New York City is renowned for being the nightlife nucleus of the United States (if not the whole world, but perhaps we’re a little biased). Saturated with trendy watering holes, each of the city’s distinct downtown nabes has something to offer everyone – the East Village with its dirty, cheeky dives, the Meatpacking District and its glitzy, velvet-roped scenester lounges, the West Village and Greenwich Village with their refreshingly low-key, laid-back college bars and Gramercy and Union Square for their glossy, sophisticated yuppie bars teeming with after-hours professionals.
The only problem all of this poses is that with the abundance of stellar drinking spots in downtown New York City, which ones are the 'best'? NearSay has you covered with a shortlist of only the finest bars and pubs our fair city has to offer based on ratings, reviews and of course, our own 'fieldwork.'
First on the list is the star of New York City’s most alcohol-saturated zip code, Death & Co. in the East Village. In July, it was labeled among some of the best bars in the world (yes, the entire world), placed #6 on GQ’s ‘25 Best Cocktail Bars in America,’ was awarded 'Best Cocktail Bar' by NYMag and scored a rave review by The New York Times for their adventurous selection of killer libations that will make ‘any real cocktail aficionado want to order one of everything.’ Their drinks are ‘the most widely imitated in the country,’ and their atmosphere is described as ‘woody, understated classicism.’ Whatever that means. All we know is that their 'Whirling Tiger' (bourbon, apple and lemon juice, ginger syrup) is utter cocktail perfection.
If you're looking for a spot that's a little more laid-back and low-key though, it's essential you check out the NearSay Staff Pick, the ever-reliable Spring Lounge in SoHo (also widely known as 'the shark bar,' thanks to the large stuffed sharks proudly and prominently displayed throughout). The delightfully quirky Spring offers $1 off draught beer and well drinks during Happy Hour every weekday (5:00 - 7:00 pm) free hot dogs to soak up the alcohol every Wednesday from 5:00 pm, and free bagels on Sundays at noon (meant for pairing with a Bloody Mary or three as the ultimate hangover cure, they promise). Still not convinced? It's been proclaimed by L Magazine as the 'Best Bar to Drink in Before Noon' and has been featured in the bestselling Jef Klein book The History and Stories of the Best Bars in New York (Turner Publishing). And with a tagline like 'Start Your Day Off With a Stiff Drink: Open at 8am,' you already know it's a winner.
Any ‘Best Bars’ list would be incomplete without mentioning the Standard Hotel Biergarten, the classic Meatpacking District hang situated under the High Line that’s graced practically all the ‘Best Beer Garden in New York City’ lists (from Time Out New York, to Metromix, to Black Book, to The New York Times, and to local blogs such as Restaurant Girl and Oyster Locals). And it’s no surprise: it's a lush, beautiful, open space that serves up ridiculously large mugs of German brew, sausages, pretzels, and offers ping pong and cool communal seating. The New York Magazine 'Critic's Picked' bar is also a NearSay favorite (news team member Marta loves the barrel of apples by the stairs, our developer Ned is a fan of their massive, super-tasty pretzels) and is without a doubt the staple drinking spot to hit, if you haven't already. Prost!
In the West Village, we have two bars vying for the 'Best' title - the equally-loved Wilfie & Nell and Blind Tiger Ale House, both 'Critic's Picked' by New York Magazine. Blind Tiger gets a reader rating of 10/10 from NYMag, a 4/5 star average from over 200 Yelp reviews, 4.5/5 from Citysearch reviews, and Shecky's Nightlife swears the bar will have you believing 'there's hope in the Village pub/bar scene after all.' More importantly, Blind Tiger's been described as 'kick-ass' by one of our Editors. A few blocks up on West 4th Street is the amazing Wilfie & Nell, famous for its good, simple drinks and locally-sourced nibbles. Described by local food blogger The Right Pick as a 'laid back' watering hole that's both 'simple and on-trend' yet 'rollickin' and boozy,' Wilfie & Nell has a beer selection that's described as 'bomb' (Lagunitas IPA, Chimay and Victory Prima Pils on tap, and killer cocktails like the Spicy Margarita with jalapeno-infused agave). Even The New Yorker couldn't resist commenting on Wilfie's no-frills atmosphere (that boasts the 'dark, claustrophobic dampness of an English pub') with food simply 'meant to sop up the beer' (hot dogs wrapped in bacon, grilled cheese). It's also been labeled by New York Magazine as the 'Best Pickup Bar' of 2009, where West Village singles can cruise and booze in an atmosphere that's unpretentious and rustic.
Last but certainly not least is NearSay favorite Lillie's in Union Square, a classy Irish-Victorian pub that’s been ‘Critic’s Picked’ by New York Magazine and labeled as a ‘hotspot that mixes location, ambience, tasty grub, and a stellar whiskey menu to form an exceptional megapub.’ Urban Daddy calls Lillie's the perfect place to ‘class up an after-work booze flight,’ while Shecky’s Nightlife raves over the spot's colorful and multi-faceted character (‘it has many personalities as whiskey offerings’). Black Book raves it has ‘just enough antiquery to make you feel grand’ and even the local experts over at NYC.com chime in, admitting that Lillie’s ‘is hard to say unkind things about - because between the twenty beers on tap and the traditional English pub food, the establishment is a smashing success.’ Why we like it? Mean mimosas and steak sandwiches (served until 4 am!) and magnificent marble fireplaces – perfect for curling up next to on a chilly winter’s night.
The Best Bars in Downtown New York City
Death and Co. is located at 433 East 6th Street, near Avenue A.
Spring Lounge is located at 48 Spring Street, near Mulberry Street.
The Standard Hotel Biergarten is located at 848 Washington Street, near Little West 12th Street.
Blind Tiger Ale House is located at 281 Bleecker Street, at Jones Street.
Wilfie & Nell is located at 228 West 4th Street, at 10th Street.
Lillie's is located at 13 East 17th Street, between Broadway and 5th Avenue.
