New York City Chelsea

Barracuda, 275 W. 22nd St. Notorious for side-splitting drag shows Sunday through Thursday nights at around 1am, this laid-back gay bar welcomes a mixed crowd. Male voices belting Whitney Houston's “I Will Always Love You” can be heard from blocks away on Tuesdays during Karaoke night. No cover. Drinks $6-10. Open daily 4pm-4am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. GLBT
Xes Lounge, 157 W. 24th St. (www.xesnyc.com), Sophisticated yet relaxed, this lounge is a perfect destination for a night out with friends. We're not making any promises, but they have on at least one occasion gone All-Madonna-All-Night to the delight of guests dancing along with old footage of the Material Girl. The patio in the back provides a place to catch a breath of fresh air before heading back into the thumping party. Beer $5-7. Martinis $10-13. Open M-Tu 4pm-2am, W-Su 4pm-4am. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol. GLBT
Splash Bar, 50 W. 17th St. (www.splashbar.com), An intense, smoke-filled, two-level clubbing experience where the bartenders do not cover their perfectly-chiseled torsos, and neither do the pole dancers. Divas such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have performed for the 800-1200 guests who fill Splash. Cover $10. Drinks $8-14. Open daily 4pm-4am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. GLBT
View Bar, 232 8th Ave., at 23rd St., between 6th and 7th Ave. (www.viewbarnyc.com), A friendly, tropical-themed bar where the goal is to get you drunk on the cheapest but most delicious drinks possible. The bar pours out $5 cosmos Wednesdays 9am-2am, $3 frozen margaritas Tuesdays 8pm-2am, and cheap Bloody Marys, mimosas and screwdrivers on weekends. And these aren't your average Margaritas. Not only are they strong and cheap, they also come in a variety of flavors, from the Pom-a-rita (pomegranate-flavored) to the Chiquita-rita (banana flavored). Drinks $3-9. Open M-F 4pm-4am, Sa-Su 2pm-4am. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. GLBT
g, 223 W. 19th St., between 7th and 8th Ave. (www.glounge.com), This small gay bar with hut-style architecture and dancers in Speedo-style bottoms almost makes you feel like you're at the beach. Grab a fruity cocktail and enjoy the view. No cover. Drinks $7-10. 4pm-4am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. GLBT
Dusk, 147 W. 24th St., between 6th and 7th Ave. (www.duskac.com), Ultra-cool but stress-free, this lounge and bar hosts a napkin drawing contest Tuesdays during happy hour 6-11:30pm. Winners of this prestigious competition receive a drink on the house and an extra hour of happiness as well as the glory and recognition of having their masterpiece displayed for the week. For entertainment on other days, order a pizza, test out the jukebox, and enjoy the free Wi-Fi available throughout the venue. Bar $5-10. Open M-Th 5:30pm-2am, F 5pm-4am, Sa 7:30pm-4am, Su 5pm-midnight. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
Bar Veloce, 176 7th Ave., between 20th and 21st St. (www.barveloce.com), Stop in for a glass of wine and a composed plate ($6-16), such as the piatto Veloce (an assortment of meat and cheese for two), and enjoy a delicious, low-lit break from the generic drinks and thumping music of many other Chelsea bars. Though fine wine and gourmet food are available, you don't have to blow your life's savings on vino and cheese; get appetizers ($3), beer ($6), or wine ($8). Call ahead about wheelchair accessibility. Beer $6-12. Wine $8. Mixed drinks $7-13. Appetizers $3-9. Sandwiches $4-10. Composed Plates $6-16. Open daily 5pm-3am. Kitchen open until 2:15am. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Westside Tavern, 360 W. 23rd St., between 8th and 9th Ave. (www.westsidetavern.com), Set in an industrial-looking, red-brick hall and covered with black and white photographs of the old neighborhood, the Westside Tavern is fiercely proud of its Chelsea heritage. It also embraces the Chelsea present as a fun, lively hangout spot. The bar is generally populated by a healthy crowd of people drinking, playing pool, and munching on food from either the kitchen (open until 11pm) or a local takeout establishment. Beer $4-7. Well drinks $7. Top shelf $10. Open daily 11am-4am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Jake's Saloon, 206 W. 23rd St., between 7th and 8th Ave. (www.jakessaloonnyc.com), Yes, sports bars do exist in Chelsea. For the ESPN-addicted, a good option is Jake's Saloon, where the screens and sports channel subscriptions are plentiful, and a bartender will upon request change the channel to that game you absolutely can't miss. The kitchen offers a full menu of appetizers, entrees, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts (open M-W until 1am, Th-Sa until 2am, Su until 1am). Booze, sports, and food: that should hold you for a while. Drinks $7-10. Appetizers $6-14. Burgers and Sandwiches $12-14. Entrees $17-28. Open M-Sa 11am-3am, Su noon-3am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Rawhide, 212 8th Ave., at 21st St. Saddle up; it's time to take a ride to a land where bartenders sport cowboy hats, fans are made of hubcaps, and enormous model motorcycles hang from the ceiling. Regulars say they frequent the bar for the quality of the go-go boys on Friday and Saturday nights and the cheap, strong drinks every night. Drinks $4-7. Open M-Sa 10am-4am, Su noon-4am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. GLBT