It’s Springtime in New York City!
The trees in the park are budding a happy green, the days are getting longer and warmer (as long as we don’t get more damn snow) and the return of outdoor dining and drinking is upon us.
Although we’re cautiously optimistic about the weather, there are a few watering holes you don’t have to worry about getting your spring started at.
Everything changes in April. It’s a time for new beginnings, journeys and discoveries.
Which of these spring blossoms will you be at to get your start to the season in?
1. Attaboy (34 Eldridge Street)
An impressive mix between a downtown dive and a retro crash pad, this Lower East Side bar shows that you don’t have to be fancy to have a chic yet relaxing atmosphere, from the brushed-steel bar to the whitewashed brick walls.
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Bartenders in suspenders drum up some pretty cool cocktails to boot, like the citrusy Paper Plane, a bittersweet blend of bourbon, tangy Aperol, herbal amaro and lemon juice to get you puckering for more. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
2. sideBAR (118 East 15th Street)
With a space that has handled everything from happy hours to corporate events, it’s safe to say that sideBAR isn’t your everyday lounge. Come in to chill in one of their cozy banquettes, catch a game on of their 21 high-def TVs or catch a trivia night with some buds.
As if we needed more things stirred up over the 2016 presidential race, this hotspot is making politics a bit more enjoyable with drinks like the Feel the Bern jalapeño margarita or the towering Donald Drumpf, an apple pie punch with amaretto, sour apple pucker and Goldschlager.
3. Silhouette Lounge (5668 Broadway - the Bronx)
Does this drink make me look fat? Under the posh blue lights of this flashy hotspot in the heart of Riverdale, everyone looks good. A modern nightlife experience with a sexy Latin flair, the music is always on fleek, and so are the cocktails.
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In addition to their selection of specialty cocktails, another feature of this swanky lounge is their offering of high quality (and pretty affordable) hookah. Although it’s a place that welcomes all, there is a no jeans or sneakers dress code to dress for before you set out for your evening.
4. Alewife (5-14 51st Avenue - Queens)
With the still recent blossoming of Long Island city from industrial wasteland to urban foodie mecca, there are a number of new and exciting things to discover in the time-old neighborhood. One of these spots is a beer garden that more hopping than a number of the brews it serves.
Alewife brings to the beer party with an impressive 28 draft lines behind the bar and even more in bottle form, such as some hard-to-find European imported ales like the hoppy Belgian IPA De Ranke XX Bitter or the funky and flowery Oppigards Well-Hopped Lager from Sweden.
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5. Tørst (615 Manhattan Avenue - Brooklyn)
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There’s been a big influx of Scandinavian spots dotting the NYC foodie map, and now it’s running over into the bar scene as well. The Danish word for “thirst,” Tørst tosses you into a modern minimalist wooden bungalow for a taste bud trip like few others.
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Just a heads up. There’s going to be a lot of things here you can’t pronounce. But those are exactly the things that you want to order! The Hel & Verdoemenis 666 Imperial Stout is particularly sought after, right before the easier to say plum and molasses Even More Jesus stout with a whopping 12% ABV.
6. Ritz Bar & Lounge (369 West 46th Street)
A high-octane staple of the gay nightlife community, The Ritz sheds its winter coat when springtime rolls around. They open up their bi-level backyard drinking pad out back, which is a lot bigger than you’d ever think it could be, before the dance party starts when the sun goes down.
With a party or drag show just about every night of the week, not to mention a scene that keeps growing the warmer it gets, it’s a spot that offers a different experience every time, depending on the time and day you go and which of its three levels you get swept up to.
7. An Beal Bocht (445 West 238th Street - the Bronx)
Part indie café, part artistic drinking den, An Beal Bocht combines all the joys of an Irish pub with the atmosphere of a hip poetry club, hosting an array of live talents in music, theater, comedy and poetry. They’ve even had the Poor Mouth Theater Company perform on occasion.
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The drink menu here is just as eclectic as its ever-changing weekly show lineup, serving up local and traditional favorites like Brooklyn Lager and Guinness pints as well as hard-hitting whiskey cocktails and trendy, able-bodies wines.
8. Xanadu (160 North 12th Street - Brooklyn)
Where else can you fully bask in the glory of one of spring’s nicer days than on a scenic rooftop with glorious skyline views? There’s all that and more at Xanadu, a colorful Moroccan-themed rooftop lounge atop the McCarren Hotel.
Take a load off with their Velvet Breeze, a smooth concoction of Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, spiced liqueur with grapefruit and cranberry juice. Feeling extra indulgent? Take a swig of the Pink Squirrel, a fuzzy wuzzy mix of Tempus Fugit Crème de Noyaux, crème de cacao and fresh nutmeg.
Check out 12 Can't Miss Events Going Down This April in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]