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BESTOFNEWYORKCITY.COM • WINNERS GUIDE • BETHPAGE BEST OF THE CITY 2020 31
NIGHTLIFE & SPIRITS
BEST BREWERY
MCSORLEY’S OLD ALE HOUSE
15 E 7th St
(212) 473-9148–www.mcsorleysoldalehouse.
nyc
Grab a pint or two of your favorite brew at
McSorley’s Old Ale House. Established in
1854, the watering hole is New York City’s
oldest, continuously operated saloon. Legends
like Abraham Lincoln, John Lennon and
Woody Guthrie have shared a drink and
even inspired political movements within
McSorley’s storied doors. In 1970, women
were finally allowed access as the world
continued to shift in a modern direction. In
its 165-year history, McSorley’s has served
one beverage to thirsty customers–ale. Fidelio
Brewery is credited with creating the ale
house’s famous beverage but was eventually
pushed out of the beer-making business
during Prohibition. Today, McSorley’s famous
ale is available at the ale house but also for
purchase in both kegs and bottles.
BEST CIGAR SHOP
MULBERRY STREET CIGAR CO.
140 Mulberry St
(212) 941-7400–www.mulberrystcigars.com
Other cigar shops can’t hold a candle to
Mulberry Street Cigars. All of the products
at the Little Italy hand-rolled cigar shop
are made fresh daily and wrapped by the
best rollers and are sure to please even the
snobbiest of cigar smoker. The shop’s selection
includes Connecticut shade mild and sweet/
mild, Maduro medium and Menza Menz
medium. Cigar lengths range from 4.5 to 6.25
inches. The shop hosts rolling demonstrations
every day of the week and during special
events like the festival of San Genaro, an
annual tradition in Little Italy that takes place
in September. The store is open seven days a
week.
BEST COCKTAIL
142 SULLIVAN
142 Sullivan St
(212) 477-2404–www.142sullivan.com
Happy hour, anyone? Head down to 142
Sullivan for a fun night out with some great
specialty cocktails. This quaint spot down in
SoHo is a great place to drop by for a quick
drink after work or to hang out all night with
your friends. One of their specialties at 142
Sullivan is their wine-based cocktails, which
have unique names such as Love On The
Rocks, Putin’s Potion and Jungle Juice (just to
name a few). Pick out your favorite vinyl from
their collection to chill out to while you sip on
your drink. If cocktails aren’t for you, they also
have craft beer and wines to choose from.
BEST COMEDY CLUB
COMEDY CELLAR
117 Macdougal St
(212) 254-3480–www.comedycellar.com
Originally founded in 1982, the Comedy
Cellar is one of the go-to spots in New York
City for famous comedians to perform. If you
stop by on any given night, a top comedian
in the business could be taking the stage to
work out some new material or revisit some
favorite jokes. You’ll be sure to laugh the
night away during your time at the Comedy
Cellar. In addition to some top-notch funnies
from their performers, Comedy Cellar offers a
delicious menu from their restaurant that sits
right above them, the Olive Tree Cafe (don’t
forget to swing by on Sundays for brunch!).
Space fills up quickly, so don’t forget to make
a reservation!
BEST FIRST DATE VENUE
SHALEL KITCHEN & BAR
65 W 70th St
(212) 873-2300–www.shalel.kitchen.com
As you walk down the candlelit staircase
upon entering Shalel Kitchen & Bar, don’t
worry that you didn’t see a sign out front.
You’re definitely in the right place! As you and
your date enter the Moroccan-inspired and
beautifully decorated restaurant, see if you and
your date can’t snag your very own private yet
cavernous room to dine in. You might have to
get there a bit early, but it’s worth it, especially
if you want to impress your date.
BEST HAPPY HOUR
DISTRICT SOCIAL
252 W 37th St
(212) 994-9599–www.districtsocialnyc.com
Have you been looking for a chic place to enjoy
a great happy hour? Well then, look no further
than District Social, located in the heart of
New York City’s Garment District. Their
week day, three-hour happy hour includes a
selection of their draft beers, such as Stella
Artois and Five Boroughs Tiny Juice, and
signature cocktails, including the Cucumber
Gimlet and Hibiscus Margarita. District
Social’s upscale space and warm lighting
provides customers with an ideal place to
sit back, relax and sip a fresh beverage with
friends.
BEST HOTEL BAR (TIE)
GALLOW GREEN
542 W 27th St
(212) 564-1662–www.mckittrickhotel.com
Whether it’s hot and sunny or chilly and
snowy, the Gallow Green rooftop bar and
lounge is ever-changing with the seasons.
