New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [115]
The Bourgeois Pig.
What do you get when you serve all kinds of different fondue concoctions as well as all kinds of inventively delicious cocktails in a velvety yet chilled-out French bordello setting that’s smack dab in the middle of the East Village? This keeper of a lounge, that’s what. | 111 E. 7th St., between 1st Ave. and Ave. A, East Village | 10009 | 212/475–2246 | www.thebourgeoispigny.com | Subway: F to Lower East Side/2nd Ave.; 6 to Astor Pl.
The Bowery Hotel Lobby Bar and Patio.
Combining old-world hunting-lodge elegance with the height of comfort, the Bowery sets a standard for what all hotel lobbies should feature: sofas you can get lost in, a grand fireplace, a beautiful garden, an unusually friendly staff, and enough good vibes to compensate for the loss of CBGB down the block. | 333 The Bowery, between 2nd and 3rd Aves. East Village | 10003 | 212/505–9100 | www.theboweryhotel.com | Subway: F to Lower East Side/2nd Ave.; 6 to Astor Pl.
Death + Company.
It’s all about “speakeasy chic” at this sister lounge to the equally imaginative and classy nearby bars Mayahuel and Bourgeois Pig. A hilarious wall mural toward the rear sets the tone for the tongue-and-cheek satanic vibe here, but in the end, it’s all about the outlandishly delicious cocktails. | 433 E. 6th St., between 1st Ave. and Ave. A, East Village | 10009 | 212/388–0882 | www.deathandcompany.com | Subway: F to Lower East Side/2nd Ave.; 6 to Astor Pl.
Decibel.
Red paper lanterns dimly illuminate couples sipping sake from tiny wooden boxes at this underground (in geography and attitude) Japanese bar. Polite servers can help navigate the impressive but reasonably priced list, as well as the menu of Japanese bar food. The entrance is easy to miss: look for a small wooden sign at the top of a sidewalk staircase, then step down and ring the buzzer to get in. | 240 E. 9th St., between 2nd and 3rd Aves., East Village | 10003 | 212/979–2733 | www.sakebardecibel.com | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.
Karma.
At the top of the “hookah bar” heap that has taken this neighborhood by storm, Karma provides a stylish sprawl with Indian decor (dig that wrought-metal statue of Kali) for local scenesters to fill their bowls and suck in the various aromatic tobaccos available (not to mention cigarettes). Happy hours start from 1 pm and Friday nights have belly dancers (the professional kind—not customers who get too hookah-ed up and start gyrating). | 51 1st Ave.,between 2nd and 3rd Sts. East Village | 10003 | 212/677–3160 | www.karmanyc.com | Subway: F to Lower East Side/2nd Ave.; 6 to Bleecker or Spring Sts.
Mayahuel.
This is the newest kid on the downtown, designer-bar block, and what a kid: all manner of Aztec spirits (raspberry tea–infused tequilas! pineapple-infused mescal!) make for the fiendishly rococo cocktails here, courtesy of master mixologist Philip Ward. Equally good are snacks such as popcorn with lime, cheese, and chili. The bi-level setting conjures a sort of demonic south-of-the-border bordello. As for the name, it derives from an Aztec legend (the fun menu fills you in). | 304 E. 6th St., between 1st and 2nd Aves., East Village | 10003 | 212/253–5888 | www.mayahuelny.com | Subway: F to Lower East Side/2nd Ave.; 6 to Astor Pl., R, W to 8th St.–Broadway.
McSorley’s Old Ale House.
One of New York’s oldest saloons (it claims to have opened in 1854) and immortalized by New Yorker writer Joseph Mitchell, McSorley’s is a must-visit for beer lovers, even if only two kinds of brew are served: McSorley’s Light and McSorley’s Dark. It’s also essential for blarney lovers, and much friendlier to women than it was before the ’80s. (The motto here once was “Good ale, raw onions, and no ladies.”) Go early to avoid the down-the-block lines on Friday and Saturday night. | 15 E. 7th St., between 2nd and 3rd Aves., East Village | 10003 | 212/473–9148 | www.mcsorleysnewyork.com | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.
Otto’s Shrunken Head.
Who says N.Y.C. doesn’t appeal to all tastes? Should you get a sudden urge to visit a tiki bar