Those 140 bars in 2026
- 24
- still there
- 58
- replaced
- 58
- gone
Most common features
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453 W. 17th St.
Closed
Every new club makes a claim to the crown - the most lavish, most exclusive, celeb heavy scene in NYC. Investors need to believe it. Promoters need to sell it. And the punters need to feel they got their bottle money's worth. The thing with 1 Oak is it might just have the chops to make the hype a reality.
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Pier 60
Closed; now Lucky Strike Chelsea Piers
This monstrosity is obviously the product of a strange spatial-temporal distortion which brought it here from Vegas in the 90s, because there's no way the pitch for bowling alley nightclub writ large could have ever found funding in New York City. Right?
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252 W. 38th St.
No license found in 2026
Taqueria by day. Taxi dance club by night.
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20 W. 38th St.
Closed; now The Westbury
Walking inside it's as if you've suddenly been magically transported around the world to a bog standard, always a bit too crowded, dull as you like pub in midtown Sydney.
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230 W. 19th St.
No license found in 2026
The product of late night TV spots all over Long Island and New Jersey.
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191 7th Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Kei
The focus here is on Southern Italian wines. They've got a pricey piece of kit called a cruvinet which keeps open bottles fresh and enables a wine list with over 40 bottles by the glass.
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275 W. 22nd St.
Closed
Comfy, mellow gay bar without the cruise or die atmosphere. You might even be able to bring your straight friends here.
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332 9th Ave
A different business is licensed at this address: The Celly Bar & Grill
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340 9th Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Maggie Reilly's
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232 8th Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Spicy Moon
Four words: drag queen puppet bingo. Fridays 7:30-10:30pm.
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297 10th Ave.
No license found in 2026
A sleek bar with a mixed crowd, views of the Empire State Building and impressively flattering lighting. Most notable for the surprising amount of press it got following a flame war with 42 Below Vodka in 2005.
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515 W. 27th St.
Closed
This tiny lounge dressed up to the nines in South Beach chic achieves a dizzying nose to the sky level of pretension. It's almost worth the door hassle and a $16 cocktail for a zebra print seat to snear at it all from.
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Cellar Bar (Bryant Park Hotel)
40 W. 40th St.
Same bar, now Célon Bar & Lounge
An absurdly expensive, uneven, imitation wine cellar replete with vaulted ceilings and wrought iron chandeliers. To get there head toward the front desk, turn left, and then look for the clipboard wielding doorman.
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Pier 59 Chelsea Piers
Closed; now Current at Pier 59
A bi-level, indoor outdoor bar that serves up 30 beers brewed on site. Go after work to catch the amazing sunset over the Hudson.
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25W 32nd St.
Still pouring
Third floor karaoke lounge with private rooms and decent sound.
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150 Varick St
Closed; now 150 Varick Street office building
Nightly house parties draw as diverse a crowd as you'll find anywhere in New York. Every age, sexuality, ethnicity, socio-economic group is represented the common denominator is a deep affection for music. This is a crowd that dances. On Saturday doors don’t open til 11pm, but they won't kick you out til noon Sunday.
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2 Penn Plaza
A different business is licensed at this address
The lobby of the MSG theater is transformed into a 400 seat comedy venue on show nights.
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The Distinguished Wakamba Lounge
543 8th Ave.
Still pouring
Don't be fooled by the name. This ain't no Tiki bar. As dives go this is a cliff dive, not a swan dive. It's a dive for experts, the kind that keep a bottle next to their bed to stave off the DTs.
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161 W. 23rd St
Closed; now Petite Disco
There's a brand new next big thing every couple months in the space that was formerly Release which was formerly Suede. Door's gimmic is a video camera and a buzzer instead of a door person.
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53 W. 35th St.
Still pouring
Top of the line karaoke machines and quality microphones mean you can capture ever missed note of Umbrella (ela-ela) in stunning fidelity. You can take over any of the 12 private rooms for $8/pp per hour.
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554 West 28th Street
Still pouring
Chelsea leather bar with a roof deck and Sunday afternoon BBQ at 5pm.
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116 10th Ave.
No license found in 2026
Bombay themed club/lounge offers generic beats, bottle service and little else to a demographic of mostly Indian corporatophiles.
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156 7th Ave
Closed
A busy bar attached to an attractive restaurant draws a crowd of good looking couples gay and straight. In keeping with local custom the music is Madonna and Britney heavy and a pint of Guinness will run you $7.
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18 W. 33rd St.
