Mixing drinks

BRONX

An Beal Bocht Café
Pints of Guinness and shepherd’s pie go down easy against the backdrop of this I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-really-Ireland oasis. Despite the proximity to Manhattan College, you won’t find unruly fratboys here—the superfriendly but ID-happy staff makes sure of that—just a slew of neighborhood regs who are more than willing to share a pint and listen to Thursday through Saturday’s live Irish folk music. 445 W 238th St between Greystone and Waldo Aves (718-884-7127, anbealbochtcafe.com)

Cafe Sueno
If you like your dance floors small, crowded and do-rag–free (headgear’s verboten, just like in high school), hit up the deejayed parties Thursdays through Saturdays at this diminutive, mostly Latino lounge. Those who prefer solitary barside daydreaming should try Sueno on a weekday, when the bar is both cap- and patron-free. 1178 Havemeyer Ave at Gleason Ave (718-239-4440)

The Jolly Tinker
It’s true, you may run into a few (okay, a lot of) Fordham University students here—on any given weekend night, the pool table and two rooms of seating are occupied by rowdy revelers from the nearby campus. Head up during the week, however, and you’ll encounter patrons from the area’s hard-core Irish past, drinking beside university professors looking to relax. 387 Bedford Park Blvd at Webster Ave (718-364-8789)

The Punch Bowl
The decor at this dive of dives is on par with something out of Hell’s Kitchen in its prime—ancient wood-paneled walls lined with aging pictures and dusty shamrocks from St. Paddy’s Days past. What’s more, every Thursday night, there’s traditional Irish music from 7 to 10pm. Sidle up to the bottle-beaten bar and take in a tale or two from one of the salty regulars who frequent the joint. Warning: Should you choose to buy a barfly a pint, be prepared for an evening of empty discourse—the folks who come here are known for it (what’d you expect from an Irish hang?). 5820 Broadway at 238th St (718-884-7322)

BROOKLYN

BED-STUY/CLINTON HILL

Rope
Nearby Pratt Institute ensures an arty crowd, but don’t expect Williamsburg-style posing and $100 haircuts. Rope caters to serious drinkers who like their booze cheap and their music loud, courtesy of a killer jukebox stocked with indie, punk and hip-hop gems. Sexy nude paintings line the walls, and plenty of couches and stools mean you’ll almost always have a place to sit with your pals. 415 Myrtle Ave between Clinton and Vanderbilt Aves, Clinton Hill (718-522-2899)

Sweet Revenge
This onetime gym has been transformed into a lounge with a Formica-clad bar, wood-grain wallpaper and spacious vinyl booths. Despite the throwback feel, the drinks follow a modern script. Caribbean locals sip Red Stripe, while gabby Pratt students glug Miller High Life and Wildwoods (spiced rum and orange soda) before dancing to hip-hop or puffing a cig in the cozy backyard. 348 Franklin Ave between Greene and Lexington Aves, Bedford-Stuyvesant (718-398-2472)

BOERUM HILL

Building on Bond
The next great hangout for the Brooklyn yupster set, Building on Bond has been open for just a few months. It still has that new-bar smell and is so far free of the sticky floors, stinky bathrooms and chipped pint glasses familiar at more lived-in taverns. Drink fare is standard, but the tunes are choice: Any place you can hear the season-one theme song from The Wire and selections off The Big Lebowski soundtrack gets a thumbs-up. But don’t make this your end-of-the-night spot: It closes at 1. 112 Bond St at Pacific St (347-853-8687)

CARROLL GARDENS

Bar Great Harry
Get your seasonal brews here: Bar Great Harry switches its draft beer selection so frequently that the owners launched a blog dedicated to their daily list (as well as e-announcements for brewery visits and trivia nights). Maybe it’s just because space is tight, but strangers tend to become insta-friends—or frenemies—over rounds of Battleship and other nostalgic board games at this spare coffeehouse-ish suds haven. 280 Smith St at Sackett St (718-222-1103, bargreatharry.com)

Brooklyn Social
If you’ve always dreamed of being a member of the Sicilian social elite (who hasn’t?), hit up Brooklyn Social, a bar that has snarkily preserved the snootiness of the 1930s men’s club it once was. The space is stacked with legit artifacts: Owner Matt Dawson preserved as much as possible from the men’s club, from framed photos to the fridge. Now that it’s oh-so-contemporarily coed, it’s a great place to mingle—and its sophisticated menu (and house-made eggnog come Christmastime) is sure to keep out the riffraff. 335 Smith St between President and Carroll Sts (718-858-7758)

