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The Upper West Side Bar Scene, NY

The Upper West Side Bar Scene, NY

The Upper West Side has been a cool place to live since way before the word trendy was ever invented.

Check out some of the fabulous bars, restaurants and cafes the thriving Upper West side neighborhood has to offer.

The Dakota Bar - Upper West Side

Romance is definitely in the air at the trendy Dakota Bar which is located on Manhattans' chic Upper West Side.
 
Named after the famous landmark apartment building nearby, The Dakota Bar possesses a vibrant energy all of its' own. Not far from Fordham University's' Lincoln Center campus and the Metropolitan Opera House, The Dakota Bar works on many different levels; as a great date spot, a place to grab a drink with friends after work or as your new favorite brunch go-to.
 
The decor is modern with several intriguing touches including wall to ceiling windows. Enjoy a cocktail while you watch the world stroll by. Along this glass wall are a line of high-top tables complete with purple soft cushions for you to sink into and let the stress of the day just fade away.
Dacota Bar WineSpecial
Liquid refreshment ranges from imported and domestic beers to reds and whites, sparkling wine and that elixir of the gods, champagne. A glass of that beverage will put a positive spin on any evening, whether you're with a date or you are flying solo. Happiness, is, after all, a state-of-mind.
The bar also carries a sterling line-up of ports, sherry and dessert wines.
 
Local hipsters, young professionals and the Lincoln Center crowd rave about the bar bites and small plates being served at The Dakota.
Most popular menu items include the fabulous herb-baked olives and Parmesan cheese straws, the delectable Shrimp bruschetta and the seasoned eggplant frites with yogurt and pickle relish dipping sauce.
Don't sleep on the green salad with goat cheese and pistachios or the mushroom stuffed rigatoni with white wine, cream and parsley. 

Location and Hours

53 West 72nd Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 787-0700
www.thedakotabarnyc.com
 
Hours
Monday                4 PM to 1:30 AM
Tuesday to Friday   4 PM to  2 AM
Saturday             11:30 AM to 2 AM
Sunday                11:30 AM to 12 AM

Tarallucci e Vino - Upper  West Side

By day, this cute and cozy West Side favorite is a traditional Italian cafe, serving all manner of pastries along with a great cup of espresso. But as delicious as things are during daylight hours, it's after darkness falls when the fun really starts. That's when Tarallucci transforms itself into a wine bar just like you would find on the cobble stoned streets of  Rome.
 
You'll be happy to know that there are 25 wines by the glass available here. This is possible thanks to a system known as Vinify, that sucks the oxygen out of wine bottles in order to keep them fresh for a longer amount of time. Who says that progress isn't a good thing?
TarallucciEvino
As you might expect from an authentic Italian enoteca, after dark there are some delectable and filling meat and cheese boards available as well as a fine selection of Panini. The panini that you simply have to try is the flavorful Cotto which is filled with herb-cooked ham, provolone cheese and black truffle aioli.
 
Take some time out of your busy schedule, though, to reserve a table for brunch. That's when you can taste the best of both worlds here in terms of both food and drink.
Sample the delights of their pasticceria, especially the Bombolini (your choice of cream filled or chocolate), their fluffy and tasty almond croissant or the cream and apricot marmalade stuffed Cornetti.
Brunch also features a few of the evening menus' most popular dishes such as Gnocchi with English Peas and the polpettine, fresh house made meatballs with San Marzano tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.
 
Enjoy a Bellini or Mimosa together with your brunch dish or a glass of imported wine. Wine goes down smoothly just about any time of the day... or night!

Location and Hours 

475 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 362-5254
www.taraluccievino.net
 
Hours
Monday to Thursday    7:30 AM to 12 AM
Friday                7:30 AM to  1 AM
Saturday            8 AM to 1 AM
Sunday                8 AM to 11 PM 

Amity Hall Uptown - Upper West Side

This spacious, friendly establishment boasts one of the most beautiful bars in the city. A hand carved, three-sided bar occupies center stage here in all of its' majestic, boozy glory. Candle-lit tables envelop the bar, which only adds to the charm.
 
They also have a sidewalk cafe set up which is also a big draw. But if you are going by yourself, by all means, settle down at the bar. It's so large, you won't feel at all crowded and the person next to you just might turn out to become a life-long friend. The good vibes here flow as easily as does the draft beer and wine.
At Amity Hall, it's all about good conversation and great drinks.
 
