6 Best Bars And Restaurants In NYC For A Guys' Night Out
Below are our six picks for an extraordinary guys' night out in New York City. There's not a sports bar in the bunch. Instead, we opted for interesting experiences, from mowing down on a steak to chugging a carefully crafted cocktail, to trying to beat your all-time high score in Frogger. By Jessica Allen.
Related: Best Mixologist Bars In New York City
Because not every guy wants to pound back a brewski on his night out. Located down a semi-hidden street in Chinatown, Apothéke specializes in cocktails carefully crafted (the bartenders wear lab coats) from organic and local produce, including herbs from the bar's very own rooftop garden. Among the bar's "prescriptions," or drinks, are the "hecho in Mexico," with tequila, habanero, lime, tamarind, and agave nectar, and the "cherry licorice," with single malt scotch, housemade cherry bitters, tart cherries, absinthe essence, and a cherry licorice garnish.
Related: NYC's Best Bars With Board Games
Because video games are cool, and nostalgia is cooler. At this converted metal shop in Williamsburg, guys (and gals) can sip locally crafted beers while seeing if they can remember how to play such vintage arcade games as Ms. Pacman, Paperboy, Frogger, Rampage, and Galaga. And don't worry about breaking the bank: each game costs between 25 and 50 cents, so you likely have enough money to go out in between your couch cushions. The beer menu changes often, but you can get the bar's exclusive beers anytime.
Related: Best Bars For Wine Tasting In NYC
Because this place has got an in-house winemaker. The Brooklyn Winery is an actual functioning winery, smack in the heart of the city's coolest borough (arguably). In fact, why not settle that argument over a couple of glasses of small-batch, artisinal, housemade Riesling, barrel-fermented chardonnay, zinfandel, or pinot noir, some of which are even on tap? The bar is made from reclaimed church pews, and World War II ammo boxes double as wine racks. If you're really into the whole wine-making thing, you can take a tour of the facilities.
Related: Best Barbecue In Brooklyn
Because "barbecue market." Barbecue market!!!! This Flatiron restaurant charges you buy the pound for its treats, its wonderful, delectable meaty treats, such as boneless prime rib, beef shoulder, and jalapeno cheese sausage. Sides include cheddar mac and cheese, Texas black-eyed caviar, and chipotle deviled eggs. Get a mason jar full of sweet tea to drink, or try one of the specialty cocktails. Eat till you're full, drink till you're sated, and stay for the live music on the downstairs stage Tuesdays through Saturdays (see calendar for details).
Related: Best Breweries In New York City
Because a man's got to eat. This bar/restaurant offers the best of both worlds: an excellent, constantly rotating selection of craft beer (and wine and cider and spirits) with terrific, destination-worthy food. Grab eight or so friends, make a reservation, and feast on a whole roast pig, for example -- or head over for adobo wings and pork belly tacos. In addition to being an all-around fun place to spend the evening, this East Village restaurant regularly features special dinners with spirit or beer pairings.
Related: Best Steakhouses In New York City
Because meat and potatoes. Women are of course welcome to Peter Luger, probably the city's most famous steakhouse, but somehow it still seems like the manliest of places. Perhaps it's the great slabs of meat, hand-selected by the restaurant's family of proprietors; perhaps it's the wood paneling, stiff white tablecloths, and uber-polite servers. At any rate, this Brooklyn institution has been around since 1887, and you can't go wrong with a dinner here. Don't forget to chase your prime rib with a glass of whiskey, neat.