The Jake Walk
The Jake Walk’s going for delicious—and achieves it with cozy surroundings, an uncommonly deep wine and whiskey list, and cured edibles from nearby Stinky Bklyn (owned by the same folks). The catch: You’ll likely learn firsthand what the stiff-legged, Prohibition-era “jake walk” feels like after the typically long wait for a table. 282 Smith St at Sackett St (347-599-0294, thejakewalk.com)

COBBLE HILL

Clover Club
A madhouse since its June opening (imagine, a bouncer on Smith Street!), this luxe throwback to the days of speakeasy charm earns its rep with expertly prepared drinks. Bartenders break out the swizzle sticks and homemade bitters for on-the-mark juleps, old-fashioneds, highballs and whiskey sours. The interior is retro: pressed-tin ceiling, dark mahogany bar, rich leather booths. Finally—a club worth joining. 210 Smith St between Baltic and Butler Sts (718-855-7939 cloverclubny.com)

Last Exit
Don’t let the divey facade of this spot fool you; just beyond the black curtain lies a low-key room that brings to mind coffeeshop jam sessions, complete with red leather couches, exposed brick and rotating installations by local painters. Happy-hour specials throughout the week and the “cheap date” deal ($15 for six bottles of Miller High Life) keep the eclectic crowd of artists and local Brooklyn Law students nice and lubricated. 136 Atlantic Ave between Clinton and Henry Sts (718-222-9198, lastexitbar.com)

DUMBO

Superfine
Two words: hot lesbos. “We nicknamed the place ‘Lesbian Island’ because most of the staff here are gay,” says Superfine bartender Lola RocknRolla (who also reminds us that drinkers of all feathers are welcome here). That—along with the orange-felted pool table, a constantly rotating drinks menu and straw-umbrella cocktails—is reason enough for us to label this swanky but unpretentious Dumbo go-to super-duper-fine. 126 Front St at Pearl St (718-243-9005)

GOWANUS

The Bell House
From the owners of Union Hall and Floyd comes this mammoth bar and music venue, converted from its former life as a printing press and fly-by-night shipping company. Outfitted in deep reds and rich golds, it coos warm holiday cheer year-round, making it the perfect place for couples, singles and Manhattanites looking to spend some time in Gowanus. 149 7th St between Second and Third Aves (718-643-6510, thebellhouseny.com)

PARK SLOPE

Bar 4
At this shabby-chic hang, locals on broken-in couches unwind with pints of Delirium Tremens and Rogue Dead Guy Ale, as well as pressed-crisp Cubanos and Nutella-and-banana sandwiches. Paintings of music luminaries like Presley, Lennon and Cash signal the establishment’s sonic commitment, with a Tuesday open mike, Guitar Hero Wednesdays and weekend DJs spinning late-night. 444 Seventh Ave at 15th St (718-832-9800)

Sheep Station
Hit up this rustic expat bar for some authentic Aussie charm. Covered in corrugated iron, it features aboriginal art, a gas fireplace and eats from Down Under, like lamb sandies, homemade meat pies, and a traditional burger topped with pineapple and fried egg. Locals go for a beer from the vast and varied selections on tap, but the wine list—including local, Australian and international choices—shouldn’t be discounted. 149 Fourth Ave at Douglass St (718-857-4337, sheepstation.net)

Union Hall
Though bocce courts attract feverish competitors, bargoers need not toss a ball to have one. In the upstairs library, which is bedecked with vintage globes and tomes, a roaring fireplace and leather couches provide perches to drink Captain Lawrence pints and Bloody Pickles (tequila and Bloody Mary shots, with pickle chasers). Downstairs, taxidermy dioramas set the mood for acts ranging from indie rockers to science lecturers. 702 Union St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (718-638-4400, unionhallny.com)

PROSPECT HEIGHTS/ CROWN HEIGHTS

Barrette
Plush red-leather banquettes and lacy black curtains give this small space a Jazz Age feel, minus the pretension of speakeasy-style joints. There’s a nice selection of draft beers (some seasonal), and a cocktail menu divided into tipples both “Classy” and “Trashy.” Fans of the former can sample the nook’s signature drink, made with grapefruit juice and bourbon, while less discriminating types can get bombed with a combo of cheap-ass beer and cheap-ass liquor. 601 Vanderbilt Ave at Bergen St, Prospect Heights (718-230-5170)

Franklin Park
Not much has changed here since it opened this spring—the garden is still big, the beer selection is still local, and the crowds are still a varied mix of young newbies, neighborhood residents and the inevitable Park Slope parents. Now that the cold’s setting in, though, look out for a spankin’ new indoor space—complete with Skee-Ball and a DJ booth—opening any day now. 618 St. Johns Pl between Classon and Franklin Aves, Crown Heights (718-975-0196, franklinparkbrooklyn.com)

