Great local bars

Step into the golden era of Italy’s disco scene at Bar Bonobo. It’s a throwback to the 70s, with retro Italian design infused with contemporary aesthetics. Bar Bonobo puts a modern twist on the design features of a classic aperitivo bar, creating a distinctive Italian vibe. The menu focuses on martinis and aperitifs, supplemented by an extensive cocktail list.

At Bisou Wine Bar in West Soho, New York, you'll find a well-curated and concise wine list that any wine lover would appreciate. And for those that don't know what to try, the friendly staff are happy to make recommendations. There are small plates like baked brie, main courses like mushroom risotto, and snacks to enjoy in a lounge-like atmosphere that makes for the perfect spot for aperitivo with a group of friends or a first date. Bisou Wine Bar is open late every night, so stop by for an evening bite or after-dinner drinks. 

Head to The Delancey and explore unique atmospheres across three distinct floors. Guests are sure to find the perfect environment to suit their mood at the vibrant rooftop, in the inviting main floor with a DJ or in the Georgie bar where live bands performance on the lower level. With no cover charges and free reservations for large parties, it’s easy to grab a group of friends or coworkers for a night out that’s easy to coordinate. Looking for more privacy? The Delancey makes a great venue for private parties, events, business meetings and more. Book your next reservation now and head to their Instagram for more information.

Head to Barcode for a unique cocktail, tapas and dessert bar—yes, you read that right! Each of their focus items have their own bar concepts to craft a totally unique dining and drinking experience. Explore their rare whiskey collection alongside upscale cocktail creations while snacking on Western and Asian inspired bites. Check out their Instagram for more information!

"Everything's Jake" is a Prohibition-era slang term meaning "it's all good" or "everything is under control," and at Everything's Jake off Union Square, you'll be sure to have a night that's just that. The low-key—yet totally luxurious—bar and lounge features cocktails made to your liking, natural wines, beer and chef-curated small plates. The elegant, speakeasy-style setting is perfect for any situation, from happy hour or date night to birthdays and events. This is a place where the velvet rope has been set aside for a velvet couch and any worries about tomorrow can be cast aside, because everything's Jake tonight.

Keeping a dive bar—and even a beloved one—alive in New York isn’t easy: Just look at the recent demises of Milady’s, Winnie’s and Mars Bar (RIP). Which makes the phoenixlike rebirth of Holiday Cocktail Lounge—a six-decade-old East Village mainstay whose barstools have seen the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Joey Ramone and Sinatra—such a head-scratching anomaly. Three years after the bar shuttered its dinted metal doors following the sale of the building, the saloon has been given a new lease on life, thanks to Pirate’s Booty founder Robert Ehrlich and La Palapa owner Barbara Sibley. And though the place has been spruced up—duct-taped booths traded for green banquettes, neon beer signs for gold sconces—the joint hasn’t been scrubbed clean of its charm.

ORDER THIS: While $5 Genesees survived the refurbishing, the cocktail list has been reworked courtesy of barman brothers Michael and Danny Neff (Ward III and Extra Fancy, respectively). The I Know You Are… ($13) is a standout, a smooth mescal swill with a slow burn of peppercorn-infused Cointreau. For something lighter, opt for the Mortally Afraid of Madam ($13), a creamy whiskey concoction tinged with Avuá Amburana cachaça and frothed with egg white.

GOOD FOR: Holiday virgins and veterans alike. Frequenters of the original will breathe easy seeing that the battered red awning, wooden phone booth and signature horseshoe bar remain. Beneath a restored harem-girl mural, dating back to the 1920s when the bar was known as Ali Baba Burlesque, dressed-down groups in their twenties and thirties convene over drinks at the back tables, the din of laughter regularly overtaking the ’80s deep cuts spilling from the speakers.

THE CLINCHER: “Honestly, we’re a hybrid between a cocktail lounge and a dive bar,” says a smiling waiter somewhat sheepishly. And he’s right—the prices are a few bucks higher and the drinks given more thought, but there’s not a speck of pretense to be found in the place. And there’s still East Village zaniness in spades: A recent night hosted a cards-slinging magician wearing nothing but a shiny red Speedo. The gleam-over-grit revamp—while still keeping the bar’s DNA intact—allows for an even broader crowd, which is exactly what a dive is all about. Holiday, celebrate.

Rediscover the DL, a luxurious, multi-level rooftop, lounge and restaurant spanning over 7,500 square feet in the heart of Manhattan's Lower East Side. Find top DJs spinning on Friday and Saturday nights as well as special day parties. Dinner on Ludlow—the restaurant on the first floor—boasts culinary delights that will satisfy even the most discerning palates. This stylish venue boasts state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities, in-house catering, and a retractable roof, making it the perfect one-stop-shop for year-round entertainment.

Five and Dime is located within the lobby of the iconic Woolworth Building and serves as a coffee bar by day and cocktail hotspot by night. Stop in for happy hour on Mondays and Thursdays from 4 to 7pm for discounted drinks or on Tuesdays for live opera music.

Here at Time Out, we love a name that throws you off. Whatever you think Swingers is gonna be, we promise you that’s not it. This Swingers club is of the crazy golf kind. (Get it?). If you’re no more enlightened, crazy golf is a British term for mini-golf with a little more edge—think wild routes, obstacles, windmills and more. Swingers opened its first club in London, and is now a hit in D.C. 

Their new NYC lcation, Swingers NoMad, is located beneath the Virgin Hotel at 29th Street and Broadway. But it’s not just the golf that will make you say ‘Oh yeah!’—the venue is serving up authentic cocktails, premium spirits, beers and wine, as well as a whole array of street food. Choose from Sauce Pizzeria, serving up classic New York thin crust pies from vodka and pepperoni, Tacos Fonda’s punchy Mexican, and Emmy Squared Burger which is a concept by Emmy Squared Pizza that is exclusive to Swingers. There’s even Mah Ze Dahr bakery to get your cookies and ice cream fix after. Oh, and there’s a DJ.

A sister spot to Chicken & the Egg, Sincerely, Ophelia’s door is hidden in plain sight—right beneath the sign for the fried chicken sandwich spot. Affordable cocktails, vibey music and a mix of glow-in-the-dark graffiti and old-timey spooky photos draw a young crowd for a (sort of) secret night of partying.

Sitting upon the rooftop of the boutiquey Renaissance Hotel, Versa overlooks the junction between Madison Square Gardens and the Garden District. Billed as a gastronomic celebration of the ‘melting pot of New York City’, it’s a spot that’s elevated both in position and pub-style cuisine, serving up a selection of contemporary yet simple dishes.

A gastropub and cocktail bar, Versa has a variety of different menus available for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert and kids. The dinner menu incorporates everything from nachos and salads to strip steaks and veggie burgers, as well as offering a selection of different flatbreads. Reservations are recommended (especially for large groups), however walk-in diners can also be accommodated. 

With a brush of black paint, wooden tables and minimal accessories, the interior is laid-back and functional. TVs sit behind the bar displaying news and sports and large windows allow guests an epic view of The Empire State Building.