Setting the pace for campy, good-natured fun (though not classic glamour), the city’s oldest cabaret is still going strong at 55. A generous mix of regulars and tourists laugh and sing along with drag performers, comedians and rising stars in the cabaret room on the second floor. (Special showcases are still in the intimate game room, which is also upstairs and has a separate bar.) In the ground-floor piano bar, the merry singing waitstaff is entertaining enough to avoid charges of gimmickry.
Thanks to the West Village’s legacy as a groundbreaking gayborhood, some of the best nightlife in the area is found in gay venues like The Stonewall Inn and The Monster. Home of the storied Village Vanguard, the neighborhood is also a good bet for jazz. Start (or end) your night at one of the area’s best bars.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to West Village