(14th-34th; East of 6th)
Corkbuzz: Wine Bar. 13 E 13th @ University-5th Av; Wildly popular with rave reviews; Very nice selection of rare and top notch wines; Food is outstanding – especially the Pork belly; Gets mobbed on Saturday nights; Ideal starter place and perfect for a lite dinner and great wine. Have wine classes. https://www.corkbuzz.com/location/union-square/
Park Bar: Lounge. 15 E 15th @ 5th; Upscale atmosphere; late 20s-30s; Date place/ pre-dinner drinks; Comfortable places to sit, though small overall and gets crowded; Mature crowd; Well made cocktails. Pre or post dinner date spot. Large windows, welcoming feel. Late afternoon cocktails. https://www.parkbarnyc.com/
SideBAR: Sports Bar. 118 E 15th @ Irving; Mixed reviews and service but a reliable stand-by in this busy area. HH is M-F from noon-7pm; Sports Bar as well – 21 High Def TVs. Mixed crowd; Craft cocktails; https://www.sidebarny.com/
Mercy Bar: Dive Bar. 129 E 15th St @ Irving-3rd Av; Garden in back; Private parties; Happy Hour 4-8pm M-F with $5 well and drafts; Great beers on tap. Upstairs area to chill. Cheap drinks for area. Recent name change to Mercy Bar from Revival. http://mercybarnyc.com/
Raines Law Room: Speakeasy. 48 W 17th (downstairs) @ 5th-6th Av; Mixologist heaven; Classy scene; Orient Express décor; Chains on wall to summon staff; Great way to impress a date; Just cool as hell; Open 5pm-3am, opens 7pm Sunday. If in the area, start here with a cocktail. Rave reviews from all sources. http://www.raineslawroom.com/
Rye House: Liquor Bar. 11 W 17th @ 5th-6th; Large, clean space; Attentive, professional bartenders with knowledge of their craft; Special cocktails for about $15; Just a massive list of bourbons, ryes, rums, scotches and more; More of a pub feel than a lounge. https://www.ryehousenyc.com/
Lillie’s: Irish Pub. 13 E 17th @ B-Way-5th Av; Gorgeous Victorian inspired décor; Lots of fun as well; Super friendly bartenders; Lots of effort here; Huge space – best times at the bar; Has a huge menu and brunch, desserts, bar food served. One word – impressive. https://www.lilliesnyc.com/#lillies-events
Cibar: Martini bar. 56 Irving @ 17-18th; Trendy and cool. Date place / sophisticated spot; Sexy crowd; Professionals with cash; Fireplace, and outdoor area in summer; Romantic – formula works here. Plush couches. Order a martini here. HH is M-F 5-8pm with $11 cocktails and $8 wine of the day. http://www.cibarlounge.com/
Dear Irving: Cocktail Bar. 55 Irving @ 17th-18th; Opens 5pm daily; Beautiful space and chill vibe; Cocktails and cheese plate; $18/drink; Super fancy – private sofa/lounges available. Beer is $10. Impress a date but drink slowly! https://www.dearirving.com/
Triona’s on Third: Irish Sports Bar. 192 3rd Av @ 17th-18th; Great Irish bartenders; Multiple TVs (13); Great specials, dart boards, decent food; Huge burgers & top Shepherd’s Pie; $14 pitchers Bud light; HH is noon-8pm daily; Have all sports packages. Beer pong; Chicago sports fans come here. https://east.trionasnyc.com/
Old Town: Pub. 45 E 18th @ Park S-BWay; NY Institution; Great Food; After Work/ Happy Hour spot; Cool old-NY feel- opened in 1892; Upstairs area as well; Great starter bar. A fancy McSorleys of sorts. Like a London pub. Delicious burgers; Homey feel; Not a good sports bar… more for atmosphere. http://oldtownbar.com/
Pete’s Tavern: American Pub. 129 E 18th @ Irving; Incredibly friendly; Outdoor seating in summer; Been around forever- established in 1864; Brunch served with 1 drink for $22; Inexpensive for area. Cool old-NY vibe. http://www.petestavern.com/
