IANNATION.COM

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

Home
RESTAURANTS - by CUISINE
RESTAURANTS - by NEIGHBORHOOD
BERGEN COUNTY NJ - DINING
BARS - By NEIGHBORHOOD!
Upper West Side
Hells Kitchen/Midtown West
Chelsea/Garment/Meatpack
West / Central Village
Soho / TriBeca
Lower East Side/Little Italy
East Village
Union Square/Flatiron/Gramercy
Murray Hill/ Midtown East
Upper East Side
Downtown / Other
GOURMET MARKETS by Hood
GOURMET MARKETS -By Genre
FRIENDS / LINKS
TOP 10's of New York!!
Music Bands & Artists
Ian Nation Almanac
About Ian
Contact Ian
WEST & CENTRAL VILLAGE (N of Houston to 13th; Layfayette West) *Bars listed West to East*
>WEST VILLAGE (Washington St to 6th Av; Houston to 13th) *Grove, Christopher, West 4th has lots of bars unlisted.
>East-West: 6th Av; 7th Av; 8th Av (top 1/3); Hudson; Greenwich; Washington)

 

Art Bar: Lounge/Bar. 52 8th Av @ Jane; East Village Feel; Restaurant as well; Good locals bar. Don’t miss the back room. Great lounge area. Full of couches; Solid after work spot.  2 for 1 happy hour daily.  Very cool place to hang.

 
Johnny’s Bar: Dive Bar. 90 Greenwich Ave @ 12th St- Jane; Nothing fancy, just a small, ultra friendly bar that keeps the regulars returning; Great jukebox; Cheap Coors Light; Shot of the Day; Cute bartenders.


Brass Monkey: Bar / Lounge. 55 Little W 12th @ Wash; Like a trendy pub. Singles scene. Great pub grub & best for after work & happy hour. Intimate back room.  3 levels including rooftop. Packed on weekend nights.


Tortilla Flats: Bar/ Restaurant. 767 Washington @ W 12th Mexican Food & Drinks; Margaritas; Bachelorette Party central. Wacky scene with gimmick nights. Drink specials during week; Cheesy décor. Always a good time

Automatic Slims: Dive Bar. 733 Washington @ Bank; Singles scene; Domestic beer and shots; Laid back; Not fancy but tons of fun; Lots of dancing, sometimes on the bar. Small place though. $3 drafts
 
Spotted Pig: British Pub. 314 W 11th St @ Greenwich-Hudson; Upscale pub- fairly pricy; Beer of all kinds on draft including cask conditioned; Gourmet level food tight seating; High-end wine; Snobbery is back!  

 
Dublin 6: Irish / Wine Bar. 575 Hudson St @ W 11th – Bank; Also a sit-down restaurant with highly rated food; Extremely friendly staff and totally unpretentious; Neighborhood classic;  Long, spacious bar for those interested in a great drink and to mingle;


White Horse Tavern: Pub. 567 Hudson @ 11th; Beers, couches, bar stools, outdoor dining. Amazing Burgers & Appetizers; Happy Hour spot. Literary décor. Poet Dylan Thomas’ old spot. Basic pub grub- great for lunch or dinner.   

 

Lelabar: Wine Bar/ Lounge. 422 Hudson @ LeRoy; Very fine wine bar; Delicious cheese & meat plates; Extensive wine list; Dim lighting and romantic; Sexy décor that is warm and friendly. $1 oysters; Go for happy hour as it is $$.


Mixx Lounge Lounge. 84 7th Av @ Bleecker; Lounge;  Date place-  Romantic; DJ later on; Trendy; Huge liquor selection and top flight Martinis; Great for Private Parties.  out though.

 

Blind Tiger Ale House: Beer Pub. 281 Bleecker St @ 7th Av South; One of the Best beer selections in city;  Highly suggested by multiple sites. Great food; Ideal after work or to warm up for a long night out.  Incredible selection of rare and vintage beers. #7 beer bar in country by Beer Advocate.  NYC Institution.

 
Lederhosen: Beer Hall. 39 Grove @ Bleecker; German place with 5 liter containers of beer and sausages for $58 for a group; Beer garden feel;  Old world German vibe; Hard to find beer selections;  Amazing schnitzel and sausages.

