The best bluegrass music venues in NYC

The remoteness of Red Hook has long been its charm, and the backroom of Sunny’s Bar has long been a refuge for down-home musicians. Every Wednesday, you can treat yourself to the sweet tang of bluegrass music in an unpretentious watering hole—one that’s been serving up cheap booze and good tunes since the 1890s.

From 6:30 to 10:30pm every Monday, you can saddle up to these posh digs and enjoy exotic spirits (read: Japanese whiskey from the menu of more than 400 varieties) and a live bluegrass quartet. Attend a few times and you’ll be an expert on bourbon whiskey in no time.

While the backroom here hosts shows as varied as belly dancing and stand-up comedy, every Wednesday, this rank-and-file dive bar hosts a live bluegrass show hosted by local hero Sheriff Bob. He may just inspire you to take guitar lessons yourself.

Hit up a honky-tonk hoedown at this Williamsburg staple. Savor the Western vibes while imbibing spiked sweet tea in a brimming Mason jar or sipping an outrageous blend of Guinness and Dr. Pepper called the Dr. G.Relax and kick back on a bench made out of a 1981 Ford F100 pickup truck. You know, like they do in the South (or at least south of Greenpoint Avenue).

If you’ve struggled to find a halfway decent pulled pork sandwich north of the Mason-Dixon line, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, this Astoria beer garden delivers some of the best BBQ—and more. It has generous picnic-style seating out back and a long list of creative moonshine-based cocktails. Oh, and of course, lots of worthwhile bluegrass ensembles. Need we say more?

Every Monday, virtuoso guitarist Rick Snell hosts an open session at Mona’s that features Appalachian fiddle music, bluegrass and old-school country. If you’ve got a bad case of the Mondays, there’s no better cure than the no-cover music at this after-hours joint.