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New York is expensive and I'll say it, often overrated. When you go to a bar or restaurant, you pay for the scene. But if you just want to get silly drunk on fruity, crazy-colored margaritas, consider the chain Dallas BBQ. There are locations all over, but I tend to stick to the ones in Chelsea or the East Village. I wouldn't advise ordering the food, unless you're trying something small to stave off a hangover. (There are much better, pricier places for barbecue. The offerings at Dallas BBQ are mediocre at best.) The restaurant staff won't rush you if you decide to drink a Texas-sized margarita and hang out with your friends. They won't even get annoyed when you can barely leave the place once you're done, either. I may or may not speak from personal experience(s).
www.dallasbbq.com/
261 8th Avenue
+1 212 462 0001
Google map: bit.ly/lZcGPQ
Elegant art deco bar diner with superb cocktails, all-day food and Sunday brunches.
8th avenue and 23rd
A must if you love bubbly. With 300 types of champagne and sparkling wines this place offers everything you can imagine, like the Pimm’s Moet Cocktail or the house favorite Bubble Bellini; they also do exotic martinis, the Kit Kat Martini is amazing. Try the downstairs bar complete with comfy sofas for a more intimate experience.
228 West Broadway,
New York, NY 10013
nr. White St.
A great place for some really tasty and interesting drinks in Manhattan is the Flatiron Lounge on 19th Street. It's a small, cozy, dimly lit, laid-back Art Deco lounge where you can get mixed drinks that you won't find anywhere else. Then for dinner, walk a few blocks over to Mesa Grill on Fifth Avenue for some terrific southwestern US cuisine and great desserts. But just make sure you call for a dinner reservation as far in advance as possible.
The best (and biggest!) Manhattans are at Quality Meats. It's a chic and buzzing basement hangout that is always packed. Glamorous clientele, classic decor; stay for dinner, which is also a great idea as the food is fantastic.
Quality Meats, 57 W. 58th Street just at the south end of Central Park
I'm a Brit living in NYC, and for cocktails I can highly recommend one of the secrets of New York that many native New Yorkers don't know about. I would try The Beacon. They have a special deal during their 'happy hour' that gets you two classic New York cocktails of your choice and an appetiser-style small pizza made by Waldy Maloof (one of the best chefs in NYC) for $20. Or you can skip the small pizza and dive straight in the cocktails.
This would only whet your appetite for one of my favourite restaurants in the city: Gramercy Tavern. It is still one of the highest rated restaurants in the city. Food, service and wine list, are all superb. You won't be disappointed.
The Beacon (25 West 56th Street between 6th and 5th Avenues)
Gramercy Tavern (2 East 20th Street, near Park Avenue South)
A great place for cocktails is Ava Lounge which overlooks Times Square. The drinks they make up are really good - true American cocktails, and the views can be amazing if it's a clear evening and you get a good sunset!
Also nearby for an interesting meal is the fun Benihana. Although if you are more interested in food rather than entertainment then The Red Cat in the heat of Chelsea is a great spot - very intimate but not too stuffy. The food is wonderful but affordable.
www.avaloungenyc.com/
www.benihana.co.uk/
www.theredcat.co.uk/
The Jazz Standard is an amazing night out with good cocktails and great jazz. If you book the early showing you can catch dinner upstairs too, which is yummy.
The River Cafe has great views of Manhattan being on the other side of Brooklyn bridge – again, they do good cocktails and good food. It is very pricey though so definitely one for a treat!
Little Branch in the Village is great for drinks – it's much like visiting a speakeasy with classic and innovative cocktails in a strangely enticing basement space.
For dinner: You can’t go wrong with 11 Madison. It’s a wonderful, adult place to eat which exemplifies a certain sort of American and New York high cuisine. It’s an utter pleasure.
