A terrific old dive with all the gritty trappings you're looking for: kitschy decor, cheap shots, real characters. In a city that's becoming more and more polished, 169 has retained its edge and 100-year-old patina. Not to mention a leopard-print pool table, loud music, and fake palm trees.
169 E. Broadway
New York, NY 10002
The kind of bar you wish could be your local. A former stable has been turned into a quirky little gem of a watering hole — drinkers elbow to elbow, downing cocktails in coup glasses and reaching for another oyster. The bartender probably has a handlebar mustache, but this place is proto-hipster: small-batch, crafted with care, and focused on the details.
71 N. Moore
New York, NY 10013
This discreet bar on a residential street was once the speakeasy responsible for the 21st-century classic cocktail craze. The bar has moved on, but two key bartenders have stayed behind, and now craft cocktails with the same whiz-bang precision, but without the secrecy and reservation system. Mixology to the max.
134 Eldridge St.
New York, NY 10002
Dip your cup in the communal punch at The Dead Rabbit Grovery & Grog, a brand new tavern that channels old New York. The upstairs parlor focuses on 19th-century mixed drinks; the Irish taproom downstairs serves oysters, stews, pies, and beers in the Anglo-Hibernian tradition.
30 Water St.
New York, NY 10004