New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [116]
PDT.
Those who crave their cocktails with a little cloak-and-dagger will flip over PDT (which stands for “Please Don’t Tell”). Housed below the unassuming hot-dog joint Crif Dogs, this pseudo-speakeasy can be reached only through a phone booth on the main floor. Patrons with phoned-in reservations are escorted through the phone booth’s false back into the building’s underbelly, which is decorated with warm wooden beams and tongue-in-cheek taxidermy. | 113 St. Marks Pl., between 1st Ave. and Ave. A, East Village | 10009 | 212/614–0386 | www.pdtnyc.com | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.
Shoolbred’s.
Scotland colonizes the East Village at this splendidly appointed pub, complete with staff people dressed like golfers, stained-glass church windows, a Ouiji board under glass, orchids—lots of orchids—and, best of all, an “Opium Den” backroom. Bonus point: right across the street from the equally wonderful Blue Owl Lounge. | 197 2nd Ave., between 12th and 13th Sts., East Village | 10003 | 212/529–0340 | www.shoolbreds.com | Subway: L to 3rd Ave., 6 to Astor Pl.
Summit Bar.
Manhattan’s easternmost cocktail bar, Summit Bar serves up high-end sips in a low-key environment. Still, much thought and care is put into the drinks, right down to the herbs that come from the Summit’s rooftop garden. The menu aims to please, and splits between “classic” and more ambitious “alchemist” sections, the latter boasting drinks with caraway-infused agave and shiso leaf. There’s a snug outdoor patio as well, ideal for sampling the Summit’s surprising take on a margarita come summer. | 133 Ave. C, between 8th and 9th Sts., East Village | 10009 | No phone | www.thesummitbar.net | Subway: L to 1st Ave.
Ten Degrees.
The thought of a civilized wine bar in the East Village might have raised eyebrows 20 years ago, but it’s de rigueur now, and the crowds keep cramming themselves into this vino spot with minimalist decor and maximalist wine selection. | 121 St. Marks Place, at Ave. A East Village | 10009 | 212/358–8600 | www.10degreesbar.com | Subway: F to Lower East Side/2nd Ave., 6 to Astor Pl.
Cabaret and Piano Bars
Joe’s Pub.
Wood paneling, red-velvet walls, and comfy sofas make a lush setting for top-notch performers and the A-list celebrities who love them, or pretend to. Named for the Public Theater’s near-mythic impresario Joe Papp, and located inside the Public, Joe’s doesn’t have a bad seat—but if you want to occupy one, buy tickets beforehand and/or arrive at least half an hour early for the Italian-inspired dinner menu. | 425 Lafayette St., between E. 4th St. and Astor Pl., East Village | 10001 | 212/539–8770 | www.joespub.com | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.
Gay Nightlife
Beige.
Gay men in fashion and advertising predominate at this long-running Tuesday get-together at the B-Bar. An occasional celebrity or two keeps it lively, and with the right weather, the garden doubles or even triples the populace. Dress up, or look so freaking hot that you don’t have to. | B Bar,40 E. 4th St., at the Bowery, East Village | 10012 | 212/475–2220 | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.
Easternbloc.
Sweaty guys pack into this tiny, dingy hot spot to dance in scarlet light beneath hammer-and-sickle-theme decor. The scantily outfitted dervishes whirling around the pole at the center of the room show off the latest fashionable sneakers, and the clientele ranges from East Village hipsters to muscly Chelsea boys in tight black tank tops. | 505 E. 6th St., between Aves. A and B, East Village | 10009 | 212/777–2555 | www.easternblocnyc.com | Subway: F to 2nd Ave.
Urge.
A bi-level bastion of East Village