119 Bar

119 E 15th St, between Irving & E Union Sq, New York, NY 10003 212-777-6158

Description: UNION SQUARE. This famously chill dive bar near Irving Plaza is a great place to shoot billiards or hang out before a concert. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W to 14th St-Union Sq
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Bar Masa

10 Columbus Cir, Time Warner Center, New York, NY 10019 212-823-9800

Description: MIDTOWN WEST. The more accessible of Chef Masayoshi Takayama's two NYC editions, Bar Masa is a stylish place to sip on fine wine, expertly-mixed cocktails or top-shelf sake while taking in the omnipresent cool of the clientele. The long African bubinga plank that serves as the bar, the walls covered with textured tiles made of Japanese limestone, and the dark wood accents ­ these elements work in unison to create a sense of shibui, or natural simplicity. And, of course, the à la carte sushi menu gives patrons a glimpse at Takayama's brilliance. TRAIN: A, B, C, D, 1, 9 to Columbus Cir
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BiCE Ristorante

7 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022 212-688-1999

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. This classy Midtown bar and restaurant, with decor by famous designer Adam Tihany, offers an upscale alternative for business types who want to enjoy a good martini or glass of wine after a day at the office. Bice also serves an excellent Nouveau Italian/Milanese menu with specialties that include several excellent pasta dishes ­ the red wine risotto and tagliolini are tops. TRAIN: E, F, N, R to 5th Ave
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Campbell Apartment

15 Vanderbilt Ave, Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY 10017 212-953-0409

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. Located in the former office of 1930s entrepreneur John W. Campbell, this posh cocktail bar beckons with rich decor, fine vintage wines, champagnes and liqueurs. You'll find an upscale crowd here including suit-and-tie types, and the bar fills up quickly most nights. With many fine restaurants just steps away in the Grand Central Terminal, this really should be on your agenda for a nightcap after a great meal. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6, 7, S to 42nd St-Grand Central
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Central Park Boat House

E 72nd St at Park Dr N, Central Park Lake, New York, NY 10001 212-517-2233

Description: UPPER EAST SIDE. Overlooking the Lake, the Boathouse stands on the very same place as Calvert Vaux's original construct, which burned to the ground in the 1950s. In season every season, the Boathouse provides diners with the chance to take in Frederick Law Olmsted's urban masterpiece firsthand. Overhead heating ensures that the patio can stay open well into November; and the dockside bar and grill is a popular place for cocktails, light fare and awesome views of the city. TRAIN: B, C to 81st St
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Cibar

56 Irving Place, Inn at Irving Place, New York, NY 10003-2314 212-460-5656

Description: GRAMERCY. You'll find this fashionable yuppie hangout in the basement of the Inn at Irving Place between 17th and 18th Streets. Cibar blends just the right amounts of sophistication and coziness ­ dim lighting, an attractive wooden bar, marble-top tables and suave-looking ceiling fans. The bar occasionally features live jazz, which provides the perfect background music for a dry or wet martini (they offer more than 20 flavors). TRAIN: L, N, R, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St-Union Sq
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Docks Oyster Bar

633 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10017 212-986-8080

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. Located on the corner of 40th Street, Docks Oyster Bar is a great place to stop if you are in the mood to do a little networking at the end of the day. It's not uncommon to find the bar area crowded with suit-and-tie types enjoying a martini, bloody mary or Manhattan. The Docks also serves an excellent fish and seafood menu that features fresh daily specials ranging from vermilion snapper to steamed snapper. TRAIN: S, 4, 5, 6, 7 to 42nd St-Grand Central
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Hogs and Heifers

859 Washington St, at 13th St, New York, NY 10014-1108 212-929-0655

Description: MEATPACKING DISTRICT. Hazzard County's Boar's Nest meets "Deliverance." Okay, so "chic" probably isn't the word that most use to describe this West Village honky-tonk. Nevertheless, the place remains popular with everybody ­ bikers, wedding parties, celebrities and co-eds. Expect to see everything from the occasional bride-to-be dancing on the bar and scantily clad servers to bras hanging from the ceiling and free flowing liquor. Hogs and Heifers fosters a certain degree of rowdiness, and patrons leave knowing they've had a good time ­ though, they may not remember it. TRAIN: A, C, E to 14th St
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Le Colonial

149 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022 212-752-0808

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. Le Colonial, a tropical paradise on Manhattan Island, offers thirsty patrons an upscale yet casual place to kick back and relax after a long day at the office. The bar attracts a good mix of business types and pretty people who enjoy sipping excellent cocktails and munching on tasty Vietnamese appetizers. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 59th St-Lexington Ave
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North West Restaurant & Lounge

392 Columbus Ave, at 79th St, New York, NY 10024 212-799-4530

Description: UPPER WEST SIDE. North West is one of those cool, laid-back places that discriminating lounge-seekers dream about. This sleek upstairs space is a popular destination for the after-work crowd, who appreciate the excellent cocktails (wait until you see their rather lusty martini list). North West offers a full menu until 11pm and a shorter, late-night menu thereafter. TRAIN: B, C to 81st St; 1, 2, 3, 9 to 79th St
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Old Town Bar

45 E 18th St, between Broadway & Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003 212-529-6732

Description: FLATIRON DISTRICT. Lighting, beer signs and clientele aside, there's a good chance that this Flatiron watering hole looks like it did in 1892. Despite walking the line as a speakeasy during the Prohibition, the place has managed to stay pretty much intact, from the original marble and mahogany bar to the pressed tin ceiling and still-working dumbwaiters that service the classy upstairs dining room. And if you ask a regular, you'll hear that the Old Town has only gotten better over the years. Keep your eyes and ears peeled, several NYC writers whet their whistles here ­ a longtime patron is Frank McCourt, of Teacher Man and Angela's Ashes fame. TRAIN: N, R, Q, W, L, 4, 5, 6 to Union Sq
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Patrick Kavanagh's

