Bin No. 220
Malbec-colored walls, exposed brick and metal, dim candle lighting and stem-free stemware render 220 a by-the-book wine bar, but fret not, oenophobes: The place features a full liquor selection. The wine list is divided, of course, into reds and whites and offers three different flights daily, but it’s also split further according to co-owners’ recommendations. A glass generally falls in the $8 to $15 range, and the menu includes olives ($6), antipasto ($10–$16) and panini ($7–$13) for a light nosh. 220 Front St between Beekman St and Peck Slip (212-374-WINE, binno220.com)![]()
John Street Bar & Grill
John Street rocks an unpretentious basement vibe, offering pool, darts, a jukebox, dark corners for drunken shenanigans and daily specials galore (we like Thursday’s all-you-can-drink drafts for $10—a little too much). Blue and white collars mingle with tourists and the odd Century 21 widower. A team of loyal everyday (no really, every single day) regulars credit the bar for its cheap booze, tough-love bartenders and relaxed biker-meets–Wall Street atmosphere. 17 John St between Broadway and Nassau St (212-349-3278, johnstreet.com)![]()
O’Hara’s Pub and Restaurant
The 25-year-old neighborhood staple has little to look at (we’d call it typical sports-bar chic), but what it lacks in ambience it makes up for in camaraderie and service. During the week, a steady stream of locals, construction workers and suits constitute the after-work scene, while tourists frequent the joint on weekend afternoons. This is the place to escape the demands of relatives in town for the holidays, or bring in the family for a pint, or four. Take note of the impressive collection of patches adorning the ceiling panels: In what has become a tradition since 9/11, rescue workers from all over the city contribute theirs to the installation. 120 Cedar St between Greenwich St and Trinity Pl (212-267-3032)![]()
Trinity Place
As the mac-daddy circular door adorning the entrance reminds us, this subterranean Wall Streeter hang occupies a bank vault dating back to the early 1900s. Mellow Mondays and Tuesdays give way to packed happy hours later in the week, when you can look on as the regulars get as tanked as the stock market. In fact, every day the market closes in the red, all drinks are $3 from 3:30 to 5pm. 115 Broadway, enter on Cedar St between Broadway and Trinity Pl (212-964-0939, trinityplacenyc.com)![]()
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They need a drink!
From Cosmo girls to finance guys, these recent victims of cutbacks share their picks for where to buy yourself (or them) a cocktail (or two).
Did you intentionally leave out Chelsea? It seems to me there are no good bars in Chelsea, but you confirmed it by not listing even one.