Neighborhood Happy Hours in NYC to be Happy About Bleecker July 17, 2015 Alphabet City, Beer, Bourbon, Brooklyn, Daily, Drink Spots, Featured, Financial District, Happy Hour, Lower East Side, Midtown, Neighborhoods, Upper East Side, West Village, Wine New York City has something for everyone when it comes to Happy Hour (unless you’re under 21). Whether you want an inexpensive pint to debrief a hard days work, an upscale, trendy bar that will be sure to impress, or a place with fantastic food deals, chances are what you’re looking for is in your area. I have done some of your dirty work by locating fantastic bars and restaurants across the City with different atmospheres, clientele, and Happy Hour specials. Even if you have your local favorite, don’t be afraid to explore the City during the critical Happy Hour window of 5-7(ish), and perhaps find something new. Neighborhood Happy Hours in NYC ALPHABET CITY For an Eclectic Selection: Boxcar Lounge 168 Ave B, between 10th and 11th streets Considered one of the best Happy Hours in the City by the Village Voice, TimeOut NYC, and New York Mag, Boxcar offers two-for-oneCreative cocktails with champagne and sake, well drinks and draft beers are all $5 until 10pm on weekdays and until 8pm on Saturday and Sunday. Yelp users have made this bar one of their local favorites because of its long weekday hours, the friendly bartenders, and the backyard. New cocktail menu coming soon with over 50 new cocktails! All Day with Fried Chicken: Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter 94 Avenue C, Between 6th and 7th Happy Hour is Monday (5pm-10pm), Tuesday and Wednesday from 12-10pm. The drink selection is European and Domestic beer and wine; however, you must have the fried chicken while you’re at it. Read any online review and you’ll see that their chicken is heaven-sent; the Happy Hour is just a bonus. WEST VILLAGE Funky and Fun: Fiddlesticks 56 Greenwich Ave, between sixth and seventh ave Happy hour lasts until 8pm Monday-Friday and all drinks for $5 (draft beer, wines, and classic cocktails). Wednesday 8pm-close $5 Made in America ($10 top self liquor). The bar is huge and is complete with wrap-around bar and a communal table made from an old tree. I spent an entire Friday night in Fiddlesticks and appreciated that the bar was divided into sections with loud music and dancing and a quieter areas for talking. Appetizer Central: Agave 140 7th Ave South, between 10th and Charles Street Home to a fantastic bottomless brunch, Agave has Happy Hour from 4pm-7pm with $5 margaritas and under $5 appetizers. Margaritas paired with delicious fresh guac and blue corn chips make this place a go to for a post-work tequila and snack. For the Beer Connoisseur: Blind Tiger Ale House 281 Bleecker Street, between Jones and Commerce Streets This microbrewery is known for its unique selection of beers. Why have a Bud Lite when you can have a Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown? Happy Hour runs from 11:30am to 8pm, Monday through Friday, and is $1 dollar off all well drinks and all drafts (over 30 in selection). MIDTOWN For the History Buff: Landmark Tavern Hell’s Kitchen, 626 Eleventh Ave, 46th Street One of the oldest continually operating establishments in NYC, the Landmark serves tradition Irish fare. The third floor has been transformed into a speakeasy and much of the decor and atmosphere retains some of the Old City charm. Happy Hour weekdays from 4pm-7pm and features 10 cent buffalo wings and buy-one-get-one on all drinks. The Ultimate Dive Bar: Rudy’s Bar & Grill Hells Kitchen, 627 Ninth Ave, at 44th Street Are you hungry, in need of an inexpensive alcoholic beverage with a fun, casual atmosphere? Rudy’s has got your number whether you gave it to them or not. One of the last surviving dive bars in the area, Rudy’s is from a time long-gone; a time before inflation, hipsters, and kale. Go ahead and enjoy one of the longest Happy Hours in the city: Monday-Saturday 8am-4am and Sundays 12pm-4am. $3-$5 pints and free unlimited hotdogs (RIP your body). For the Russian Among You (aka vodka lover): Russian Vodka Room 265 West 52nd Street Enjoy a posh vodka in this candlelit bar, serenaded by a live piano, and surrounded by the most diverse and extensive vodka selection you ever thought possible (we’re talking hundreds, comrades). $4 infused vodka and $7 martinis from 4-7pm every night. How it works: Pick your poison (vodka) and then infuse it with your choice of mixer like peach & apricot, ginger, horseradish (?), and more! For the Seafood Lover: Dock’s Oyster Bar and Seafood Grill 633 3rd Ave, Midtown East Diners have rated this one of the best seafood joints in the City. While on more of the expensive side, Dock’s Happy Hour is a way to satiate your seafood craze and your wallet’s woes. Monday-Friday, 3-7pm, Happy Hour is $4 tap beer, $6 cocktails, and $7 wines. More importantly $1 clams, $1 Oysters, $2 Sliders, $5 Spicy Tuna Rolls. Try the Blue Crab California Roll or Crab Cakes while you’re at it. LOWER EAST SIDE A Good Ole Time: La Linea 15 First Ave, between 1st and 2nd Street People are raving about La Linea because it is CHILL and unpretentious. With a great old-school vibe, on-point throwback