Midtown East Bars & Nightlife
Thirsty? Good, because Midtown East bars are some of the best you’ll find in all of Manhattan. From lively pubs where everyone feels like an old friend (even if you’ve only just met) to hidden upscale establishments serving cocktails the likes of which you’ve never seen, the best bars of Midtown East are yours to explore.
Sports Bars/Beer Garden
The best sports bars are the ones where you never feel out of place. Even if you’ve never been there before, it welcomes you with a warm atmosphere and friendly fellow patrons. And those are the kinds of spots you’ll find in this neighborhood. Whether you’re looking for a place to watch the game and enjoy a pint or a somewhere to spend happy hour with coworkers, Midtown East’s sports bars are exactly what you’re looking for.
Connolly’s Pub: The Midtown East outpost of this homegrown, family-owned Irish pub chain offers a consistently good pub experience with a slightly upmarket flair. Soak up the beers with pub grub classics including Buffalo wings and spinach-artichoke dip or go bigger with a variety of burgers that include the standout Gaelic burger with Irish bacon, cheddar cheese, and caramelized onions. And true to Irish pub fashion, you can also find a solid take on shepherd’s pie and bangers & mash.
Treadwell Park: German beers will feel at home at this sprawling indoor beer hall fitted with communal tables, a fireplace, and a free, serve-yourself popcorn machine. Whether you want to sit and enjoy your brews with some fitting German-American bar food or stay on your feet for ping pong and pinball, Treadwell Park has something for you.
Public House: Looking to catch the game and grab a burger? Public House offers a lively crowd in a fancified sports bar environment. A staple of the after-work crowd, happy hour prices include five-dollar domestic beers, six-buck house wine, and seven-dollar cocktails. If you’re sticking around for dinner, the bar offers a three-course set menu—with wine! —every Wednesday.
Cornerstone Tavern: Whatever day of the week it is, you’ll find something going on at the two-story Cornerstone Tavern. Between nine and midnight every night, patrons can belt out their favorite tunes during karaoke. On Wednesdays, they can put their knowledge to the test during trivia, and on the weekends, a bottomless brunch is a sure crowd pleaser. But, first and foremost, Cornerstone Tavern is where you’ll find a high-end sports bar experience, with fans watching games on 20 HD TVs, enjoying good food, craft and imported beers, and seasonal cocktails.
Peter Dillon’s Pub: If you’ve ever been to a classic Irish pub, you know exactly what Peter Dillon’s is all about. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, laid back and relaxing, making it a perfect spot to unwind with coworkers after a long day, or mingle with new people while watching a game. The beer selection of both draft and bottled brews, as well as rotating pint, pitcher, and shot specials. And, while Peter Dillon’s doesn’t serve food, patrons are invited to either bring their own, or have it delivered while watching a game and enjoying a pint.
SNAFU Bar & Lounge: Just steps from Grand Central Station is where you’ll find SNAFU, a tri-level spot that invites guests to feel right at home. The bar features wide screen plasma TVs that always have a game on, whether it’s a major professional or college sporting event, baseball, football, soccer, basketball, or hockey. But the bar is far from all SNAFU has to offer. The mezzanine lounge, with its fireplace and heavy sofas, is undeniably cozy and provides the perfect place for deep conversation while sipping mouthwatering cocktails. And, on the lowest level, guests will find a gaming room equipped with a pool table and a video game nook. Like Peter Dillon’s, SNAFU doesn’t offer food, but guests are encouraged to either bring their own, or order in.
DRAUGHT 55: There are some bars that take beer very seriously, and DRAUGHT 55 is certainly one of them. Established in November of 2012 with a mission to bring the best American craft brews to Midtown East, DRAUGHT 55 takes pride in constantly monitoring the temperature of keg rooms to ensure that the taste of draught beer is never compromised. Found a beer at DRAUGHT 55 that you love? Take it home with you. They offer growler fill up service on all their draughts, and carry a selection of over 60 bottled and canned brews from which you can choose. The establishment also offers a food menu featuring dishes that emphasize fresh, local ingredients … many of which are often beers.
Wine & Cocktails
Shaken or stirred, neat or on the rocks — however you prefer a cocktail, there are bars and lounges in Midtown East ready to make it for you. And if you want to try something new, even better. With skilled mixologists behind the the bar, unique and inventive cocktails are easily within reach.
Hudson Malone: Home to good food, great drinks, and friendly people, Hudson Malone is both rustic and inviting, serving up comfort foods and classic cocktails. And while that is all well and good, hidden upstairs is Hudson Malone’s gem, a place to go if atmosphere and a cocktail is what you seek. Up a secret staircase, the Siren Room offers a more intimate dining experience than its sister restaurant below. The room is elegantly appointed with boudoir-style decor, luring guests to sip cocktails and sample delicious dishes while high above the hustle and bustle of Midtown East. Add in live piano throughout the week, and it’s a wonder patrons ever leave.