Soda
The anchor of Vanderbilt Avenue’s chain of watering holes is part hipster enclave, part neighborhood hangout. It’ll satisfy any drinker, assuming you can squeeze in—the bar is packed on weekends. Alt-rock fans will get a kick out of the jukebox, which is known to play an all-grunge revue (back-to-back Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Audioslave and Nirvana), while a modest menu sates appetites for greasy, ale-soaking treats. 629 Vanderbilt Ave between Prospect Pl and St. Marks Ave, Prospect Heights (718-230-8393)

Weather Up
If you don’t look carefully, you might miss this cocktail bar—its plain, ivory-brick exterior is situated between a bodega and a cab company. Once you do find it, take a seat at the long counter—the better to watch your bartender prepare one of the menu’s fancy-pants offerings, including classics such as a Dark and Stormy, or the joint’s signature drink, the Weather Up, which includes amaretto, cognac and lemon juice. 589 Vanderbilt Ave between Bergen and Dean Sts, Prospect Heights (no phone)

WILLIAMSBURG

Huckleberry Bar
This cavernous space is painted a fugly taupe and filled with dorm-grade furnishings, but damn if you won’t get wasted on $10 cocktails. Harvey Wallbangers and Pisco Sours complement seasonal favorites like hot buttered rum and spiked hot chocolate, all expertly shaken by funereal bartenders (though the sober shtick clashes with the hand-clapping hip-hop DJs and funksters breaking it down in the enclosed backyard). Delish sandwiches are prepared right behind the bar—good luck resisting the scent of bacon when you’re tossin’ back the Beefeater—and brunch lasts till 6pm on Sundays. 588 Grand St at Lorimer St (718-218-8555, huckleberrybar.com)

Spuyten Duyvil
You’d never guess this homey little tasting room, furnished with flea-market treasures, is one of the top beer bars in the country (so say the 150,000 hops geeks on beeradvocate.com). Chalkboards list unusual foreign brews; there are more than 200 in bottles and just six are on tap at a time. Ask the sociable suds guru on staff for a personalized recommendation, then settle in with small plates of meats, cheeses and other tasty accompaniments. Better still, try the seasonal spiced mulled wine, glühwein, and grab some takeout from the owners’ other establishment across the boulevard, meat mecca Fette Sau. NB: It’s pronounced “SPITE-en DIE-vil.” Besides being an area in the southern Bronx, it’s also the Belgian term for the town bar that takes all your money. 359 Metropolitan Ave at Havemeyer St (718-963-4140, spuytenduyvilnyc.com)

MANHATTAN

CHINATOWN–LITTLE ITALY

Good World Bar & Grill
This rustic spot plays to a Scandinavian theme (yes, in Chinatown) with rough-hewn wooden tables and a menu that offers meatballs and pickled herring. A giant stuffed caribou presides over the bar, but this place is chic; Miranda ate here in the Sex and the City movie. The ample selection of suds includes Swedish Pripps Carnegie, a bitter, chocolaty porter, along with a couple bubbly Belgians on tap. 3 Orchard St between Canal and Division Sts (212-925-9975, goodworldbar.com)

The Randolph
A 1,500-square-foot booze destination with a fairly low attitude quotient (if you look past the velvet rope, that is), the Randolph features classic cocktails (Pimm’s cups) mingled with signature drinks like the Michael Derry (pilsner, vodka and lemon juice). Crowds pack the bar and the downstairs lounge for sweaty deejayed dance parties that blend hip-hop, punk, soul and ’80s pop into a mix of boogieworthy beats. 349 Broome St between Elizabeth St and Bowery (212-274-0667, randolphnyc.com)

EAST VILLAGE

Blind Pig
Hello, sports fanatic. We know you’re all, “Oh my God, I just need to watch the game.” Blind Pig relieves your plight with six flat-screen HD TVs and three megascreens. If you’ve got a group, snag one of the wooden booths, or if you’re flying solo, pull up a barstool next to your fellow desperate Brett Favre fan. A healthy selection of beers on tap and a list of cocktail classics (mint juleps, manhattans) aid in the celebration (or mourning), and the menu, jam-slammed with staple bar fare, means you won’t have to run out between games to get food. 233 E 14th St between Second and Third Aves (212-209-1573, blindpigbar.com)