There are 25 craft beer selections on tap. Happy Hour runs from Monday through Friday, from 12 to 7 PM. You can grab a tall glass of Stella Artois, Blue Point Lager or Goose Island IPA for just $7. Bud Lights are even cheaper at only $6.
AmityHall
Accompany your booze with a scrumptious bar bite like the Bavarian Uber pretzel, flash fried calamari in a  lemon aioli or the Wisconsin fried white cheddar cheese curds with an avocado ranch dipping sauce.
Interested in something more substantial? Then the Amity signature burger with bacon jam and crispy onions or the chipotle mac and cheese is for you.
 
They have a very special boozy brunch that you might want to look into. For $29.95 you get any entree off the brunch menu plus two full hours of unlimited Bloody Marys or Mimosas. Their signature brunch dish is the skillet scrambles. You can't go wrong with either the Bacon, Vermont Cheddar and scallion option or the Green Goddess with spinach, goat cheese, chives and avocado.

Location and Hours

982 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10025
(646) 930-2501
www.amityhallnyc.com
 
Hours
Monday to Wednesday     11 AM to 2 AM
Thursday to Saturday    11 AM to 3 AM
Sunday                  11 AM to 2 AM  

Jake's Dilemma - Upper West Side

If you like your beer with a shot of personality then Jake's Dilemma is your kind of bar. It's not exactly a dive bar, but this isn't exactly the sort of place where you would want to take your parents when they're visiting from out of town.
 
Jake's is where you go with your buddies to blow off some steam after a hard day at work. With 14 beers on tap and more than fifty bottled beers to choose from, you don't have to be Albert Einstein to know just what Jake's dilemma is all about! What do I order first?
 
Well, you can go with the flow or change things up a little from your usual beverage of choice. They've got more than enough selection; that's for sure.
To help you make your drinking decisions, Jake's has some tempting happy hour specials every night of the week. On Mondays, for example, the entire bar is half price from 3 until 8 PM. And, as if that's not enough, from eight until closing, you can order $4 shots, $10 domestic pitchers or a mug of beer for a couple of singles.
JakesDilema HappyHour
On Wednesdays, Jake's features the wildly popular $4 " you call it" special. Everything is included from drafts and bottled beers to shots and well drinks.
 
Up front, there's some cozy booth seating and a really long bar. So, plan to get comfortable and stay awhile. At the rear of the establishment, just walk up a few steps and you'll find more tables, as well as games like Foosball and pool waiting for you.
 
Jake's kitchen turns up the heat with a menu of classic bar foods like nachos, wings, fries and tater tots and deep fried pickles.
But they really excel at making some very creative sliders. In fact, they've got a menu consisting of fourteen varieties of sliders.The most popular are the chicken parm, pulled pork, sloppy Joe and Philly cheese steak sliders.You might also be interested in the California sliders which are mini beef patties topped with bacon and avocado. The Mac and cheese sliders are rather out of the box but they are quite good.

Location and Ηours

430 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 580-0556
 
Hours
Monday to Friday  3 PM to 4 AM
Saturday         12 PM to 4 AM
Sunday           11:30 AM to 4 AM  

Riposo 72 - Upper West Side

Sometimes, we tend to over complicate things in life. This is especially true in New York, where many of us feel that we have to have the go-switch turned on 24/7. There's another, less stressful way to live; one where you can get work done but you still enjoy quality time with friends and family, over a glass of wine and a plate of delicious food.
 
That's how it's done in Italy. The folks at Riposo 72, a cozy, intimate wine bar are proud to bring some of that Italian La Dolce Vita to the hustle and bustle of the Upper West Side.
 
Derived from the Italian verb riposare, riposo means to rest, be at one's ease and relax. The family behind Riposo hails from a town overlooking the Mediterranean sea on the coast of Sicily.
They have created a warm and welcoming ambiance here along with a fantastic list of quality wines and delicious small plates. They do not skimp on portion size or the quality of ingredients here at Riposo.
Riposo ArtisanalCheese ChefsAssortment19
The reds and whites that are guaranteed to calm your troubled waters come from all over the globe. If you're into whites, you'll savor every sip of a delightful Pinot Grigio from a boutique Sicilian vineyard as well as a nice German Riesling and a Chardonnay from Sonoma's wine country.
Spain and Argentina are both represented with some amazing red wine.
 
Italian style tapas reign supreme here. Most regulars tend to opt for the Prosciutto and roasted red pepper Panini, the Truffle Panini with fresh mozzarella, the shrimp ceviche or the always satisfying PEI Mussels in broth and white wine.
They offer a wide selection of flat breads. The wild mushroom with caramelized onions and goat cheese is the best of the bunch.
 
