You must party like a local to feel like you belong in New York. Getting into the spirit of a real American beer hall, dancing to vending machine music, sitting at the same bar as old punks or watching baseball in a sports pub – you can do it all with ease if you keep our list of cool, non-obvious bars in New York. Tried and tested.
McSorely’s Old Ale House
15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003
This is probably the most popular place on our list, but it is cool. McSorely’s Olde Ale House is one of the oldest bars in New York City. It serves only 2 kinds of beer (and there is no other alcohol in the bar), does not play music and accepts only cash. Though you can still come across a live musical program – Irish bands play here from time to time. For 2 small glasses of beer in this bar, you will give only $ 6.5, which is very cheap by New York standards. You can also order budget and quite edible dishes: for example, a burger will cost $ 6-7. The bar has a very cool and cozy atmosphere, and on the walls, there are newspaper clippings from almost the beginning of the XX century. It is a very authentic place, which will fall into the soul of all lovers of bar culture.
The Iron Horse
32 Cliff St, New York, NY 10038
This bar (as well as the next two on our list) is located in Down Town, and, contrary to expectations, it is very cheap (a glass of beer costs around $ 3-4). The atmosphere in the place is student and maximum fun – what is worth just one wheel, spinning which for $ 5 you can get, for example, something from alcohol or a slap on the heel (depends on your luck). There are also billiards. Overall, it’s a fun budget place where people relax at the end of the day.
The White Horse Tavern
25 Bridge St, New York, NY 10004
This is the place to go after The Iron Horse if you plan on raiding the neighborhood. It’s a standard Irish bar with a long counter, where you can chat with friends in a quiet atmosphere and have a beer (or take some standard, not the most exquisite, cocktails). Everything is very cheap, surly and without aggressive, loud music. And the crowd is diverse: from students to guys from Walt Street. The White Horse Tavern is quite a popular place among locals, so on weekend nights, there is a risk of being unable to get in.
Jeremy’s Ale House
228 Front St, New York, NY 10038
A very old budget New York bar with bras hanging from the ceiling and sports on the TVs. You can listen to music in Jeremy’s Ale House only through a special machine; generally, everything is very modest. But in this bar, among locals and without a single tourist, you can feel 100% that you are exactly in the States here and now.
Home Sweet Home
131 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002
A local bar with the same beer that hosts parties on weekends – you can party hard and dance hard. If you want to get in the middle of the fun, you should come here closer to midnight. A glass of beer costs around $ 6, and you can pay by card. If you want to party hard, it’s a good place to go, but you don’t like the classic, posh clubs.
Niagara
112 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Niagara hosts concerts, most often punk concerts. Don’t look for big rock stars here – local bands perform in the bar and a small circle of fans come to support them. Good old punks in koshas behave quite kindly, so you don’t have to worry about your safety. One simple rule: you don’t touch anyone and no one will touch you.
Double Down Saloon
14 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
This brutal place is not for the faint-hearted: the bouncers here don’t treat anyone ceremoniously, old TVs play porn from video tapes, and generally, the place has a very punkish look. Those under 21 have no chance to get into this bar – the control at the entrance is very strict. There is no food in Double Down Saloon – only alcohol at democratic prices. One of the pluses of this bar (apart from the very underground atmosphere) is its patio where you can hang out in the fresh air.
Foley’s NY
18 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001
A sports bar with a very cool interior is right by the Empire State Building. All the place’s walls are hung with sports equipment: from baseballs to stadium chairs. Though originally the bar was more baseball, now any sports are broadcasted there, and you won’t meet fans of any particular team. The bar has good cooking and a full range of alcohol, but the price tag is rather standard, not below average. But the atmosphere is worth a little extra money.
Lutze Bar
3 2nd St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Technically, the bar is located in Jersey, meaning you have to drive across the river to get to it. But don’t let it scare you – the whole journey by transport will take no more than 15 minutes. And the uniqueness of the place is that it is located in a green zone and looks like a small beach. But the coolest thing here is the view of Manhattan. You can chill on a lounger and admire the epic sunset over New York. The bar is open only in spring and summer (be sure to check the information on the website before visiting). There is even a stage on the open space of the bar, where local musicians perform from time to time. The place is German, so you can drink German beer and eat currywurst.
Pier A Harbor House
22 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004
Another summer bar, which is located in the old pier building in Down Town. The great thing about it is that the tables are right outside along the pier, giving you an unreal view of the sunset in the evening. You can also see the Statue of Liberty from there. The choice of food and drinks is standard, but we advise you to come here not so much for the food as for the views and atmosphere.
