UPPER EAST SIDE (59th- 96th; E of 5th)
Subway Inn: Dive Bar. 143 E. 60th @ 3rd; Dumpy, cool. Popular. Gritty Charm. Dirt Cheap. Top Dive Lounge; Good Juke and Golden Tee; Seedy locals frequent here. Not for families.
Baker Street: English Pub. 1153 1st Av @ 63rd; 8 TVs; Rugby; Cocktail filmed here; Known for being a great place to watch English Premier Soccer; 30s-40s crowd. Great bar food. O’Flanagan’s: Irish Pub. 1215 First @ 65th: Irish bar w/ music, live sometimes. Sports Bar; Have a party here. Great local scene. Great atmosphere. Excellent bar food –can sit down. Friendly group of regulars. 4-7pm happy hour. Buy backs Phoenix Park: Irish Pub. 206 E 67th @ 3rd; Lots of seating; Pool; Huge bar; Outside Garden; Multiple rooms; Neighborhood joint with character; Quiet off peak hours. Buy backs. Older late 20s-40s crowd. Session 73: Bar/ Lounge. 1359 1st Ave @ 73rd: Live music. Very spacious. Good singles scene. Cool place. 20s-30s. Loud. Seating to eat a meal- decent food; Multiple bars; Trendy and cool. Cheese fondue on menu. Bounce: Sports Bar. 1403 2nd @ 73rd; Lots of food; Sexy staff; Lounge feel later at night; Buy backs; Not a huge place but reliable for a couple beers. All the big fights/ UFC; Giant menu of food; Private parties. Banshee Pub: Irish Pub. 1373 1st @ 73-4; Great bartenders.. buy backs every 3rd drink. Pub feel; Friendly beer spot; Good jukebox; Just a decent pub with cool crowd. Happy hour 5-8pm. Smallish place.
David Copperfield’s: Pub. 1394 York @ 74th; Neighborhood spot; Huge beer selection – 30 craft beers on draft and 100 different bottles; Hit or Miss in terms of scene; Clean and great for pub dining; Good food; late 20s-30s; Cool décor. Great burgers. Excellent classic pub.
Iggy’s: Dive Bar. 1452 2nd Av @ 75th; Karaoke Bar every night; Fun atmosphere.... drinking and singing. Long bar w/ big back room; Locals and parties; Good for private groups. Rockband Hero on Wed/ Sun. McKeowns: Irish Pub. 1303 3rd @ 75th; Upscale. Family place but fun. You can bring anyone here. Neighborhood bar; Great for a burger or other food. Not overly popular, just a nice neighborhood bar. American Trash: Dive Bar. 1471 First @ 76th; Metal Jukebox. Great Happy Hour! Pool Table; Similar to Red Rock but pure dive; Locals; Under the radar; Friendly staff. $3 PBD every day; 5-8pm, $2.50Bud Lite draft. Beer Pong Doc Watson’s: Irish Pub. 1490 2nd @ 77th; Upscale bar; 20 ounce pints; Great dining in the back; Garden; Sports bar; Minor singles scene- better date spot; Pretty cool and nicer pub – classier. Happy hour 11am-7pm w/ $3 specials.
Brother Jimmy’s: Dive / Sports Bar. 1485 Second @ 77th; Carolina Bar; Incredible Bar-B-Q food; Dirt Cheap beer specials- Happy Hour 5-8pm; Great for games – especially Tarheels or Yankees; Singles scene at night; Beer lover’s haven; Fish Bowls with Alligators in them; Just a fun place. This is the original. Bar Coastal: Sports Bar. 1495 @ 78th; Stiff drinks. Happy hour specials; Frat party scene; Young crowd; Fake ID central; Bar food; Cheap drinks. Excellent wings. Perfect for football watching.
Johnny Foxes NYC: Pub/ Sports Bar. 1546 2nd Av @ 80-81st; Great daily specials- see website; Monday Trivia; Thursday Happy hour all day; Brunch with 2 drinks; Happy hour 11-8pm; Lots of flat screens; Really good food. Mad River: Pub. 1442 3rd @ 81st; Bar n’ Grill type. Spacious and multiple tables to eat; At night – becomes a party scene; 20s crowd; Juke/DJ at night. Good for large groups. See website for amazing drink specials including $2 draft Tuesdays & $1 draft Fridays 7-10pm. Sick deals all week and bar is cool despite youngish crowd. Brady’s B&G: Sports Bar. 1583 2nd @ 82nd; Typical UES Frat party bar. Cheap beer. TV’s. Happy hours; Pool; Cool to hang out. Major dart scene. Youngish 20s crowd. Ship of Fools: Sports Bar; 1590 2nd @ 82-83rd; 42 satellite TVs, 13 big screens; Singles scene to a degree; Spacious. Dive bar but cool. Multiple rooms.... keeps getting bigger in back; One of my favorites. Not the ‘nicest’ place but ideal to watch a game a decent prices. Jack Russell Pub: Irish Pub/ Sports Bar; 1591 2nd @ 82-3rd; Clean, sophisticated and classy; Like a pub in England; late 20s-30s crowd normally; Very high end pub; Huge place; Great food here. 21 TVs; Gael Pub: Irish Pub. 1465 3rd Ave @ 82-3rd; Great great place- large space; Friendly, Buy-backs. Clean location. Upscale Irish. Neighborhood mainstay; Dates, singles, groups; Lots of TVs; Tuesday Trivia nights;
Back Page: Sports Bar. 1472 3rd Ave @ 83rd; Monstrously big sports bar; Lots to do; Meet people; Good food including wings. Downstairs has pool, darts; Great for groups; Must for big game; Classic sports bar scene – 20s-30s crowd.
