The 12 best bars open on Thanksgiving in NYC

Okay, enough with the fancy-schmancy drinks and the freakin’ tapas. Can’t a person find a regular bar in the East Village anymore? Thank God there’s still Doc Holliday’s, where bartending gals coax shot after shot down the throats of gullible guys, canned Pabst is $3, and five bucks will get you a well drink.

The infamous Rolf’s, where Christmas is celebrated in a giant way all year round, is the perfect place to kick off the holiday season. While the food isn’t much to write home about, the cocktails are fun and festive – go for the spiked warm apple cider or the Christmas smoothie (Bailey’s vanilla cinnamon with a splash of Goldschlager).

Barclays Center sports fans can pregame at this tavern, featuring 14 craft drafts and a dozen flatscreens. From brother-beer-buff team Brendan and Sean Straw (Astoria Brewhouse), the granite-topped bar features suds like Huyghe's Delirium, Speakeasy Prohibition Ale and Goose Island IPA on tap, along with more than 50 brews by the bottle. Nab a white-leather barstool for booze-soaking grub like hickory-smoked BBQ ribs, pulled pork sliders and game-ready app "towers" (wings, lobster rolls, calamari).

This small but lively Irish pub in Queens is perfect for locals who opt to stay close to home for the holiday. Go with a small group and settle in for a night of easy drinking and chit chat. It’s interiors aren’t much for Instagram, but it feels homey and welcoming nonetheless.

While reserving two lines for standards like Bud and Coors, this Astoria watering hole has ten rotating craft brews on tap. Homestyle Emerald Isle classics like shepherd's pie fill the menu, but regulars know to order Grandma Peacock's famous potato salad, alongside a hefty burger. Sixteen flatscreens broadcast NFL and soccer games in season, while a 40-seat back garden—covered and closed in the winter—is a suitable place for taking a breather if your team fumbles. Knickknacks like goblets and wood carvings tout the pub's Irish heritage.

This legit, no-frills Irish pub in Sunset Park is refreshingly old Brooklyn and has kept many of its neighborhood regulars for decades. Check out the walls plastered with pictures of ’em, pick a song from the jukebox, and order yourself a Guinness. Need another draw? They offer no-cost prepared meals on Thanksgiving Day (first come, first served) and they’re open from 8am to 4am that day.

Seven taps dispense local wines and Sixpoint beers at this glossy black-and-gold bar. Early risers can grab Stumptown coffee and eggs Benedict and buttermilk corn pancakes, while evening diners can choose from raw-bar platters, pastas, roasted chicken with okra stew and a marjoram jus, and steamed mussels and frites. The gorgeous brass-accented space features a white marble floor, tufted light-brown banquettes and pendant lights.

The team behind Abe & Arthur's turns to seasonal fare with this breakfast-to-dinner American bistro. Seven taps dispense local wines and Sixpoint beers at the glossy black-and-gold bar. Early risers can grab Stumptown coffee and breakfast plates, like eggs Benedict and buttermilk corn pancakes, while evening diners can choose from raw-bar platters, pastas and mains, including roasted chicken with okra stew and a marjoram jus, and steamed mussels and frites. The brass-accented room features a white marble floor, tufted light-brown banquettes and pendant lights.

Playwright is both a sports fan's paradise and boasts an optimal proximity to Penn Station–perfect for a pre- or post-family gathering. The classic Irish pub menu also makes for a comforting and casual potential Thanksgiving brunch if you opt to nosh whilst you imbibe.

The fever for steampunk—a sci-fi fantasy mash-up of Victorian costumes and steam-powered gadgetry—has influenced everything from cinema (Oz the Great and Powerful) to fashion (Alexander McQueen). The otherworldly aesthetic has carried through to this East Village gastropub’s bar design, where the ceiling fans spin via an ornate, belt-operated pulley system.

The swanky yet inviting bar at the Loews Regency Hotel in Midtown is fantastic stop anytime you’re in the area, but it’s an especially great option for Thanksgiving because it gives you a great excuse for a holiday staycation. If you decide to do the whole dinner shebang here, the modern American grill menu is perfect for the season.

As at many dives in Brooklyn, the older working-class patrons have been mostly replaced by young neighborhood newcomers. Not here. Sports trophies still line the wall and a game is usually on the tube, but the punk-heavy jukebox and central location fuel a certain diversity. Certainly, everyone can appreciate the mellow, unobtrusive service that has kept Smith’s open since 1931.