In the land where the cocktail was born, mixed drinks are stirred with gravitas, craft breweries and bars take their artisan suds seriously, but you can also still find old-school dive bars.
WHY GO?
For a chance to raise a glass for no particular reason at all.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO?
Fortuitously sited where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean, New York City comes packed with five very different boroughs to explore, and plenty of iconic sites at which to spend time. And, at the end of a happily-wearied day, or even for a light-hearted lunch, the Big Apple offers no lack of choice to get you into high spirits.
Best dive bars
SUNNY’S
Way out in Red Hook, this super-inviting longshoreman bar —the sign says “bar” — is straight out of On the Waterfront starring Marlon Brando. Every Saturday at 9pm, it hosts a foot-stomping bluegrass jam.
MALACHY’S
Giving new meaning to the word “dive,” this Irish holdout has a long bar, walls covered in posters and black-and-white photographs, and a cheap food menu. There’s always a line-up of regulars who know each other by name and the bartender has a sense of humour. In other words, it’s the perfect place for a 1pm pick-me-up in the Upper West Side.
SPRING LOUNGE
This neon rebel in Nolita has never let anything get in the way of a good time. In Prohibition days, it peddled buckets of beer. In the 1960s, it was a gambling den. These days, it’s best known for its stuffed sharks and come-one-and-all late-night revelry. Fuelling the fun are cheap drinks and free grub — hot dogs on Wednesdays, bagels on Sundays.