tracks, and friendly bartenders, La Linea is guaranteed all-night fun. Happy Hour seven days a week, $2 dollars off all drinks 3-9pm, Sun-Weds till 11pm and 1/2 price all drinks. Make sure to try the summer special of $3 margaritas and $4 apple martinis. Hip and Artistic: Holiday Cocktail Lounge 75 St. Marks Pl, between 1st and 2nd Ave W.H. Auden, Allen Ginsberg, and Leo Trotsky used to drink here if that is any indication as to what the Holiday Cocktail Lounge is about. Once a sketchy dive bar, the Holiday has been recently renovated to become an upscale cocktail joint. While it does not have a set Happy Hour deal, the Holiday is worth noting because of its history and its menu. Try the Brooklyn Babe $14 (gin, Brooklyn hemispherical bitters, fresh lime, and raw honey syrup, Pickett’s ginger beer, and fresh mint) and let those creative juices flow. UPPER EAST SIDE Unique and Damn Delicious: Drunken Munkey 338 East 92nd Street, between 1st and 2nd ave This is the second place on this list without a designated happy hour, however, its food and drink menu, along with its great acclaim by customers, makes it a must-visit. British-Indian, the Drunken Munkey has a story that is fraught with history and memory. During the British colonization of India, Memsahib cooking evolved when colonialists asked their Indian household cooks to prepare traditional British dishes. The Drunken Munkey blends classic Indian flavors and styles with western dishes, paying tribute to this complex Anglo-Indian narrative. Make sure to try the East India Cocktail $12.50 (D’usse VSOP cognac, Combier, Luxardo maraschino, and Peychaud’s bitters) and something off the Anglo-Indian Specials like the Bombay Lamb Chops. Trendy and Classic: The Penrose 1590 Second Avenue, between 82nd and 83rd Streets This chic and welcoming pub serves traditional Irish fare with a touch of NYC romance. Happy Hour is $5 draft beers and $6 house wins and well drinks made from locally-sourced ingredients, Monday-Friday until 7pm. Try the fish and chips with a Brunswick (bourbon, grapefruit, lemon, banal, punt e mes, and grapefruit bitters and you won’t be disappointed. FINANCIAL DISTRICT An Everyman Cafe: Fresh Salt 146 Beekman Street, between Front and South Streets Decidedly non-douchey, although a regular favorite, Fresh Salt serves classic American dishes and a great brunch. Drinks are a mix of traditional and house-created cocktails made with care. Have a Dark & Stormy or try the Salt’s Gimlet with tanteo jalapeño tequila, fresh lime, and salt. Happy Hour is from 4-8pm weekdays with $4 drafts and well drinks. For the Banker and the Teller Alike: Pound & Pence 55 Liberty Street, corner of Nassau and Liberty Located in the heart of the FiDi, this English gastropub serves up classic British fare and an Old English atmosphere. A great place to come for lunch or after work, P&P is quick, friendly, and has something for everyone. Happy Hour is Mondays 5-8pm with 2-or-1 drinks and complementary pool games; Wednesday 5-8pm Ladies 2 for 1 drinks (cheers to benevolent sexism). BROOKLYN Beer and Pizza (enough said): Buschenschank Brooklyn Heights, 320 Court Street, corner of Sackett Enjoy Happy Hour, Monday through Friday (3-7pm), $5 half-liter beers, $12 carafe of house red or white wine, and half-off all artisan pizzas. It’s delicious, consistent, and in a great neighborhood. Try the Di Vere: spinach, tomatoes, goat cheese, red onions, pesto, grana, fontina, and basil with a Brooklyn-brewed IPA. Keeping it Simple: Soft Spot Williamsburg, 128 Bedford Avenue, between N 9th and 10th Streets Cash only, outdoor seating, and a warm, no-frills atmosphere. Seating is diverse here: couches, small tables, and the bar gives customers the chance to get comfy on their own terms. Not too hipster, which is saying something here in the heart of Williamsburg. Happy Hour is two-for-one well drinks and drafts until 8pm everyday and until 2am Tuesday (Club goin’ up). For the Sports Fan: 4th Down Williamsburg, 750 Grand Street While a sports bar, you don’t have to love sports to frequent 4th Down, although catching a big game here is sure to be epic. Great for large groups (Beer Buckets: 6 beers for $20), this simple bar has been voted 4.5 starts on Yelp and is praised for its accessible, fun atmosphere, and decent drinks. Monday-Friday Happy Hour $4 craft beer pints, well drinks, and shots of Jameson from 2-7pm. Whether you’re a fan or sports or a fan of craft beer, you’ll make yourself at home here regardless. For the Hipster Within Us All (you know it’s there): Wolf and Deer Park Slope, 75 5th Ave, between St. Marks Ave and Prospect Pl Secretly, we all want to be the hipster that has flawless taste in top-shelf liquor, artisan cheese boards, old-school jams, and none of the pretentious attitude. The W&D is the place to live that dream: enjoy a delicious cocktail in this hip bar with a unique communal feel. Happy Hour is an upscale affair, Sunday-Friday from 5-8pm, draft beer ($4), summer cocktails ($9), and select wines ($6). For the cheesemonger, $12 for three cheeses or three meats. Thursdays are $1 Oysters. Try a Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus ($12): Mescal infused with strawberries, lime, and ginger beer.
