Best dance clubs in New York City 2012

Cielo

• Critics choice

You’d never guess from the Heidi Montag wanna-bes hanging out in the neighborhood that the attitude at this intimate club is close to zero, at least once you get past the bouncers guarding the door. On the sunken dance floor, hip-to-hip crowds gyrate to deep beats from top DJs, including NYC old-schoolers François K, Tedd Patterson and Louie Vega. Cielo, which features a crystal-clear sound system, has won a bevy of Best Club awards in its nine years of existence—and it deserves them all.

Sullivan Room

• Critics choice

Where’s the party? It’s right here in this unmarked subterranean space, which hosts some of the best house and techno bashes the city has to offer. It’s an utterly unpretentious place, but hell, all you really need are some thumpin’ beats and a place to move your feet, right?

Pacha

The worldwide glam-club chain Pacha, with outposts in nightlife capitals such as Ibiza, London and Buenos Aires, hit the U.S. market in 2005 with this megaboîte. The spot attracts heavyweights ranging from local hero Danny Tenaglia to big-time visiting jocks of the big-room house and electro varienty, but as with most big clubs, it pays to check the lineup in advance. Given it's proximity to the Lincoln Tunnel, there's usually a heavy dose of bridge-and-tunnel types on hand—but that can be part of the fun, at least from a sociological standpoint.

Cameo

• Price band: 1/4

Cameo Gallery's a performance space situated behind Williamsburg's Lovin' Cup Cafe, typically hosting bills of up-and-coming indie-rockers, booked by local-scene enthusiasts. Lately, the unpretentious spot has been workign the DJ angle as well, with an impressive array of jocks, ranging from locals to international superstars, manning the wheels of steel.

subMercer

• Critics choice

A small subbasement of the fancy-pants Mercer Hotel converted into a semihidden lounge, subMercer has become a hot spot for the local DJ elite and their pals and fans. It can be a bit claustrophobic, but when the joint is jumping, it's tons of fun. The elevator ride down from street level adds to its speakeasy-style appeal.

Le Bain

• Price band: 2/4

The rooftop bar of the still-trendy Standard Hotel, Le Bain offers stunning views of the Hudson River and, er, New Jersey. Despite its size (intimate) and not-exactly underground locale (the Meatpacking District), te boîte attracts an extremely credible array of spinners  from the NYC area and around the world.