Fun and entertainment New York

One of the most beautiful views of New York City, on the 18th floor of the Standard Hotel. Nightclub and bar, Le Bain is one of New Yorkers' favorite addresses. Garden deckchairs, fake lawn, waitresses dressed all in white, whirlpool bath, drinks served in transparent plastic cups, everything is done to remind you of the beach, the holidays... In addition to a bar, the Bain is also a nightclub where the biggest names of the night perform. Be careful, depending on the evenings, access is sometimes very difficult.

At Rum House, we almost forget we're in Times Square. This piano-bar has not changed much since it opened in 1970, it is the area around the establishment that has evolved. The wooden interior looks very vintage, but it's simply because it's authentic. To reinforce this feeling of time travel, the waiters have kept their original clothes! The bar has a second life thanks to its long cocktail list and excellent mixologists. All this to a piano tune. A place out of time.

A small and unpretentious neighborhood bar, with a very large selection of beers: 18 draught beers and 30 bottled beers. Good cocktails too. The decoration and the service are very warm. The food is also excellent for a bar. Our favorite dish, among a vast choice of salads, filet mignon, fish and pasta of all kinds, is the lobster mac & cheese. Every night, especially on weekends, the small room fills up quickly, people talk loudly, the atmosphere is friendly and good humored.

Park Slope's trendy parents swear by Union Hall! Surprisingly, even a little scary at night, the decor of the place looks like your grandmother's library: shelves full of books, fireplace, portraits hanging on the wall and leather armchairs. An ideal place to have a beer when the mercury never stops dropping in New York. In another room, concerts or burlesque shows take place every day. In a third room (the bar is 460 m²!), there are bocce courts, a game similar to petanque.

Tired of the traditional evenings around a beer to remake the world? Why not try shuffleboard, a game similar to curling where you have to place pucks with a broom in the center of a target. It is better to be four, six or eight to play, especially since the price of the court for one hour (50 US$) is to be shared between the players. The decoration, vintage, like an old bowling alley, is very successful and maintains a nice atmosphere.

In vogue in the United States as in Europe, escape rooms are legion in New York. BrainXcape, run by a Frenchman, offers two very different atmospheres and is not recommended for claustrophobics: a prison inspired by Alcatraz and a haunted hotel reminiscent of the film Shining! Immersion and thrills guaranteed! Unlike other escape rooms, you are not locked up with other players you don't know, but it is always more fun and cheaper to play with ten people - the maximum - than with two.

Inaugurated in 1891 by the Russian composer Tchaikovsky, the Carnegie welcomes the world's leading orchestras. It is highly appreciated by musicians for its curved structure which gives it exceptional acoustics. Major events took place there, such as the first performance of Un Américain in Paris in 1923, as well as concerts by jazz legends Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. Even today, the programming still gives pride of place to classical music virtuosos, but leaves a few dates to artists like Jay-Z or Elton John.

Opened in March 2016, Metrograph has become the new rallying point for auteur film fans. This living space organized around the seventh art was designed in the image of the great Hollywood golden age film studios and houses not only two very beautiful cinemas, but also two bars, a restaurant, a bookstore and a candy and popcorn stand. Not to be missed, on the first floor, a window allows you to see the projectionist and the 16 mm camera, a format favoured by Metrograph, which leaves digital to multiplexes.

All superlatives were used to evoke the second most crowned musical in history with 11 Tony Awards. Created by composer, dancer and rapper Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton tells the story of the founding fathers of America, mainly Alexandre Hamilton, all on hip-hop and R'n'B songs. An amazing mix of genres that works. All the stars have moved to the Rodgers Theatre! To have a chance to see it without paying the high price, try the lottery: www.luckyseat.com/hamilton-ny

Speakeasy, these replicas of underground bars from the time of Prohibition, the Lower East Side is not lacking. But this one has the advantage of being quite unknown. It is located at the bottom of an art gallery. Even the front door is not easy to find. Look for a small handle on the left towards the bottom! The rather minimalist decoration plays the card of the unauthorized secret bar, and it's quite successful. One of the coolest places in New York where, above all, you won't have to wait an hour to get a table.

A most astonishing speakeasy since it is located at the back of a pawnshop which in itself is not particularly unique. But once you have passed through the wooden green door at the back, you have a completely different place to go, a chic bar-restaurant. Leather sofas, dimmed lights, candles on the tables, a lounge atmosphere emerges from the place. The dishes offered are not exceptional and the portions are very small, we recommend this place especially to go for a drink in the evening.

