675 Bar
675 Hudson St., at 14th St.; 212-699-2400
A solid neighborhood bar in the meatpacking district, of all places. Yes, there’s a mixologist, but there’s also Jenga, foosball, pool, a mini-library, and, of course, chocolate bacon on a stick.
Blue Ruin
538 Ninth Ave., nr. 40th St.
Co-owner and bartender Michele Gascoigne worked at Hogs & Heifers for seven years before opening Blue Ruin, and some of the vibe has come with her: You can find Gascoigne, usually decked out in Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots, slinging cheekily named shots and exhorting unruly behavior. (To wit: While at Hogs & Heifers, Gascoigne got Sir Paul McCartney to dance on the bar.)
Bruar Falls
245 Grand St., Brooklyn
A performance space that, while legal, comes from Brooklyn’s recent DIY-venue trend. A haven for psych folk, noise bands, and sloppy-on-purpose garage rockers of all stripes.
Dutch Kills
27-24 Jackson Ave., Long Island City; 718-383-2724
Sasha Petraske’s LIC cocktail lounge is finally here, and just in time: While all the slavish attention to drink details have migrated to Queens, prices have dropped to a more manageable $9 a pop.
The Gates
290 Eighth Ave., nr. 25th St.; 212-206-8646
A “super luxury restaurant/bar” from Danny Kane and Rod Surut (Naked Lunch, Gemini Lounge) with an “ambassador” program that awards keys to 125 members of the “New York City elite.” Hmm…
Griffin
50 Gansevoort St., nr. Greenwich St.; 646-244-2371
Opened in the former PM space by Milk & Honey vets, the proudly luxurious Griffin got things started with a party featuring Sting, Kate Hudson, Nas, Lindsay Price, Maxwell, Rachel Zoe, and Alexandra Richards.
Lillie’s
13 E. 17th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-337-1970
An Irish-Victorian bar named after Lillie Langtry, Ireland’s version of Marilyn Monroe, with a rotating mix of soccer fanatics during the day and hard-core drinkers and well-dressed scenesters at night.
Manhattans
769 Washington Ave., Brooklyn; 917-349-8922
Tracey Westmoreland has brought the slurred vibe of his beloved Siberia to Prospect Heights. This is the type of place where $5 for a shot and a beer and $4 for 16 oz. of Pabst on draft happens.
Mayahuel
304 E. 6th St., nr. Second Ave.; 212-253-5888
Death & Co.’s Philip Ward and Ravi DeRossin’s new spot has made mezcal the booze of the moment. El Jimador’s Shifty, a mezcal, lime juice, and Negra Modelo concoction, is a recent Top Shelf finalist.
The Pony Bar
637 Tenth Ave., at 45th St.; 212-586-2707
All beers $5! Wait, keep reading — not just any beers, but all-American craft beers.
For $5.
Satellite Lounge
143 Havemeyer St., Brooklyn
Rob Sacher, owner of the defunct indie-rock staple Luna Lounge, opened this follow-up just a few blocks south of his own spot. It’s not a music venue, unfortunately, but it does rock, with selections from Sacher’s iPod ranging from deep Motown cuts to local bands you haven’t heard of yet.
Tandem
236 Troutman St., Brooklyn; 718-386-2369
Co-owners and sisters Jane and Cathy Virga’s Tandem boasts classic cocktails, a rotating snack menu including artichoke dip and grass-fed meatballs, and a décor scheme described partially as “Psychedelic Art Deco.”
Warren 77
77 Warren St., nr. Greenwich St.
Despite its pedigree, Beatrice Inn’s Matt Abramcyk and Rangers left-winger Sean Avery’s sports bar is just that. Booths, vintage sports photos, and video games make for a casual watering hole.
Washington Commons
434 Park Pl., at Washington Ave., Brooklyn; 718-230-3666
From the owners of 4th Avenue Pub comes this dark and cozy spot with sixteen beers on tap and a concrete patio popular with families and dogs.