Little Branch: corner of St. Luke’s and 7th Avenue
Kick off with cocktails in the bar at the Rainbow Grill for a heart-stopping view of the Empire State and downtown skyscrapers. I’ve been living here for over a year and this place still gives me that ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ feeling when I walk in. Another good option would be the bar at the top of the Mandarin Oriental on 59th Street, Columbus Circle. If you go at sunset, you get the most wonderful view of the southern end of Central Park. Dinner – well, yes it’s hokey, but for an authentic New York experience, try Smith & Wollensky – the cathedral of steak (and pretty wonderful seafood too). You’ll feel your arteries furring up, but it’s a blissful way to go.
For drinks: Little Branch in the Village – much like visiting a speakeasy with classic and innovative cocktails in a strangely enticing basement space.
For dinner: You can’t go wrong with 11 Madison. It’s a wonderful, adult place to eat which exemplifies a certain sort of American and New York high cuisine. It’s an utter pleasure.
Little Branch: on the corner of St. Luke’s and 7th Avenue in the Village.
11 Madison: www.elevenmadisonpark.com/
I love NYC, and always head to this great Italian I found on Upper East Side called Baraonda. The best night to go is on a Sunday by midnight when everyone is dancing on the tables or even on the bar! The food is delicious and great value. Book ahead.
2nd Avenue and the corner of 75th
The best example of NYC's prolific cocktail scene. Steeped in the pre-prohibition craft, these bartenders will make you a memorable cocktail.
433 E. 6th St. b/w Ave A & First Ave
Pastis is Zagat’s favourite and for good reason; its cocktails are marvellous (a New Yorker’s true bar barometer), its people beautiful and the food ain’t bad either.
Great Asian restaurant steeped in New York cool, where you have a good chance of clapping your eyes on a genuine A-lister. Food, music and service all first class at quite reasonable prices. Amazing Kobe beef [again, reasonable prices], which is brought to your table with a steaming bowl of Miso soup, which you place the beef in to cook. A very imaginative cocktail menu, which includes the classy looking and tasty Nirvana. An all round great experience!
Madison Ave and 58th St. Manhattan
A proper end-of-the-day marguerita with more booze than ice in it, served by a truly professional bartender in a proper hotel bar. Do it!
Edison Hotel, next to the W Hotel off Times Square, Manhattan.
Manhattan is blessed with all manner of vertiginous drinking establishments. 230 on Fifth however, possesses a number of features which distinguish it as a great place to take in a drink and some views whilst on business. Its central location opposite Madison Square Park means every famous New York skyscraper, brimming with decades of successful deals, loom over you. The smart dress code means you can take an important client there with confidence and the great Malaysian-themed menu means you can avoid the pitfalls and potential embarrassment to colleagues of drinking on an empty stomach. In addition, besides an enormous outdoor terrace, the fancifully decorated interior offers some outstanding vistas even on a chilly winter's evening. Highly recommended.
230 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York, NY, 10001. Nearest Subway: 23rd St (R,W)
www.230-fifth.com
Fabulous all-American bar in one of the best NY hotels where the bloody mary was invented. You have to go in the cosy bar with comfortable leather armchairs, fabulously attentive staff, lovely nibbles and, of course, the best bloody mary in town.
Two East 55th Street, at Fifth Avenue, New York
www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/index.html
Recently opened in Hells Kitchen. This really is a sexy place - with no attitude and a good vibe. It's billed as a 'stylish, sophisticated gay bar'. Early evening is happy hour, half-price martinis. America seems to like 'shaken' martinis - everyone knows they should be stirred but, what the hell, when in the USA, do as the Americans do.
They're lethal. The music gets going a little later, and an upstairs level opens up, doubling the capacity. It's dark, loud and full of gorgeous boys and girls - many still in their work suits, others out for the evening. I was out on the town on my own, and I really liked it there - the people were friendly and were happy to chat. I left, several hours later, staggering, but smiling.
VLADA LOUNGE
331 West 51st Street
212-974-8030
www.vladabar.com/index.html
Enjoy feeling part of the New York scene, especially early evening on a weekday, overlooking the beautifully elegant concourse of Grand Central Station and watching the world go by. Ideal for people watchers!
Grand Central Station - on the balcony. Not sure of the name - Metrazour??
Is this your business?Search Been there
