New York City after dark

09.08.2024 - 19:47 / lonelyplanet.com

Aug 9, 2024 • 7 min read

If New York's nightlife scene were a keg, it'd never get kicked. NYC overflows with options no matter the day: dance the night away inside a Brooklyn warehouse, slide into a speakeasy-style cocktail joint or applaud burlesque performers who bare it all for rowdy crowds. Beer buffs sample flights at local breweries, socialites sip Manhattans in swanky surrounds, and there are so many venues with exceptional live performances it's hard to know where to begin. 

As a hops-loving, cocktail-drinking, music-obsessed Brooklynite who writes NYC travel guides and zips around town with rave-ready ear plugs (a lifesaver, I swear), I'm regularly reassessing which local venues offer the most fun – be it a historic dive, queer club or classy collared-shirt establishment.

Here's a list of the current best-of-the-best to get you started on an NYC adventure once the sun goes down. 

Best for craft cocktails and speakeasy-style 
Lower East Side $$$

Don't get thrown off by the "Tailors and Alterations" sign in front of this hallowed Lower East Side hall. The metal door, simply marked "AB," doesn't open up to a sewing salon – it leads to a slender pseudo-speakeasy where expert mixologists whip up bespoke cocktails. There isn't a menu – just let the bartenders know what flavors you like and watch them work their magic. It's arguably NYC's best spot for intoxicating concoctions – and due to their no-reservations policy and limited seating, there's often a substantial wait unless you arrive early. Luckily, you can bide your time at Attaboy's sister bar, Good Guy's, a neighboring spot with summery spritzes and snacks. 

Best for fruit-forward beer flights 
Williamsburg $$

The beer industry might be male-dominated, but good brews aren't only for bros, particularly at the original outpost of Talea – NYC's first (and currently only) women-owned brewery. Since opening in 2021, the company has opened three additional locations, but the spacious Williamsburg flagship location remains its best. Stop in for flights of juicy, wine-style sours and sip each concoction like a dignified cicerone (beer sommelier). Don't worry if funky flavors aren't your preference – there's plenty of standard fare, like the Al Dente pilsner with a sweet honey finish. For more sips of local brews, join hopheads at Beer Street (a 5-minute walk away), pouring artisanal ales from NYC, the Hudson Valley and beyond. 

Best for outdoor dancing and audiophiles 
Ridgewood $$

No need to wait until sundown for dancing – just head to the seasonal Mister Sunday party at Nowadays (3pm-11pm, May-October), where serious BPM connoisseurs step-touch to the transcendental sounds of house music on an outdoor dance floor beneath a glittering disco ball.