The holiday season is upon us, which means a dramatic increase in the number of people visiting New York City daily. Many tourists are unsure how to spend their time, and often ask their driver for recommendations. Since NYC has far too many exceptional venues and attractions to list in one issue, we will be covering additional topics in the coming months – but if you’re asked where to grab a drink or listen to jazz, you’ll be prepared if you keep this paper handy.
New York City is home to 6 of the 50 best bars in the world
Each year, William Reed Business Media lists the “World’s 50 Best Bars,” and six New York City bars made the list in 2022, according to an article in Crain’s New York Business. More than 650 drinks experts – including bartenders, writers, and consultants – cast their votes.
The following NYC bars made the list: Double Chicken Please: 115 Allen Street, NY 10002; Katana Kitten: 531 Hudson Street, NY 10014; Attaboy: 134 Eldridge Street, NY 10002; Overstory: Located on the north 64th floor of 70 Pine Street in Manhattan’s Financial District; Dante: 551 Hudson St (corner of Perry), West Village 10014; and Employees Only: 510 Hudson Street, NYC 10014.
The second half of the list, which features bars ranked 51-100 worldwide, also included several NYC bars: Bar Goto, Bar Mace and The Dead Rabbit.
Top New York City Jazz Clubs
The Village Vanguard: 178 7th Ave. South, NY 10014. One of NYC’s oldest jazz clubs, the Village Vanguard helped launch the careers of many of history’s most celebrated musicians – including Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Bill Evans. It continues to be one of the world’s leading venues for jazz, according to Untapped New York.
Birdland: 315 West 44th St., NY 10036. Named after legendary saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker, Birdland has been a hotspot for well-known jazz musicians and celebrities, like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Sugar Ray Robinson. Recent performers have included Diana Krall, Dave Holland, and Regina Carter. Birdland was mentioned in Jack Kerouac’s novel “On The Road,” and has been featured in songs like Weather Report’s “Birdland” and U2’s “Angel of Harlem.”
Smalls Jazz Club: 183 West 10th Street, Greenwich Village, NYC. Smalls has earned a reputation as a “hotbed for New York’s jazz talent” and “one of the best places to see rising talent in the New York jazz scene.” Recent performers include Norah Jones, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Peter Bernstein, Brian Blade, Larry Goldings, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Myron Walden and Spike Wilner.
The Jazz Gallery: 1158 Broadway, 5th floor (entrance on 27th St.), NY 10001. The Jazz Gallery is an international cultural center where the youngest generation of emerging jazz musicians are nurtured, with opportunities to collaborate with their peers, discover and refine their creativity, and perform in front of eager audiences. It’s open 3+ nights per week, 50 weeks a year.
The Django: 2 Avenue of The Americas, New York City, 10013. This subterranean jazz club, with its vaulted ceilings and exposed brick walls, was modeled after the boîtes of Paris. The venue has two cocktail bars, open dining space and a stage for live performances. Audiences can enjoy rising stars and seasoned performers seven nights a week, along with hand-crafted cocktails and an elevated dinner menu.
Mezzrow Jazz Club: 163 West 10th Street (basement), New York 10014. In 2014, Spike Wilner – owner of Smalls Jazz Club – opened a second venue on the opposite corner, Mezzrow, which draws its inspiration from the great NYC piano rooms of the past.
