EMPIRE HOTEL ROOFTOP

Ceramic tiles, leather couches, a fireplace, and potted palm trees might make you forget that you are still in the midst of Manhattan’s urban chaos. Add a few of the China Grill’s cocktails (same owners), and the chances for oblivion increase rapidly.

44 West 63rd Street      (212) 956-3313

HUDSON BAR

The glass dance floor-- lit from underneath-- is only one of the decorative tricks that will make your club-loving soul rejoice. This swanky hangout became a hotspot the night it opened, and has remained so ever since.

356 West 58th Street      (212) 554-6000

ROSE BAR

Elegance can be intimidating, but at Rose Bar—located at the Gramercy Park Hotel—the crystal chandeliers and red carpets create a chic yet surprisingly cozy atmosphere.

2 Lexington Avenue      (212) 920-3300

subMERCER

Underbelly locations have something magical about their ambience, and, so, subMercer—buried under the Mercer Hotel-- attracts a large and chic crowd every weekend night.

147 1/2 Mercer Street      (212) 966-6060

JOE'S PUB

At first glance, all bars seem the same-- they serve beer and whiskey, people come in sober and leave a little tipsy. But Joe’s Pub additionally offers a broad selection of drafts and live music served with the help of a high quality sound system.

425 Lafayette Street      (212) 539-8777

LE POISSON ROUGE

Literally “the red fish,” Le Poisson Rouge has nothing to do with eating fish with two forks, though the red and black interior leans towards the fancy side. This hip, contemporary bar offers a livelier alternative to the neighborhood watering holes with quality live music and state-of-the-art sound system.

158 Bleecker Street      (212) 228-4854

LE ROYALE

This trendy nouveau-bar suits everybody-- from fashionistas and hipsters to tie-clad pros; its agreeable, contemporary décor featuring pop-art prints appeals to all ages and styles. Whether you fancy a signature cocktail or good music, this West Village hangout is the place to be.

21 Seventh Avenue      (212) 463-0700

MERCURY LOUNGE

The Lower East Side is far from letting go of its grungy, hip roots, and Mercury Lounge—with its rock-like clime—is the best proof. This dim space with metal lamps and burgundy curtains exposes the edgy side of the NYC nightlife.

217 East Houston Street, #A
(212) 260-4700

You can be transported to the West Indies, India, Latin America or Africa in a matter of minutes, thanks to S.O.B’s’ culture-specific live music nights. The best ethnic performers and DJs trod the several dance floors of this large club ever since its opening.

204 Varick Street      (212) 243-4940

BLACK BETTY

There are still places in Brooklyn which were not dominated by the populist, cookie-cutter style of partying and, luckily, Black Betty is one of them. This swanky bar offers signature drinks and live-span mix of funk, rock, and more.

366 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn
(718) 599-0243