New York City Nightlife

Bizarrely located next door to a Western Beef Supermarket, this part nightclub, part live music venue, is a welcome addition to an otherwise quiet part of town. The acts vary massively at this classy venue, with everything from hardcore to jazz, rock to hip-hop as well as DJ-ed club nights on offer – be sure to check what’s on during your visit!

Not only boasting what is easily one of the best rooftop bars in New York, The Delancey is also a prime spot to catch a live show or dance to sets from top DJs til the early hours. The rooftop, by contrast, is an open air oasis away from the party; grab a margarita and sink into a palm-sheltered lounger. You can easily spend hours kicking back on the terrace.

Easily one of the best bars in New York for a drink with a view, the two-level Sky Room, with its retractable roof, is located at the top of the Times Square Marriott. For a hotel-top bar, the atmosphere is incredibly laid back, and with four indoor spaces and three terraces outdoors, there’s enough room for the weekend crowds, too. Could there be anything better than enjoying skyscraper views with happy hour cocktails?

If celeb-spotting on nights out is your jam, 1 OAK is for you; the likes of Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rihanna and various Kardashians have pushed this spot into the spotlight as a favourite haunt. Renowned for being one of the most exclusive of New York nightclubs, once you’ve entered its doors you’ll be dancing alongside the city’s elite in no time.

Jay-Z fans will of course already know about 40/40, the multi-million dollar sports lounge he co-owns. This is, of course, no ordinary sports bar – it’s a sports bar with fancy bathrooms, upscale decor and renowned DJs. If you want to get in, you’ll need to dress like you know you’re getting in, because it’s Jay-Z’s place.

The perfect venue for those times when you’re after a chilled night but don’t fancy staying in, Gotham Comedy Club has hosted some big names over the years, and there’s always something going on inside its elegant oak and copper walls. It’s two drinks minimum, which shouldn’t be a problem – the spiked pink lemonade is delicious. For families, there’s teen nights every now and then, with comedians as young as 11 taking to the stage.

Former pool supply turned bar and music space, the place has a retro feel about it. The staged back room hosts regular performances from live local bands and artists, while the rest of the venue is more laid back – the photo booth is a real crowd pleaser (and great for NYC mementos). Get there early for the three-hour happy hour, and to nab yourself a booth, ‘cause this place is popular.

elf-proclaimed “jazz capital of the world”, Blue Note is an institution. With big names and rising stars performing throughout the week, whenever you turn up there will be something for you to tap your toes to. It’s pretty cosy at it’s most busy, so pay for a table seat if you can – either way, it’s a whole lot of fun. Blue Note truly is a fantastic music venue.

Not your average rooftop bar in New York, 230 Fifth is an all-season, 15,000 square feet, rooftop bar with 360 degree skyline views. This one’s not to be missed, and – strangely for a rooftop bar – especially not during winter. Hire out one of 230 Fifth’s famous igloo booths and you’ll see what the fuss is about. Complete that view of the Empire State Building with one of their warming jalapeno margaritas – 230 Fifth really is the ultimate Christmas night out.

Comedy Cellar, a tiny Greenwich Village comedy venue which has hosted some surprisingly not-so-tiny guest appearances like Louis C.K. and Chris Rock. You never know what you’re getting with Comedy Cellar, though, which is all part of the fun, spontaneity has been the club’s way since it was founded in the early eighties. If filthy humour is your thing, stay ’til the end – it tends to get a bit rowdier after midnight.

Smalls is a must-visit for all jazz lovers and appreciators. The basement atmosphere is unrivalled and the music is never anything but sensational. There’s something incredibly “authentic New York” about this place, no matter how experimental the jazz gets – you might even catch a jazz-playing old-timer

It takes something special to make it within Times Square, and Birdland is exactly that – something very, very special. Back in the day (the 50s and 60s) the Jazz Club saw some of the greats – Coltrane, Gillespie and more – and these days the likes of Joe Lovano and Aaron Neville are the ones taking to the stage. Better yet, the food on offer is great. Big bands, delicious eats

f jazz clubs are your idea of the best kind of nightlife in New York City, Coca-Cola is not to be missed. Located on the fifth floor of Frederick P. Rose Hall, the best of the biz (notably: Wynton Marsalis) come to perform here. The food, from various renowned chefs, is just as important as the music itself at Coca-Cola, with good old mac and cheese and fried chicken the stars of the menu.

The best of the best jazz musicians have been playing at Village Vanguard for eight decades, with Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Miles Davis doing their thing here at one stage or another, with jazz virtuoso Christian McBride himself gracing the stage more recently. The club is ever-relevant and entirely lives up to expectations. You can’t miss experiencing it for yourself.

