New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [118]
The Pink Pony.
Maintaining a defiantly boho feel on trendy Ludlow Street, this shabby-chic bar-café draws young writers, filmmakers, and designers who come to escape the cacophony from nearby music venues and make conversation over bottles of cheap wine and cup after cup (after cup) of coffee. | 176 Ludlow St., between E. Houston and Stanton Sts., Lower East Side | 10002 | 212/253–1922 | www.pinkponynyc.com | Subway: F to 2nd Ave.
Sapphire Lounge.
The party gets started late at this lively though unadorned Lower East Side hangout, but the established DJs keep a diverse and friendly crowd going with deep house, hip-hop, soul, funk, and Latin music. (In fact, the friendliest here just might drag you onto the floor to strut your stuff.) Early birds can partake of $4 happy hours Monday–Friday. | 249 Eldridge St., between E. Houston and Stanton Sts., Lower East Side | 10002 | 212/777–5153 | www.sapphirenyc.com | Subway: F, M to 2nd Ave.
Sweet and Vicious.
The name of this unpretentious butterfly-logo’ed lounge doesn’t signify the looks (sweet) and attitude (vicious) of certain downtown pretty things that frequent the bars on this LES stretch. So what makes this bar in particular so sweet? A lovely back garden perfect for rendezvous more private than the sceney bars they might otherwise hit in Soho and NoLITa. | 5 Spring St., between the Bowery and Elizabeth St., Lower East Side | 10012 | 212/224–7915 | Subway: 6 to Spring St.; J, M to Bowery.
White Star.
Master mixologist Sasha Petraske won kudos for his innovative cocktails at Milk and Honey, but the hassles associated with that bar (reservations, membership, and so on) mean that White Star, its elegantly less-is-more sister bar, is a better choice. Named for the Moroccan lamps that hang above the bar (and front door), the Star features nattily dressed barkeeps, a scintillating drinks menu, and a tiny sunken back room that is one of N.Y.C.’s best sites for a double date. | 21 Essex St., between Canal and Hester Sts., Lower East Side | 10006 | 212/995–5464 | Subway: F to East Broadway.
Rock Clubs
Arlene’s Grocery.
On Monday nights crowds pack into this converted convenience store for Rock and Roll Karaoke, where they live out their rock-star dreams by singing favorite punk anthems onstage with a live band. The other six nights of the week are for local bands, and are accordingly hit-or-miss. | 95 Stanton St., between Ludlow and Orchard Sts., Lower East Side | 10022 | 212/995–1652 | www.arlenesgrocery.net | Subway: F to 2nd Ave.
Fodor’s Choice | Bowery Ballroom.
This theater with Art Deco accents is probably the city’s top midsize concert venue. Packing in the crowds here is a rite of passage for musicians on the cusp of stardom, including the Gossip, Manic Street Preachers, and the exuberant Go! Team. Grab one of the tables on the balcony (if you can), stand (and thus get sandwiched) on the main floor, or retreat to the comfortable bar in the basement, which really fills up after each show. | 6 Delancey St., between the Bowery and Chrystie St., Lower East Side | 10022 | 212/533–2111 | www.boweryballroom.com | Subway: J, M, Z to Bowery St.
The Delancey.
From the palm-studded rooftop deck (heated in wintertime, hosting barbecues in summertime) down to the basement, where noisy rock and punk bands hold court, the multifaceted Delancey at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge strikes an invigorating balance between classy and trashy. | 168 Delancey St., between Clinton and Attorney Sts., Lower East Side | 10022 | 212/254–9920 | www.thedelancey.com| Subway: F, J, M, Z to Delancey St.–Essex St.
Mercury Lounge.
You’ll have to squeeze past all the sardine-packed hipsters in the front bar to reach the stage, but it’s worth it. Not only does this top-quality venue, a “little sister to the Bowery Bar,” specialize in cool bands on the indie scene (Holly Golightly, Echo and the Bunnymen, and