Nightlife · New York City · United States
New York City nightlife
Where the evenings happen in New York City, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: (User: Wgreaves ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
New York's bars can stay open until 4am, and the city has a scene for every taste: dive bars and cocktail lounges in the East Village, jazz clubs in Greenwich Village, rooftop bars in Midtown, and clubs and warehouse venues in Brooklyn. The main areas are East Village and Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, Williamsburg and Bushwick, Hell's Kitchen, Harlem and Midtown rooftops.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 6
- Stay near the action
- Chelsea and the Meatpacking District
- Local drink
- Egg cream
Where to go out
East Village and Lower East Side
Dive bars, speakeasy-style cocktail bars and small live-music venues around Avenue A and Ludlow Street.
Greenwich Village
Historic jazz and comedy clubs and the Stonewall Inn, a landmark of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Williamsburg and Bushwick
Brooklyn's biggest concentration of bars, live-music venues and late-night clubs.
Hell's Kitchen
Pre- and post-theatre bars and a busy LGBTQ+ nightlife strip along Ninth Avenue.
Harlem
Jazz and soul clubs and the Apollo Theater, home of the long-running Amateur Night.
Midtown rooftops
Hotel rooftop bars with views of the Empire State Building and the Midtown skyline.
Nightlife tips
- Bars can serve until 4am, and the subway runs all night, though less frequently.
- Carry photo ID: the drinking age is 21 and ID is checked almost everywhere.
- Tip $1–2 per drink at the bar, or 18–20% on a tab.
Evening sights
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Landmark · Midtown
Empire State Building
Late-evening visits are often quieter than sunset and show the city lights at their best.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
- Kids
Viewpoint · Midtown
Top of the Rock
Book a slot about 45 minutes before sunset to see the city in daylight, at dusk and after dark.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Iconic
Landmark · Midtown
Times Square
See it after dark, then move on; costumed characters expect a tip for photos.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
Experience · Theater District
A Broadway show
Buy discounted same-day tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square or through official digital lotteries and rush tickets.
- Time needed
- 2.5–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
What to drink
- Egg cream — A fountain drink of milk, seltzer and chocolate syrup with a foamy head — it contains neither egg nor cream.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 21°C (70°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:52 | -3°C (27°F) | 11 |
| April | About 19:35 | 8°C (46°F) | 11 |
| July | About 20:26 | 21°C (70°F) | 10 |
| October | About 18:16 | 11°C (52°F) | 10 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Tap the same card or phone every time: OMNY caps fares so that after 12 paid rides in a seven-day period, further rides in that period are free.
- Walking — Walking is often the best way to see Manhattan; Midtown to the Village takes about 40 minutes on foot.
- Bus — Buses run along the avenues and across town, useful for east–west trips the subway covers poorly; Select Bus Service routes are faster, with all-door boarding.
- Ferry — NYC Ferry boats link Manhattan with Brooklyn, Queens, the Rockaways and the Bronx at low fares, and the Staten Island Ferry is free.
- Taxi — From JFK, yellow cabs charge a flat fare to Manhattan plus tolls and tip.
Late-night bites
- New York pizza slice — Slice shops all over the city; coal-oven pizzerias in Little Italy and Brooklyn serve whole pies.
- Hot dog — Street carts in Midtown and Nathan's Famous on the Coney Island boardwalk.
- Chicken over rice — Halal carts all over Midtown; the best-known started at the corner of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue.
- Chopped cheese — Corner bodegas, especially in Harlem and the Bronx.
- Dumplings — Chinatown around Mott and Doyers Streets, and Main Street in Flushing.
- Knish — Delis and bakeries on the Lower East Side and in Brooklyn.
Staying safe at night
New York is generally safe in the areas visitors frequent, but pickpockets work crowded spots such as Times Square and busy subway trains. Costumed characters and people handing out 'free' CDs expect payment, and late at night it is best to ride in busy subway cars.
- Emergency number
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, culture and couples
Chelsea and the Meatpacking District
West Chelsea has hundreds of art galleries between 10th and 11th Avenues, the High Line running overhead and the Chelsea Market food hall, while the cobbled Meatpacking District to the south has the Whitney Museum, rooftop bars and clubs. Hudson Yards and the Little Island park are at either end.
- Good
- Free galleries and the High Line; Excellent restaurants and bars; Walk to the West Village
- Watch out
- Expensive; Fewer subway lines on the far west side
- Nearby
- High Line, Chelsea Market, Whitney Museum, Hudson Yards
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in New York City?
East Village and Lower East Side, Greenwich Village and Williamsburg and Bushwick. Dive bars, speakeasy-style cocktail bars and small live-music venues around Avenue A and Ludlow Street.
+Which area of New York City is best for nightlife?
Chelsea and the Meatpacking District: The High Line, art galleries and Chelsea Market.