Winning tip: Rudy’s bar and grill, Hell’s Kitchen
Calling itself ‘New York’s most famous dive bar’, Rudy’s walks it likes it talks it: the beer is cheap, the hotdogs are free; Rolling Stone called its jukebox the best in the city and the seats are held together by duct tape! The 6ft pig outside first drew us, as rain-soaked tourists, in, and we found regulars as diverse as the city itself and friendly bar staff who regaled us with tales of the bar’s more colourful celebrity patrons, from Al Capone to a pre-drinking age Drew Barrymore.
• 627 9th Avenue, +1 646 707 0890, rudysbarnyc.com
hecticplanet
Coalyard Bar, East Village
This is a proper neighbourhood dive bar where you can go in alone on a quiet night and make new friends with the locals. At weekends, it’s a raucous mash-up of students, young professionals and Village-beaten old-timers. Mingle in the dingy backyard that’s open till 10pm – one of the few places you can have a drink and a smoke in that part of town.
• 102 1st Avenue and 6th Street, +1 212 677 4595, coalyardbar.com
Joe Marshall
11th Street Bar, East Village
Perfect for UK-expats, particularly if you’re a Liverpool fan. Football on TV and a great-value happy hour. Low-key, relaxed place for a bit of “soccer” in the Big Apple.
• 510 East 11th Street, +1 212 982 3929, 11thstbar.com
NYCtraveller2
McSorley’s Old Ale House, East Village
I was inspired to find this place by a story by former New Yorker writer Joseph Mitchell, called McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon, which distills the essence of the place. You won’t be blown away by the decor, but the bar is full of history and tall tales. And, in an era of huge craft beer lists, the choice (of light or dark beer) is easy.
• 15 East 7th Street, +1 212 473 9148, mcsorleysnewyork.com
RobbyH
Milano’s Bar, SoHo
I went here for a dare and came out six hours later at 3am having exchanged life stories with the craziest girl I’d ever met after several jugs of $5 Budweisers, and mixers stirred up by a team of wise-cracking ageing-rocker bartenders. The atmosphere was buzzing: dancing, Jim Morrison-inspired poetry readings, New York Yankees’ game on TV, amazing jukebox and the threat that a fight might break out any time.
• 51 East Houston Street, +1 212 226 8844
foxthecox
The Ding Dong Lounge, Upper West Side
Grungy and full of a random mix of students, activists and backpackers, this bar makes the best whiskey sours in the city. When we were there, we were subjected to some pretty awful poetry readings – which actually made for great entertainment – then we left to find a man rushing past the bar with a gun in his hand. Truly New York City.
• 929 Columbus Avenue, +1 212 663 2600, dingdonglounge.com
heagles13
NB The Ding Dong Lounge is closing on July 31 2014. The owners have pledged to open at a new location, TBC. Amended on 29 July 2014
Blue Ruin, Hell’s Kitchen
It’s central, it’s cheap, has a brilliant jukebox and pool table, the staff are friendly, and the vibe is cosy and chilled-out … and as an out-of-towner, that’s just what I wanted. Blue Ruin was my dive bar home-from-home.
• 538 9th Avenue, +1 646 684 3657
ID9069461
Jimmy’s Corner, Midtown
This amazing locals’ dive bar is owned and run by New York boxing legend Jimmy Glenn. Jimmy rules the jukebox, while his wife and son rule the bar. You may recognise it: the closing scenes in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull were filmed here. It is dark, comfy and full of boxing memorabilia, with a friendly and interesting clientele.
• 140 West 44th Street, +1 212 221 9510
MarshyFR
Vazac’s Horseshoe Bar, Alphabet City
The perfect place to let off steam, meet strangers or bury a broken heart, this bar has a margherita hour that starts at midday. The pinball machine whizzes into action from mid-morning, and cheap drinks flow into the early hours. Wise-cracking bartenders will lift your spirits with a time honoured New York quip.
• 108 Avenue B, +1 212 677 6742
TheCapeCruiser
Rosemary’s Greenpoint Tavern, Brooklyn
Perhaps Williamsburg is too trendy to have a real dive bar but if there were any in the running this would be it. It’s been on Bedford Avenue for over 50 years and the beer is cheap, served in styrofoam cups. There are Christmas lights on the ceiling all year round, a great jukebox, and bartenders who are old enough to be your parents. Brilliant.
• 188 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, +1 718 384 9539
ElderL
