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On a random summer night, a bouncer perched outside Bar Snack called out to me and other passersby on the street, luring us with the promise of great drinks, great food and "the best bathroom in the East Village." Reader: I am here to tell you—he was right. But if a disco-fresh bathroom isn't enough to tempt you in, the convivial nature and solid list of tasty cocktails (and snacks!) found at Bar Snack certainly will.  The vibe: After surveying the East Village and its many, many (expensive) cocktail bars, bartender Iain Griffiths and Brooklyn-based bar owner Oliver Cleary decided they wanted to create something—and so they did, serving "dressed-up classics for dressed-down people." The inside gives off '70s lounge—think wood paneling and a dark, walnut-wood bar lined with glittery orange bar stools. Snagging a seat during the nighttime hours can prove difficult as this bar certainly attracts a crowd, making standing room your best bet. But even the daytime can bring a rowdy good time, as rock and throwback hits (hello Spice Girls!) blare through the speakers. The food: Snack is in the name, isn't it? And snacks, they do so well. Fried cheese curds are tossed in pickle dust and hot dogs get a little fancy with onion jam and a hot pickle. But the snack of all snacks is the Spice Bag ($18). Leaning on Griffith's Irish roots, the bag comes to the table in a white paper bag labeled "Spice Bag" fashioned in the style of the Spice Girls logo. As much as you'll want to save it,...

Adda Indian Canteen was something of a revelation when it debuted in 2018; its refusal to compromise when it came to the bold side of the cuisine laid the groundwork for chef Chintan Pandya’s and Roni Mazumdar’s brand of cooking, and certainly influenced the name of their restaurant group: Unapologetic Foods. And yet, the original that kicked off a slew of award-winning restaurants (Dhamaka and Semma) came to a close earlier this May. But before we had time to write a eulogy, the closure came with a caveat: they would be back sooner than later. And they made good on that promise this April, moving operations to a larger space in the East Village. Alive yet again with a refreshed sense of self, Adda is continuing its long-standing ethos of presenting the cuisine in “its full, honest form.” Backdropped by graffiti-covered newspapers and magazines on the walls—which should look familiar, as the wallpaper was lifted from the old restaurant—Adda’s top hits return, including kebabs, soft housemade paneer and the combo of a silky egg custard and steamed goat brain in the bheja masala. But Adda’s evolution continues with lamb cooked every which way, with excellently seasoned minced meat pressed between layers of flatbread and skewered (Roti Aur Boti), and shreddy hunks bubbling in cast irons made even more unctuous with dollops of lamb butter. Chutneys? You can dip them and drink them in the same dinner, as tart tamarind, smoky mango mezcal and earthy onion brine martinis come...

Bowery's Bar Kabawa welcomes you to a Caribbean home. And here, at this home, we drink. The latest from the Momofuku team, the Bar Kabawa channels the rhythms of the islands with light woods and a color palette of turquoise blues and whites all set to Caribbean music thrumming through the speakers. Naturally, half of the cocktails are dedicated to the daiquiri, made classic with delicately thin shaved ice to the vegetal Bay Leaf Daiquiri made with nitro-muddled bay leaves. The rest relies on rum-forward drinks and a few shareables including a hollowed coconut full of your choice of rum. While one half of the bar shakes up drinks, the other half functions as an expo kitchen where you can watch chefs score banana leaves, fry and bake short rib and Guyanese pepper pot patties and torch desserts right at the counter. 

