Julien Levy

Queens truly has everything. World-class museums, incredible food, beaches, parks, and major sports and concert venues just for starters. But while you’re visiting any of the above, it truly would behoove you to pop in for a drink at one of Queens’ many wonderful watering holes. We’re talking bars, and below you’ll find one for prettymuch every taste, from freaks to geeks and everything in between. Some are old, a lot are new, but all of them are proud to serve one of the most ethnically diverse locales in the world. RECOMMENDED: Best bars in NYC

Brooklyn’s culinary landscape is one of the finest in the world, hosting many of the best restaurants and bars in New York City and beyond. The borough has so many excellent pizza places, BBQ and brunch options, one could spend a lifetime trying them all. Our favorite 41 are a terrific place to start, including new additions Clover Hill, Koko's, Santo Parque and Diem Eatery.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

When good weather breaks through the clouds, NYC has an abundance of things to do outside. In addition to parks and other outdoor attractions, we have a slew of rooftop bars and outdoor dining options to choose from. And some of the best bars in NYC fit into the beer garden and hall categories, ideal for those brief and beautiful moments when it’s neither too hot nor too cold, and only a brew will do. These NYC beer gardens have everything you’d expect—outdoor tables, games, music, and of course delicious suds, many brewed on-site. Throw in some tasty snacks and you’ve got yourself the perfect afternoon. Whatever style of beer you prefer, NYC has an alfresco option for sipping a cold one on a gorgeous day. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do outside in NYC

Sure–celebrating Cinco de Mayo satisfies any South-of-the-Border craving, but why reserve the city’s best margaritas in NYC for just one day? It's always time for tequila, especially when shaken up with a hit of spice or swirled with sweet watermelon. Hit NYC’s best Mexican restaurants for some serious agave spirits, or down them alongside some of Gotham's best tacos. Fair warning, though: You're gonna want a pitcher.   RECOMMENDED: Full guide to cocktails in NYC

There are a lot of cool places to hang out on the streets of New York City’s perennial cool-kids-table, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. But once the sun goes down, what figuratively and quite literally elevates the cool factor is taking things above street level. Three words: Williamsburg rooftop bars. Yes, friends, if you know where to go and play your cards right, you and your squad can win summer by dancing, drinking, and/or vibing out amid rooftop breezes and vistas. And while New York City has seemingly no shortage of truly world-class rooftop establishments across its five boroughs, what you’ll find below are the coolest sky-facing bars within Williamsburg’s densely-packed 2 square miles. If you’re looking for breezy fun with ready-made photo ops of NYC’s iconic skyline, we’ve got you covered. So double-check the weather forecast and the L train’s status, without further ado, here are our top picks for Williamsburg’s rooftop bars RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in NYC

NYC's Japanese restaurant landscape is rich with ever-growing, ramen, izakaya and Michelin-starred sushi destinations, among many other offerings. The best include casual affairs, grand experiences and some that split the difference. Whatever your preference, these are the finest options for all of that and more right now.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

Of all the amazing restaurants in New York City, Korean barbecue destinations are particularly fun. Typically DIY, and always at least a little interactive, they're even more exciting with a group. Whatever your level of skill on the grill, the top KBBQ spots in town always come in hot with fresh, firey meats with tingly seasonings and sauces that you can cook exactly to your liking.  In Koreatown, Flushing and beyond, you’ll find swanky experiences and lower-key options, each with all the standards, hot pots and family-style dishes that Korean BBQ is known for. These are the very best in NYC right now.  RECOMMENDED: Find more of the best restaurants in NYC 

It’s that time of year again, birders! We’re out to spot a remarkable raptor, a heavenly hooter, a superlative strigiform, so grab your binoculars and… wait, what? Sorry. Kerning is sues. Let’s try again: It’s that time of year again, New York City sports fans! That’s right: the game of games, the last NFL matchup until kickoff next September: Super Bowl Sunday is nigh.  This year’s contest will be joined in Las Vegas, and, with a little planning, you can party like a pro in NYC, too, with wings, beer, and nachos, oh yes, but also, maybe, oh no? What if you’re not into all that stuff? Or what if you are but your friends’ aren’t? What if none of your party feels like going to someone’s parents’ house to watch the game on a motion-smoothed TV? Below, you’ll find recommendations for where to watch the Super Bowl like a superb owl at 6:30pm on February 11, with selections that suit every taste, in whichever borough you hoot home.  RECOMMENDED: Find more on the Super Bowl in NYC

Leaves change, evenings draw out longer and the air carries a chill: it’s cozy season. And what could be cozier than a cup of warming rum? Your highly hygge home may be heeding you to hibernate, but seeing as you’re in one of the greatest cocktail cities in the world, it really does behoove you to get out there and see what the pros are shaking up.  Don’t let the ubiquity of butter on this list fool you; below you’ll find a diverse assemblage of excellent warm rum cocktails at a variety of establishments across all five of NYC’s boroughs. You may just have to wait until an official seasonal menu switch-over before you can partake, but that just gives you plenty of time to dig out your favorite cable-knit sweater. So bundle up to get down and check out these excellent warm rum cocktails to sip this winter. RECOMMENDED: NYC's 20 best rooftop bars for cooler weather

Stepping into Bamboo Garden’s shimmering banquet hall feels a bit like crashing a glitzy wedding. Despite steep competition, this Brooklyn Chinatown destination boasts some of the five boroughs’ best Dim Sum, a fact well-known to locals, so weekend brunch is lively as conversations buzz and plates pile high. But any time of day on any day of the week (if the place isn’t hosting an actual wedding) you can enjoy massive portions of quality chinese food in tranquility.

