9 Best Drinking Places in Upper West Side, NY

At the Parlour, they believe "the local pub is an extension of the home, where friends can gather and discuss...or just slake the day’s thirst.” Hospitality is the foundation of this 12-year old Upper West Side establishment. Dark wood fixtures, two bars and a dozen taps satisfy the loyal clientele. On weekends, the flat screens are tuned to rugby and both Gaelic and American football with beer pong downstairs. At 10pm on Sundays and Wednesdays, there’s karaoke. Monday through Friday, happy hour offers $4 margaritas, discounted pitchers of beer, and $3 bottles. A full menu is available with Shepherd’s Pie, a house specialty!

While not technically a bar, B. Café is all about Belgium and, luckily for Manhattanites, that includes delicious Belgian brews as well. When you walk in, delightful murals reflect the Belgian owners’ love of beer. Take a seat at the bar and prepare to experience old world excellence in a bottle. Choices include traditional Trappist beer crafted by monks, commercially mainstream Abbey Ales, Lambics and specialties from what Manager Lisa calls “the new generation of brewmeisters”. The menu here is excellent, featuring authentic Belgian fare, such as waffles, stews, salads, and the must-have mussels.

George Keeley has a fiercely loyal clientele and staff that proudly boasts this is the best place to work. Saddle up to the bar or tuck in at a table. The service is friendly and helpful with ready smiles and great advice about what’s buzzing in town. Help yourself to the free popcorn or count the empty Jameson bottles (99 perhaps) that decorate the storefront. A full kitchen downstairs offers a menu of wraps, burgers, and wings. Flat screens throughout feature local and international sports. Taps are rotated constantly, ensuring variety for even the most regular patron.

If you visit Hi-Life Bar and Grill on your birthday, you get the usual complimentary dessert and a t-shirt with “NY” set in a martini glass graphic. Based on the Canadian movie of the same name, this bar and grill has great food specials, a full bar, and laidback vibe. If you have an iPod, throw it on the dock for 15 minutes of fame as your personal soundtrack pumps through the entire bar. Choose a table in the side atrium for a great people-watching view.

Sitting on the main strip of bars for over 10 years, The Dead Poet interjects culture to the scene. Previously known as Snug, this narrow bar, owned by a former English teacher, celebrates the literary arts. Monochrome sketches of poets, writers, and artists decorate the rich mahogany walls alongside canonical excerpts of great works of literature. During the day, local residents come to have a pint and read the paper. After nightfall, a younger crowd rolls in fresh from university classes and the office. They take Guinness seriously here. If you do too, join the 100-pint club and start working your way to fame. Make it to 500 pints and get your own photographed plaque on the wall.

In two words: Good Deals! Jake’s Dilemma is the kind of place you may pass on your way to a cooler looking locale. But don’t be fooled. Inside, the bartenders are friendly and drinks can be half the cost of anywhere else in the neighborhood! Happy hour stretches from 4-8pm Monday through Thursday. On Friday, start time comes at 3pm and on the weekends at noon. To top it off, nightly drink specials range from $8 pitchers on Monday; $3 bottles, shots, and mixed drinks on Wednesday; and Saturday’s power hour of $1 domestics and $2 shots from 8-9pm. With these deals, there is always a lively crowd. Come by and check out the scene.

Here, it’s all about beer. Boasting 30 drafts and 45 bottles, Amsterdam Ale House sits on the corner of West 76th and welcomes a mixed crowd of locals. Managers rotate the taps at least twice a week to keep the variety going. Happy Hour knocks $2 off domestics and runs 4-7pm during the week. Wine, whiskey, and a full menu are also available. With plenty of tables, bar stools, and a private room in the back, you can swing through here with a large crowd and not have to worry about stampeding the regulars watching rugby.

With a vibe more akin to your living room than a business establishment, Dive 75 is a regular haunt for many New Yorkers on their way back from work, school, or even the gym. The bar has deep armchairs, an aquarium, and jukebox to ease the day’s worries. Chill out and play one of the board games from the shelf. Maybe Jenga, Connect Four or Battleship? Dive 75’s bartenders offer all the usual suspects alongside microbrews, such as Captain Lawrence, Blue Point, Chatham Brewery, Goose Island, and JK Scrumpy Cider. No kitchen here but snag as much of the free candy as you’d like or have dinner delivered to your bar stool.

Romantic and cozy, Bin 71 is a popular wine bar. White marble tops and fine wines along the wall cast a warm ambiance here. The wine list is comprehensive and international. Popular picks include Burgans Albarino and Seghesio. Select beers round out the beverage options while a fabulous menu will tempt your taste buds. Everyone loves the meatballs in white wine. A selection of cured meats and cheeses make great companions to a fine bottle of wine, or two. Don’t forget dessert! Bin 71 offers poached pears and crepes, panna cotta, and gelato too.