I can’t say I grew up with the comforts of hygge, and I'm still working on fully understanding the concept. But I've certainly gotten a firm idea of it after visiting Hudson Square's glossy cocktail bar, Kabin. While indicated by the name, Kabin isn't a cozy winter cabin run by your cheugy, mountainous friends. Instead, the sleek Norwegian cocktail lounge reads like an Airbnb retreat that's on your dream list. With tall ceilings anchored by white-washed wooden beams and elements of steel, the drinking den comes to life at night, illuminated by soft lighting behind the bar and handsome fixtures on the ceiling that sprout like tree roots. But sleek doesn't mean cold, as tucked-away corners hide leather chairs, furry pillows, and blankets ready to receive you. The cocktails transport you even further into Norwegian culture, quite literally. Fashioned like a retro, almost campy airline pamphlet, cheekily billed as Nordic Air & Travel, the menu breaks out into sections of what you would experience, taste and see if you were to happen upon a visit to the region. We suggest a stopover with the Kaffepause, a coffee-infused number that uses brewed beans from La Cabra (which they serve by the cup in the morning), thickened with a toasty, sticky rice almond milk and spiced with a few dashes of Ancho Reyes. The Karpe—which pays tribute to Norway's iconic rap duo of the same name—is certainly a boozy one, blending aquavit and mezcal, but somehow it drinks a little like Christmas thanks...

Some things get better with age. The Empire State Building—now approaching its 100th birthday—is definitely one of them.  The Empire State Building became an icon when it opened in 1931 as the world's tallest building. Though the landmark may have lost its No. 1 height status, it's remained a beloved destination with incredible views of the city. Thanks to recent updates, it's not just about the views anymore. The building now spotlights art, architecture, and history; plus, it offers a slew of cool events and excellent dining options.  Tourists tend to make the Empire State Building their first stop upon arriving in New York City, and they're onto something—it's worth a visit, no matter if you're a lifelong New Yorker or just passing through town. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to this essential gem of the Manhattan skyline. RECOMMENDED: 101 best things do in NYC Why is the Empire State Building so famous? This building was a Very Big Deal since day one. It was the world’s first building to soar higher than 100 stories, and it was completed in a record-breaking 1 year and 45 days thanks to seven million man-hours of hard work. The 102-story skyscraper opened to plenty of fanfare. On May 1, 1931, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C., officially opening the building and turning on the Empire State Building’s lights for the first time. The building quickly became a tourist hotspot, even more so when it became the...

Death & Co. ushered in a bit of class to the cocktail world when it made its debut on New Year's Eve in 2006, spearheaded by David Kaplan, Alex Day and Ravi DeRoss. The bar continues to top the category, winning countless awards and accolades, nearing its 20-year stretch. Even as D&C's reach extends beyond the city limits—with locations in Denver, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.—the original speakeasy remains the top in NYC for its innovative spin on what's in the glass.  The vibe: There isn't much to let you know you've arrived at D&C, as the faded exterior easily blends into the background of Sixth Street. But the imposing wooden door with a green handle, which has turned gold from the number of hands coming and going, is the biggest clue. Inside, the bar leans gothic, as tulip-shaped, oil-burning candles gently illuminate exposed brick and deep woods. Low slung tables are most certainly an option for close cocktailing, but the bar is the best seat to watch the magic in action.   The drinks: If you have any curiosities as you thumb through D&C's cocktail menu, organized by "Light & Playful" to "Boozy & Honest," just ask the bartender before you. Depending on your level of interest, you can easily nerd out with the staff, from how they completely re-do the menu twice a year—every year—to how they troubleshoot a foamy faux egg white (psst...the answer lies with xanthan gum and soy lectin). So, what do you drink? A recent visit yielded the Occam Razor with mezcal and matcha...

If buzzy nouveau old-school chophouse Gage & Tollner is downtown Brooklyn’s flagship, tiki bar Sunken Harbor Club aims to be its captain’s quarters. Through G&T’s entrance, an unmarked door and up one flight, SHC is not only a major shift in tone from its sister restaurant, but in sensibility–less Don Draper thoughtfully sipping an Old Fashioned than Captain Jack Sparrow bellowing about rum. Sunken Harbor Club commits to the tiki-bar-in-a-sunken-ship bit bow to stern; fog machine fore and sultry mermaid painting aft. The themey light fixtures phosphoresce just enough for guests to appreciate the nautical ephemera and Hawaiian shirts worn by every member of the welcoming staff, not to mention the pretty drinks. In what may be the single conceptual link between the Sunken Harbor Club and Gage & Tollner, restrained innovation is buoyed by skillful execution. SHC put their spin on almost every tiki favorite, plus a selection of more novel but not bananas concoctions (unless you’re literally into bananas, in which case they’ve got a house-made liquor for you), all of which are tasty. The menu is arranged in ascending alcoholic potency, so it’s easy to chart your course. And by limiting most items to three or four key elements, pretension is thrown overboard in favor of fun. Prices float in the $20 range but that number ebbs and flows. There are also a few options for wine and beer, and yes, SHC has its very own short list of tasty finger food (e.g., sliders, shrimp toast,...