Ella
From the wallpaper that mimics red-velvet drapery to the floppy flapper hats displayed behind the bar, Ella makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into a 1920s starlet’s boudoir. Order the Joan Crawford–inspired Mommie Dearest (Milagro tequila, lime juice, orange bitters), and try not to squirm under the gaze of her oversize photo. Continuing the movie-star theme, the two red oval couches in the back are from the green room at last year’s Oscar venue. 9 Ave A between 1st and 2nd Sts (212-777-2230, ellalounge.com)

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

GREENWICH AND WEST VILLAGE

8th Street Wine Cellar
For a spacious wine bar, this sub-street-level spot, labeled only by a painted sign on the sidewalk and a modest logo on the door, is awfully easy to miss. Inside, dozens of bottles—and a rotating group of 20 by the glass—are served by an incredibly attentive staff, led by two former Union Square Cafe barkeeps (cofounder Jonny Cohen is also a cartoonist whose wry doodles have appeared in The New Yorker). To its credit, this cellar lacks the snooty attitude that clings to some enotecas. 28 W 8th St between Fifth Ave and MacDougal St (212-260-9463, 8thstwinecellar.com)

Employees Only
Following the trend of faux-Prohibition bars, Employees Only is tucked away behind a psychic’s illuminated shop-front window. Cocktails are the tipples of choice here; Igor, a bartender sporting a mean gunslinger mustache, favors the Negroni, a smooth shake-up of vermouth, Campari and gin. For something to get you in the Thanksgiving spirit, try the ginger smash, a tart concoction made from Plymouth gin and Berentzen apple liqueur, ginger root and cranberries. 510 Hudson St between Christopher and W 10th Sts (212-242-3021, employeesonlynyc.com)

LOWER EAST SIDE

East Side Company Bar
Thanks to a brushed-aluminum front bar, cozy wood booths in the middle room and a shabby-chic rear lounge, ESCB feels like three separate spots. What the trio shares is a menu of creative cocktail selections that have come to be expected from owner Sasha Petraske (Milk & Honey, Little Branch and White Star, below). Be sure to check out the ceiling: Workers put up sheets of the stamped tin, and then realized they were crooked, and had to take them back down again. 49 Essex St between Broome and Grand Sts (212-614-7408)

White Star
Co-owner Sasha Petraske (East Side Company Bar, above) also maintains his signature discreetness with this unmarked hot spot. White Star is the Shangri-la you hear of in country songs and old stories about newspapermen: a whiskey bar. No mixers, no Red Bull, nothing Dad wouldn’t drink. Well, with one big exception: milky-white absinthe, dispensed from fountains called “auto verseurs.” Even cooler, the Sheetrock at the back of the bar sports a piece of graffiti believed to be by seminal New York street artist Lee Quiñones. The signature, lee, is still visible, according to part owner Richard Boccato. 21 Essex St between Canal and Hester Sts (212-995-5464)

MIDTOWN

Haven
This 4,000-square-foot bi-level space straddles the line between food and drink destination, but the thoughtful cocktail program tilts the scales toward the latter. High-end tipples include the Jezebel (rose-infused gin with strawberries, basil and Meyer lemon) and Pears and Herbs (cognac, lemon, and pear puree with sage and thyme). For the holidays, try the peppermint truffle: organic Rain vodka infused with mint and bittersweet chocolate. 244 E 51st St between Second and Third Aves (212-906-9066, havennewyork.com)

Highbar
Attractive bartenders mix drinks like the elderflower lime rickey and the açai margarita amid canopied daybeds, striped couches and alabaster candles. An outdoor space may seem more suited for summer months, but the bar stays open all year—heated tents and two levels of indoor rooms keep the crowds coming. Since you were clearly wondering, the oversize, oval UFO chair was imported from Slovenia. There are only three chairs of its kind in the world, and it needed to be hoisted from 16 stories below using a crane. 251 W 48th St at Eighth Ave (212-956-1300, highbarnyc.com)

MURRAY HILL

Black Bear Lodge
Once it starts snowing outside, head for this mock ski lodge, with antique decorations from Rocky Mountain states. For added authenticity, the fratty bar boasts Western saloon prices ($10 buckets of six beers till 7pm) and Big Buck Hunter tournaments, in which the prized trophy goes to best costume—think camo-and-orange hunter garb. Beware: The bartenders don’t like to hear repeat songs from the jukebox and will dole out “punishment” shots to the offending parties…as well as to those who are caught dancing with the wooden black bear in the corner of the bar. 274 Third Ave between 21st and 22nd Sts (212-253-2178, bblnyc.com)

