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New York Nightlife and Clubs

NYC.com's guide to New York nightlife features expert reviews and recommendations for the top hot spots, dance clubs, jazz and live music venues, not to mention information on all types of bars, from dives and local hangouts to nightclubs and lounges in Manhattan and beyond. Also check out our guides for comedy fans, bar-hoppers, music lovers, the under-21 crowd, plus our all-new Best of New York Nightlife, packed with great features!

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The Broadway Comedy Club

Midtown

The only bi- level entertainment complex with three showrooms in NYC, serving over 600 comedy lovers from around the world nightly in the heart of Times Square. Founded by the "King of New York Comedy" Al Martin. Martin’s clubs attract comedy fans from around the world including some of the biggest celebrities from Jay-Z & Beyonce, Andre Aggasi, Jimmy Fallon, Montel Williams, and Harry Connick Jr. Al Martin’s name is synonymous with comedy in New York City, and is responsible for launching the careers of many top comedians working today. Martin’s first venture in the comedy club business was in 1988 when he established the New York Comedy Club out of a need to help and showcase talented comedians. An accomplished comedian himself, Al was a National Headliner with numerous television credits such as The Joan Rivers Show, Geraldo and Evening At The Improv. Al was always more than just a comedian; he was an activist for the comedy community serving as Vice President of the Professional Comedians Association, and was instrumental in the organization dedicated to bringing health insurance and improving working conditions for comics. Although performing was a love for Martin he found his niche as a comedy club owner. He soon found himself helping his fellow comedians that he had once worked beside. Sarah Silverman, Lisa Lampanelli, Brett Butler, Tracy Morgan and Wanda Sykes are just a few comedians who have graced his stages over the years. New York Comedy Club became the first comedy club with two showrooms in 1997. Al was one of the first club owners to embrace diversity in the comedy world by establishing the first Latino Comedy Night at New York Comedy Club. He’s also facilitated and welcomed to his stage shows featuring gay, urban and Asian communities. In 2000 Martin opened New York Comedy Club in Boca Raton, which he ran successfully until late 2006. With the success of two clubs Al decided to expand his brand and in 2003 opened Broadway Comedy Club, located in the heart of Times Square. Martin again took a risk in opening Broadway Comedy, the only bi- level entertainment complex with three showrooms in NYC, serving over 600 comedy lovers from around the world nightly. In 2005 he partnered with Barry Katz, executive producer of NBC’s Last Comic Standing to run Boston Comedy Club, giving Martin the bragging rights to being the first person to run three comedy clubs in New York City. In the Summer of 2012 Martin expanded his comedy ventures into Greenwich Village, in New York City with the opening of Greenwich Village Comedy Club, from day one the club has been filled every night with a lively downtown crowd and top comedians making them laugh!

SPACE IBIZA New York

Bringing the energy made famous by Mediteranian nightlife and electronic music hot spot, SPACE IBIZA North American beachhead brings top tier musical talent, a fantastic sound system and of course the lovely SPACE IBIZA dancers. Here you will find the hippest crowd, as models mingle and celebrities mingle with the in-the-know-crowd of NYC.

Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

Upper West Side

The classic jazz club reinvented, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola brings the music out of the basement with views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, great soul food and some of the best music to be found anywhere in the city, every night. The club hosts a variety of established acts and introduces young up-and-comers five nights a week in after-hours Late Night Sessions. An intimate setting designed to showcase this uniquely American art form, Dizzy’s is the latest addition to the historic list of New York’s great jazz venues. As Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis explains, “Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola is designed to entertain people in the spirit that Dizzy [Gillespie] had...very welcoming. We just want people to have a good time. We want the musicians to feel comfortable to play. We want people to come in and have a memorable experience. This whole facility is designed for international participation. This is a hall of integration...to bring everything together."

Knitting Factory

Williamsburg

Once a locus of experimental, envelope-pushing music in Tribeca which showcased styles ranging from rock to jazz to neo-classical to electronica, the Knitting Factory, after being harangued by neighbors, relocated itself unto the more vibrant and welcoming neighborhood of Williamsburg. Now living in the completely remodeled and renovated space that once housed Luna Lounge, the Knitting Factory is back in action as one of the best and most intimate spaces to see a concert in New York, with a capacity crowd of 300 people!

