Sophie's on East 5th has poured cheap beer since the 1980s, named for one-time Ukrainian owner Sophie Polny. Anthony Bourdain filmed here; the regulars never left.
Tip: Opens 15:00, runs to 04:00. Cash-friendly, jukebox heavy on Tom Waits, the back has Skee Ball and a pool table.
Address: 507 East 5th Street, New York, NY 10009, New York City
Doc Holliday's on Avenue A and 9th has been the East Village honky-tonk since 1994. Country jukebox, pool table, Lone Star Tall Boys and a saloon-style door.
Tip: Opens noon, runs to 04:00 every day. Cash preferred before 21:00, $3 PBRs at the Tuesday-night happy hour.
Mona's on Avenue B runs the city's best free live music in a dive bar: Monday bluegrass jam, Tuesday jazz with Jon Weber at midnight, every week, no cover.
Tip: Mondays for bluegrass, Tuesdays for jazz (10 piano starts at midnight). Cheap Guinness Thursday, no cover any night.
Doc Holliday's on Avenue A and 9th has been the East Village honky-tonk since 1994. Country jukebox, pool table, Lone Star Tall Boys and a saloon-style door.
Tip: Opens noon, runs to 04:00 every day. Cash preferred before 21:00, $3 PBRs at the Tuesday-night happy hour.
Mona's on Avenue B runs the city's best free live music in a dive bar: Monday bluegrass jam, Tuesday jazz with Jon Weber at midnight, every week, no cover.
Tip: Mondays for bluegrass, Tuesdays for jazz (10 piano starts at midnight). Cheap Guinness Thursday, no cover any night.
Rudy's on Ninth Avenue has poured cheap beer since 1933, with a free hot dog when you order. Red leather booths, a pig sculpture out front, the same crowd since the 1970s.
Tip: Free hot dog with any drink, all hours. Opens 08:00 Mon-Sat for cheap pints, runs through to 04:00 every night.
Botanica on East Houston is the basement bar with $3 to $5 drinks, a tiny DJ booth and the rare Houston Street happy hour that runs until 19:00 every day.
Tip: Happy hour from open to 19:00, Sunday karaoke is the regulars' tradition. Cash-friendly, no cover.
House of Yes in Bushwick is the multi-room performance club that pairs DJ sets with circus, drag and burlesque on the same Wyckoff Avenue stage Thursday through Sunday.
Tip: Buy tickets online before 22:00; costume-themed nights enforce a dress code at the door and walk-ups without it get turned away.
Nowadays in Ridgewood, Queens is the indoor-outdoor dance bar with a Funktion-One rig and a backyard the size of a small park. Friday through Sunday is the real schedule.
Tip: Saturday's Mister Saturday Night runs straight through Sunday's Mister Sunday daytime party. Cover hovers around $25; cash and card both work.