Closed; now Finnerty's
The tourists and office workers who fill Foley's didn't just happen to wander in. They've come back year after year, and lunch after lunch, because Foley's has something sorely lacking in this area, a soul.
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Pier 63
Moved to Pier 66, 207 12th Avenue
It's a boat. It's a party. It's both. The great thing about the floor moving with the waves is that you have a ready made excuse for your drunken stagger.
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23 W. 32nd St.
Closed; now Anytime Karaoke
Just above Won Jo, the 24 hour Korean BBQ joint is this cool little private room Korean karaoke joint.
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505 W. 23rd St.
Closed; now Wildflower
A lit-pub in an art-bar hood hosts frequent readings and has attracted a loyal contingent of writers, readers and neighborhood regulars.
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311 W. 34th St.
Still pouring
The huge capacity attracts big acts, but the poor acoustics and crappy atmosphere often leaves fans disappointed.
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431 W. 16th St.
Closed; now Racket NYC
This upscale 700 capacity concert space has great accoustics and sight lines and plays host to events ranging from Salmon Rushie to Queen Latifah to the NYC Burlesque Festival.
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Hiro Ballroom (Maritime Hotel)
371 W. 16th St.
Closed; now Tao Downtown
Giant, ultra-extravagent Japanese themed ballroom hosts events ranging from "secret" rock concerts to black tie galas.
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25 W. 35th St.
Closed
Head upstairs to the 3rd floor where you and your friends can rent a private karaoke room and then bring in your own food and beer. It has more in common with your average hotel than your average bar.
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36 W. 33rd St.
Still pouring
Next time there's a big fight on at The Garden stop by this midtown sports bar and you'll likely find yourself in similar company.
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206 W. 23rd St
Licensed here under the same name
Popular sports bar most notable for a location near Madison Square Garden.
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88 9th Ave.
Closed; now Tao Downtown
An indoor / outdoor trattoria that turns into a velvet rope scene to be seen on summer weekends. On other occassions it's a perfectly relaxed albeit somewhat pricey spot to enjoy some goat cheese pizza with the smoking hot European tourists staying at the hotel.
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301 W. 39th St.
Closed
It's 18 to party and 21 to drink at Times Square's only Latin Gay bar.
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530 W 28th St
Closed
The club formerly known as Studio Mezmor, formerly known as Crobar, is now Mansion.The gimmick list is as follows: The wait staff are dressed as butlers french maids, A giant fireplace graces the "Grand Ballroom," there's a girls only room with sex toys and other girlie stuff, and to top it off you can rent your own personal dancing pedestal.
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289 10th Ave.
Still pouring
The most severe door in the city doesn't waste time trying to sum up your cool factor with a moments glance. Instead they require only that women be very young and very thin, and that men have exceptionally nice shoes, haircuts and cuff links. There are few venues short of a brothel where the exchange of wealth for youth feels more contrived.
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11 W. 32nd St
Still pouring
It's 2001 a Space Odyssey meets K-town. Acrylic floors, cylindrical spaces, high-tech lighting and a scene as trendy as any bar in Seoul.
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112 7th Ave.
Closed
This Manhattan chain of restaurant/bars has been successful for good reason - consistency. The service, the food, even the crowd is almost always slightly better than just good enough. There's a lot to be said for a sure thing.
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347 W. 36th St.
No license found in 2026
Two teams battle for improv suppremacy at this "Whose line is it anyway" style competion. Unlike nearly every other comedy choice in the city there's no drink minimums, no age limits, and it's a totally clean show.
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21 W. 35th St.
A different business is licensed at this address
Inoffensive Irish pub and restaurant in an area of town where such an estimation can be considered the highest recommendation.
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559 W. 22nd St.
Closed
Talk about a tough door policy. In May 2006 a bouncer lost his temper with a patron a Opus 22 and whipped out a gun shooting him point blank in the chest. When his friend asked "Why did you shoot my friend?" The bouncer responded "You want some too?" and shot him and two other patrons as well.
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336 W. 37th St, 15th Fl
No license found in 2026
Private party space with a loft and roof deck on the 15th floor.
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152 7th Ave.
Still pouring
A traditional working man's bar for shots, pints and sports with a male to female ration that tops most gay bars in the area.
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527 W. 27th St.
No license found in 2026
This disco balled bedecked trading floor serves as prime broker for the exchange of hard cash for exclusivity and exclusivity for the time and attention of beautiful, young, skinny, white girls. If you have either currency in excess this is the place to make a deal.