The dessert that has all the foodies on the upper west side talking is Riposo's signature cheesecake. This dessert, with Bailey's Irish cream, raspberry and chocolate syrup is to die for. Don't leave the premises without having a slice.

Location and Hours

50 West 72nd street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 799-4140
www.ripososnyc.com
 
Hours
Dinner
Sunday to Thursday        4 PM to 12 AM
Friday and Saturday        4 PM  to  1 AM
 
Brunch
Saturday and Sunday        10:30 AM to 4 PM

Hi Life Bar and Grill - Upper West Side

When your significant other tells you that she's bored with going to the same bar night after night and wants to go someplace really special, then make the Hi Life Bar and Grill your escape from the everyday. You'll be glad that you did.
 
The Hi-Life is all about having the time of your life. You don't even have to go inside to know that this is NOT your average west Side bar hangout.
Parked on the street, just steps from the entrance is a 1930's car with a neon Hi Life bar sign on its' hood, lighting up the night. Inside, you are brought back in time to the elegant New York nightlife scene of the thirties. The art deco bar is framed by cozy booth and banquette seating and authentic vintage decor.
 
If you needed any further convincing that spending time at the Hi Life is a very special experience then  all you need to do is order from their sushi and sashimi bar. Yes, their raw bar is manned by a traditionally trained master sushi chef.
They also have a truly sensational happy hour which features domestic draft pints for $6 and champagne cocktails as well as margaritas and daiquiris for only $7.
Bar food specials include four little neck clams from the raw bar for just six bucks. They've got a surf and turf special that will have you coming back for more. You can get a cheeseburger plus any two pieces of sushi or sashimi for the bargain price of $7!
hi life
And the good times don't end there. On Fridays treat yourself to a basket of shrimp and chips with hand-cut fries for $18.95.  2 for 1 frozen shots reign supreme at the bar, as well, during happy hour.
Brunch-goers are by no means left out of the good times here. On Saturdays and Sundays, your first brunch cocktail is just an incredible $2.95 with the purchase of an entree.
 
The bars' cocktail list goes from their spin on vintage classics like Martinis and  Cosmopolitans to Tropical cocktails including the Mango Mojito and Little Umbrella drinks such as  an addicting Mai Tai, a power-packed Caribbean rum punch and the refreshing Singapore Sling.
 
The barkeeps do a fantastic Gin Rickey with Hendricks' gin, club soda, fresh lime juice and simple syrup.  Another must-try on the cocktail list is the West Side Story. This well crafted libation consists of silver tequila, fresh orange juice, grenadine and lime syrup.
The bars' signature drink and one of their most popular is the Hi-Life Old fashioned with whiskey, bitters, honey syrup a splash of soda and, of course, a luscious maraschino cherry.  Ask very politely and you might just get a second cherry ! One is never enough.
 
No matter what the occasion may be, make it extra special by celebrating here at the Hi Life.

Location and Hours 

477 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 787-7199
www.hi-life.com
 
Hours
Monday to Thursday    4 PM to 1 AM
Friday              4 PM to 3 AM
Saturday           10:30 AM to 3 AM
Sunday             10:30 AM  to 12 AM

Lincoln Ristorante - Upper West Side

In the strictest sense of the word, Lincoln Ristorante isn't really a bar. However, this upscale, uber-classy fine dining establishment does happen to have not only one of the best bars in the city on its' premises, but a wine list that is second to none.
 
The restaurant is a visual treat.  Located just off of Lincoln Centers' reflecting pool and the Henry Moore reclining figure sculpture, Lincoln Ristorante has a gorgeous grass lawn roof and a central open kitchen run by Per Se's former chef du cuisine,  Shea Gallante. That alone tells you that good things are in store for you here. The entire space is housed inside a stupendous glass pavilion that was designed by noted architects Diller, Scofidio and Renfro.
 
Chef Gallante's philosophy is simple; to source the very best ingredients from local purveyors and farms and prepare them with genuine Italian methods and spirit. That means that all pastas as well as focaccia and grissini bread sticks are made fresh every day, in-house. Chef  Gallante and his staff also visit the nearby Tucker Square green market several times per week.

Wine director Aaron Von Rock maintains an all-Italian wine list with well over 400 labels, representing both brand names and smaller, family run, boutique vineyards. You might just discover your new favorite wine here.
 
