New York City Greenwich Village

Village nightlife is a many-splendored thing. Most of the neighborhood's fame began in its nightspots—in the theaters, speakeasies, and music clubs that lay at the edge of the avant-garde. Many of those storied establishments exist, albeit in diluted form. But there's way more where that came from: the Washington Square Park area is crowded with dive bars and clubs catering to a young, energetic crowd; the West Village has its share of mellower taverns with older patrons; Christopher Street lies at the center of some of the city's best E GLBT nightlife; and the Meatpacking District to the northwest is a true orgy of hyper-gentrification, limos, beautiful people, plastic people, celebrities, exclusive clubs, solemn bouncers, and endless lines.

Fat Black Pussycat, 130 W. 3rd St. (www.fatblackpussycat.com), The mellow Fat Black Pussycat draws the young in with an extensive and relatively cheap beer selection. Grab a seat in the wooden booths in back and etch your name into the table alongside countless others. A connected room to the left offers more of a lounge feel, with mood lighting, sofas, and plush velvet seats. The Village Underground performance space (see Arts and Culture) is connected to the bar. Beer $3-8. Mixed drinks $6-12. Pitchers $10 and shots $3 on M-Th and Su. Open daily 1pm-4am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
The Back Fence, 155 Bleecker St. (www.thebackfenceonline.com), Tiny but vital, the Back Fence has been holding steady onto its prime corner location since 1945. The space is small and the crowds might induce claustrophobia, but a constant lineup of live performers—two to three each night—will keep your attention. Despite its long history, the bar retains its rugged feel—right down to the sawdust on the floor. An oldie but a goodie. Cover F-Sa $5. Beer $3-8. Mixed drinks $7-12. Open M-Th 3:30pm-4am, F 2pm-4am, Sa 1pm-4am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Corner Bistro, 331 W. 4th St. (at Jane St.) (www.cornerbistrony.com), The Corner Bistro is a perfect distillation of the West Village: old, stately, friendly, and still mildly bohemian. The burgers, often rated the best in New York, are the main draw. The Bistro Burger is especially popular, with beef, onions, bacon, and cheese. But the experience of simply drinking in the Bistro seems nostalgic in itself. Its dark wood floors and walls, aging but lively bartenders, and comfortably local clientele seem to resurrect the feel of more storied decades past. Beer $5-9. Burgers $6-7. Open M-Sa 11:30am-4am, Su noon-4am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Henrietta Hudson, 438 Hudson St. (www.henriettahudson.com), While Christopher St. nightlife caters mostly to gay men, Henrietta Hudson is a well-regarded option for the ladies. This “bar and girl” is one of New York's prime lesbian hotspots, featuring three rooms, two bars, DJs, and an occasional cage in the middle of the dance floor. The atmosphere is sweaty; on weekends the crowds can become overpowering, and many prefer the more chill (and far less expensive) weeknights. But if you're looking for something raucous, Henrietta Hudson's got it on weekends. Happy hour (2-for-1 drinks) M-F 4-7pm. Cover F-Sa $10. Beer $3-7. Mixed drinks $7-13. Open M-W 5pm-2am, Th-Sa 5pm-4am, Su 2pm-4am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning. GLBT
The Standard Biergarten, 848 Washington St. (www.standardhotels.com), With its looming, gray, riverside mass, the Standard Hotel crowns the Meatpacking District's chic-on-steroids atmosphere. Its outdoor beer garden below is a friendly (if packed) spot for those tired of the exclusivity of nearby clubs. Sit and enjoy a hearty beer or hefty German snacks on long picnic tables. A screen set up in front ocassionally projects games and other videos. In a city where space is coveted, you'll need some outdoor nightlife for a change. $8 ticket gives you 1 beer, 1 giant pretzel, or 2 sausages. Open M-W 4pm-midnight, Th 2pm-midnight, F 2pm-1am, Sa noon-1am, Su noon-midnight. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
V Bar and Cafe, 225 Sullivan St. (www.vbar.net), Mellow student cafe by day, mellow drinking hole by night, V Bar is perfect for a relaxed evening out or a breathing spot in between wilder venues. Tiny tables rub elbows with a small bar. A book collection and plenty of wine bottles adorn the walls. Beer $6-10. Wine $8-12. Open M-Th 8am-2am, F 8am-4am, Sa 9am-4am, Su 9am-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Employees Only, 510 Hudson St. (http://employeesonlynyc.com">http://employeesonlynyc.com">http://employeesonlynyc.com), Legendary Village speakeasies like Chumley's may be closed for the time being, but Employees Only does its best to emulate the spirit of the Jazz Age in its own bizarre way. Bartenders wear chef's outfits and handlebar mustaches as they serve you a proud selection of unique, lovingly prepared cocktails. The sleek interior design, topped off by paintings on the wall, adds to the classy, romantic feel. Beer $4-7. Mixed drinks $6-13. Open daily 6pm-4am. Weekend brunch 11:30am-4pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning. Has outdoor seating.