But one thing that doesn’t change about
McKittrick Hotel’s bar is their outstanding
service and enticing ambiance. In the
winter-time, Gallow Green switches from its
plant-centric aesthetic to a snowier, more
holiday-ready look complete with pine trees
and a menu with warm and heartier items
to match. The bar has a curated selection of
beer, wine and cocktails (hot or cold), with a
fan-favorite being the Sleep No More cocktail
which is made with apple cider, Jack Daniels
rye, Oloroso sherry and orange zest mulled in
cinnamon, nutmeg and clover. They even offer
delicious pizza pies made from their woodburning
oven.
BEST HOTEL BAR (TIE)
MR. PURPLE
180 Orchard St 15th Fl
(212) 237-1790–www.mrpurplenyc.com
The Lower East Side rooftop bar captures the
vibrant and artistic spirit of the neighborhood
while providing patrons with a variety of
tasty drinks and bites. Guests can enjoy a full
brunch menu or munch on pan-fried chicken
dumplings, warm pretzel bites and valrhona
chocolate while sipping a long list of smallbatched
spirits, locally brewed beers, cocktails
and wines. The aesthetic of Mr. Purple’s
wooden structures, metal, concrete and freehanging
lights create an artistic-loft ambiance
with the city’s skyline as its backdrop. The bar
and restaurant is run by the Gerber Group,
a leader in the hospitality industry, which
is the owner-operator of 15 cocktail bars in
New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C.,
Santiago, Chile and Atlanta.
BEST IRISH BAR
THE PERFECT PINT
203 E 45th St
(212) 867-8159–www.theperfectpintnyc.com
The Perfect Pint is best known for its awesome
rooftop bar which is great for watching sports
games while chugging down a beer and
sharing an appetizer or meal with your friends.
It’s a welcome departure from the typical Irish
bars in Midtown Manhattan. With 30 beers on
tap and its own brews, the Perfect Pint bar has
become NYC’s premier venue for great food
in a traditional Irish atmosphere. Customers
absolutely enjoy the outdoor balcony that
overlooks bustling Times Square and can have
a relaxing smoke while sipping their favorite
drink outside on the smoking loft overlooking
45th Street. If you’re interested in hosting a
private party at the venue, The Perfect Pint
offers a party package as well.
BEST KARAOKE BAR
ARLENE’S GROCERY
95 Stanton St
(212) 358-1633–www.arlenesgrocery.net
Love karaoke? At Arlene’s Grocery, you can
take the stage during their karaoke nights,
but instead of a traditional backing track to
sing along to coming from a standard karaoke
machine, you’re being backed up by a live
band! The band at Arlene’s Grocery has played
alongside rock bands such as Queen, ZZ Top,
Green Day and more! Put your name on the
list and you’ll be called to the stage. Not sure
of the words to your chosen song? No worries,
Arlene’s Grocery still provides all the lyrics.
And if you’ve got the pre-karaoke jitters,
there’s no need to fear. The crowd at Arlene’s
Grocery is always supportive, and chances are
they’ll be singing right along with you!
BEST LGBTQ BAR
UNCLE CHARLIE’S PIANO LOUNGE
139 E 45th St
(646) 476-9532–www.unclecharlies.nyc
Spend an evening at Uncle Charlie’s Piano
Lounge with great cocktails, food, live music
and singing. The piano bar hosts amazing guest
singers and pianists are talented as well. The
bartenders are super friendly and daily happy
hour is from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. And if you’re a
smoker, there’s an outdoor smoking patio open
until 11 p.m. while you relax and chat with a
friend. Overall, it’s a great fun place to kick back
and relax or bring a date. At Uncle Charlie’s,
the atmosphere is fun, friendly and warm with
plenty of bar seating, plus several banquettes
with table service on selected nights.
BEST MARGARITA
ROSA MEXICANO
9 E 18th St
(212) 533-3350–www.rosamexicano.com
Looking for a truly authentic Mexican
experience? From floor to ceiling Rosa
Mexicano has got you covered. Following
in the tradition of their founder Josephina
Howard, Rosa Mexicano is doing an authentic
take on Mexican food that starts the second
you enter the restaurant. Did you know that
Rosa Mexicana is the formal name for a
vibrant color of pink often used in Mexico?
Do you know what a true margarita taste like?
From their signature pomegranate margarita,
to your soon-to-be favorite classic cocktail
reimagined with mescal, you’ll enjoy a truly
unique experience in every glass.
OM
YOU KNOW YOU’RE
FROM THE CITY WHEN
IF YOU THINK YOU FOUND
A GREAT PARKING SPOT,
YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING
TO GET TOWED
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