New York’s Best Beer Bars

If you’re looking for a place to grab a beer with the guys, you can find a spot on just about every block.  If you really want to experience beer like it was meant to be experienced, it takes some effort.  A true brew experience comes complete with a long list of beers on tap, a knowledgeable bartender who can tell you the flavor profiles for each of the beers, and some great bar food to chow down on while you’re drinking.  We’ve compiled a Restaurant Boy-approved list of some of the best places in the city to  sit down and have a real beer.  From the never-ending tap list at The Ginger Man, to the 1980’s throwback arcade games and stellar beer selection at Barcade, they all offer up a unique experience.  Just don’t get caught ordering a Coors Light anywhere…

-Restaurant Boy

Jimmy’s No. 43

Neighborhood: East Village | Featured in: Beer Bars, Restaurant Boy | 0 comments

It’s not easy to find a bar with a seasonal menu, never mind a bar in a basement.  But leave it to Jimmy’s No 43 shows New York City just how good bar food can be. Since it’s always changing, you can’t be sure but you’ll find, but the latest menu features dishes, like a Market Salad with arugula, fennel, carrots and a lemon vinaigrette.  There’s shishito peppers with lemon and sea salt, BBQ beef tacos served with marinated feta and even a cheese plate.  They’ve got 12 beers on tap right now, including Young’s Double Chocolate Stout (which is...

read more

The Ginger Man

Neighborhood: Midtown East | Featured in: Beer Bars, Restaurant Boy | 0 comments

If the vintage Guinness posters on the walls have you convinced you’re at just another pub, you’ll need to reconsider.  This place is anything but generic, from the ridiculous number of beers on tap (we’re talking around 70), to the lounge area, which is nice enough for any after work relaxing you’re looking to do.  We say stay for dinner, especially for the German sausage platter, which is excellent and comes with plenty of beer suggestions.  The Ginger Man Club sandwich (which is another personal favorite) comes with a chicken breast,...

read more

Ear Inn

Neighborhood: West Village | Featured in: Beer Bars, Restaurant Boy | 0 comments

The Ear Inn, aka the Green Door is famous for being one of the oldest (if not the oldest) bar in the city.  Located in the James Brown House of 1817, a registered New York City landmark and U.S. historic building, this place is just about as old as they get, so it’s worth a visit for the history alone.  Local musicians consider it an honor to take the stage at the Ear Inn every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday while regulars and newcomers enjoy simple, but always delicious bar food like the roasted turkey club and cowboy chili (traditionally...

read more

Barcade

Neighborhood: Brooklyn | Featured in: Beer Bars, Restaurant Boy | 0 comments

Step inside this Williamsburg warehouse and you might just think that you accidentally walked into an arcade for teenagers.    In 2004, five friends decided to combine their passions for beer and old school arcade games into one, big idea: Barcade.  They boast a constantly rotating selection of local beers and microbrews, so it’s a great spot to sample the newest, nearby craft beer creation.  It gets better: Barcadealso houses over 30 classic arcade games (including our favorite, Tetris) and they still cost just 25-cents to play.  While...

read more

Blind Tiger Ale House

Neighborhood: West Village | Featured in: Beer Bars, Restaurant Boy | 0 comments

Take one look at the beer list scribbled on the chalkboard here and you’ll realize this isn’t the kind of place to order a Bud Light.  Blind Tiger Ale House focuses on microbrews, including a large selection of New York’s own beers on tap. We love the silky texture of the oatmeal stout Sixpoint Otis (made in Brooklyn), but there’s plenty of great finds on the menu here. Beers like the Empire White Aphro and the Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere are what make this ale house so unique, so we recommend you step out of your comfort zone and...

read more

Molly’s Shebeen

Neighborhood: Murray Hill | Featured in: Beer Bars | 0 comments

If you’re looking to hit up a new, trendy place in Murray Hill…well, don’t come here.  Molly’s touts itself as being  “NYC’s most authentic Irish bar,” and no one’s debating it.  With the fireplace crackling all winter long and sawdust all over the floor, this 50-year old pub is about as authentic as it gets this side of the Atlantic.  They serve all the usual suspects when it comes to beer, and the food is that of a traditional Irish pub (with some American favorites added in for good measure).  The Shepherd’s Pie is the only way to go if...

read more

Bohemian Hall Beer Garden

Neighborhood: Queens | Featured in: Beer, Beer Bars, Restaurant Boy | 0 comments

This spot used to be a Czech and Slovak social club, so it comes as no surprise that their outdoor beer garden regularly hosts traditional Czech and Slovak festivals, concerts, and sporting events all summer long.  And with a huge outdoor area, you never have to worry about finding a spot to relax with a cold one when the weather permits.  All of their beers are served in  a mug or a pitcher, all the same price ($6 and $16, respectively).  Be sure and try a mug of the Spaten Octoberfest.  A perfect fall beer, it’s smooth and rich with the...

read more

Similar Roundups:

7 Beer Cocktails We’re Digging in New York

Restaurant Boy’s Essential Eats: Brooklyn Edition