We love free stuff. Why wouldn't we? We're paying exorbitant amounts in rent, a cab ride costs our right arm, and we all splurge on Seamless way too much.
So sometimes, it's a wonderful, beautiful little joy that sometimes, the city gives us stuff for free.
Sometimes the city puts on free concerts in our beautiful free-to-hang-out-in parks, free plays, free comedy shows, and sets up free ice rinks.
What's even better, what really makes it a joy to live in this wild city, are when bars give us food for free.
Some bars set up free buffets during their happy hours. Some bars lay out bowls with ever-stocked supplies of Party Mix, Twizzlers, and cheese balls. Some bars will give you a delicious, free, hot item of food just for buying a drink.
That's what we call amazing, right? That you could get a free pizza, bowl of clams, or pile of wings, just for buying a drink?
Read on to find out where you can eat for free in New York City.
1. Mullanes Bar and Grill (71 Lafayette Avenue - Brooklyn)
Every weekday at Mullanes Bar and Grill they have a free buffet to go along with your drinks. You read that right. It's every weekday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
So while you drink your $6 beers and shots and your $5 house wines, you can munch on French fries, grilled cheese, and quesadillas.
Nothing like having a full stomach while you're drinking right? We really mean it; there's nothing like it. Especially when you're getting that full stomach for free.
2. Crocodile Lounge (325 East 14th Street)
At the Crocodile Lounge, you get a free personal pizza with every drink you order. Is there really anything else we need to say about it?
Okay, we will. The place has great music, good people, and, we'll just say it again for free measure: free. pizza.
As you may have guessed, it's a laid back scene. They've got skee ball, Wednesday night trivia, and, uh, have we mentioned the free pizza?
3. The Brazen Head (228 Atlantic Avenue)
kahala.mall Thirsty thursdays, Brazen Head Pub!! Land of the .25¢ wings, goes down well with a tall glass of Guinness! #nightoutontown #sriracha #honeybbq #jimbeam #wings #baffalowings #brazenheadpub #mmm #wassoono #goodeats #nightlife #pub #goodtimes #crewedup #unfiltered #fun #flavor #nomnom #wiscolife #wisconsin #westbend
They've got free wings on Monday nights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Brazen Head. Tell all your friends. Or, only tell, like, one friend so it doesn't start getting mobbed.
It's unpretentious, affordable, and it's not just that they have free wings on Mondays; they've also got free cheese and crackers on Thursdays, free Party Mix all the time in giant bowls, free bagels on Sundays, and an amazing beer menu with a ton of options.
The Brazen Head is a gem. It's one of the best bars in the city. Never let anyone tell you any different.
4. Croxley Ales (28 Avenue B)
thewinternerd90 Monday night is wings night. Gotta catch em all! ☺ #wings #bbqwings #wingsnight #croxleyales #nyc #sports #mondaynight #monday #happyhour #happy #happiness #food #foodporn #foodanddrink #beer #yum #yummy #drinkporn #drinks
Friday, friday, got to get down on Friday.
Or, how about, got to check out those famous free wings on Fridays. Actually, they've got an entire free buffet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, which we really can't say enough about.
Really, what we meant to say is that next time your friends say, "Where should we drink on Friday?" You'll know exactly how to respond.
Also, those delicious wings only cost 20 cents on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, too.
5. Cucina di Pesce (87 East 4th Street)
blackboardeats Whoever said you can’t have linguine with your fish stew didn’t hit up Cucina di Pesce. #eastvillage #nyc #cucinadipesce
Wednesdays at Cucina di Pesce are the place to be. We're not saying that lightly. Like, get there this Wednesday and we mean that.
When you order a drink at Cucina di Pesce on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., you can either get another drink for free, or you can get a free appetizer.
Why would anyone pick the free drink when the free appetizer options include a plate of baked clams, steamed mussels in a white wine garlic sauce, grilled calamari? We're at a loss to understand, but we're told people do this.
Also, the appetizers are buy one get one during happy hour, which we love, and they have free bread at the bar ... which we also don't hate.
,6. Five Guys (various locations)
If you're wondering where you can find the best burger in the entire city, we'd probably come at you with ideas like Shake Shack, Bare Burger, and, we'll admit it, we treat ourselves to a single burger from McDonald's every once a year or so.
Where it's really at though? Well, where it's really at is obviously Five Guys.
No, the burgers at Five Guys aren't free. We hate to let you know. What they do have, however, are free peanuts. When it comes to free peanuts, we've only really got two words to describe our feelings: yes please.
We're all about free food, and when that free food has protein and tastes good, we're even more psyched. It also doesn't hurt that the burgers are way amazing.
7. The Cupping Room Cafe (359 West Broadway)
cuppingroomcafe Don't forget: we are OPEN on Christmas Day! We're serving up brunch until 4 AND a lovely four course dinner starting at 6 pm. Reservations recommended. 📷 credit @dantedahabreh #cuppingroomny #cuppingroomcafe #SoHo #newyorkcity #nyc #newyork #westbroadway #BroomeSt #breakfast #brunch #lunch #thecuppingroomcafe #dinner #drinks #cocktails #christmas #christmasdinner
Love bar food? Like, the real grizzly sort of bar food, like hot wings, nachos and fries?
We're not sure why we asked, because the answer to that is obviously for just about everyone we know, but we just thought we'd let you know that when you drink at The Cupping Room Cafe on a weeknight between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., you get bar food for free.
8. Vero (1483 2nd Avenue)
eatzcateringco It's blood orange sangria and tuna tartare time. #happyhour #veronyc #yorkville #ues #chalkboardhappyhour #nyc #eeeeeats #eatupnyc #eatingnyc #thefoodspotter
On Mondays at Vero, when you buy a drink you get a free panini. You read that right. A free panini.
It's pretty much all we can do to keep from getting out of our seats and sprinting there right now. Especially since those paninis are fresh and tasty.
Our favorite panini is tasty and light, and at Vero they've also got one of the best spicy margaritas we've ever had. Plus, if you feel like splurging after your free panini, you should definitely go for the cookie monster as dessert. You'll never think about dessert the same.
Also, let's face it, you'd be drinking anyway, right? Might as well get a free panini when you do.
9. The Levee (212 Berry Street - Brooklyn)
madlibbing Kind of nom you don't know you need until they're free and in front of you 🧀🧀🧀💨🍽 #cheesepuffs #thelevee #williamsburg
If we told you not to think about it, but to name the best two snacks in existence as quickly as you could, you'd say cheese balls and Twizzlers, wouldn't you?
Thought so. The Levee, one of the chillest bars this side of the Atlantic Ocean, stocks its bar with bowls of cheese balls and Twizzlers. So you can party like you would in elementary school; with snacks, and how you do now as an adult, with beers and shots.
Plus, of course, everyone loves their old school CD jukebox. It's got mostly rock, with a touch classic country too.
Check out 7 Free Activities to Cross Off Your Holiday Bucket List in NYC.