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27 W. 35 St.
Still pouring
Sure it's a chain, but you've got to respect any bar that has OTB kiosks and a betting counter. And no less than 36 flat screen TVs mean that you'll never have to actually look at any of the bars other patrons.
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246 W. 14th St.
Closed; now Stash
Formerly the popular hip-hop and jazz club Nell's, then the flash in the pan club NA, and now Plumm a members, reservations VIP Plumm colored club backed by such NYC nighlife luminaries as old kid on the block Joey McIntyre.
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Pocha 32Pick
15 W. 32nd St.
Still pouring
A fantastically random 2nd floor Korean dive bar and restaurant. Enjoy soju (Korean rice wine) served in halved watermelons over tasty Korean bar food - think fish balls and spicy rice cakes.
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511 W. 28th St.
No license found in 2026
Retox and Myst have been combined to form Prime, which is somehow only half as much fun as Retox and Myst were. Go figure.
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565 W. 23rd St.
No license found in 2026
A surprising number of women turn up to share in the ogling at this cigar bar and strip club.
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212 8th Ave.
Closed; now Heavenly Markets & Deli
Landmark NYC leather bar is surprisingly friendly and low key.
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251 W. 30th St
A different business is licensed at this address: Bazza
A giant multi-level dance space from the owner of Webster Hall. A location convenient to Penn Station is handy for those who choose to take the train into the city rather than drive.
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51 W. 35th St.
Closed; now Hyo Dong Gak
Follow the stairs under the small black awning up to this funky Korea-town café, bar and karaoke joint. Try the signature cocktail The Tornado which involves hurling a wet napkin at the ceiling. Perfect.
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50 W. 33rd St.
Still pouring
Enjoy a $40 steak at this 3 floor upmarket gentlemen's club chain.
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757 6th Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Storehouse
Decent lunch spot by day morphs into a crappy nightclub by night. The heaving crowd united by a shared lack of taste downs $10 cocktails and boogies to the hot grooves of Justin Timberlake.
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45 W. 35th St.
Closed; now The Lookup Rooftop Bar
One of the best options in the area - a view of ESB, an outdoor roof deck, and reasonable drinks can make for a pretty nice all around experience in the summer.
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536 W. 28th St.
No license found in 2026
Famed topless bar where you pay through the nose, but the women are immaculate in a carefully manicured, silicone, collagen sort of way. If that's your thing there's nowhere better.
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Secret LoungePick
525 W. 29th St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Kahlo
Hidden behind the tiny sign on an otherwise unmarked door this sultry lounge is imbued with a palpable sexuality thanks to victorian chandeliers, red velvet, votive candles, and a very sexy mixed (mostly gay) crowd.
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222 W. 23rd St.
Closed; now Teruko
Small, dark lounge under the Chelsea Hotel with an often celebrity populated VIP room.
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Stereo NYCPick
555 W. 33rd St.
No license found in 2026
An amazing sound system a huge dance focused space and a no cologne, no earings, and no hair gel door policy has helped make Stereo one of the hottest and most fun clubs in the city.
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Stout NYCPick
133 W. 33rd St.
Moved to 215 West 35th St.
16,000 square foot mega-pub has 20 beers on tap including UK micro-brews and cask conditioned ales.
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547 W. 27th St.
No license found in 2026
Sake bottle service and Chinese kitsch in club land. The aim is 1940's Hong Kong den of iniquity…
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Tillman'sPick
165 W. 26th St
Closed; now Sid Gold's Request Room
Harlem in the 70's re-envisioned in this Chelsea lounge. Surprisingly it works rather well.
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5 Penn Plz.
No license found in 2026
It's well neigh impossible to find a good bar or restaurant near Penn Station, well, it would be at least if it weren't for Tír Na Nóg which is happily both.
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138 W. 25th St.
Closed; now Smithfield Hall
Named for a type of wine made from a single variety of grape, this white on white lounge offers 75 different wines by the glass and food and desserts good enough to earn them a spot in the Conde Nast Traveler's list of the 95 most exciting new restaurants in the world.
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232 8th Ave.
Closed; now Spicy Moon Chelsea
Four words: drag queen puppet bingo. Fridays 7:30-10:30pm.
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West 25th Lounge (Four Points Hotel)
160 W. 25th St.
A different business is licensed at this address: The Rose; FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON
A good bar for watching TV and drinking a Bud, while rehashing the latest from your business conference and distractedly peruse the back pages of the Village Voice.