Angelina, a Parisian tearoom that has been established on rue de Rivoli for almost 120 years, needs no introduction. Its New York counterpart is just a stone's throw from Bryant Park, and features a Parisian-style room with superb Belle Époque paintings, where you can enjoy pastries and viennoiseries that are no match for those concocted at the original address. The signature dish is the Mont-Blanc. And the rich hot chocolate never disappoints. Another Angelina Paris boutique has just opened on the Upper East Side.

Diner, bar, live music venue, Baby's All Right is a bit of all of the above. For dinner, the establishment serves rather high-quality Mexican-inspired cuisine. But Baby's All Right is first and foremost a concert venue for the new pop-rock and electro scene. The bar is renowned for its excellent acoustics and attracts bands looking to make a name for themselves in New York, even though the venue is rather small. It's a great opportunity to discover new talents who may be filling stadiums in a few years' time!

Dress code of rigor in the evening to enter this bar seen many times in the series Gossip Girl. The place is quite spacious and it is quite possible to find a table outside in the early evening. On Friday and Saturday evenings, it's another atmosphere, with a bouncer at the entrance and often a long queue before you can access the roof. The perfect place to dance with the sons and daughters of Manhattan's wealthy families.

A self-proclaimed social club ping-pong. Imagine instead: a DJ who mixes dance, techno and pop music, a nightclub decoration, and... seventeen ping-pong tables. A delirious place for a group of friends determined to spend a good evening and chat with many strangers over a beer, a plate of deli meats, and a game of ping-pong. For the anecdote, it is the Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon who is at the origin of the concept, now franchised and available in a dozen American cities.

Opened in June 2014, Dear Irving has quickly become a must. As with New York's top restaurants, it is advisable to book well in advance to get a seat in this bar. Its four rooms are decorated according to a theme: Marie-Antoinette (ceiling chandeliers and abundant ornaments), Gatsby the Magnificent (1920s style), Abraham Lincoln (velvet sofas) and John Fitzgerald Kennedy (colourful decoration, very 1960s). We come here especially for the huge and inventive cocktail menu.

This prestigious music school regularly gives free concerts. On this occasion, the students of the school, whatever their field of study (violin, piano, singing, percussion...) perform. The level is very high, which is largely explained by the fact that the school has an admission rate of less than 7%! The school houses Alice Tully Hall where the New York Chamber Music Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the jazz orchestra conducted by Wynton Marsalis perform.

The David Rubenstein Atrium is the building where you can buy tickets for dozens of events held at the Lincoln Center, and have a coffee while discussing the latest opera or ballet. It is also a meeting place for music lovers: several times a week, free performances and concerts take place there. Eclecticism is required and jazz groups, classical music, salsa or even poetry readings follow one another.

Just a few blocks from the Flatiron Building, Vin sur Vingt is the perfect place for those who want to take a well-deserved break over a glass of wine and a plate of cheese or charcuterie, either at the table or in front of the counter. The menu offers about fifty wines by the glass, classified by region: expect some well-known names, but also some great discoveries. As for the dishes, there are tartars (tuna or beef), salads, sandwiches, cassolettes, and a few French classics such as escargots and rillettes.

Would you like to have a drink on board a boat? We're talking about a 1929 lightship that plied the waters of the East Coast for 30 years before dropping anchor on the banks of the Hudson River at Pier 66. The bar and restaurant is actually called Pier 66 Maritime & Grill, but regulars still refer to it as " the Frying Pan". The place is not well known to tourists, but it is still packed on weekends when the weather is good. Order a beer and sit on the deck to enjoy the sunset over New Jersey and Manhattan.

Take the big industrial spaces of Brooklyn, add some palm trees and a handful of party people, and you get this place where you feel completely disconnected from New York reality. Open only during the summer months, this party place is the temple of electro music, although it hosts other types of events. Light shows, music coming out of the speakers, wild DJs... What to spend a memorable evening. An oasis for party people.

Let Love Inn is one of the best kept secrets in Queens... Don't be fooled by the facade, which doesn't look like much, and push the door of this corner bar: you'll enter another world, especially on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and sometimes Sundays nights, when bands come to perform on the tiny stage, for incredible jam sessions . Sitting at the bar of this bar, chatting with the bartender, you'll feel like you're back in Frank Sinatra's time. Not to be missed if you are staying in Astoria.

This theatre, created in 1941 under the name of Elgin Theater (then a cinema) and renovated in 1982, mainly hosts dance performances. It is best known to New Yorkers, who appreciate its very eclectic programming. You can see contemporary dance shows as well as flamenco or swing. If you want to attend quality performances at a reasonable price, the Joyce Theater will make you happy. There are shows every day (twice a day on weekends), except on Mondays.

Two atmospheres in one place: on the first floor there is a large room with a bar, decorated with tropical plants and a colorful mural, with a relaxed atmosphere where you can come and chat while sipping a cocktail. Then you just have to take the stairs to the basement to discover a nightclub atmosphere, with disco house music and light effects. There is a second bar downstairs, so you won't have to go back and forth! The entrance is sometimes paying after a certain hour.

