About NYC: Best Places to Drink

In 1971 Jimmy Glenn opened this bar to help pay rent on a gym he ran in Harlem. The gym is no longer in operation but the bar is still going strong with mementos from Glenn's career as well as artifacts from other famous boxers. The bar offers a taste of the 'rough and tough' lifestyle in New York City, and with $3 pints how can one go wrong?

Many small rooms and a massive dance floor make this club the hottest NYC underground club since the Tunnel. One can find every walk of life in this club and feel the freedom to express yourself to the fullest. The Tunnel is home to some of the world's biggest DJs including Sasha and Danny Tenaglia.

If you can make your way through the men brandishing their large bills and credit cards, you'll find Gisele, Karolina Kurkova, Natalia Vodianova & Co. hanging out in the back room.

Schmooze with the cool crowd without having to deal with the velvet rope and attitude at the door. Wood beams, a sleek black interior, exposed brick and gilded mirrors create the ambiance in this Little Italy lounge/bar. One can sip on strawberry mojitos (rivals its minty sister) or indulge on a Blushing Martini (muddled blackberries, Stili Vanil, Crème de Mure and cream).

The rooftop garden is what sets this Lower East Side bar apart from the rest. Complete with a fish pond, potted palms, a bar and margarita machine, how could one be closer to Miami? There is a main floor bar as well as a basement which hosts live shows.

Owner Sasha Petraske is a master mixologist who can personally create over 400 drinks. There's not star gazing or posing in this bar, in fact the establishment has a reputation of eschewing the elite: it barred Quentin Tarantino from its interiors. The joint has the feel of a speak easy and has been rated one of the world's best bars in a number of publications.

A stone walled, cave-like hideout, Double Happiness captures the essence of New York City at its best (before Disney hit 42nd Street). This is a good place for escaping from the pressures of the day and indulging in nighttime anonymity. Don't forget to order the Green Tea Martini.

Dive in to velvet-lined divans, and drape yourself on oversized leather easy chairs. With DJs spinning 7 nights a week this is one of NYC's HOT spots for the young and glam. If your looking for the gorgeous and the cool look no further. There is a 60-ft rooftop deck for hotel guests and VIPs.

APT is another one of the Meat Packing District's hidden treasures. New Yorkers love their apartments so much, the creators of this bar/lounge hit upon a brilliant theme when they decided to create a bar that looks and feels exactly like a box-sized NYC apartment. The buzz has cooled somewhat on this establishment since it first opened, but one can still find trendy thirty somethings lounging in intimate style, a DJ spinning rarified grooves and drinks that do the trick.

Sip your Blue Rinse Margarita while getting your blue rinse dried under the antiquated stand-alone hair dryers. This bar pays homage to the vintage beauty parlors of the 1960s. The DJs are playing offbeat mixes of Cajun and honky tonk which adds even more to the ambience of this funky, NYC must-go-to.

Cindy Crawford's hubby, Rand Gerber, has created a beauty. Plasma TVs, unreal views of Central Park, marble floors and sleek leather couches adorn this chichi establishment. The specialty drink is the 'Stone Rose' a delicious concoction of Woodford Reserve bourbon, white cranberry juice, sour and sugar. One can actually eat a delicious dinner at this bar too - try the shrimp cocktail or tuna sashimi on wanton crisps.

Nestled in the subterranean heart of the Time Cafe is the wondrous Fez. A deep Moroccan vibe permeates the place with cavernous sofas, ornate tile work, and rose petals strewn on the ground. A great place for a first date or a luscious night out with close friends.

With wrought iron fixtures and dark wood paneling, classic old New York City wraps itself around you in this dining lounge. Located in a historic building that dates back to the 'roaring 20s', this lounge takes you back to the New York of another era. Try the Sidecar, Sazeraz and Flight of the Day, created by master mixologist Julie Reiner.

One of NYC's oldest bars. No fancy drinks here, just floors covered in sawdust and a steady stream of either McSorley's light and dark ales. A couple of drinks in and one can almost rekindle the feeling of an earlier classic gunslinging era of New York.

A 2-floor interior that integrates artwork, original furnishings, hip hop and house DJs and slamming drinks. This is the meeting ground of the trendy and hip, part Miami and part New York.

Your looking at your drink and all of a sudden you see the reflection in your glass of a mermaid swimming behind you. No, you are not lost at sea, you are at the Coral Room. This theme lounge sports a huge 10,000 gallon aquarium tank with a live swimming mermaid. Monday nights are R&B and hip hop nights. Some nights there is a cover, so call ahead. The drinks at this aquatic nightspot run on the high side.

On Monday nights at 6:00 pm, free hot dogs are offered. On Wednesdays, it's complementary cheese tasting night, and on weekends it's free bagels with all the fixing at 1:00 pm. This low-ceilinged establishment is home to brews from every nation, and a steady crew of neighborhood regulars.

Rose petals under foot, billowing gossamer ceiling fabrics, ottomans and dark wood tables are the trademarks of this sultry Moroccan oasis in the heart of Midtown. The exotic tapas and deserts blend exquisitely into the fabric of the dark hued walls and candlelit tables.

Have your beer while petting your dog and watching sailboats drift by on the Hudson River. This is a relaxed summer spot where you can come in your beach attire and relax with a wide variety of your NYC neighbors. The food fare is simple, but the atmosphere is full of fun and joy.

Comfy seating, low lighting and a jazz line-up that has crowds standing around the block on weekends, Smoke Jazz Club and Lounge is a jewel on the Upper West Side. Known to have some of the best acoustics in the city, Smoke feels more like sitting on a couch in a comfortable living room, only with some of the best names in jazz playing in the background.

Deep hued couches complement the exquisite selection of vin rouges at this hip New York wine bar. The insides feel authentically New York City and the wines covered are everything from the affordable to the tres riches. Nibble on some delicious corn and crab chowder while you sip from your goblet.

Nothing clues you in as you walk towards this establishment that you are approaching a bar. Only the faint buzz of hip-hop vibrating in the air and a glowing green sconce mark the spot of SRO. Once inside you'll feel like a NYC insider in the speakeasy environs and amiable crowd.

Viva is 1/2 Chelsea hip and 1/2 LA cool. Once you disappear into this trendy oasis and confront the glowing horse-shoe shaped glass bar you will completely forget that you are actually in the heart of Washington Heights. This lounge is ahead of its time and heralds the ascent of the lounge scene in the Washington Heights 'hood. Be prepared to have your socks knocked off with their mojitos sipped by super-hip patrons.

The Monkey Room has been a Washington Heights staple for many years now. A diverse blend of patrons and friendly barstaff make this bar the "Cheers" bars of WAHI. The big draw of ape-inspired watering hole is it's splendid garden patio. Cool breezes waft down, a lively waterfall tinkles, a greenish glow is cast over the flora-filled patio as one gazes over the lip of your beer glass into the nighttime star-filled New York sky.

You haven't experienced anything until you've come to Ibiza's Lounge to dance to a steady stream of Merengue, Bachata and Reggaeton. The crowd is electric, the drinks are actually on the strong side, and your body will fall under the trance of the sensual hypnotic rhythms. The only drawback of this lounge, bar and dance club is that it gets so crowded after midnight, that the temperature inside skyrockets to the boiling point (it's suggested you bring your mini-fan). There are private party areas including one complete with wall-to-wall zebra print. Grab your dancing shoes and go!