Fáilte Irish Whiskey Bar
This large (possibly haunted, just ask a bartender) pub distinguishes itself despite its seen-it-before “old country” decorations with a large selection of Irish whiskeys (24 on a recent trip) and specials like a noon–6pm happy hour, featuring plenty of drinks under $4 and free food during Monday Night Football games. There’s also trivia on Thursday nights, when the most important question and answer goes something like this: How much are your Bud Lights? One dollar. 531 Second Ave between 29th and 30th Sts (212-725-9440, failtenyc.com)

TRIBECA

M by Megu
Those prone to late-night indulgences should try the bottle service at this luxe lounge, presented in the style of a Japanese tea ceremony. Nibble on kobe beef sliders or Crunchy Rice Cake Poppers while peering down at the giant Buddha ice sculpture in the Megu restaurant downstairs. Or just sip on a Tokyo Celebrity (sugarcane shochu, champagne and lemon juice) and keep your eyes peeled for New York ones. 62 Thomas St between Church St and West Broadway (212-964-7777, megunyc.com)

UNION SQUARE AREA

The Beauty Bar
This nearly 14-year-old salon-cum-bar still does what it does best: $10 manicures with a drink (Mon–Fri 6–11pm; Sat, Sun 7–11pm) in front of chrome hair dryers, a buck off beverages from 5 to 9pm, nightly DJs and holiday-themed beauty pageants (including a Christmas one). When it was still a functioning hair salon—the Thomas Beauty Salon—indie gods Pavement shot the video for “Cut Your Hair” inside. 231 E 14th St between Second and Third Aves (212-539-1389, beautybar.com/ny/home.html)

Flatiron Lounge
If feeling like you’ve just stepped into an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel is on your drinking agenda, then by gum, this is your type of hooch joint. The cozy Art Deco space is perfect for a winter’s eve, and the dozens of fancy though pricey cocktails will warm you up. With guest drinks by booze scientists all over the city, there’s something to suit every palate, whether you prefer Zelda’s flapper age or the latest mixologist creation. 37 W 19th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-727-7741, flatironlounge.com)

UPPER WEST SIDE

Shrine
Go to Shrine if for no other reason than to order a Muslim Jew, a cocktail of vodka, Baileys, and chocolate and coffee liqueurs. But really, the bar’s rep as a music venue provides incentive enough; bands often play jazz or blues, with some gospel and reggae thrown in for good measure. Happy hour comes seven days a week, and lasts four hours: Just the way we like it. 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd (Seventh Ave) between 133rd and 134th Sts (212 690 7807, shrinenyc.com)

QUEENS

ASTORIA

Hell Gate Social
Take care not to overlook this sleek Astoria bar, marked only by a discreet red light. Once inside, you’ll find creative drinks, such as the eggnogg martini (cream, pumpkin schnapps, brandy, cinnamon), and the rosemary-infused blueberry-vodka martini, priced to move at $6. Live music on certain nights, showcasing local artists and DJs, gives you a culture-based excuse for your lush-ous behavior. 12-21 Astoria Blvd between 12th and 14th Sts (718-204-8313, hellgatesocial.com)

JACKSON HEIGHTS

The Music Box
One of the more welcoming gay bars (and one of the oldest in the area—the Music Box has been around for 18 years), this primarily Latino spot houses a pool table and five televisions. Drinks are cheap, and Thursday is drag night, with performances from local queens to knock your panty hose off. Here’s a piece of trivia: Though the clientele is largely Latino, the bar’s owner has a rule that all employees must speak both Spanish and English, sending those who need help for language classes. 40-08 74th St at Roosevelt Ave (718-457-5306)

LONG ISLAND CITY

Domaine Bar a Vins
Weary commuters need only stumble off the 7-train platform to find this restorative vino refuge. The intimate room, with its vintage lights and leather-topped stools, is an ideal setting for sipping from a selection of more than 40 wines by the glass (stored in antique wooden cabinets). In addition to nibbling from free plates of olives and splurging on iced oysters, customers can take in live jazz twice a week. 50-04 Vernon Blvd between 50th and 51st Aves (718-784-2350)

Lounge 47
Just one subway stop into Queens is a bar decked out in ’60s and ’70s furniture and vintage wallpaper from Holland. Reasonably priced cocktails include the LIC Long Island iced tea, spruced up with a hit of peach schnapps, and a full bar menu (shepherd’s pie, spinach and ricotta lasagna) pulls in folks from the neighborhood’s Silvercup Studios and P.S.1. Before you take off, guard against the winter chills with the Long Way Home: a warming dose of Captain Morgan and Frangelico swirled into coffee and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. 47-10 Vernon Blvd between 47th Ave and 47th Rd (718-937-2044)

BRONX | BROOKLYN | MANHATTAN | QUEENS | STATEN ISLAND

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