497 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016 212-889-4304

Description: MURRAY HILL. Patrick Kavanagh's is the consummate NYC sports pub: dark mahogany accents, real Irish barkeeps and, plenty of rich Guinness draught. The pub's cozy atmosphere and excellent service will make you feel like you stumbled into your home away from home. Kavanagh's is also THE place in Murray Hill to catch live local, out of town and international sporting events. The menu features everything from appetizers to succulent hamburgers and sautéed shrimp. With its chummy staff this place also enjoys a good bit of popularity with business types, who flood in here after work for a pint or two. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 33rd St
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Prohibition

503 Columbus Ave, between 84th and 85th Sts, New York, NY 10024 212-579-3100

Description: UPPER WEST SIDE. Don't let the name throw you, for the drinks at this spacious Upper West Side bar flow fairly freely. Popular with the neighborhood crowd, Prohibition offers patrons plenty of activity ­ billiards, several televisions and even a few live jazz acts on occasion. As the evening wears on, the bar tends to get loud and the pick-up lines even more desperate. In the warmer months, you can enjoy your drink and even a few of their delicious appetizers on the outdoor patio. TRAIN: A, B, C to 86th-Central Park West; 1, 9 to Broadway
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Red Rock West Saloon

457 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011 212-366-5359

Description: Chelsea's Red Rock West is this neighborhood's equivalent to the West Village's Hogs and Heifers. This New York saloon attracts a good mix of Harley-riders and downtown executives, who somehow manage to coexist without too much friction. The jukebox here usually spins out all of your down-home favorites, from Hank, Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd to David Allen Coe and Molly Hatchet. Best of all are the beautiful barhops, who frequently climb on the bar to show everybody how to dance properly. TRAIN: A, C, E to 14th St
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Sakagura

211 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017 212-953-7253

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. Sake is serious stuff at this authentic Japanese bar, located between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. In fact, aficionados of rice wine find themselves in quite a quandary as the stylish Sakagura stocks some 200 distinct varieties; meanwhile, beer, liquor and wine are available to those with more conservative palates. The sleek space has also garnered quite a rep for its food ­ little wonder considering superbly done dishes like hirame carpaccio, saikoro steak and sashimi. TRAIN: S, 4, 5, 6, 7 to 42nd St
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Slate

54 W 21st St, New York, NY 10010 212-989-0096

Description: FLATIRON DISTRICT. The best place to shoot eight ball in the Flatiron, Slate also happens to feature a New American dining room and an ultra-cool VIP lounge area (called PLUS), a living room-inspired space with contemporary furniture, plasma screens, hardwood floors, and a terrific sound system. What really makes Slate stand out, though, are its 30 or so gorgeous pool tables. Well spaced and professionally maintained, they're a sight to behold and a pleasure to play. TRAIN: F, V to 23rd St-6th Ave; N, R to 23rd St-Broadway; 6 to 23rd St-Park Ave; 1, 9 to 23rd St-7th Ave
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Stitch Bar & Lounge

247 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018 212-852-4826

Description: GARMENT DISTRICT. New York's ever-bustling Garment District serves as the backdrop for this classy watering hole, whose bar is topped by vases of fresh-cut flowers and, every few feet, a small candlestick lamp. Dark stained paneling along the wall across from the bar gives the place a cozy feel, offsetting the industrial look of the painted-red pipes and ducts overhead. The balcony level bar, ideal for private or corporate events, looks out over the activity below. If a bite of grub is in order, the kitchen serves up a bevy of tasty dishes, including Maryland crab cakes, chicken and cheese flautas, and meat lasagna. TRAIN: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E to 34th St-Penn Station
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Sutton Place Bar and Restaurant

1015 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022 212-207-3777

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. Enjoy your after-work cocktails at one of the Sutton Place's four spacious bar areas. The main area features a long bar and two projection screens. The upstairs bar is an intimate space with French doors spanning one wall, and for those who prefer a more homey setting, the Skylight Lounge offers several cozy couches and chairs as well as an excellent view of the city. In the warmer months, the rooftop "Terrace" offers a spectacular setting for early evening cocktails. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6, 7 to Grand Central-42nd St
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TY Lounge

99 E 52nd St, Four Seasons Hotel, New York, NY 10022-5905 212-758-5700

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. Few lounges in New York can boast a more upscale setting than this one, located just off the main lobby at the world-renowned Four Season Hotel. The classy lounge area, designed by I.M. Pei, is replete with its fair share of leather furniture, dim lighting and elegant décor. This is the place where business moguls, cosmopolites and occasional tourists mingle over afternoon tea or after-dinner cocktails. The Lobby Lounge offers a light dinner menu in the evening. TRAIN: E, F to Lexington Ave; 6 to 51st St
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Zarela

953 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022 212-644-6740

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. This festive Mexican joint, situated between 50th and 51st Streets, serves one of Midtown's best margaritas. The never-ending party in the bar area tends to get loud and rowdy at times, so this isn't the type of place you'd want to choose for quiet conversation. Regardless, the beer selection is awesome, and the Tex-Mex menu is worth the wait ­ and you probably will have to wait. TRAIN: E, F to Lexington Ave; 6 to 51st St
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