Ironically named bar featuring cheap drinks, a photo booth & a six-hole mini-golf course.
First dates & small plates. Fancy cocktails are ridiculous: get the Cure For Pain and Rita Hayworth. Food rundown: tuna tartare, truffle mac, filet, lobster brioche rolls, mushroom tart. Infatuation
Oyster happy hour, great drinks, and an outdoor area out back. You can actually hear the people next to you on the early side, but at midnight on a Saturday night, expect to be crammed in.
Basically a refined frat party for adults on weekend evenings. The environment has a barn-like look, and is also a good spot for brunch. Kale margaritas are on point.
If The Wayland and Summit Bar give you PTSD flashbacks to your morning subway commute, check out The Third Man. It similarly has great drinks and a fun vibe, but tends to be a little roomier.
German beer bar/garden--reasonable, but still occasionally rowdy place to drink a stein of beer.
Unpretentious bar with excellent cocktails. This one’s more date-y, with drippy candles and plenty of seating to set the mood.
Overgrown urban garden/garage/greenhouse,” and it serves some very good Austrian food: pickled veggies; cured pork belly; spatzle; steak; schlutzkrapfen (cheese and beet ravioli).
1) A perfect little backyard garden/patio. 2) A truly great burger. Great for groups, late night eats, sports on TV, and the onion rings.
Good, cheap food and drinks that will possibly result in bad decisions, plus a place to sit outside while enjoying both. Guac & pico with homemade chips, ceviche, empanadas, calamari fritos, moqueca.
In addition to all the shenanigans going on up the block, Avenue C is also home to some of the best Puerto Rican food in the city. Hit up Casa Adela for some serious rotisserie chicken.
Virginia’s is definitely the most upscale restaurant on the block. The chefs worked at Per Se and a bunch of high end Chicago restaurants, so the cooking is the real deal, but still pretty relaxed.
OYSTERS. Virgola is a small Italian wine bar with $1 oysters all day, and it’s a great place to go on a casual date. They also make a killer negroni.
OYSTERS: $1 M-F 4-7; Sat 11A-1P. Get there early, because people are on to how good this situation, especially when it’s nice out and you can sit in their amazing outdoor garden.
OYSTERS: $1 M-F 5-7; S&S 3-7P. It’s got a ton of character, is filled with regulars, and has way better food than a poppin’ wine bar in this part of town really needs to have.
OYSTERS: $1 Daily 5-7. A funky cocktail bar that looks more like an art studio than it does oyster bar, Sel Rrose is a super cool space with decent food and an excellent oyster happy hour
169 Bar is best explained by a few things: a disco ball, a dinosaur on the wall, and a pool table covered in leopard print. Also, of note: you can text your drink order.
The Leadbelly specializes in oysters, but it’s really more of a bar. It’s a good spot for dates, but it’s most clutch on a weekend afternoon after checking out some of the art galleries up the block.
Do you like summer? Do you like seafood? Do you like eating and drinking outside? Bloody Mary oyster shooters; warm giant pretzel; steamed littlenecks; oyster po'boy sliders (best thing on the menu).
For a relatively cheap place with ample space and good drinks, I’m not complaining. For the Seaport, it’s definitely a good option. Put this restaurant anywhere else though, and we’d keep on walking.
Bottom of the Edison Hotel, classic spot by the people of Ward III. The place gets packed with suits (naturally), but behind all that, this is one of the best spots to drink a cocktail in Midtown.
The lobby of The Iroquois Hotel, a great place for a highly civilized drink. There are private tables, and you can even make a reservation. Keep it in your back pocket for when you need to impress.
A predictably small bar that serves wine on tap. You really shouldn’t go on a date on 48th Street, but if you must: do it at Pocket Bar.
Beer Culture has the distinction of being something near Port Authority that’s not the absolute worst. As you’d imagine, it’s a beer place.
Ardesia is a true midtown utility spot. Wine and small plates in a non-cheesy environment is exactly the setup you need. Add to that its reasonable prices, friendly service, and outdoor seating.
A loud beer bar with probably 40 taps in the western part of Midtown, Valhalla feels like a grown up version of a place you’d find in the East Village. They have decent bar food too.
A Belgian cafe with a suspect-sounding but actually kind of great all you can eat mussels deal on Mondays. BXL is one of our happy hour go-tos.
Over in Hell’s Kitchen, this little bar specializes in whiskey – and has a huge selection. If you’re into brown liquor and find yourself on the West Side, this is your spot.
