Tribeca Drinks

Brandy Library
Have a seat at this luxurious space’s long, wooden bar and check out the list of hard-to-find brandies, whiskeys and other spirits. Cocktail fans will love the house-designed drinks ($13), including The Librarian, a mix of cognac, port and crème de framboise. Study up: Reservations are suggested, and business-casual dress is encouraged.
25 North Moore St, 212-226-5545

Tribeca Tavern
Old Tribeca lives on at this cavernous tavern on the main strip. Pull a chair up to the bar, which boasts a wordly selection of more than 80 beers, bottled and draft—from the humble (Pabst Blue Ribbon) to local (Red Hook IPA) to Euro (Chimay). Stick around for a game of pool, or head out to the backyard if the weather beckons.
247 West Broadway, 212-941-7671

VinoVino
Black leather couches and exposed-brick walls give this enoteca a sophisticated vibe, but the attitude is staunchly laid-back. The menu is loaded with reasonably priced reds, whites and rosés by the glass—some of which can be purchased in the wineshop next door—and if you’re feeling snacky, you can also score a small charcuterie plate of cheeses and cured Italian meats.
211 West Broadway, 212-925-8510

Walker’s
This neighborhood pub, located on a corner that has hosted one watering hole or another since the 1880s, is blessedly free of pretension. The beer selection includes local darlings like Brooklyn Lager, and on Sundays from 8 to 11pm, live jazz is in the house—past guests include guitarist Peter Leitch.
16 North Moore Street, 212-941-0142

The Bubble Lounge
If your tastes run toward the effervescent, bounce over to this champagne-centric lounge. Many a good bubbly is poured by the glass here—including California sparklers like Schramsberg Blanc de Noir, and authentic French vintages à la Vino Vino Goutorbe Cuvee Prestige Brut. The upscale boîte also offers desserts, such as a delectable banana-and-Tahitian-vanilla crème brûlée.
228 West Broadway, 212-431-3433

Anotheroom
Pressed-tin ceilings and brushed steel tables give this small drinkerie a cool, industrial feel, much like that of its sibling bars the Room (in Soho) and the Other Room (in the West Village). The handwritten, well-edited drink list sticks to wine (by the glass or bottle) and beer (micro- and craft-brews abound).
249 West Broadway, 212-226-1418

Canal Room
Musicians, DJs and partygoers flock to this intimate space, which has the happening feel—and occasionally the headliners—of a supper club. Check the live music schedule at canalroom.com for a list of upcoming acts—or just settle in to one of the banquettes and try not to look too excited when someone famous walks by.
285 West Broadway, 212-941-8100


Union Square Drinks

Flatiron Lounge
Art Deco design with red leather booths and a 30-foot-long bar make this place a welcoming destination for an after-the-credits-roll libation. But it’s the cool, inventive cocktails that will keep you sitting there deep into the night.
37 W 19th St, 212-727-7741

Old Town Bar & Restaurant
Though not exactly a dive, Old Town is a longtime fave because of its well-worn atmosphere (original penny tiles, tin ceilings, and an extra long bar), and casual vibe. The burgers are darn good, too.
45 E 18th St, 212-529-6732

Cibar
From the swank pink couches and modern chandeliers to the creative coolers and chic crowd that consumes them, this place is a throwback to when cocktailing was a swell affair.
56 Irving Pl, 212-460-5656


East Village Drinks

KGB Bar
Trek upstairs to this second-floor drinking parlor and rub shoulders with a literary crowd. A one-time Ukrainian social club (which remains relatively unchanged except for a coat of Communist-red paint on the walls), it’s now the site of near-nightly free poetry and
fiction readings, and serves up six different types of Baltika beer ($6). Careful of those steps on your way out.
85 E 4th St, 212-505-3360

The Bourgeois Pig
The glow is contagious at the Pig. Maybe it’s the low lighting, the jazzy-chic soundtrack (think Nina Simone and Tom Waits) and the plush red furniture, but the elaborate intoxicants—such as Le Diable ($12), a nose-tickling refresher made with rosé wine, cassis, and ginger beer—sure don’t hurt.
111 E 7th St, 212-475-2246

Heathers
Children of the ’80s populate this unmarked joint—it is they, after all, who recognize the looping video clip behind the bar (hint: It’s a reference to the eponymous Christian Slater flick about the horrors of high school cliques). Sit on old-school lab stools at retro enamel-top tables and enjoy the advantages of being of drinking age.
506 E 13th St, 212-254-0979

D.B.A.
“Drink better ale,” or how about “don’t bother asking…”—there just might be as many interpretations of this bar’s name as there are beers on offer (120-plus). The whiskey is also abundant (scotch, bourbon, rye and other varieties number well past 300). And so you
know, the acronym stands for doing business as.”
41 First Ave, 212-475-5097

Bar Veloce
Some wine bars try to be exotic, but Bar Veloce is content with its classic aura. Designed in homage to Fellini-era Rome, this discreet bastion of class offers dozens of European wines by the glass, as well as a few choice beers. It’s one of the few places in the East Village where your drink will be poured by a man in a tie.
175 Second Ave, 212-260-3200

Hi Fi
Formerly the beloved indie-rock club Brownie’s, Hi-Fi is run by the same proprietors, who just got tired of dealing with musicians. The comfy booths and a generous 2-for-1 happy hour (from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.) will always be popular, but the main draw is the 2000+ albums on the jukebox, which offers more combinations than you can shake a drumstick at.
169 Ave A, 212-420-8392