NYC Entertainment | Nightlife in New York City

Entertainment and Nightlife in New York City
Bartenders in NYC have an uncanny talent for remembering faces. Make sure to tip

Bartenders in NYC have an uncanny talent for remembering faces. Make sure to tip

Entertainment and Nightlife in New York City

Are you looking for the best in NYC nightlife? Well, you're in the right place. Here at NYCTourist.com, you'll learn everything you need to know about entertainment and nightlife in NYC, including how to get in to the most popular NYC clubs, where to find the best bars in NYC, and what cheap NYC hotels are close to New York nightlife hotspots. Whether you're looking for cool, kooky NYC bars or trendy NYC clubs, you're sure to find what you're after.

Here are a few beginner's tips:

  • Dress to Impress: Most popular clubs in NYC enforce strict dress codes. If you don't look like you belong, you won't get in. Check club websites for dress codes.
  • Tip Your Bartender Well: Bartenders in NYC have an uncanny talent for remembering faces. If you stiff them on the tip, they'll note it, and you probably won't get a drink again. Of course, if you tip them well, they'll remember that, too, and they'll pour stronger drinks and take your order first. This is especially true in upscale NYC clubs.

To learn more about nightlife in New York City, continue reading below!

Located in the Midtown West neighborhood of Manhattan, The Royalton New York stands right in the center of it all

Located in the Midtown West neighborhood of Manhattan, The Royalton New York stands right in the center of it all

Hotels Close to Nightlife in NYC

If you plan on doing your share of partying in NYC, do yourself the favor of booking a room in an New York hotel close to nightlife in NYC. Here are a few of our top New York City hotels for partying:

  • The Royalton New York: Located in the Midtown West neighborhood of Manhattan, The Royalton New York stands right in the center of it all, close to popular NYC attractions and the best nightlife in NYC (the world-famous Pacha Club NY stands just steps away). This 4.0-star luxury hotel boasts a lively on-site bar, a 24-hour fitness center, and a breathtaking lobby with an enormous cast-bronze fireplace.
  • The GEM Hotel Chelsea: For those who would rather spend their money on signature NY drinks than on trendy NY hotel rooms, there's the GEM Hotel Chelsea, a cheap NYC hotel close to New York nightlife. This popular NYC hotel stands just minutes away from many of New York City's hottest clubs, including Marquee NYC.
Are you looking for fun things to do in New York City after dark?

Are you looking for fun things to do in New York City after dark?

NYC Nightlife - Cool Bars in NYC

Are you looking for fun things to do in New York City after dark? Do you want to learn about NYC nightlife and nightclubs in NYC? Are you on a quest for the coolest, hottest, swankiest bars in NYC? If so, you're in the right place! Below you'll find two of our favorite NYC nightlife hotspots.

  • The Rum House: Located in Manhattan's Times Square, just steps away from New York City's Theater District, The Rum House is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail before or after a Broadway show. This upscale bar in NYC is sure to delight music lovers and cocktail purists alike with its leather upholstery, piano players, and high-end drinks.
  • Smith & Mills: One block east of the Hudson River lies the small, pocket-sized bar known as Smith & Mills. At this eccentric Tribeca bar, which occupies a mere 450 square feet, food is served on antique flatware and beer in Mason jars.

To hear more about NYC nightlife, keep reading below!

NYCTourist Travel Info
  Nightlife Info Price
1. bOb

The bOb Bar NY is a chic New York City nightclub and lounge in Manhattan. Featuring budget-friendly NYC drink prices commonly found in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the bOb Bar New York is perfect for young NYC tourists looking for a cheap club in NYC.

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2. Quo Nightclub

Venture into one of New York's best clubs, Quo Nightclub, and see why everyone is raving about this Chelsea nightclub's incredible, modern decor and fun-loving atmosphere.  While listening to one of their many live performances and famous DJ's, you won't be able to resist dancing through the early hours of the morning.

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3. Pacha NYC

Pacha Club is one of the most popular nightclubs in NYC. This trendy NYC club features four separate and independently operable floors wtith LED-lighting and full-service bars. Rooms at Club Pacha boast drop-down projection screens, staging and fashion runways, table seating, tiered cushions, and plush banquettes.

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4. Love in NYC

If you're a music lover looking for a fun night, venture into this off the map underground club known as Love in NYC.  With two rooms and famous DJ's, Love Bar NYC is perfect for a night out and will make you feel like you're nowhere near home.

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5. Opia Bar
at the Renaissance New York Hotel 57

Opia Bar and Lounge in Midtown East Manhattan attracts out-of-towners and locals alike with savory lounge fare, creative cocktails, and chic decor. Located inside the Renaissance 57 Hotel, Opia features live music and DJ entertainment and airs international soccer games on wide-screen Plasma TVs.

Full BarWine BarBottle ServicePrivate PartiesLive Entertainment/DJDance FloorBar FoodRooftopHappy Hour
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6. King Cole Bar NYC

Looking for a luxurious night out? Or simply a change of pace? Take part in the old-school elegance and classic New York City feel of the King Cole bar. With its classic interior and fantastic cocktails, the King Cole bar in the St. Regis Hotel is one of the highest quality establishments in Midtown Manhattan.

Full BarWine BarBottle ServicePrivate PartiesLive Entertainment/DJDance FloorBar FoodRooftopHappy Hour
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7. Bookmarks Lounge
at the Library Hotel

The perfect NYC bar to enjoy a drink on a hot summer evening, the Bookmarks Lounge at the Library Hotel is one of New York's most popular rooftop bars. Located on the 14th-floor of this top boutique hotel in NYC, the Bookmarks New York Lounge in Manhattan features a quaint atmosphere, and some of the best cocktails in New York City.