Paddy Reilly's

Kips Bay

Paddy’s a great place to listen Irish rock from the likes of Black 47 and The Prodigals while drinking the ample Guinness provided on-tap—the bar is, after all, the "first and only" all-draught Guinness bar. Just stay away from the Budweiser and all of its variants if you want any respect.

Caveat

Lower East Side

Caveat is a cabaret comedy theater located deep under Clinton Street. They champion nerdy, funny art – and sell cheap drinks. "We LOVE smart, joyfully-nerdy comedy. No disrespect to a classic pratfall and cream pie to the face, but that’s not what does it for us. We want our comedy to say something, mean something, punch up. We celebrate quick wits, sharp observations, and fast-thinking with a side-order of silly." Please note, tickets for in-person shows at Caveat do not guarantee a seat unless the show has assigned seating. Caveat is a cabaret theater, with a standing-room bar. If you or someone in your party needs a seat let them know, and they can reserve a table for you.

Cafe Carlyle

Upper East Side

When famed composer Richard Rodgers moved in as The Carlyle's first tenant, music became an essential part of The Carlyle experience. A romantic and intimate venue, Café Carlyle continues the tradition of the 1930s supper club. It features original murals created by French artist Marcel Vertes, the Oscar-winning art director of the 1952 Moulin Rouge. The nightly scene recalls an old MGM classic, camera ready pure Manhattan backdrop and a soundtrack that is classic cabaret. Café Carlyle is known for headlining incredible talents, including Eartha Kitt, Ute Lemper and Woody Allen, who regularly appears to jam with the Eddy Davis New Orleans jazz band. For over 30 years, Café Carlyle was synonymous with the legendary Bobby Short, whose spirit will live on through the music at Café Carlyle. Seating up to 70 for dinner and 90 for a performance, the supper club offers a uniquely intimate space and is highlighted by music-themed murals by Vertes.

King Cole Bar

Midtown

Enjoy an aperitif in this legendary society club where the Bloody Mary — here known as “Red Snapper” — first landed in America and was perfected. Maxfield Parrish’s masterpiece King Cole mural keeps watch on hotel guests and knowledgeable New Yorkers.

Bemelmans Bar

Upper East Side

Best remembered as the creator of the classic Madeline books for children, Ludwig Bemelmans once joked he'd like his tombstone to read: "Tell Them It Was Wonderful." Well, wonderful it was, and still is, at Bemelmans Bar. Named in honor of the legendary artist, Bemelmans is a timeless New York watering hole that has drawn socialites, politicians, movie stars and moguls for more than five decades. Restored in 2002 by designer Thierry Despont, the bar maintains its Art Deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. Featuring the only surviving Bemelmans' commission open to the public, the 75-seat bar combines wit and coziness in unique New York style. Long-time Bemelmans bartender Tommy Rowles recalls when a weary Harry S. Truman stopped in and ordered Old Grand-Dad bourbon on the rocks. When Rowles, a dedicated beer drinker, remarked that he could never drink an Old Grand-Dad, President Truman suggested he take a look out the window at the mob of reporters waiting and remarked, "If you had to walk 15 blocks with these guys following you, you'd drink this too."

Apotheke

Chinatown

The lao wei are still aflutter over Chinatown's hottest cocktail den, one that has created possibly the most buzz south of Canal Street since Cab Calloway's Smokey Joe took Minnie the Moocher down to "kick the gong" in Chinatown. In truth, Austrian-born Albert Trummer has hit all the right notes with his Apotheke, perhaps the natural evolution and vast improvement on the former Barmacy theme that proved so successful on East 14th Street. Think mad scientist meets mixologist meets opium dispensary, full of fancy laboratory gear to emphasize the medicinal qualities of Trummer's nine types of cocktails: Health and Beauty Stress Relievers Pain Killers Stimulants Aphrodisiacs Pharmaceuticals Euphoric Enhancers Therapeutic Treatments House Remedies With "over 250 house cocktails and 500 bottles of liquor from around the world," this is indeed impressive. Just bear in mind that unfortunately today's Absinthe likely won't make you insane, though perhaps the price of cocktails here might. Nevertheless, at roughly $15 each we find the cocktails a fair value as their ingredients are carefully sourced, and mixing the various decoctions and concotions is done with great art and skill. Our favorite recipes are for the James Bond as well as a few we invented on the fly—we asked our mixologist to create a drink including three kinds of ginger, one drink using two kinds of anise and fennel, and another one we simply declared should be the "Chinatown Special". They were all superb. After enjoying about a dozen marvelous creations, we finally called it quits. Our advice: do not hesitate to simply declare what ingredients/flavors you might like in your drinks. Before you become completely blotto, however, do ensure you stumble around Doyers Street, the crookedest street in Manhattan. Over one hundred years ago in 1907, the New York Times reported that "In all New York City, there is not a more disreputable street than Pell Street nor a more forbidding cow-path than Doyers Street." Together, these lanes were "cesspools of immorality vile enough to bring a curse upon the entire community."

