Theater stars’ favorite bars: 9 to 5

It’s 5pm: Booze away your boss-induced rage

The cast of 9 to 5 at Annie Moore’s
Picture this: a cheery Irish pub about 100 paces from Grand Central Terminal. A surprising abundance of elbow room. A chatty crowd. It’s no surprise that this is the choice of hundreds of workers looking to down a couple before catching the 6:02. Here’s hoping none of them aim to kidnap their bosses. 50 E 43rd St at Vanderbilt Ave (212-986-7826, anniemooresnyc.com). Average drink: $6. 9to5themusical.com

P.J. Clarke’s
Working stiffs make a 5pm beeline to one of the city’s most honored (and oldest—it goes back 127 years) brass rails. The bar is typically three deep and the talk loud and ebullient. 915 Third Ave between 55th St and 56th Sts (212-317-1616). Average drink: $6.

Bar Centrale
Theater folk work too—their day just ends later. After the curtain falls on Broadway, actors, producers, critics and press agents head to this sleek quasi-speakeasy. The talk is bitchy, the cocktails standard but elegant, and the star-gawking abundant. 324 W 46th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-581-3130). Average drink: $14.

D.B.A.
This dimly lit treasure trove of international beers and single-malt Scotches brims with humanity every single night. Though it’s situated in slacker central, expect to find throngs of the khaki-clad just-off-work set. 41 First Ave between 2nd and 3rd Sts (212-475-5097, drinkgoodstuff.com). Average drink: $7.

Ulysses Picturesque, Belgian-bricked Stone Street leads weary Wall Streeters to this stylish dark-wood pub, where numerous nooks and glass dividers allow sippers to be part of the crowd that spills outdoors but also keep to themselves. 58 Stone St at William St (212-482-0400). Average drink: $7.

View Larger Map

NEXT >>

Relax! Drink! >>
Winter—and everything—gettin’ to you? Party at our favorite bars, just like the casts of this season’s Broadway hits.