The Penthouse, atop the oh-so-trendy Dream Downtown, is one of the top rooftop bars in New York, and the Chelsea spot for cocktails with a view. The bar itself ain’t too shabby, either, with its marble and ebony decor and glass chandeliers. Guest DJs, bespoke drinks and spaces dedicated to dancing or kicking it with a cocktail – check it out.

If you fancy seeing a different side to nightlife in New York City, how does improv theatre sound? You can count on catching something unique, and it’s always easy, and inexpensive, to get tickets. The comedy is always weird and wonderful – take your laughter with a side of pizza or snack on some popcorn, or how about signing up to a comedy class?

New York’s answer to an Irish pub, McSorley’s Old Ale House has been going for over a century and a half, and has remained somewhat the same, in the best kind of way, since then. McSorley’s regulars are fiercely loyal and you can see why: the atmosphere is loud in a homely way, and the drinks (light or dark beer – take it or leave it) are extremely reasonable. It’s a NYC landmark, really.

Whether or not Cafe Wha? was the birthplace of Hendrix and Bob Dylan, or whether this was actually the now-comedy club next door doesn’t really matter – either way, the atmosphere’s great, the drinks are affordable, and the house band bashes out rock, R&B and a little funk for good measure. Plus, the colourful outside brings the Instagramming punters in on the daily.

Of course, nightlife in New York City is as much about the Theater District as it is bars and clubs, and this cabaret haunt, with its multiple nightly performances, is no exception. Mostly it’s cabaret, other times it’s comedy or live bands, but it’s always a great night. Grab a few drinks and belt out some show tunes or laugh along with some jokes. What could be better?

Table tennis and cocktails were meant to be together, and there’s nowhere better to get your ping-pong on than SPiN, with its 13,000 square feet of table tennis space and full bar. Grab yourself a craft brew and get an hour slot at one of the Olympic-grade tables – if you need some tips, you can take a quick lesson, too!

A tiki bar with kitschy-decorated, tropical coloured Mai Tais and Zombies – you know the drill. It’s a hula bar. But Otto’s also plays host to some great local bands, is very affordable and always a whole lot of fun. Strangely enough, the crowds are more rocker than surfer, too, so it’s not going to be what you expected!

Famous for its bacon cheeseburger (named the “Cadillac of burgers” by Nat King Cole himself), P.J. Clarke’s saloon is the ultimate post-work joint for food, drink and a laidback atmosphere (and it has been since 1884). It’s not just the burgers that have a reputation, either – be sure to get yourself an Old Fashioned. They’re unmissable.

Smoke has some of the best acoustics for jazz in town. That, as well as the homeliest atmosphere imaginable (squishy sofas and chandeliers) and some seriously big names gracing its stage. If you want a night out in New York that is first and foremost about good jazz, Smoke is the place. That said, the food is good, too

Exposed brick, string lights and a retractable roof… sounds like a New York rooftop bar, and it is, but it’s certainly worth adding to your list. The cocktails are strong and the views of the Empire State Building are spectacular. Plus, if you’re around at the end of December and feeling swish, why not book yourself a place on the rooftop to see in the New Year? Not only are the views unreal, there’s an open bar, midnight champagne toast and canapés.

Campbell Apartment inside Grand Central Terminal, which recently gave the regulars a scare with its sudden closure, has officially reopened its doors. Once a millionaire’s apartment, then a recording studio, an office and a jail. Now (since 1999), it’s an upscale cocktail bar which delights hoards and hoards of commuters. And it’s had a revamp – no more dress codes and much earlier opening times. Why not grab an old-fashioned and do a bit of train station people watching?

With artists performing seven nights a week, the iconic Iridium – which the late Les Paul called home – is a haven for jazz aficionados. With it’s intimate atmosphere, it’s as close to a real ‘30s jazz bar as you’re likely to find. The acoustics are so great that the 180-seater venue has its very own music label – make sure you book in advance

Though it’s mostly tourists that stop by here, Tonic has the backs of even the most Times Square-adversed locals with its obscure sports game screenings (on billboard-size TVs, no less) and 20 or so beers on tap. Meanwhile, good, solid pub food is served and the second floor hosts club nights. The place is gigantic, and it’s a total sensory overloads. In a good way.

If you’re looking for somewhere close to Grand Central for a few drinks and a nice, relaxed and not-too-pretentious atmosphere, La Biblioteca is for you. Simply put, it’s a tequila cellar with a fantastic happy hour and tasty sharing platters, but it’s also a bit of a hidden gem that’s well worth tracking down. Get yourself a tasting flight, and wash it down with a margarita – they’re deliciously strong.