Schimanski is one of the best underground electro clubs in Brooklyn, and by the same token in New York. This is especially true since the neighbouring Output, a reference in the field, closed its doors. The party-goers have therefore flocked to Schimanski, which is often crowded as a result. The bar of the nightclub, Bar Schimmi, offers a rather interesting Happy Hour on beers, cocktails and even shooters. Just to get you in the mood before starting the evening... Atmosphere guaranteed for the amateurs.

Created by a French electronic music enthusiast who works closely with the best techno clubs in Brooklyn and Manhattan, this platform selects the best parties and offers you good tips for going out every night. Through Brouqueline, you have access to guestlists, reduced rates, free events, but also exclusive evenings held in secret places. Where's the after-party? Ask Brouqueline! Perfect for finding outings off the beaten track.

Opened in the summer of 2013 in a long room on a street corner (which converts to a terrace in fine weather), Barawine is a trendy place where you can come for an aperitif during the week (happy hour is quite interesting) or to dine in earnest, why not on the large communal table. Large bay windows overlooking the street, frequent DJ sessions and a breathtaking wine and cocktail list are sure to delight. On the solid side, tuna tartare, salade niçoise and onion soup are just some of the dishes on offer.

This tiny speakeasy is run by Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy, both long-time mixologists. You knock on the door, a hostess directs you to a free table, then the bartenders come in: tell them what you're in the mood for, they'll know what to concoct. Everything is good, so it's hard to be disappointed. We like the muffled atmosphere and the very successful 1930's atmosphere. There is no reservation, you have to try your luck, and you should know that New Yorkers start lining up even before the opening.

There are few chances for visitors to eat at Rao's: the ten or so tables in this traditional Italian restaurant run by the Rao family (who arrived in the city in 1896) are reserved all year round. The place is considered one of the most difficult places to get a table in New York! So we come here to get an idea of what a real Italian-American canteen looks like, which has crossed the century. Go there, you won't be disappointed. And maybe you'll get a seat at the bar... if the boss is in the mood.

An Irish pub that looks like an Irish pub , except that the second floor (The Parlor) is home to one of the world's finest cocktail bars... Winner of numerous awards, the place is impressive, at least as impressive as the bartenders in red tuxedos juggling some fifty bottles without the slightest distinctive sign. You can choose one of the inventive cocktails on the menu or opt for the unknown, guided by the master mixologist in charge. A word of advice: ask to be placed in the Parlor.

The Saks Fifth Avenue store hides a secret... On the eighth floor is an intimate bar designed by Philippe Starck. The place looks like an ultra-classy mountain chalet, with a rather original decoration. On sunny days, the terrace offers a unique view of Rockefeller, Fifth Avenue and the Empire State Building. The Chalet is part of the restaurant L'Avenue, located one floor above. It is the new trendy place, go there for the atmosphere and for the celebrity sightings. Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey and Jimmy Fallon are regulars.

THE trendiest bar in Williamsburg. This is where the hipsters from all over New York meet. So to go unnoticed and mix with the population, take out your most vintage T-shirt, your slim jeans, and your sunglasses. On Fridays and Saturdays evenings, the bar turns into a nightclub with the arrival of DJs. In the garden, you will find a van that sells tacos. Ideal to accompany your beer! Brooklynites know Union Pool well for its reputation as a singles bar. It seems that we go in alone, but we go back together...

Well known to the residents of the area, The Brooklyn Icehouse is a bar with a very relaxed atmosphere. It is not uncommon to see parents coming with their children. As for the decoration, it reproduces that of the saloons found in New York in the 19th century. The menu includes more than 70 beers (!), sorted by country, as well as many whiskies. And for those who don't want to drink on an empty stomach, enjoy one of the many barbecue pork sandwiches! In summer, you can enjoy the beer garden with its wooden benches and tables.

So shall we dance? This is the temple of world music. Crunk, jazz, blues, reggae, soul, roots, gospel... all genres are represented at the Shrine, and it is essentially independent artists who perform on its stage. Don't try to sit at the few tables, here we move to the rhythm of the music! Admission is free on weekdays and generally charged on weekend evenings, but the prices are not excessive given the quality of the programming. You will certainly discover new talents!

Every night, folk-rock bands follow one another on the stage of the Rockwood Music Hall. And you rarely leave disappointed, especially since there are three rooms. One is paying, the two others are free, but you have to buy something to drink. The rooms are neither too big nor too small, perfect for an intimate concert. The prices are quite reasonable. A very good address to discover talented bands or to see recognized artists. Lady Gaga and Mumford & Sons have performed on its stage.