Up & Down

Split level Chelsea dance club from nightlife makers the Butter Group (1Oak). Different atmospheres on each level, with the upstairs booming, high energy dance floor, and the lower level having that downtown lounge feel, more relaxed, which is not to say things don't get a little wild when the energy is right. Crowd is eclectic as is the music which offers no attempt to appeal to lovers of a specific genre. Rather the goal is to bring together different people and scenes to create cross-pollination and a friendly, "it" vibe. Which, given the number of celebs that frequent the place, they may well have achieved.

Skinny Dennis

Williamsburg

The folks behind Lucky Dog strike again with this uncle's-den-cum-dive-bar in Williamsburg, complete with a painting of Willie Nelson, patron saint of grizzle. Popular spot to grab a brew and check out some live music, which skews toward a gruff country style. Click to see upcoming acts.

S.O.B.'s

SoHo

Even though this safari style live music club is called Sounds of Brazil, you can expect to dance to all different types of music here. There’s reggae, hip-hop, R&B, jazz and salsa just to name a few. In a nutshell, S.O.B’s embraces NYC's diversity, and is a quality place to get your groove on. S.O.B.’s was opened by owner and director Larry Gold way back in 1982 with the purpose of exposing the musical wealth and heritage of the Afro-Latino Diaspora to as many people as possible. True to its mission, it has become renowned as the premiere venue not only for World Music, but all genres, in New York City and the world over. In its early days, SOBs existed on a barren stretch at the corner of Varick and Houston Streets, but the area soon became the trendy neighborhood of SoHo and the venue’s reputation began to grow with performances from Latin legends like Tito Puente, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz & Eddie Palmieri. The tradition of Brazilian artists has been nothing short of incredible. Legends like Seu Jorge, Ben Jorge & Astrud Gilberto have all graced the stage of the venue which gained its namesake from their native country. In terms of the the new latin sound, the list only gets more impressive with names like Isaac Delgado, Orquesta Aragon, Los Papines, Manolito Simonet, Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro & Los Van Van. Over the course of its 28 years in business, SOBs has also developed a reputation in the music industry as a breeding ground for emerging artists and trends. For newer performers, a show at SOBs can be the springboard for their careers, garnering them press from mainstream local, national and even international publications as well as attracting attention from music industry professionals. This has been the true with uncounted artists, including John Legend, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Common, Drake & Ryan Leslie. The venue gives more established artists the opportunity to connect with their fans on a personal level, due to its unique, intimate setting . Today the SOBs draws both local and international crowds and continues to specialize in Latin music, Haitian, Brazilian, Caribbean, R&B, Hip-Hop and World music. It exists as a unique place to experience the lively sounds from all types of cultures within the global diaspora, a fact reflective in its slogan the “Home of Universal Music”.

KGB Bar

East Village

In the decades since it opened in 1993, KGB has become something of a New York literary institution. Writers hooked up in the publishing world read here with pleasure and without pay to an adoring public over drinks almost every Sunday evening (fiction), Monday evening (poetry), and most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The crowd loves it. Admission is free, drinks are cheap and strong, and the level of excellence is such that KGB has been named best literary venue in New York City by New York Magazine, the Village Voice, and everyone else who bestows these awards of recognition.

