New York City/Brooklyn: A Drinkers Guide

If I ever lived in New York City I would probably get morbidly obese and risk developing a drinking problem.  There are way too many fantastic spots to eat and drink, and I’m the kind of person that needs to try them all.

WHERE TO STAY:

You have many great spots to choose from if you Stay in New York City, but If you’re also going to stay in Brooklyn, stay in the area of Dumbo or Williamsburg.  These are the nicest, trendiest neighborhoods.

In terms of getting around, we used Uber the entire time.

EAT:

Okay so I didn’t write down all the places that I went to eat in NYC and Brooklyn and now I can’t find them for the life of me.  I went to one really cool spot in Brooklyn that was a grocery store during the day that turned into a restaurant at night with a funky backroom. Apparently there are a whole slew of hidden restaurants littered around the City. So cool. Here are my top three (no particular order):

$$ Dos Caminos – After exploring the Meatpacking district for a couple of hours we happened upon Dos Caminos.  Their lively outdoor patio and aroma of fresh tacos drew us in. We hungrily devoured delicious tacos and a couple margaritas.

$$Rucola– This little corner restaurant is located in the cute neighborhood of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, and was the perfect spot to grab lunch.  The old-fashioned ironwork exterior is beautiful, and the rustic interior makes the space feel extremely cozy.  We ate AMAZING sandwiches and thirst quenching pressed juices.  I would have loved to also pop by for dinner if we had enough time. I highly recommend this spot.

$$$L’Artusi– Their wine menu was insanely long, however the sommelier was able to guide us to a fantastic (reasonably priced) bottle of Italian wine.  We shared a starter and two phenomenal pasta dishes, and were stuffed by the end of it (apparently you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu).  L’Artusi’s sleek, yet cozy interior and up-scale service draws an interesting and wealthy crowd; it’s a great people watching spot.

COFFEE:

$$ Ace Hotel– As a lover of all things coffee, Leon insisted that we go to The Ace hotel. The coffee shop itself looks like something you would expect to see in NYC, but once you continue through the coffee shop to the Ace hotel you’ll be floored.  This place is simply stunning. Grab a coffee, stay a while and enjoy the artsy ambiance.

$$ – Brooklyn Roasting Company – Located in the Brooklyn Dumbo area, this big coffee shop is the whole package; beautiful, spacious and delicious.  We sat on a huge velvet couch and sipped on a Cold brew coffee while we planned our day.

DRINKS:

So I have to say, the NYC day-drinking and nightlife scene are fantastic.  Leon and I were in New York for 5 nights and went out every night to multiple unique places.

$$ –BierGarten – Located right off the Highline, this outdoor German beer garden (miraculously called BierGarten) is a great way to enjoy a mid-afternoon beer.  We found a spot on one of the many long wooden picnic benches and sipped German beer while watching a ping-pong match that was conveniently located in the center of the seating.  Watch out for flying balls.

$$ –Brass Monkey –  Located in the Meat Packing District and way more casual than many of the spots we had previously gone to.  Brass Monkey had a really cool rooftop where people can mingle. Inside you can find quite a variety of people ages from 21 to mid 30’s.

$$ – Pizza Beach– located on the corner of Orchard and Stanton, the 90’s Malibu themed pizzeria is adorned with vibrant turquoise blue walls and bright red chairs. Here I enjoyed a couple (very strong) afternoon 151 cocktails in a shark head.  Gotta say, I was feeling pretty good when we headed to our next destination.

$$$ –Mr. Purple– A block away from Pizza Beach you can find Mr. purple. We would have walked right by the entrance hadn’t there been a massive line filled with well-dressed New Yorkers.  Once we made it to the front of the line we were escorted to an elevator which took us to the rooftop bar. Once you are at the top, you get jaw-dropping unrestricted views of the city.  We were lucky enough to have mistakenly timed it so we watched the sunset from this rooftop. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

$$$ –The Jane Hotel–  This spot is elegant as hell and packed to the brim on weekends. don’t come here if you want a quiet or cheap night out. Once inside, the dimly lit candles and heavy velvety curtains set an old-fashioned and classy ambiance.  Side note –  the bouncers pick and choose who they want to go in (or so it seems), so dress to impress.  We watched one girl get escorted out because she gave the bouncer attitude. It made for good entertainment.  Check out the Rose Bar next door also (if you can get in).

$$$ – Le Bain at the Standard– If you want to go clubbing, search no more.  You’ll find loud music, strobe lights, disco balls and lots of people at this chic spot.  Check out their rooftop patio and the stunning 360 view of New York City.

$$$ – Employees only– I loved this place mainly because I was in search for NYC’s “elite” and I found them here! The people and the posh decor basically match each other. Beware, this place is intimate and tiny.  Leon and I sipped our expensive cocktails while standing because it was so packed.

$$$ – Bathtub Gin– A hidden Speakeasy that literally transports you to the 1920’s.  You  can choose to sit in an old-school bathtub if you wish. Obviously get the gin.

$$$ – The Ides bar at The Wythe Hotel – Located in the trendy Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, Ides Bar offers the best view of the infamous New York city skyline.  This place is bustling with young professionals.  I can’t even count how many times I got the “what do you do” line before I got the “what is your name” question. Typical New York?

$$$ – Grand Banks– A boat/bar/restaurant docked at pier 25 and only up and running between April and October.  This place is PERFECT for some afternoon bevies.  We waited for about 20 minutes in line, but it was well worth it.  You’re royally missing out if you visit New York in the Summer and don’t stop here for a drink

WHAT WE DID:

(other than drinking a lot)

Walk the High Line – a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail. There is plenty of art and beautiful views to keep you entertained.

Walk along the Brooklyn Bridge –  Its pretty crowded but it’s a must, so just do it.

Visit the Twin Tower Memorial

Explore Central Park – But don’t take the horse-drawn carriages, that’s cruel.

Visit Grand Central Terminal – Buzzing with energy, this beautiful train terminal is a must see.

Visit a Museum – We chose the Museum of Modern Art – Allow at least an hour and a half of your time. The MOMA is three floors of artistic greatness.