The Watering Hole: Irish Pub. 106 E 19th @ Park-Irving; Karaoke Wed-Sat; Happy hour M-F, noon to 8pm with $7 drafts, well and wine. Good jukebox; Full of locals; Nice bar menu; Not an overly crowded or noisy place. http://www.wateringholenyc.com/
Slate: Pool Hall. 54 W 21st @ 5-6th Av; Upscale pool hall; Very nice, spacious bar area; Sexy bartenders; Perfect for a Private party or group; After work hot spot; Has a Ping Pong Lounge for $17/hour!! 25 Pool Tables/ 200 seats. Even a dining room. Also a dance floor- mistake! Yuppy/ corporate crowd- 20s-30s. Free pool/ping pong Sundays https://slate-ny.com/
Ampersand: Cocktail Bar. 294 3rd Av @ 22nd-23rd; Cocktails $14, wine $12 and beer $8. Opens daily at 5pm; Ideal for a date and it isn’t too too expensive; Elegant and inviting. Excellent ambiance. Stylish although can be pretentious. https://www.ampersandbarnyc.com/
Molly’s: Irish Pub. 287 3rd @ 22nd-23rd; Truly a traditional place. Small but very friendly staff. Working fireplace and very homey feel; Huge portions of excellent Irish food. This one you have to check out. Best Guinness, Corned Beef, and Irish Breakfast! Sawdust on floor; Great atmosphere. Brunch includes 1 drink. https://mollysshebeen.com/
McSwiggan’s: Irish Dive Pub. 393 Second @ 22-23rd; Neighborhood Bar; 20s-40s crowd; Pool, Darts, Jukebox; Amazing drink specials daily; Nothing stands out but it is reliable and everything an Irish pub should be- including the pub grub. $12 pitchers! HH is daily from 11am-7pm; $5 drinks of all kinds. https://www.mcswiggansbar.com/
Spin: Sports Bar. 48 E 23rd @ Park Av S; As one reviewer put it – it is ‘table tennis with a bar, not a bar with table tennis; If you are a ping pong junkie, this is your place. Fairly priced drinks; Great for groups; Best on a weekday when there is little or no wait for a table. Every Monday – open tournament! Opens daily at noon. https://wearespin.com/
Taproom No. 307: Beer Pub. 307 3rd Av @ 23-24th; Craft beer specialist; Over 40 beers on tap; Great place to watch a game as well; Service can be spotty; Truly excellent food – especially the burger; Five assorted craft beers for $25; Rotating selection of suds. Bottomless brunch. Poutine on menu. http://www.taproom307.com/
Fitzgerald’s: Irish Pub. 336 3rd Av @ 24-5th; This is your classic neighborhood Irish pub featuring $5 all day pints of domestic; Great pub food with partitioned seating; Clean bar area and bathrooms; Friendly conversations. Full of locals; Around since 1901. Cocktails around $8. http://www.fitzgeraldspub.nyc/
Grey Bar: American B&G. 43 W 26th @ BWay-6th Av; Lots of TVs to enjoy a game. Big menu for a bar. Wine as cheap as $8 and a dozen beers of tap. Bottomless brunch with Bloodies. Underrated place. You’ll get good service and food here. Great for day drinking. https://www.greybarnyc.com/
Hog Pit: Dive Bar. 37 W 26th @ 5-6th Av; Country roadhouse serving amazing bar food – Mac n Cheese; Grilled cheese; Pool table, country tunes, and cheap beer. The Duke brothers would have come here; Absolute dive. Great place for a cheap beer as well. $8 pitchers during football! Fun times. http://www.hogpit.com/
Flatiron Hall: Gastropub. 38 W 26th; Victorian styled bar. Make their own beer. Dozen drafts. HH is M-F 4-7pm; The food stands out here – almost a German beer garden type of menu. Try the giant pretzel. HH prices are still expensive at $8 for beer and $10 for wine/cocktails. https://www.flatironhall.com/