House of Yes

Weird. Wild. Wonderful. A Performance fueled Night Club and Creative Venue programmed with eclectic events and fabulous dance parties. Everyone is Welcome. A space created as a temple of expression, dedicated to connection, creativity and celebrating life and a belief that performance, dance and art can inspire and heal us.

Marquee

Chelsea

The self-proclaimed voluminous ultralounge, Marquee offers much of everything, more over-the-top style, décor and DJs than most people could ever imagine. Everyone seems beautiful, and the bottle service and specialty cocktails make it all seem even more beautiful. If you're not someone, be patient trying to get through the doors--you're not the only one.

Chicago City Limits

Hell's Kitchen

Chicago City Limits is New York's longest-running comedy revue, thrilling audiences for over twenty-two years with its unique style of improvisational comedy. Its critically acclaimed show, award-winning National Touring Company, and top notch theatre training program has made Chicago City Limits a New York landmark. CCL recently returned to the Jan Hus Playhouse, where they performed for over 14 years. Their new show, "Hus on First?" takes aim at the faces, places and events that surround us, with comedy scenes and songs inspired by audience suggestions. There's an improvised version of the game show Jeopardy, a musical -- complete with tunes, lyrics and book -- created on-the-spot based upon audience member's recent experience, the finals of American Idol and much, much more. The show is smart, funny and topical, and great fun for the whole family. Chicago City Limits was founded in 1977 in Chicago by George Todisco and actors participating in the workshop program at The Second City. In 1979, Chicago City Limits relocated to New York, performing regularly at Catch a Rising Star, the Improvisation, the Duplex, and other noted clubs. It established its own theater in the summer of 1980 and began a continuous run of over 8,500 performances. Over the years, Chicago City Limits has made numerous TV appearances, including "The Today Show," "McLaughlin," "The Joan Rivers Show," "The Jackie Mason Show," Comedy Central, PBS, and "Good Day NY." The group appeared in its own TV new comedy series, "Reel News," on the USA network.

Slipper Room

Lower East Side

Since 1999, the Slipper Room has been instrumental in reviving—perhaps even creating—the burlesque community in New York City, for the first eleven years as the cozy, intimate cocktail lounge it once was, and now as the two-level burlesque theater and bar and it's become. James Habacker, the producer and host behind the Slipper Room's early years, designed the space himself when the original building was demolished, making the Slipper Room not just perfect but designed to meet the needs of neo-burlesque performers, with sightlines and lighting well in mind. The main room is a stunning paean to Jazz Age with a stage that vaults the full two stories up, where balcony visitors get a bird's eye view of the action.

Black Rabbit

Greenpoint

With 19th century floorboards and booths with saloon-style swinging doors, Black Rabbit takes a cue from the true spirit Prohibition-era bars: I'm here to drink, get out of my way. Upon entering here you feel like kicking back a few shots of whiskey, doffing your fedora to the barkeep, and sauntering off to punch Hemingway in the guts. It's a noble endeavor for a New York speakeasy in the new millennium to cast off the popular artifice of "hiding" the bar, as the Back Room does, say, or as modern speakeasies like PDT do. While the aesthetic is a decidedly American period piece, the menu comes off more like a London pub. Take, for example, the Welsh rarebit, a continental beer fondue. Or, more likely, don't. The menu also includes Black Angus mini-burgers, an Acme smoked trout plate, Bratwurst with German mustard, and other seasonal goodies that are the only anachronisms to be found in the joint.

Blue Note

Greenwich Village

Regarding the Jazz scene in New York City, one of the Blue Note's managers matter-of-factly told us: "This is it." Indeed, the Blue Note is arguably the world’s most popular jazz club. Although the club only opened their doors in the early 80’s, it has the feel of a longtime veteran in the New York Jazz scene. Once you get over the commercial feel of the joint, including its gold-plaque embedded tables, mediocre meals named after jazz songs, and overpriced gift shop, the Blue Note is truly among the best of its kind. Expect to see world-renowned talent on any given day except for Mondays, which is reserved for exceptional local talent. Show times are 9:00 and 11:30 during the week and additional Sunday matinees at 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Check the schedule link for show details. Although considered one of the top venues in the world for presenting Jazz, the Blue Note also feature all the biggest names in Blues, Latin, Brazilian, Fusion, R&B, Soul, Contemporary, Big Band and Popular music.

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