The historical importance of this place, founded in 1902 and drawing in literary types ever since, is hard to miss, even if the clientele has changed a little over the years; its heyday is commemorated on every surface (New Yorker cartoons and quotes from ex-guests, that kind of thing). The place still has a very literary feel to it, with the lights turning the otherwise dark room, quite literally, blue. This perfect spot to work on that novel (scroll through your phone) with a martini

On the former site of the legendary Club Cinderella, Zinc Bar continues the ‘40s jazz joint’s legacy with a truly global selection of artists performing everything from bossa nova to orchestral jazz. The underground venue offers an intimate atmosphere, with all the trappings you’d expect from somewhere frequented by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Come for the music, stay for the cocktails!

King Cole Bar was home to the first ever Bloody Mary, and though there’s several delicious versions on the menu, The Red Snapper – with lashings of cayenne – is the one that has everyone talking. Part of the one and only St. Regis Hotel, make sure to dress up – this one’s great for special occasions.

The Terra Blues punters are a dedicated and seasoned bunch. For nightlife in New York City with a difference, pick an evening or late night show, find yourself a space at one of the few dozen tables and order something from the expansive whiskey selection. It’s gloriously laid back.

Right by Carnegie Hall and therefore a great post-show option is Carnegie Club. If you’re after a night of sophistication, this moodily-lit, leather-bound book-decorated cigar bar with live jazz and expertly-mixed cocktails, will be right up your street. Nostalgia’s almost as thick in the air as the cigar smoke is – the atmosphere at Carnegie Club is unlike anything else in the city.

Set, you can probably guess, on top of the Strand (the 21st floor, to be precise), this NYC watering hole is like no other. Opened with guidance from Lydia Marks, the set designer for Sex and the City, this New York nightlife hotspot is the prime place to unleash your inner Samantha. Get there early to nab front-row seats for one of the city’s best skyline views.

How better to spend an evening than with a few drinks and a game or two of pool? Basement bar and pool hall Fat Cat is the place for kicking back with a pint of beer and some friends over a few rounds of eight ball. Plus, there’s live jazz every night and the occasional guest performance, particularly on Friday’s. If chilled is the vibe you’re after, Fat Cat is the bar you should be headed to.

Everything from the gold leaf ceiling to the pricy-but-delicious drinks scream luxury at this Carlyle Hotel drinkery. Nightlife meets culture here – the bar’s famous murals and lampshades were painted by Ludwig Bemelmans (creator of the book Madeline) himself, and are a sight to behold.

With a venue as stunning as its views are famous (think laser-cut mirrored ceilings and a gigantic wood-paneled, fireplace-lit rooftop lounge), Bar 54 sits, funnily enough, on the 54th floor of Hyatt Centric Times Square. It may be the highest rooftop bar in Times Square, but it’s the unbeatable cocktails from world-renowned mixologist Julie Reiner that really brings in the punters. The People Pleaser, made with Pimms, Bourbon and Aperol, does exactly what it says on the tin.

There’s a surprising amount of choice when it comes to proper pubs in New York, and this Times Square offering, which is “home” to some of the friendliest staff on the planet, is right up there with the best. The fish and chips are authentic, the beer is good, and the atmosphere is typically pub-like. It’s an all-round winner.

This spacious mid-Manhattan bar is quite club-like in its vibe, with regular DJs, a jovial atmosphere and food – hot dogs, mac and cheese etc. – served until well after midnight. The decor is Old New York-inspired, while the craft cocktails and draft beers give it a contemporary edge. This is the kind of bar you’d head to for “a few” and end up staying ’til the early hours. Basically, it’s great fun.

If jazz and chicken is your thing, head to Turntable in K-Town for some of the best Korean fried chicken around. If you can find it. All the best places are hidden gems, and Turntable is no exception; take the back stairs into what appears to be some kind of record shop. Top tip: the only way to make the chicken better is with a side of corn and a pitcher of beer. This place is true New York, and not to be missed.

This 70s dive was revamped in 2011, and though it’s somewhat more fancy these days, that old-New York atmosphere certainly remains. Head to the Rum House for live piano music and their famous daiquiris. There’s no right way to experience the nightlife in New York City, but this place is definitely a must-do.

Perched on top of Viceroy Central Park, aptly named The Roof is one of New York’s best rooftop bars. The views of Central Park are stunning, and the menu spans from locally brewed beers to the finest global wines and an array of small-batch spirits. The decor, resembling that of a luxury airliner, complemented by photographs by Dalton Portella, is truly something else. The Roof is one of those places you don’t forget in a hurry.

This speakeasy isn’t lying when it says it’s a back room, but tracking it down along an alleyway and up some stairs is totally worth it. It’s a cocktails served in teacups, beer served in brown bags kind of an affair, with Art Nouveau decor, chandeliers and a fireplace. The secrecy of it all adds to the experience, and the various live jazz bands and DJs make any night spent at The Back Room an unforgettable one.