A friendly Scottish bar with beer, Celtic music, board games and a table tennis table. Be careful, generally, the competition rages between pongists, amateurs abstain! Every Monday evening, from 8:30 pm, groups come to play Celtic music. The bar is narrow and quickly crowded, you have to like the friendly atmosphere! Fortunately, you can get some fresh air in the pleasant garden, which has wooden benches. It can be enjoyed all year round, as it is heated and covered in winter.

A nightclub on two floors which welcomes the biggest DJs and names of the electro scene in a rather intimate atmosphere (we sometimes lack space to dance). Steve Aoki, Benny Benassi, Swedish House Mafia regularly play at the Marquee. It's better to book your tickets in advance on the website because it's cheaper. As often in this kind of places, alcoholic drinks are overpriced. Have a drink elsewhere and then come to the Marquee for the atmosphere and the music. Dress code: chic and trendy, like the clientele.

A brand new restaurant that makes a lot of noise, which we recommend above all for its inventive, varied and delicious cocktails. All you have to do is sit along the magnificent circular bar to enjoy it. You can order food, but the dishes, which are quite good, are a little expensive. A place is very nice for a drink, in a corner where there wasn't much until recently. The installation of Legacy Records here is further proof that Hudson Yards is on the way to becoming a moving neighbourhood.

This speakeasy, opened in the early 1920s, undergoing prohibition, no longer sells alcohol today, but it is possible to return home with its bottles. So it's not for the drinks that we go to Bill's Place, but for the quality of the jazz concerts that take place every Friday and Saturday night. During the heyday of New York jazz, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and Fats Waller were regulars. Between each performance, the master of the place, Bill Saxton, a saxophonist born in 1946, reviews the history of the place.

This multi-storey establishment opened its doors in 2002 and has been stirring up crowds ever since. On Saturday evening, the Dance Marathon became an institution in the city, gathering the wildest wildlife in New York, on the dark dance floor. Resident DJ Timmy Regisford (and one of the local bosses) hypnotizes the track week after week, training his followers until Sunday afternoon, non-stop! On sunny days, the roof opens for your greatest satisfaction, revealing a splendid view of the skyscrapers.

In the heart of Midtown, Providence since 2004 replaces the Bar Bat, which was one of the favourite caves of the New Yorkers. This property is full of history. In 1930 a church was established here, then, 40 years later, the legendary Media Sound Studios with a recording studio of it where Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, The Stones and other John Lennon avenue in acoustics. The place is very warm, comfortable armchairs, small glass tables, candles, floor, one has the feeling of being in a large loft away from the world. One of our favourites, for its atmosphere and its history.

Maison Premiere is a bar-restaurant specializing in oysters. Their full menu is served until 10:30pm every day. The bar also offers a selection of cocktails, spirits, wines by the glass and beers. Maison Premiere is renowned for its list of over thirty varieties of oysters, all sourced through direct relationships with producers. Their absinthe list is the largest in the United States, and they offer traditional absinthe service. Maison Premiere has received numerous awards and accolades, including the James Beard Foundation Award for "Outstanding Bar Program" in 2016. Whether sampling fresh oysters or enjoying a cocktail, Maison Premiere is a must for seafood lovers in Brooklyn.

This one-of-a-kind bar is set up like an ultra kitschy mobile home you might see in Florida or Las Vegas. With its old red neon signs, Elvis posters, vintage signs, 1960s music and crazy decor, the Trailer Park Lounge takes us to another place and time. The margarita flows freely (if there are at least four of you and you're in good shape, order a pitcher), the burgers are not divine but they do the trick. For a sunny late afternoon.

Everyone knows the Laser Game, a strategic game where, equipped with a gun with a laser pointer, you have to shoot your opponents without being hit. Here, the arena is installed in the basement of an old factory. Between two 15-minute sessions, you can relax in the game room on the upper floor. It is possible to privatize the space for a group of 10 people or more. Reservations are recommended but not required for less than 10 people. This is the perfect activity for friends or families with teenagers.

This is the Financial District's hip new cocktail bar, set on the top floor of an Art Deco tower that also houses a gourmet restaurant (Saga). What we like: the surprising 360-degree view from the terrace, and the bar's intimate atmosphere. What we don't like: the price of cocktails and the hefty bill that follows. Reservations are possible, but only if you spend a minimum of US$50 per person. We therefore recommend going without a reservation, preferably at opening time. A great experience.

A cozy bar that's popular for several reasons: its worthwhile happy hour (cocktails, glasses of wine, beers and oysters at reduced prices Tuesday to Friday from 4pm to 6pm), and the fact that you can eat there until closing time. It's a popular spot for New Yorkers to unwind with friends after work.