In a respectful nod to Italian tradition, Lincolns' Prosecco bar allows guests to choose a sparkling wine and add a complimentary liquore to their drink.
The Negroni Bar  option will get your creative juices flowing, bringing out your "inner" mixologist. Guests can adapt this classic cocktail to their specific taste. You can custom build your Negroni using a variety of alternative base spirits, aperitivo bitters and vermouth options.
 
Lincoln Ristorante offers a very special wine pairing with their Prix Fixe menu. Aaron Von Brock will be happy to assist you in choosing the specific wines that go best with your choice of Antipasto, primo or secondo course and dolce.
Lincold ristorante prix fixe
Chef Gallantes' menu draws inspiration from the entire Italian culinary landscape.
 
The rustic ravioli bigusto consists of braised eggplant, Guanciale, goat cheese, 'Nduja butter and Pecorino Romano cheese. The risotto con astice takes time to prepare but the results are so worth the wait. Your carnaroli rice is cooked with chunks of Maine lobster, aromatic herbs, all in a tomato-saffron reduction.
 
Secondi  selections include a succulent boneless lamb chop, Cod with fingerling potatoes and San Marzano tomatoes as well as the fabulous bistecca in padella, which is sirloin of beef with broccoli and mushrooms in red wine.
 
Unforgettable memories are made here  at Lincoln Ristorante.

Location and Ηours 

142 west 65th street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 359-6500
www.lincolnristorante.com
 
Hours
Monday and Tuesday    5 PM to 10:30 PM
Wednesday            12 PM to 10:30 PM
Thursday and Friday    12 PM to 11 PM
Saturday            11:30 AM to 11 PM
Sunday                11:30 AM to 9:30 PM 

The Dead Poet - Upper West Side

Distinctive  and welcoming, The Dead Poet should be on every New Yorkers' bucket list to visit  even if they have only a passing interest in drinking and literature. In a city where just about every corner bar claims that they are one of a kind, founder and owner Drew Dvorkin  has created something very special, indeed, with the Dead Poet.
 
A former high school English teacher, Drew opened the Dead Poet in September of 2000.  It has been a vital part of the upper west side neighborhood ever since.
Drew designed the bar as a gathering place for locals where they could enjoy great food and drink as well as celebrate the lives of some of our most acclaimed writers and poets.
Why, you can even sign out books from the bars' library and gaze upon  artistic portraits of luminaries like Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman , Langston Hughes and Ernest Hemingway, that adorn the walls.
 
Yet, despite the literary theme here, the Dead Poet is a really fun place in which  to wind down  your day.  It's also a destination bar  where you can make the night last forever, after taking in a movie or concert. The Beacon theater is not far away at all.
The bar pours some of the most magnificent cocktails that you will ever drink in this city. You can enjoy a pint of their premium draft beer or sample the Dead Poets' extensive and enticing Irish whiskey menu. And, to top it all off, you can dance the night away to some classic and contemporary tunes emanating from the house jukebox.

The kitchen gives you a myriad of elevated choices to provide a solid foundation for those cocktails or pints of Guinness you are going to consume.
TheDeadPoet HappyHour
Choose from delicious fish, chorizo or chicken BLT tacos or their four cheese, onion and pepper wagon wheel macaroni and cheese dish. Pub grub fare includes Fish and chips and six kinds of fries. The two tastiest options are the fries with truffle oil, sea salt and Parmesan and the hand-cut wedges that are topped with thick, spicy curry sauce.
 
And now, without further  ceremony, let's get to that cocktail list.
 
By far, the most popular cocktail here is their signature drink The Dead Poet. This potent concoction consists of seven different liquors that are combined with a splash of sour mix. The end result is a mysterious elixir that tastes like, believe it or not, grape soda. On the menu, they tell customers that the recipe is secret so, please don't ask. You do, however, receive two bucks off the regular price for refills.
 
For Whom the Bell Tolls is a tribute to the legendary Ernest Hemingway. He would surely have enjoyed this blend of Peach sweet shine, ruby red grapefruit juice and champagne.
The Tennessee Williams is a deceptively simple cocktail that draws on the playwright's Southern roots with sweet tea vodka being the primary ingredient. It's served over ice in a mason jar.
Another cocktail is named after Dorothy Parker, who actually lived in this neighborhood for a short period of time. If the Dead poet had been around in Dorothy's heyday, this cocktail, consisting of Gin (and plenty of it), Peychaud's bitters, grapefruit juice and mint simple syrup would have been a go to of hers. 

Location and Ηours 

450 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10024
(212) 595-5670
www.thedeadpoet.com
 
Hours
Monday to Saturday    11 AM to 4 AM
Sunday                12 PM to 4 AM

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