New York City Upper East Side

Pat O'Briens, 1701 2nd Ave., between 88th and 89th St. (www.patobriens.com), A little piece of Boston transported to the Big Apple. TVs broadcast Beantown sports, and Boston memorabilia spans the walls. The music is loud, the drinks are cheap, and the crowd is young and fun. No kitchen, but menus are provided from local restaurants that gladly deliver to the bar. $20 min. for credit cards. Mixed drinks $5-6. Open M-F 3pm-4am, Sa noon-4am, Su noon-midnight. Takes credit cards.
Stumble Inn, 1454 2nd Ave., at 76th St. Thought you would never find $2 pints on the Upper East Side? Think again. Cheap booze, bumpin' music, and a friendly staff keep this place crowded every night. Specials every night of the week, like half-priced drinks Monday through Friday until 7pm and Ladies' Night on Wednesday, make the already economical bar dirt cheap. As one patron recently said, “It's a great place, especially if you don't have a lot of money. And this is New York. Nobody has a lot of money.” Beer $5-6, mixed drinks $5-6. Appetizers $2.50-$10. Sandwiches and burgers from $7. Kitchen and bar open daily 11:30am-4pm. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Brandy's Piano Bar, 235 E. 84th St., between 2nd and 3rd Ave. In the mood for a melody? At Brandy's Piano Bar, the piano man (or woman, depending on the night) will sing you a song and have you feeling alright. An intimate venue covered with old-fashioned show posters, this is the perfect place to sit back, enjoy a drink, and listen to talented musicians tickle the ivories. 2 drink min. per person per set. Mixed drinks $6-15. Open daily 4pm-4am, business permitting. Live music 9:30pm-last call. Happy Hour nightly 4-8:30pm. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Doc Watson's, 1490 2nd Ave., between 88th and 89th (www.docwatsons.com), A slightly more sophisticated option among the 2nd Ave. bars—for those who like to have a good time, but like to hear themselves think in the process. Happy hour is Monday through Friday 11am-7pm, featuring domestic beers ($2.50), pints ($3), and mixed drinks ($4). Live Celtic rock on Thursday and live Irish music on Sunday complete this bar's Irish theme. The kitchen, offering a full menu (and free delivery!), is open until 2am. Drinks $2.50-18, appetizers $6.25-10, sandwiches and burgers $7.50-11, entrees $8.50-17. Open daily 11am-4am. Kitchen open until 2am. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Mad River, 1432 3rd Ave., at 82nd St. (www.madrivergrille.com), American college students will immediately feel at home among the televisions broadcasting sports, impromptu games of Beirut, and a live DJ who looks like he may be out past his bedtime. An example of 2nd and 3rd Avenues' famous “frat” bars, Mad River caters to a primarily young, laid-back crowd. On Thursday nights from 6-9pm, “Drink for a Cause”: profits from discounted mixed drinks ($3) and Bud Light draught beers ($1) are donated to a “Charity of the Week.” Beer $5-6, mixed drinks $5-12; appetizers $7-20, sandwiches and burgers $7-12. Open daily noon-2am or later. Kitchen open noon-10pm. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.