If you’ve ever wondered who lives in the brownstones in the West 40s, we have no idea. But we do know that in this one, there’s a bar inside.
It’s really more of a beer scene. Stag’s Head excels at going beyond the typical roster of Ballast Point taps, so if you’re into deep cuts of craft beer, you’ll be happy here.
Yes, you can probably find a better and cheaper cocktail elsewhere. But you come to the legendary Campbell Apartment, which is located literally within Grand Central, for the history.
Midtown East is littered with sports bars, and most of them are absolutely awful. Hudson Malone is the rare standout. You can watch a game here without hating yourself, and the food’s even pretty good
As you might expect, this place is a British gastropub, and it’s actually run by the same people as Jones Wood Foundry, an Upper East Side restaurant we like a lot.
It’s nice and spacious, which also makes it a prime Happy Hour spot for all the finance and lawyer people getting out of work around there. There are also couches in the back
In the Refinery Hotel, it’s a highly popular spot for happy hour. There’s a big bar area, and the “vintage” decor isn’t a bad look. They also have plenty of small plates and flatbreads.
McGee’s, simply put, is the best of the Midtown Irish pubs. It feels like less of a sh*tshow than the rest, and is comfortably spread out over a few floors.
If you wind up around The Wayfarer, head to the second floor. There’s a comfortable bar/lounge up there with plenty of couches and a view of the street below
This bar does smell like stale beer sometimes. They specialize in craft bar, and actually have some surprisingly good bar food.
Want something easy? Fast? And delicious? But also kind of healthy? Purbird is the ideal delivery or super casual eat-in joint--perfect, juicy grilled chicken and sides (maybe best mac and cheese)
Miriam is the holy grail of brunch, whether you want your usual french toast and benedicts (get the burekas). The environment is homey but lively. If you’re looking for a party, get a pitcher sangria.
Excellent Neopolitan pies - the clam pie is a must (and the meatballs, and mushroom mozz). Franny’s also does excellent pastas and salads--Puttanesca, Maccheroni, onion Zeppole.
Cocktail bar that’s unpretentious enough that you could walk in on for a casual drink and the big charcuterie plate, but vibey enough to continue a date night. Drinks made to your taste + Back Patio
Classed-up but still casual drink. Come here for any one-on-one requiring solid cocktails or wine, and know that oysters and cheese plates are on hand should you need sustenance.
Muffins: These things are unbelievably good, stuffed with amazing fruits, and never too sugary or sweet. Get there early - they close at 2pm and the best muffins sell out by late morning.
from the outside it might look like a weird antiques shop, the interior is rustic and the Mediterranean-tinged Italian food is very good. Best seats in the house are on the back indoor/outdoor patio.
There’s a definite coffeehouse culture here, with people posting up on the chairs inside and out front on the sidewalk. Excellent cold brew.
Lobo is great for one thing and one thing only: awesome, fresh margaritas to be consumed outside when the weather is nice. The large guac should be enough to keep you from getting too drunk.
Threes is the best group hang/day drinking option in Park Slope, and even better if you come hungry. The food rotates, but is always from your hit list (Roberta’s is there often).
One of the better options for slightly elevated food and cocktails, in a nice-but-not-too-nice environment. Best for date night or girls' night, take advantage of the incredible back patio.
If you're into craft beer, Pacific Standard is your North Slope bar go-to. Added pluses: sports on TV, trivia nights, and an open-door policy towards outside food delivery.
Every neighborhood has their go-to casual sushi spot, and Taro is exactly that. Very fresh, reasonably priced, and a nice enough environment.
The neighborhood is home to three of NYC’s biggest names in pizza: Patsy’s, Artichoke Basille’s, and Two Boots. Out of the three, our move will always be Patsy’s, but to each his own.
Fifth Avenue Market is the best bodega in all the land. The cooks here are sandwich artists.
The brunch menu changes weekly and is super seasonal. Dinner is just as awesome, but it's a slightly more formal vibe. Bring your parents, and get the fried goat cheese and proscuitto if they have it.
Go-to Chinese spot in the neighborhood, we like Hunan Delight because it's consistently fresh, and because delivery comes at record speeds.
The best casual Thai food in the neighborhood: standard Thai dishes always taste exactly like you need them to (the pad see ew is a personal fave), and almost nothing on the menu costs more than $12.
Palo Santo is a slightly more refined, upscale Latin/Caribbean. It’s on the bottom floor of a brownstone, with a wood-covered, low-key interior.