Peculier Pub, 145 Bleecker St. A Mecca for beer fans, Peculier Pub keeps over 300 brews on tap. Beer pervades the place, from the bottle-cap mosaics on the walls to the shelves of international selections. You can try those worldwide tastes, since the menu is organized geographically. But don't expect classy cosmopolitanism; the pub can get crowded and pushy on weekends. What else should beer fans expect? Beer $3-7, by the liter $8-10. Open M-Th 5pm-2am, F 3:30pm-4am, Sa 2pm-4am, Su 4pm-2am. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Boots AND Saddle, 76 Christopher St. (www.bootsnsaddle.com), This popular Christopher St. bar attracts a variety of ages. It may have removed much of the Western memorabilia of previous years, but it still goes for a fun saloon vibe. Shirtless bartenders work the drinks, go-go boys show up every night at 5pm, and regular events like karaoke night (Su and M), comedy night (Tu), and Strip Search (Sa) keep things interesting. Happy hour ($3 beer) daily noon-10pm. Beer $4-10. Mixed drinks $6-11. Open daily noon-4am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. GLBT
The Half Pint, 76 W. 3rd St. (at Thompson St.) (www.thehalfpint.com), The title and atmosphere at this expansive restaurant and pub indicate a British bent, but the food is all about America (think many salads and burgers). The beers, though, encompass the world: you can get Australian, British, and American brews from the tap or in bottles. With a moody, dark-wood ambience lightened by crowds of students from neighboring NYU, this is the perfect place to pretend that you go to school in Greenwich Village. Entrees $11-15. Beer $3-6. Mixed drinks $6-11. Open M-Th 10am-2am, F-Sa noon-4am, Su 10am-2am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning. Has outdoor seating.
Fat Cat, 75 Christopher St. (at 7th Ave.) (212-675-6056; www.fatcatmusic.org), The Village's cheapest jazz club will be far more appealing to young, cash-strapped fans than the pricey options down the way. But this sprawling downstairs establishment really goes the distance: besides the live jazz, there are 10 pool tables, plenty of board games for your drunk competitive pleasure, and some swanky lounging areas in the Parcheesi is getting you knackered.For a low cover, that's a lot of entertainment-and huge crowds know it. Subway: A, B, C, D, E, F, V to West 4th St.; 1 to Christopher St. Cover $3. Beer$4-8. Mixed drinks $6-11. Pool tables $5.50 per hr. Open M-Th 2pm-5am, F-Sa noon-5am, Su 1pm-5am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Chi Chiz, 135 Christopher St. One of the few GLBT bars in New York geared specifically toward African-Americans, Chi Chiz attracts a loyal crowd to its diminutive, plain space. There's barely enough room to fit the bar, a pool table in the back, and a DJ stand, but it makes up for its size issues with friendliness—crowds stand in the front and often spill out onto the sidewalk. A standard drink menu complements a small food menu devoted mostly to southern standards. Beer $3-6. Mixed drinks $5-10. Open daily 6pm-4am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. GLBT
Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher St. (www.thestonewallinnyc.com), The Stonewall Inn occupies a seminal position in American gay culture. It was here in June 1969 that police raids inspired protests and riots, sparking the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. Today, the Stonewall remains a national icon, though the current bar is actually a remake of the one that existed in 1969, and a reliable, if often tourist-heavy nightspot. The bottom level features a bar and pool table; dancing to pop, disco, and show tunes happens on the second floor. Beer $3-8. Mixed drinks $6-13. Open daily 2pm-4am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning. GLBT
Gaslight, 400 W. 14th St. (at 9th Ave.) (www.gaslightnyc.com), Gaslight looks like it should belong to the ritzy Meatpacking nightclub crowd: a huge space, a fancy sign, lofty ceilings and ritzy furniture. But you can relax in this lounge's spacious confines, where the classy Edwardian decor somehow doesn't make for a stuffy or exclusive crowd. It does draw crowds, though. In less busy moments, you can relax on comfortable sofas and admire the chandeliers. Beer $4-9. Mixed drinks $8-14. Open daily 1pm-4am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Hogs and Heifers Saloon, 859 Washington St. (www.hogsandheifers.com), Fans of the 2000 masterpiece Coyote Ugly may have some déjà vu at Hogs and Heifers: aggressive female bartenders manning a dusty downtown joint, barking at patrons through megaphones, and, of course, dancing on the bar are all here. Though named after another downtown bar with a similar shtick, the film mimicked this bar's look, even recreating it across the street when they were refused permission to shoot inside the real thing. The place isn't for everyone—especially for those averse to being berated via megaphone—but it's lovably dirty, right down to the countless bras of former customers hanging above the bar (Julia Roberts is in there somewhere). The urban-redneck feel works best when the biker contingents are in full force. Cleaner types may drift in on weekend nights, though. Beer $2-7. Mixed drinks $6-11. Open M-F 11am-4am, Sa 1pm-4am, Su 2pm-4am. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.