Sibling owners Samaya Boueri Ziade and George Boueri have astutely tuned their first restaurant, Sawa, to a welcoming frequency. When balance is well and truly struck as it is at this new Lebanese restaurant, the meal is straightforward, easy to enjoy, and all the richer for it.  Located at Park Slope’s edge on 5th Avenue, shiny tile, white marble and whitewash bounce light from windows front and back making the place feel open and airy. Virtually nothing here happens out of sight: 45 seats are spread across two halves connected in a horseshoe, so entering the main dining room necessitates a smartly calculated stroll past the pita oven that  pumps out warm pocket loaves, a tasteful gallery of Lebanese sundries, and an open kitchen helmed by Gramercy Tavern and Sofreh alum, Soroosh Golbabae.  The effect is a (successful) sense of invitation. Early on a weekday evening, within a half hour of opening its doors, Sawa’s tables were full of casual diners chatting amiably with a friendly staff happy to elucidate the Lebanon-of-it-all. The fare follows suit: inviting, tasty, and clear-cut to mostly great effect.  While the cocktail program takes no big swings—it consists almost entirely of classics with more of a wink at Lebanese flavors than a full-on embrace—everything went down easy and was unfussy and well-balanced. Plus there’s a decent wine selection alongside Lebanese beer, mocktails, and Arak (Lebanon’s own anise-flavored liquor), so there was something for everyone. Most mea

The KBBQ is delicious, the atmosphere is friendly, and the portions are generous, but here’s the thing that will blow your mind: Hahm Ji Bach is open 24-hours. That’s right, any hour, day or night, you can hop over and dig into the house-specialty mouth-watering black pork belly or, really, any of your favorites–everything on the menu is tasty and comforting and comes with lettuce and sauce with which to construct wraps, plus a generous banchan. But keep in mind: the place is owned by Younghwan Kim–Queens K-Town’s unofficial mayor, so it’s well-known to locals and you may experience a wait, but there’s plenty of space so it won’t take long.

Absurd pun, yes, but this place is no joke. All you can eat in a 100-minute span is the name of the game in this large, industrial-adjacent, mostly utilitarian setting. But you didn’t come here for ambiance, you came here to you blast bulgogi and banchan. With a reasonably-priced menu of all your favorites to choose from and literal towers of beer, you’re gonna have a fun time. Parties of 4 are recommended to really get the bang for your buck.

Gopchang is the Korean word for offal, which, as you may have guessed, is this restaurant’s specialty. There’s ample seating at both the Manhattan and Flushing locations, so belly up with a group and split a grilled combo.

There’s not much room to spread out, but if you’re looking to eat excellent KBBQ far from the flashy trappings and buzzy atmosphere of K-Town, Mapo BBQ is a great choice. This traditional KBBQ comes with a generous banchan, plus marinades and sauces steeped in familiar flavors. Plus, all of the proteins are cooked over a charcoal grill, imparting an excellent smokey note to your ribs and kalbi. 

Dear New York City Bar Patrons, It’s me, your trusty bartender. We need to talk about our relationship since COVID. For a few of us, bartending is a career; maybe even a calling. For the rest, it’s a job. Regardless of the motivation, there’s no denying that the way we turn a buck occupies a unique space in American culture. “We work in a very interesting industry where, yeah, it’s all about fun. But, y’know, in that fun, there’s a lot of risk,” says Dan, 37, who is a 20-year service industry veteran and manager/owner/cocktail wizard at West Village spot, Bandits. “You have to look out for people as a bartender.” But COVID flipped the world upside down. That includes us. “One of the first rules [bartenders] always hear is, ’no politics, no, religion in a bar,’” Dan says. “That went out the window because we were forced to kind of be the liaisons of the rules.”   Photograph: Julien Levy | George bartending at Double Windsor Almost overnight, we were effectively deputized COVID compliance officers, shoved onto the front lines. “That created definitely a weird balance where we were forced–or asked to–police our customers a little extra in order to keep the liquor license,” Dan says. Caught between a deadly virus, the government’s inchoate mandates (some of them arbitrary and punitive), our bosses, and you, norms of affability and commiseration had to take a back seat. “We’re here to serve, but we’re nobody’s servant. Don’t agree? There’s the door.” “We used to call it lifegua