Abbey Tavern: Irish Pub. 354 3rd Av @ 26th; Daily $10 lunch specials. HH is M-F, 4-8pm with $5 beers and $6 wine/martinis. Huge menu. Décor is fairly basic/standard for an Irish Pub. Opens daily at 11am. https://abbeytavernnyc.com/
HandCraft Kitchen & Cocktails: Gastropub. 367 3rd Av @ 26th-27th; Really attractive space with just delicious food. Bottomless brunch for $20 additional. Incredible American comfort food. Not as great a place for pure drinking – more a restaurant. https://www.handcraftnyc.com/
Hillstone: Bar/ Restaurant. 378 Park @ 27th; Unreal food- best pub level food in the city; Semi-formal actually, perfect for a date; On bar list because it has one of the best after-work scenes in NYC; Singles, meeting for a drink, and a spacious bar area. Happy Hour best time to go. Fairly expensive otherwise. https://hillstonerestaurant.com/locations/nyc-parkavenuesouth/
Roof at Park South: Rooftop Bar. 125 E 27th @ Lex-Park; Somewhat affordable rooftop scene. Gets crowded after work. Open seasonally. Cocktails about $16 and beer is $9. Can get a Tecate can for $6. Tasty finger food too. Management cares about their patrons. https://www.roofatparksouth.com/
Jazz Standard: Jazz Bar. 116 E 27th @ Lex-Park; Outstanding Jazz but the bonus is the food. BBQ supplied by Blue Smoke upstairs; Located underground; Roomy setting; Well known acts show up; Excellent acoustics; See website for schedule; Two sets an evening. http://www.jazzstandard.com/
230 Fifth: Upscale lounge. 230 5th Av @ 27th; Roof deck with 14,000 sq ft terrace with 360-degree views. Expensive. Pre-dinner scene. Stylish bar open 4pm-4am every day; Sexy, good-looking crowd; Large parties; Truly an epic spot to take a date for dinner/drinks or for a Holiday party. Extremely popular and has an occasional celebrity. 10am-4pm brunch buffet weekends. Igloos, yes igloos available. https://www.230-fifth.com/
Nomad Bar: Cocktail Bar. 10 W 28th @ BWay; Very well reviewed. At the NoMad Hotel. There are other bars here too including the Elephant Bar and am Atrium. Fireplace and amazing cocktails – though very expensive. Sit at the bar if you can and have bartender make you something magical. Burger is unreal. https://www.thenomadhotel.com/new-york/dining/spaces/the-nomad-bar
Churchill Tavern: British Pub. 45 E 28th @ Park; Open daily at 11:30am; Lowkey friendly pub. HH is daily, noon-7pm with $8 Wine and well and $6 drafts. Lots of UK beers on menu. Brunch served but no free drinks. Large regular menu – tons of British traditional choices. https://www.thechurchillny.com/
Tavern29: American Pub. 47 E 29th @ Park; Have to love the daily HH M-F from 11am-7pm with $5 Beer, $6 wine. Cool outdoor seating in the back. Bottomless brunch. Sit at the bar with the friendly bartenders and enjoy a few inexpensive drinks. Perfect for day drinking. http://www.tavern29.com/
Paddy Reilly’s: Irish Pub. 519 2nd Av @ 29th: Lots of live music. Great for a few. Awesome food. Even have open Mic night; Guinness & Bud on tap only; Reeks with tradition & been around forever. Classic Irish gem. One of the most authentic Irish pubs in the city. Nightly bands. http://paddyreillysmusicbar.us/
Failte: Irish Pub. 531 2nd Ave @ 29th– 30th; Standard Irish fare with pool in the back; Extremely friendly staff and patrons; Fireplace; Beer Pong & Trivia Thursday; Weekend drink deals just as good. One of the better spots in the area. Guinness poured well here. Whiskey specialists. HH is daily 11:30am-6pm. https://failtebar.com/