 

Little Branch: Lounge/ Jazz. 22 7th Ave @ Carmine-Leroy; $12 cash only cocktails- expensive, but Amazing;  Jazz infused ambiance; Sexy, relaxing vibe; Basically it is similar to a speakeasy; Professional bartenders mix top drinks. 

 

Marie’s Crisis: Dive Bar. 59 Grove St @ 7th Ave; Happy hour

 

Duplex (The): Piano Bar/ Cabaret. 61 Christopher @ 7th Ave; Piano bar with open mic every night; Upstairs bar and an intimate cabaret theatre all in one venue; Friendly staff;  See website for details;

 

Fat Cat: Billiards / Jazz. 75 Christopher @ Bleecker – 7th Av; Lower level has crazy cool pool hall area for $5 an hour; Live Jazz every night; After work hang-out;  Private party space;  Has Ping-Pong, Pool, Chess, Checkers, Scrabble, Backgammon tournaments and games in their gameroom; Huge place; Singles scene as well; Perfect for anything you want to do.

 
Kettle of Fish: Beer Pub. 59 Christopher @ 7th Av – Waverly; Down home, regular-friendly neighborhood bar; Green Bay Packers bar; Darts, pinball, Ms Pacman & a great Juke; Huge beer selection.


Stoned Crow: Irish Pub. 85 Washington Pl. @ 6th & Wash Sq; Classic diamond in rough. Pool table. Jukebox; NY University Crowd; Always inexpensive beer deals.  Known for burgers & entertaining bathrooms- the décor.  


Fiddlesticks: Irish Pub. 54 Greenwich @ 6th-7th; Excellent, large Irish Pub. Classy place. Good beer. Attractive crowd. Singles scene that gets packed; 20s crowd; vibe.  Brunch includes 2 Bloody Marys/ drinks. 

 
Ino Wine Bar: Wine Bar. 21 Bedford @ Downing; This is a lovely café that offers a wonderful assortment of Italian wines; Food choices focus on paninis, tramezzinnis and bruschetta. Go off-hours!


Down The Hatch: Dive Bar. 179 W 4th @ 6th-7th; Dive Bar Classic. Can be packed. Basement bar. Amazing Wings. Cheap Beer;  Singles/ Drunks! College age crowd; Dirt cheap beer specials; Perfect to watch a game. Foosball. $20 unlimited beer and wings on weekends.


Vol de Nuit: Belgian Beer Lounge. 148 W 4th @ 6th; Dark setting; Multiple rooms; Sexy bartenders; Few sofas; Date or hang w/ friends in upscale beer setting.  Mysterious feel.  Mussels and fries excellent here. Very chill spot and old world charm.


Barrow Street Ale House: Dive Bar/ Sports Bar. 15 Barrow @ 7th Av; Darts, Pool, Video Games; Dirt cheap beer specials during day; NYU crowd; Casual and cool. Happy Hour noon-7pm daily, $3 drafts; Downstairs has pool. Wings 40 cents on Mondays.


Slaughtered Lamb Pub: British Pub. 182 W. 4th @ Jones; Spacious for a pub;  Friendly, welcoming spot;  Great brunch w/ 1 hour free drinks; Fireplace; Excellent Bar food- true British selections. After work spot.  Huge bottled beer selection featuring everything British.


Corner Bistro: Dive Bar/ Restaurant. 331 W. 4th @ Jane; Best burgers in City & a neighborhood bar w/ Dirt Cheap drinks. McSorleys Ale on tap $2.50; Been around forever; Lines often to get in; Very old tavern with ultra cool look inside. NYC Institution- a must try.


CENTRAL VILLAGE (6th Av to Broadway; Houston to 13th)
>East-West: B-Way; Mercer; N University Pl; Long walk to La Guardia (W B-Way); Thompson; Sullivan; MacDougal

Fat Black Pussycat:
Lounge. 130 W. 3rd @ McDougal; It’s a bar, lounge, dance club in one. 3 rooms; Large, great spot! Dance venue w/in called: “Village Underground” Very cool. Must discover the side room on the left– very cool! Singles, 20s-30s; Happy Hour ;   

 

Slane: Irish Pub. 102 MacDougal @ Bleecker- W 3rd; Incredible Happy Hour specials noon-8pm… earlier you go, better the deal; $1 beers…;  Live Irish Music; Otherwise, fairly small & uneventful; Decent Irish vibe and friendly.