Full BarWine BarBottle ServicePrivate PartiesLive Entertainment/DJDance FloorBar FoodRooftopHappy Hour
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8. A Lounge
at the AKA Central Park

Offering savory cocktails in an intimate setting with wood burning fireplaces, maple floors, and modern music, A Lounge at AKA Central Park is the perfect place to relax and socialize.  Exclusive to AKA hotel guests and residences in NYC only, a visit to A Lounge New York at the AKA Central Park Hotel will allow you to escape the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple while still enjoying a night out in NYC.

Full BarWine BarBottle ServicePrivate PartiesLive Entertainment/DJDance FloorBar FoodRooftopHappy Hour
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9. Ava
at the The Dream New York

One of the best rooftop bars NYC has to offer, Ava Lounge in New York City features bright lights, trendy music, and great vibes.  Also featuring magnificent views of Times Square, Ava Lounge at The Dream New York delivers supreme specialty cocktails and mouthwatering dishes.  Book a reservation today for a bachelor/bachelorette party, birthday, or no special occasion at all! Enjoy fun in the sun at Ave Lounge NYC.

Full BarWine BarBottle ServicePrivate PartiesLive Entertainment/DJDance FloorBar FoodRooftopHappy Hour
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10. Inc Lounge
at the The Time Hotel New York

Inc Lounge in NYC is hip and stylish NYC cocktail lounge located on site at The Time Hotel NY. The moment you arrive on the second floor and step out of the stunning all-glass elevator, you'll be amazed by the black Lucite chandeliers, brown alligator swivel stools, black-and-white patent leather settees, and plush red velvet couches.

Full BarWine BarBottle ServicePrivate PartiesLive Entertainment/DJDance FloorBar FoodRooftopHappy Hour
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11. Aspen Social Club
at the The Stay Hotel

Located on site at The Stay Hotel in Manhattan, the Aspen Social Club NYC is a combined restaurant and cocktail lounge inspired by the popular Colorado ski resort of the same name. With premium tequilas, artisanal cocktails, and a menu crafted by Chef Steven Giambrone, this restaurant and lounge in NYC is perfect for birthdays and special events.

Full BarWine BarBottle ServicePrivate PartiesLive Entertainment/DJDance FloorBar FoodRooftopHappy Hour
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Pacha Club boasts a 3,500-square-foot wooden dance floor

Pacha Club boasts a 3,500-square-foot wooden dance floor

The New York Nightlife Scene and Things To Do at Night in NYC!

We’ve all heard that New York is the city that never sleeps – and it’s true! If hitting the town, checking out the clubs, seeing the lights in Times Square, or just hanging out at a great lounge or bar is your thing, then NYC can deliver. There are hundreds of restaurants that have bars and lounges for early evening entertainment and hundreds more pubs and bars in New York (especially Manhattan) that are open deep into the night. New York’s club scene is broad and varied and is led by Webster Hall in the East Village – one of New York City’s most popular nightclubs featuring five (yes FIVE) dance floors, live music, famous DJs, and an iconic history of entertainers (our nightlife tip is to buy tickets early as this is a hot place to hang out, dance, and party).

Another way to spend the night is dinner and live music at a New York jazz club like Cleopatra’s Needle on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. If you’re into laughing (let’s hope so) then New York boasts some of the best comedians and comedy clubs in the world such as the Broadway Comedy Club, Caroline’s on Broadway, World Comedy Club in Manhattan's Midtown West, Dangerfield’s, and the NY Comedy Club where "Laughter is an instant vacation!" Yes, most have a two drink minimum but that’s nothing compared to the quality of entertainment.

If you’re looking for NYC concert tickets, entertainers or other things to do at night in NYC then check out our up to date NYC events calendar.

Clubs and Nightlife in NYC

Some of the best clubs in the world can be found in New York City. One famous NYC nightclub is Pacha Club NY. Located in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Midtown Manhattan, Pacha Club boasts a 3,500-square-foot wooden dance floor and four stylishly decorated floors with large open spaces and intimate seating coves. Notable attractions at this popular club in NYC include Pacha's famous shower booths, where bikinied girls dance under colored LED lights, and the jet-setting celebrities who people the ultra-exclusive mezzanine floor.

Another popular NYC club is Marquee NYC. This trendy nightclub in NYC evokes the elegant sophistication of an old-fashioned gentlemen's club with its scuptural glasswear, custom-made ice buckets, 42-foot vaulted ceiling, and 35-foot "wishbone" staircase. With a maximum capacity of just 600 people, Marquee NY is the perfect size for an NYC nightclub, neither too big nor too small.

NYC Event Tickets

Manhattan Inn Piano Bar is a cool and quirky NYC piano bar located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Manhattan Inn Piano Bar is a cool and quirky NYC piano bar located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.

NYC Nightlife - The Best Bars in NYC

Looking for cool bars in NYC? We've got you covered! Check out these trendy NYC bars with live music and bar food. They're two of the best bars in New York City!

  • Manhattan Inn Piano Bar NYC: Founded in 2009 by Brooke Baxter and Rolyn Hu, Manhattan Inn Piano Bar is a cool and quirky NYC piano bar located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. This popular NY piano bar offers live music seven nights a week and a full bar that serves quality small plates and full-course meals.
  • Le Poisson Rouge NYC: Founded by musicians on the former site of the Village Gate, Le Poisson Rouge is one of the best places to see live music in NYC. This cool NYC bar features a 28' x 21' fixed corner stage, a 23'-diameter hardwood dance floor, and flexible event space that can seat 250 and stand 700. Aside from signature NY cocktails like the Garfunkel and the Pumpkin King, Le Poisson Rouge serves delicious small plates like quesadillas, nachos, and pizza.