Grand Central Market has turned itself into a nationally-renowned dining destination in the past couple of years, but here's a little-discussed fact: it's a pretty sweet spot for drinking, too. Not only can you sip on beer, wine and liquor, but you can pick up a few supplies for home bartending on the way. Following the tried-and-true axiom "Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you're in the clear," we created our very own DIY bar crawl through GCM.
1. Start at the Oyster Gourmet for some rosé, because you're classy like that (and trust us, it's easier to start the night with rosé than end on it). The oyster shack has a solid list of reds and whites, but the Château Les Valentines rosé is especially great—and even better with a half-dozen oysters.
2. Bar Moruno finally got its beer and wine license last week, and is now offering some pretty exceptional varietals (primarily from Spain and France). What they're best known for, though, is sherry and house-made vermouth. If you're not totally familiar with either, now's the time to get acquainted—try Moruno's Vermina, a blended vermouth offered on tap.
3. Shopping is more fun when you're tipsy, so take a breather and circle around to Courage & Craft, where you can stock up on local bitters, liquor and some pretty spiffy cocktail equipment for an at-home night cap.
4. Okay, we're drinking again, this time at Golden Road Brewery, where you can choose from 20 taps. Easing into beer is always a good approach as the night comes to an end, and the one-two punch of a Point the Way IPA coupled with Golden Road's pierogis is a winning combo.
5. End your evening under the stars (or at least under towering skyscrapers) with a beer from Horse Thief on the outdoor patio. The beer and wine counter is located just next to Horse Thief's window, and you can find standouts from Smog City, Duvel and Shiner Bock.
We'll leave you with this bonus: the red and purple Metro lines at Pershing Square are just a few blocks away, so you can drink to your heart's content.
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