 

Off the Wagon: College Bar. 109 MacDougal @ Bleecker; Whole bar ½ price M-F regain your youth!


Café Wha: Live Music Bar. 115 MacDougal @ Bleecker; Bachelorette Parties; Music venue;  Popular space w/ tourists;  Classic NY Institution; Live covers bands daily after 9pm- opens at 8:30; Smallish bar; Great for cool live cover music.

Alibi: Lounge. 116 MacDougal @ Bleecker; Private Parties- 20 or so;  Post College Crowd; 2 levels; Dance Lounge downstairs; Perfect for 25-35 crowd. Hot scene- one of the few ‘nice’ lounges in the area; Singles, Happy Hour; DJs; Cocktails; Martinis;  Laid back and chill. Opens at .


Next Door at La Lanterna di Vittorio: Wine Bar/ Jazz. 129 MacDougal @ 3rd St; Wine bar connected to an Italian Restaurant; Romantic; After work, Sophisticated scene; 30s crowd; Higher end yet affordable. Gorgeous outdoor patio in back.    

 
1849: College Bar. 183 Bleecker @ MacDougal-Sullivan;  Great internet jukebox; Spacious bar area; 15+ large plasma TVs; Pool tables; Midwestern décor- Wild West scene; Amazing happy hour specials that differ every day; Good bar food.

 

Town Tavern: College Bar. 134 W 3rd St @ MacDougal-6th Av; Dirt cheap happy hour specials, mostly from bar; 20s scene.

 
The Pinch: Irish pub. 237 Sullivan @ Bleecker; Local crowd; Neighborhood pub; Very cheap drinks; Worthy of checking out. DJ and some live music; Darts, pool; Order- The Pinch Bull. Not crowded.


Back Fense: Dive Bar. 155 Bleecker @ Thompson:  Another Bleecker St Live Music Dive Bar; Laid back cool setting; Been around forever; Up and coming bands. Cheap beer on tap;  Usually cover bands-attracts great talent.


Falucka: Lounge. 162 Bleecker @ Sullivan-Thompson; Hooka Bar; Cool and sultry; Middle Eastern; Spacious; Upscale for area; Cool date spot or to chill out.  More crowded after


Village Lantern: College/ Neighborhood bar. 167 Bleecker @ Thompson; Two levels-Downstairs lounge; $3 pints 12-7pm daily; Live Jazz Sun-Tues; DJ rest of the week; Stylish- drink, eat, music; Comedy club some nights;  Photo Booth; Mac N Cheese outstanding.


The Dove: Lounge/ Bar. 228 Thompson @ Bleecker -W 3rd; Great 1st date spot; Romantic, 19th Century Victorian Watering hole. Great cocktails & creative drinks; Go for happy hour – .  Elegant place.  


Peculiar Pub: College Bar. 145 Bleecker @ LaGuardia; 500 bottled beers;  Large space. One of the better Bleecker St bars. College crowd; Major singles scene; Popular place to drink heavily. Friendly service and truly a beer drinker’s heaven. Most bottles $4-$6 with some specials.  Beer Menu here.

Red Lion: Bar/ Live Music. 151 Bleecker @ LaGuardia; English football haven / Sports bar; Cheap beer specials; Happy Hour; Good dive bar feel; 20s crowd; Cool décor. Live music- rock;  


Bleecker St Bar: Sports Bar. 56 Bleecker @ Crosby; Noon-8pm Happy Hour every day - $4.50 23 ounce drafts; Tons of TVs; Lots of pool tables; 3 Dart boards; Clean and cool setting; Excellent bar to relax or party hard at night. Good Juke. Mid 20s-30s. 

Temple Bar: Irish Pub/ Lounge. 332 Layfayette @ Bleecker; Long, cool Mahogany bar; Stylish interior; Sleek; Good date spot; Singles scene; Lounge feel; Must check out. Martinis are great; Relaxing & Romantic; late 20s-30s;  Truly a cool looking place  


Swift: Irish Pub. 34 E. 4th @ Bowery & Lafayette;  Absolutely amazing bar; Extremely fun; Love the set up; Cool for dates, friends;  Tons of Brew- huge selection. East end of West Village. DJ, Live Music; Converted church. Imperial pints. Lots of seating.