Wine:30: Wine Bar. 41 E 30th @ Mad-Park; HH daily from 3-6pm where you pick a bottle of wine and get a dip/pita app for $30. They serve lunch, dinner and brunch. Huge wine list featuring 100’s of bottles. Most glasses around $13. https://wine30nyc.com/
Banc Café: Gastropub. 431 3rd Av @ 30th; Very tasty and exciting food menu. Brunch features 4 types of Bloodies and amazing looking food. HH is M-F, 4pm-8pm with $5 beer, $7 wine. Live music on occasion. https://banccafe.com/
Waterfront Ale House: American Pub. 540 2nd Av @ 30th; Really great American bar food (ribs, nachos, elk or bison burgers etc); Menu is large as well; Excellent selection of beers; Cool, ‘normal’ bar scene; Attracts regulars; Best nachos ever. www.waterfrontalehouse.com
Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar: Wine Bar. 11 W 31st @ 5th – BWay; Recently renovated; Amazing desserts – many chocolate based; Happy Hour is M-F, 3-6pm with $5 wines and beer; Brunch served; Chocolate martinis of course; The food is great as is the atmosphere. Date friendly. https://ayzanyc.com/
The Heights at Arlo NoMad: Rooftop Hotel Bar. 11 E 31st St @ Mad-5th; Opens at noon on weekends; Chill vibe – upscale but not pretentious; Have Frose (drink) all day; At Arlo Hotel; Has a glass floor; Lots of seating; Can see Empire State Building; Great option.
PS 450: Lounge. 450 Park Av @ 31st; Has a stylish 32 foot bar; DJ at night; Great after work spot with banker types that changes into a more progressive crown later; M-F HH 4-8pm $5 drafts, $7 wine; Decent wine selection; Great food; Private party space. The space is huge. Unpretentious;. http://www.ps450.com/
Brother Jimmy’s: Dive / Sports Bar. 181 Lex @ 31st; Carolina Bar; Incredible Bar-B-Q food; Dirt Cheap beer specials- Happy Hour 5-8pm; Great for games – especially Tarheels or Yankees; Just a fun place, but this chain of bars is starting to fizzle out. www.brotherjimmys.com/;
Jack Dempsey’s: Irish Pub. 36 W 33rd @ 5th-BWay; About 20 beers on draft; They serve Rum Punch; Great food selection; Super friendly bar and very popular; Wine is $8. HH is M-F, 4-8pm; Names after the boxer. Has 3 levels- huge place. http://jackdemseys.com/
Foley’s: Sports Bar. 18 W 33rd @ 5th-BWay; Huge baseball scene. They have a 3,000 baseball collection; Great food. Excellent atmosphere; Up to 200 kinds of beer. Caring staff. Carlsberg on tap. Check out your next game here. Good location with other bars nearby. www.foleysny.com
Legends: Sports Bar. 6 W 33rd @ 5th-BWay; Huge place featuring football ‘factory’- soccer. 3 levels – can dine on amazing pub grub on 1 level full of sports memorabilia; Every soccer game imaginable plays here; Stunning gorgeous interior; Gets mobbed after work and during big games. Private parties. http://www.legends33.com/media/legends.html
Ainsworth: Upscale Sports Bar. 45 E 33rd @ Park-Mad; Football heaven; Huge palace of sports watching heaven; TVs on all surfaces; Rustic décor; Female friendly; Great food menu; At night it is more of a lounge feel; Celebs will show here; Happy hour is 4-7pm daily. http://theainsworth.com/
Wine:34: Wine Bar. 127 E 34th @ Lex-Park; Open for brunch, lunch or dinner; Great food options, large and small; Wines over $13 by the glass; More of a sit-down and eat set up than pure wine bar. Classy. https://wine34nyc.com/