New York City Lower East Side

200 Orchard St., 200 Orchard St., at E. Houston St. (www.200orchard.com), Focused on being an inclusive, neighborhood establishment, the bartenders here are hands-down the nicest, friendliest people you will ever meet in a bar. The drinks, already reasonably priced, are borderline-absurdly cheap during the late happy hour from 6 to 10pm (Beer/well drinks $3-5; sandwiches made especially to order at the barside kitchenette, $6). One 200 Orchard St. bartender wishes it to be known that he is on a search for the last Diners Club card and will award a free drink to the person who brings it to the bar. Wine and beer $6-7. Open daily 6pm-4am. Happy Hour 6-10pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Barramundi, 67 Clinton St., between Stanton and Rivington (www.barramundiny.com), A festive bar with a sense of humor (see mounted deer's head on wall wearing blond wig and framed by plastic knives) and a delicious array of drinks and bar food. Favorite libations include infused vodkas and sangria. The bar menu goes beyond humdrum French fries and chicken wings. You can enjoy a chopped salad ($10) with your cocktail or even a half rack of ribs ($19). Sangria 2 for 1 during daily happy hour, 6-9pm. Beer $4-7. Wine $7-10. Cocktails $8. Bar Food $7-19. Open daily 6pm-4am. Happy Hour daily 6-9pm. Kitchen open until 10pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
The Living Room, 154 Ludlow St., between Stanton and Rivington St. (212-533-7235; www.livingroomny.com), A low-key club featuring both rock and acoustic acts and the latest stylings by singer-songwriters. Googie's Lounge upstairs is a smaller venue intended mostly for performers on the greener side. Subway: F, M to Lower East Side/2nd Ave.; F, J, M, Z to Delancey St./2nd Ave.; F, J, M, Z to Delancey St./Essex. Must be 21+ to enter. Usually 1 drink min. per set, suggested donation of $5 for artist's tip jar. Occasional cover. Open M-Th 6pm-2am, Fri-Sa 6pm-4am, Su 6pm-2am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Lolita, 266 Broome St., at Allen St. (www.lolitabar.net), The perfect alternative-artsy-cute-edgy-quirky blend. Contemporary art on the wall changes around once every two months, and sometimes, when you're lucky, they rock an old-school record player. Only American Express accepted. Beer $4-8. Mixed drinks $7-12. Wine $8-9. Open daily 5pm-2am, usually 4am on weekends. Happy hour 5-8pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Sunita, 106 Norfolk St., between Delancey and Rivington (www.sunitabar.com), This inviting bar is famous for fresh, hand-crafted cocktails with freshly pureed ingredients. The Jalapeño Passion Fruit Martini, a fabulous combo of fruit and zing, is a crowd favorite and also happens to be a T Bond Girl cocktail. Beer $6-7. Wine $8. Mixed drinks $10-14. Open Tu-Sa 6pm-4am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
The Magician, 118 Rivington St. The tiled floors and round tables make The Magician look like an establishment that might sell home-cooked meals. Don't be fooled: the only things they cook up at this place are cheap drinks and fun crowds. The jukebox and flatscreen TV make this a great place to party. Mixed drinks $5-$9.50. Open daily 5pm-4am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
St. Jeromes, 155 Rivington St., between Clinton and Suffolk At the door to this rock n' roll dive bar, you're greeted by a praying saint, the bar's mascot, which should put you in a pious mood for the night. Live DJs spin beats every night, and Buds are $2 until midnight. At any time, you can order a “Happy Meal,” which consists of a Bud and a Jameson shot. Should bring you right back to your childhood. Drinks $2-10. Open daily 6pm-4am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
The Delancey, 168 Delancey St., between Clinton and Attorney St. (www.thedelancey.com), The Delancey's smooth, cool bar with a red glow and an old-fashioned charm. For an open-air drinking experience, head to the palm-laden rooftop deck. The basement lounge is a venue for many a delightful show, including a popular Burlesque night on Tuesdays around 9pm. Mixed drinks $6-12. Open M-W 5pm-2am, Th-Sa 5pm-4am, Su 5pm-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Nurse Bettie, 106 Norfolk St., between Delancey and Rivington St. (www.nursebettieles.com), A small but hoppin' bar and lounge, with old-fashioned wallpaper and suggestive (borderline scandalous!) likenesses of ladies on the wall. They're old, though, so it's classy. These ladies come to life (sort of) during free, live burlesque shows on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Drinks $6-9. Happy Hour draft beer and well drinks $4. Open M-W 6pm-2am, Th-Sa 6pm-4am, Su 6pm-2am. Happy hour M-Th 6-10pm, F-Sa 6-9pm, Su 6-10pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.