancing downstairs; No cover; Free Vodka 11pm-12 on Tuesdays.  

 
Lolita: Dive Lounge. 266 Broome @ Allen-Orchard;  Happy hour $3 draft beers;  Chill, local spot mostly undiscovered by the B&T crowd. Relaxing, calm feel. Great alternative.


People: Lounge. 163 Allen @ Stanton-Rivington; Double decker lounge; Known for drinks; late 20s- 30s crowd – older for area; Comfortable sofas; Great cocktails; Upscale and sleek; Impress dates; Mature décor- almost hotel like.   
 
Sixth Ward: Irish Pub. 191 Orchard @ Stanton; Happy hour M-F,
 
Slipper Room: Comedy/ Bar. 167 Orchard @ Stanton; For only $5 you get to watch an insanely funny Burlesque show; Very shocking/ adult show; Drinks reasonable for genre; Check website/ calendar for shows;

 
Annex, The: Live Music/ DJ; 152 Orchard @ Rivington-Stanton; Late night live music venue for buzzed about bands; Live DJs; Some dancing; Bit of a scene with sexy dressed hipsters mixing with eclectic types.

 
Lucky Jack’s: Irish Pub. 129 Orchard @ Rivington-Delancey; Two level pub; 60 foot long bar; TVs to watch any game; Cool looking pool table;  Huge bottled beer selection; Has maintained its original vibe – no pretension, just drinkers and friendly bartenders.


Pianos: Bar/ Live Music. 158 Ludlow @ Stanton- Riverton; Two levels; Upstairs gets packed with sexy singles w/ a 20s-early 30s crowd; Drink specials early; Great music- live and DJs. Happy Hr
 

Blue Seats: Sports Bar.  157 Ludlow @ Stanton; Upscale sports pub; Great for private parties; Top of the line TVs and an excellent bar menu.  Can watch TV on a private TV in a booth; Stadium seating set up in the main room; Ultra friendly staff; Try it for your next night out to see a game. Not the cheapest place but stylish.


Barramundi: Lounge. 67 Clinton St @ Rivington-Stanton; Great neighborhood spot with low pretense; Has garden & fireplace; Happy Hour specials:
 
Fontana’s: Live Music/ Bar. 105 Eldridge @ Broome – Grand; Enormous bar and music venue; 3 levels; Live music/ DJ; Great beer selection; Cool for large groups to meet; 4-8pm Happy hour- $3 tap beers;  Cheap covers after 7 or ; Multiple cozy rooms and stages.

 
bOb Bar: Lounge. 235 Eldridge @ Stanton; Classy with a good mix of people; DJ spinning tunes at night- Hip Hop;  Decent singles scene;  Some dancing; Not too urban- LES regulars. Drinks medium priced.


Libation: Tri-Level Night club. 137 Ludlow @ Rivington; Private Parties; Great food and drinks in an upscale setting; DJs or Live music; 11 flat screens; Different from low key neighbors. Friendly atmoshpere of an Irish pub, 6,000 sq feet!  Solid food including brunch.  But- gets loud & crowded.   

 
Iggy’s Keltic Lounge:  Pub. 132 Ludlow @ Rivington; Happy Hour relaxing vibe for area; Fun, entertaining staff; Amazing drink specials;  Regulars treated very well.


Whiskey Ward: Dive Bar/ Saloon. 121 Essex @ Delancey; Inexpensive. Good crowd- extremely laid back; Great Juke. Bartenders are friendly; Dive classic that must be checked out.  Incredible Whiskey and Beer list; Cool website.

 
Welcome to the Johnsons: Dive Bar. 123 Rivington @ Essex-Norfolk;  Beyond dirt cheap drinks; Happy hour

 

Verlaine: Lounge. 110 Rivington @ Essex-Ludlow; Upscale lounge/ wine & martini bar; Best time to go is happy hour- 5-10pm daily for ½ priced well drinks, wine, bloody marys and lychee martinis; All drinks are outstanding; Chill late 20s to 30s scene. Date-ideal.

 

Boss Tweed’s Saloon: Saloon. 115 Essex @ Delancey - Rivington; I love this place; Dive bar city with dirt cheap drinks- all day specials ($10 pitchers); Beer pong central; Tons of TVs- great to watch a game;  $20 OPEN bar – 3 hours. 

 
Mason Dixon: Dive Bar. 133 Essex @ Delancey; Extremely large space; Mechanical Bull to ride; Southern feel with very inexpensive drinks; Mac N Cheese & other GREAT bar food;  Known for bourbons; Friendly staff – but it is a dive! Lots of TVs; Rock n Roll DJ on weekends.


Clandestino: Wine Bar. 35 Canal @ Essex-Ludlow; Chill scene; Cool cats here; Gorgeous, well maintained neighborhood pub/ wine bar. Friendly staff. Extremely popular and it always delivers great food & service and wine.


The Delancey: Rock Club. 168 Delancey @ Clinton; 3 levels; Awesome lounge; Hipsters; Rooftop bar is awesome. No velvet rope pretense – just a large, fun club; Singles scene when you can hear; Outdoor area; Private Parties. Has a rooftop deck.