This Madison Avenue institution began as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan and is his artistic gift to the city. Building on the collection Morgan amassed in his lifetime, the museum houses first-rate works on paper, including drawings by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Picasso; three Gutenberg Bibles; a copy of Frankenstein annotated by Mary Shelley; manuscripts by Dickens, Poe, Twain, Steinbeck and Wilde; sheet music handwritten by Beethoven and Mozart; and an original edition of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol that’s displayed every yuletide. Also keep an eye out for rotating special exhibitions.  In 2006, a massive renovation and expansion orchestrated by Renzo Piano brought more natural light into the building and doubled the available exhibition space. A theater, Gilder Lehrman Hall, regularly hosts recitals and concerts.

When I stepped into Superbueno on a balmy summer evening, the place was swinging—literally. The red globe lights that hung over the bar were waving back and forth, rhythmically pushed and palmed by the bartenders. When I asked the hostess what the occasion was, she replied, “Just to change the vibe in here.” Within seconds, I knew there was a party to be had here. Since opening in April 2023, everyone who seems to visit Superbueno seems to have a super good time. And they have the accolades to prove it. Food & Wine named it one of the top bars in the U.S., as did Tales of the Cocktail. And in 2024, the bar made The World’s Best 50 Bars North America for the first time ever, nabbing the no. 2 spot fresh out of the gate. But after visiting, I say you don’t need the awards on the wall to tell you that you’ll have a good time here. Each time I visited, from a prompt 6pm table on a Thursday to a late visit on Monday night, happy New Yorkers occupied bar seats under swinging globes, and tables and booths were just as full, making a reservation necessary no matter the day of the week. The LED lights—lining the room, below the bar, really everywhere—helped to set the mood, starting as a blush pink when I first arrived, transitioning to a sultry red as the evening carried on. When I sat down, on my left, a table jammed to the thrums of bachata playing over the speakers. To my right, a booth clamored to take pictures of their birthday shots served in a Rock’em Sock’em Robots game....

Translating to “a little candy dish,” La Bonbonniere has been in operation since the 1930s. Maroulletis and Marina Cortez Arrieta took over the operation in the 90s, and have kept the doors open through it all—9/11, the blackout of 2003 and Hurricane Sandy. And when they struggled to stay alive during the pandemic, it was the community that showed up for them, giving funds to keep this slice of nostalgia alive for the foreseeable future. To this day, La Bonbonniere functions like a New York diner should. The daily soundtrack includes sounds like metal spatulas clanking on the flat top, orders of pancakes and French fries yelled across the counter and the chatter of patrons squeezed tight around Formica tables. Marina flits through it all with an efficiency only learned by manning such an operation for so long, balancing three platters of club sandwiches at a time and greeting and seating all types, sometimes in English, Spanish and even French. Maroulletis mans the grill with his crew behind the counter, griddling eggs, bacon and their famous pancakes ($9.25) with a nice crispy top and fluffy center, studded with the right amount of chocolate chips, which is a lot. Is the coffee served in those classic blue cups a bit burnt? Well...yes. Do the large portions of potatoes flecked with paprika arrive a bit cold? Also yes. But can you also leave here with an omelette, a few good slices of crispy bacon and a cup of coffee for less than $15, leaving plenty of room to tip?...