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360 W. 23rd St.
Still pouring
Sparse low key pub is an easy walk down 23rd from Chelsea Piers and good place to take over with friends.
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538 9th Ave.
Closed; now Blue Ruin
The much loved Bellevue Bar has gone the way of the dodo, but its replacement has the same cheap beer, many of the same regulars, and of course the same prime location next to the Port Authority. With a winning combo like that Why Not is hoping its name will be its calling card to the Greyhound traveling legions.
Already closed by 2009
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The Biltmore RoomClosed by 2009
290 8th Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Beyond Sushi
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Chelsea CommonsClosed by 2009
242 10th Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: The Orchard Townhouse
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Coral RoomClosed by 2009
512 W. 29th St.
No license found in 2026
How can a club trying this hard to be cool, actually be this cool. Magic under the sea.
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CrobarClosed by 2009
530 W. 28th St.
Closed
A relatively old hand at the mega-club scene, Crobar has lasted thanks to its efficient and democratic door policy, top notch DJs, and a crowd there more to dance and have a good time than pose.
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DE of NYClosed by 2009
357 W. 16th St.
A different business is licensed at this address: La Victoria NYC
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The Door LoungeClosed by 2009
508 9th Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Scallywag's Irish Pub & Restuarant
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El FlamingoPickClosed by 2009
547 W. 21st St.
Closed; now 303 Gallery
All ages and all orientations meet on this gigantic dance floor. On Friday and Saturday nights the long running off broadway disco Shakespeare Donkey Show kicks off one of the most off-beat club nights in the city.
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G LoungeClosed by 2009
223 W. 19th St.
Still pouring
A round bar makes eye contact easy at this chic Chelsea boy staple.
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Gin LaneClosed by 2009
355 W. 14th St.
No license found in 2026
The former Village Idiot space (god rest its soul) has been transformed into a decadent supper club with leather banquettes, wrought-iron chandeliers, mahogany panels, and a 100 year old bar.
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Muse Karaoke SuitesClosed by 2009
154 W. 26th St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Hilton New York Fashion District
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MystClosed by 2009
511 W. 28th St.
Closed
The club Quo was closed, split in half, and reopened as Retox and Myst. The main draw of the latter is a fog machine and a fairly inclusive door policy. The cover is $30, the drinks are exorbitant, and music is Top 40 and mainstream hip-hop.
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ProbeClosed by 2009
431 W. 16th St.
A different business is licensed at this address
Gay club in W. Chelsea.
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Pure GoldClosed by 2009
552 W. 38th St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Headquarters
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ReleaseClosed by 2009
161 W. 23rd St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Petite Disco
Former gay porn star, Arron Tanner's new dance club was shut down only months after it opened. Perhaps a new record in the the shelf life of clubs in the space formerly housing Suede, and before that Blu.
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Retox Rock BarPickClosed by 2009
511 W. 28th St
No license found in 2026
A study in constrast this hard rock club partly owned by Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian has a dingy dimly lit stage rock vampire go-go dancers, a tight door, bottle service and strangest of all a lounge.
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RoxyClosed by 2009
515 W. 18th St.
Closed
Enormous warehouse space where the crowd is always there to dance except on wednesdays when they're there to roller-skate. On Saturday's the Roxy is home to the biggest gay party in the city.
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SpiritClosed by 2009
530 W. 27th St.
Closed; now 6th Floor Theater at 530 West 27th Street
Friday and Saturday nights Spirit becomes the city's number one bachelorette destination, Hunk-O-Mania. Sunday is a gay night. Thursday is Latin.
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StereoClosed by 2009
512 W. 29th St.
No license found in 2026
The former home of the Coral Room is now an homage to hip-hop's adolescence. If you squint just right the boom boxes, tape decks, and break dancing evoke a scene that most of the patrons were too young to remember.
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Studio MezmorClosed by 2009
530 W. 28th Street
No license found in 2026
The old Crobar now hosts a variety of different parties so the crowd varies wildly by night. The space is huge - even when it's crowded there's room to dance in one of the large main rooms, and there's a lounge to chill.
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UltraClosed by 2009
37 W. 26th St.
Closed; now The Flatiron Room
Listed among the ultra-feautures at this club is an 80' projection wall, a VIP treehouse sprouting from the middle of the floor, and a scent machine capable of delivering thousands of scent permutations.
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XL LoungePickClosed by 2009
357 W. 16th St.
Closed; now La Victoria NYC
Ultra slick, hyper-modern gay bar/lounge.