Saloon: Pub/ Lounge/ Sports Bar; 1584 York @ 83rd; 3 bars; 2 DJs; Dancing at night; Lounge even. Perfect for a large private party; ZogSports has their parties here. Can be quiet on weekdays as it is on York. Trinity Public House: Irish Pub. 229 84th @ 2nd-3rd; Small, neighborhood place; Great bar hopping spot; Happy hour; Owned by Banshee Pub people; Beer and friendly staff are trademarks. Locals- no B&T crowd.
Brandy’s Piano Bar: Piano Bar. 235 84th @ 2nd-3rd; Live music starting at 9:30pm daily; Fun crowd; Relaxing happy crowd- 4-8pm; Sing along and be entertained; late 20s-30s crowd;
Ryan’s Daughter: Irish Pub. 350 E 85th @ 1st-2nd Av; Classic Irish Pub; More eclectic crowd. Crowded at night...20s-40s. Neighborhood spot off the path; Great for a group of friends. Unpretentious and one of the best bars in the Upper East Side- not a typical college bar. Tin Lizzy: Irish Pub. 1647 2nd Av @ 85th; Typical 80s music playing college bar; Alternative to Mad River; Extremely friendly bartenders; People dance; Young 20s crowd; Always a good time here; Tons of TVs; Large and cool décor. Gets crowded. Heidelberg: Restaurant/ Bar. 1648 2nd @ 86th; German restaurant and bar. Authentic feel; Huge steins of beer; German food; Get drunk here! Local crowd of German beer lovers. Sunday Brunch. Fun for a change of pace. Smallish.
Aces & Eights: Dive Bar. 1683 1st Av @ 87th; Western-themed saloon; Each booth has a flat screen TV; Beer Pong; Wings, burgers and cheap beer; Lots of TVs; Basically, a frat boy bar for cheap drinking. Marty O’Brian’s: Irish Pub. 1696 2nd Av @ 87th; Neighborhood locals; Some live music; Pool table; Large Juke selection; Noted friendly bartenders. 3-7pm Happy Hour, $3 beers. Great place to watch sports; Some game nights.
Uptown Lounge: Lounge. 1576 3rd @ 88th; Lounge and bar combined. Sit down dining; Great food. Can sit to eat or party. Top After Work, Martini, Romantic, Wine, Bartender spot. Date spot; Happy hour daily 4-8pm $6 martinis, drafts $4. Wed-$6-martinis all night! Excellent brunch.
Rathbones: Dive Bar/ Sports Bar; 1702 2nd @ 88-89th; Cool spot; Tons of specials. Gem in the UES. Can eat here. Two for Tuesday- 2 for 1 beverage and food specials. Cool locals hang here; Many TVs
Blonde, Brunette and Redhead: Lounge. 1720 2nd Ave @ 89th; Staff is friendly and atmosphere is perfect for a drink after work or a date. Bit of a scene at night; Sexy feel; Dates; Singles; Pool table & a photo booth! Daily Drink specials. Auction House: Lounge/ Bar. 300 E 89th @ 2nd; Very cheap drinks; Cute staff; Singles scene; Two rooms in the place; Dark and cool; Off the beaten path; Diamond in the rough; “Normal” people and relaxing vibe.
Bar East: Sports Bar. 1733 1st Av @ 90th; Great place to play darts and pool; Fri-Sat- $2 Bud Lt pints 4-9pm; Excellent place to watch a game; Spacious and cool looking décor.
Big Easy: New Orleans themed college bar; 1768 2nd Av @ 92nd; Dirt cheap drink specials every night; Fun, very young crowd. Mardi Gras feel. Pick-up scene; Singles meat market; Beer Pong; Bachelorette Parties; Games and gimmics; $5 spin the wheel for prize or drinks. Not very clean; See website; Gets packed.
Blondies: Sports Bar. 1770 2nd Av @ 92nd; Sports bar w/ tons of TVs; Dining area; Friendly bartenders & cute waitresses. Great wings; Endless TVs; Singles scene; Great for beer parties. Any possible game is on. Happy hour 4-7pm: 2 for 1 drinks. Brother Jimmy’s: Dive / Sports Bar. 1644 3rd Av @ 92nd; Carolina Bar; Incredible Bar-B-Q food; Dirt Cheap beer specials- Happy Hour 5-8pm; Great for games – especially Tarheels or Yankees; Singles scene at night; Beer lover’s haven; Fish Bowls with Alligators in them; Just a fun place.
Kinsale Tavern: Irish Pub. 1672 3rd Av @ 93-4th; Upscale Irish pub featuring incredibly good bar food; Mixed Grill, Fish & Chips outstanding; Large bottle and draught selection; Numerous large screen TVs; Older crowd during day becomes higher energy at night. Reasonable prices.