Nightlife in New York

The Big Apple’s drinking and dining scene is as red-hot as ever. Here Courtney Martin, Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel New York, offers up suggestions for a night on the town, including both the trendy and the timeless. You can sleep later.

Pre-Dinner Drinks

Bemelmans Bar, 35 East 76th Street
A classic New York City establishment is still a favourite with everyone from locals to glitterati. Maybe it’s the stylish Art Deco interior, the 24-karat-gold ceiling, the murals by Ludwig Bemelmans (of Madeline series fame), the fact that you can finally eat in the bar, or the occasional Woody Allen sighting. We believe it’s the classic cocktails mixed by old-school bartenders that keep them coming back for more.

Pegu, 77 West Houston Street
Named after a British Officer’s Club in Burma, Pegu is a second floor, dimly lit, romantic, classy joint with equally classy cocktails. Co-owner Audrey Saunders earned her mixologist stripes uptown at Bemelmans (our other choice for pre-dinner drinks) and it shows in details from choice of glassware to the cocktail “condiments” on every table:bitters, lemon and lime juices, and simple syrup.

Dinner

The Modern, 9 West 53rd Street
If you don’t have time to go to a museum, you can have a great meal in one. The dining room here looks into MoMa’s sculpture garden, the food is French but served on Danish modern settings, some of which are in the museum’s permanent collection, and the people-watching is top-notch.

Bouley, 163 Duane Street
The interior is in polar opposition to that at The Modern, but the food gets consistent rave reviews. Perhaps that’s because, unlike many other star chefs, David Bouley is often found cooking in his own restaurant. There are also the complimentary dishes that frequently find their way to diners’ tables and the parting gift of lemon cake for each guest.

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, 57 East 57th Street
Guests at Four Seasons Hotel New York are in the envious position of having a Michelin-starred restaurant conveniently located in the hotel itself. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon is consistently one of the hottest reservations in town, especially now that a new chef (Xavier Boyer from L’Atelier in London) is in the kitchen. Loyal local patrons often choose to sit at the bar. It’s a nice perch from which to survey the well-dressed international crowd.

Post-Dinner Drinks

Macao Trading Company, 311 Church Street (between Lispenard and Walker)
Look for an awning with no sign but a red light, part the velvet curtains and find yourself in a space inspired by the red lantern district in 1940s Macau. The crowd is sophisticated, stylishly dressed and ordering specialty cocktails with names like Drunken Dragon’s Milk and Yellow Fever. Open until 4:00 am.

Rooftop Garden at 230 Fifth, 230 Fifth Avenue, at 27th Street
At 20,000 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor space, it’s hardly cosy. But 230 Fifth has what few other spots do. It’s not only the largest outdoor lounge in the city, but it also has incredible views of both the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. Even the most jaded locals will brave the often-long lines for the experience of cocktails in the shadow of such incredible architecture. Open from 4:00 pm to 4:00 am year-round.

Dancing

1Oak, 453 West 17th Street
While not 100% guaranteed, there is a pretty good chance you’ll have a celeb sighting here. That is, if you can get in. There’s no cover, but a tough door policy, so plan on wearing something ultra fabulous and bringing only your most beautiful friends. (Or checking with the Concierge desk at the Hotel. They have the connections to magically part the velvet ropes for Hotel guests).

Cielo, 18 Little West 12th Street
Make no mistake: This small but still-hot spot is all about dancing (on a sunken dance floor no less) and all about house music. Devotees love the seasoned world-class deejays that know how to read a crowd and the sound system by Funktion One, which many say is the best in the city.