Crimson & Rye: The main attraction at Crimson & Rye: cocktails. Located in the lobby of Manhattan’s iconic Lipstick Building, this welcoming establishment boasts a collection of over 100 whiskeys, ryes, bourbons, and scotches. Served neat, on the rocks, or with hand-chipped ice, these brown spirits are the at the center of most of Crimson & Rye’s signature cocktails. But that’s not to say they don’t have other spirits at the ready. With an extensive selection of gins, vodkas, wines, and beers, their skilled bartenders can easily shake or stir up something to tempt any palate.
Sofia Wine Bar & Café: Located steps away from the Fifty Hotel & Suites, this pint-sized wine bar fuses the ethos of Italian wine bars and cafés with a chic New York sensibility. Here, pair your choice of over 50 bottles of wine from a rotating list with a number of delicious traditional dishes like house made gnocchi, assorted salami, and baked eggplant parmigiana.
Lavo: One of the original pioneers of the hybrid restaurant-club scene in New York City, this buzzy bi-level concept offers a DJ-sound tracked nightclub downstairs and an upscale southern Italian restaurant on the ground floor. After consuming the likes of a 16 oz. Kobe meatball, eighteen-inch lobster-scampi pizza, and dessert of Oreo zeppole’s, dance the calories off downstairs.
The Campbell: For a sip of bygone New York, visit this sophisticated landmark bar and lounge connected to the Grand Central Terminal. The space has played many roles and passed through many hands throughout its storied history: it started as an office and entertainment hall to railroad baron and American financier John W. Campbell, but also served as a police station before becoming a bar in the late 90s. Despite several revamps, plenty of its original fixtures are still intact, including a stone fireplace and distinctive leaded-glass windows.
The Long Room: Irish pub meets midtown lounge. Just far enough from Times Square, this dimly lit haunt caters primarily to the after-work crowd with plush couches and 44 beers on draft. Sidle up to the aptly long bar up front to grab a brew or choose from their long list of whiskeys or grab your drink and head over to the lounge in the back.
La Cava: Brunch lovers take note, this sleek wine bar offers a great deal for all-you-can-drink brunch. Dinner here is also strong, with a fantastic selection of both Old World and California wines paired with a curated selection of cheeses and simple foods such as lamb chops, duck paté, and several Italian paninis.
Ophelia Lounge: Perched atop the roof of the famed Beekman Tower, this indoor-outdoor cocktail lounge spotlights inventive mixology along with fantastic views of Manhattan and the East River. The name nods to the building’s history: it was once home to the only hotel managed entirely by women, and later became a social club for working women. Expect a mix of after-work revelers and tourists enjoying the opulent decor and thoughtful drinks.
Bars & Nightlife Near Fifty Hotel & Suites
Connolly’s Pub
14 E 47th St, New York, NY 10017
212.867.3767
https://madison.connollyspubandrestaurant.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.7 miles
Treadwell Park
1125 1st Ave, New York, NY 10065
212.832.1551
http://treadwellpark.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.9 miles
Public House
140 E 41st St, New York, NY 10017
212.682.3710
http://publichousenyc.com
Distance from hotel: 0.8 miles
Cornerstone Tavern
961 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022
212.888.7403
https://www.cornerstonetavern.com/home
Distance from hotel: 0.3 miles
Peter Dillon’s Pub
130 E 40th St, New York, NY 10016
212.213.3998
http://peterdillons.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.7 miles
SNAFU Bar & Lounge
127 E 47th St, New York, NY 10017
212.317.9100
https://snafubarnyc.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.5 miles
DRAUGHT55
245 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
212.300.4096
http://www.draught55.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.5 miles
Hudson Malone
218 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022
212.355.6607
http://www.hudsonmalone.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.5 miles
Crimson & Rye
198 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022
212.687.6692
https://www.crimsonandrye.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.2 miles
Sofia Wine Bar
242 E 50th St, New York, NY 10022
212.888.8660
https://www.sofiawinebar.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.2 miles
Lavo
39 E 58th St, New York, NY 10022
212.750.5588
https://lavony.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.7 miles
The Campbell
15 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017
212.297.1781
https://www.thecampbellnyc.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.6 miles
The Long Room
120 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
212.997.3933
https://www.thelongroomnyc.com/
Distance from hotel: 1.7 mile
La Cava
939 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022
212.223.1206
http://www.lacavanyc.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.2 miles
Ophelia Lounge
3 Mitchell Pl, 26th floor, New York, NY 10017
212.980.4796
https://opheliany.com/
Distance from hotel: 0.5 miles