A big space, with cheap drinks, bocce ball courts, an outdoor courtyard, a downstairs venue that hosts dance parties, and even a cozy, leather-chair covered section for hanging out by the fire.
This is some of the very best rustic Italian food in all of New York, with a seriously charming environment to match. Pay attention to the specials and add the Tagliatelle al Ragu and a risotto.
This is where Park Slope comes for all their bagel needs. Lox, deli meats, eggs, eight cream cheese flavors - they’ve got it all, and you really can’t go wrong.
To be succinct: Katsuei serves the best sushi in Brooklyn. For pretty reasonable prices. Don’t come here for any reason other than the omakase ($45 for sushi, or $65 for sushi and omakase)
Yes, people in Park Slope like to get drunk at brunch too. And Scottadito is here to enable, with satisfying Italian brunch foods and $20 bottomless mimosas.
The name pretty much says it all - if there is such thing as a high-end dive bar, this is it. High Dive’s main assets are free popcorn, a solid rotating beer selection, and a back patio.
This is about as grungy as Park Slope gets, meaning it’s a tiny bit edgy but mostly clean. Come for the open-air space, stay for the beer selection and pinball machines. Bonus: they allow dogs.
This old-school Italian deli is the kind of place that makes you want to stop what you’re doing for Italian deli sandwiches - get any that involve the fresh mozzarella and you’ll be happy.
You need to know that Gather is a nice, bright spot right at the 7th Avenue F/G station serving solid breakfast foods and lunchtime market sides.
A homey vibe (as in, you might be in your grandma’s living room), reasonably priced drinks, and outdoor patio situation.
“Neighborhood spot” and “mindblowing food” -- take advantage of the all-day spot for brunch, breakfasts, or dinner any night you want something just a little more elevated than your usual go-to.
Asian fusion may get a bad rap, but Talde is here to remind us that it’s stupidly fun to consume. When would you not be excited to eat pretzel pork dumplings? Or bacon pad thai?
A daydrinking dream, Greenwood Park is 13,000 square feet (we don’t really know what that means but it’s a lot) of indoor/outdoor beer garden glory.
Best Bar to Watch Sports: not for large groups unless you can get there early. But the staff is accommodating, have a million beers, and a F*ckit Bucket (6 cans for $15) and beer/shot deal ($7)
Best for Brunch: A good, comfortable restaurant with a seasonal, farm-focused menu in a neighborhood with relatively few of these kinds of places.
Best BBQ in the area with an the indoor/outdoor set-up. Brisket rub has a nice amount of smoke, some spicy kick and the right caramelization. Also need: pulled pork and beef sausage.
A tiny shop serving excellent, fancy sandwiches that don't cost more than a sandwich should. There are only about five counter seats, so this is more of a quick-bite-on-the-way kind of place. I
There's only one thing separating Rose's from every other upscale-ish dive bar - and that is its burger--and the board games.
Thanks to its sprawling back patio, this place can be a total sh*tshow in the summer - but get yourself an order of grilled corn and that perfect cuban sandwich.
You may not expect it from an excellent, slightly upscale neighborhood spot but their burger is not to be overlooked. If you're looking for something grown-up to eat, you can get it here too.
Chuko proved that ramen in Brooklyn competes with the best of 'em in Manhattan. Spicy pickles to start your meal off right, most unique kale salad in a long while, Kimchi ramen - just damn.
This is a mini Biergarten type place offering all kinds of German delights alongside an impressive beer menu.
Despite its less-than-ideal location on top of a subway entrance, No. 7 is a great spot to grab a drink and some food in the area. The broccoli tacos need to be on your table.
Don't let the exterior hellfire paintjob intimidate you - this is one of Brooklyn's great "honky tonk" dives. It's been around since the 1930's and it's your best option in the area for getting weird.
Hangover medicine ASAP, in the form of serious diner food. Hit up Tom’s on your way to the Park for the only cure you’ll need.
The Caribbean food is solid and sharing-friendly, the prices are very reasonable, and there are alcoholic slushies. Add in the island vibes and this is a truly ideal affordable group dinner spot.
High-quality, super-affordable sushi from a very tiny, very cute restaurant. With outdoor seating
Franny’s is definitely casual, it’s still slightly more sophisticated. Order: Bucatini, no matter what it comes with; clam pizza; tomato, basil; buffalo mozzarella pizza.
One of the only places in the city where you can get real-deal breakfast tacos. I endorse the fried avocado variety. Those, a margarita in your hand, and a table outside = pretty perfect Saturday.
