Cocktail barDive bar$$$union-squareMon-Thu 11:30-00:30, Fri 11:30-01:00, Sat 11:30-00:30, Sun 12:00-22:30
Old Town Bar near Union Square has poured Bass Ale from a 55-foot mahogany bar in New York City since 1892. Order the bass ale draught. Booking recommended.
Signature drink: Bass Ale draught
Food: Burgers and pub food
Tip: Sit in the upstairs dining room for the burger; the bar is for the draught and the bar food. Cash preferred.
Cocktail barDive bar$$$west-villageMon-Wed 12:00-00:00, Thu 12:00-02:30, Fri-Sat 12:00-03:30, Sun 11:00-00:00
White Horse Tavern on Hudson Street has poured Guinness in the West Village, New York City since 1880. Dylan Thomas drank 18 whiskeys here in 1953.
Signature drink: Guinness draught
Food: Burgers and pub food
Tip: Sit in the front room; the back is reserved for diners. The burger is the second order after the first pint.
Cocktail barCocktail bar$$$east-villageSun-Thu 17:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-01:00
Amor y Amargo on East 6th has poured bitters-forward cocktails in the East Village, New York City since 2011. Order the all-bitters cocktails.
Signature drink: All-bitters cocktails
Food: Snacks
Tip: Tell the bartender you want a base spirit; they build around the bitter. Two drinks is the right ration.
Cocktail barDive bar$$$midtownMon-Wed 11:30-02:00, Thu-Fri 11:30-04:00, Sat 12:30-04:00, Sun 16:00-02:00
Jimmy's Corner near Times Square has poured cheap beer and bourbon to off-Broadway crowds in New York City since 1971. Boxing photos on the walls, jukebox.
Signature drink: Cheap beer and bourbon
Food: None
Tip: Cash only. The bar takes Bud, Bass and Bourbon orders. Sing along with the jukebox.
Cocktail barDive bar$$$sohoDaily 11:30-04:00
Ear Inn on Spring Street has poured pints to dockworkers in SoHo, New York City since 1817. The B in BAR fell off in the 1970s and stayed off.
Signature drink: Draught beer
Food: Pub food, oysters
Tip: Sunday afternoon jazz from 14:00. The room is small and loud; the oysters are surprisingly good.
Cocktail barHotel bar$$$upper-east-sideSun-Mon 12:00-00:00, Tue-Thu 12:00-00:30, Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00
Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel has poured cocktails under Ludwig Bemelmans's Central Park murals in New York City since 1947. Located in Upper East Side.
Signature drink: Old Cuban
Food: Hotel-bar snacks
Tip: Walk-ins after 18:00 carry a $35 minimum per person music charge. Earlier visits skip the charge but miss the piano.