The Belfry

Enter through the looming stone archway and immense wooden doors and walk inside the Horseman, where the gloomy interior is an aesthetic rather than dreary. The exposed brick, recycled wood from new England barns, and flickering natural gas lamps conjure a communal vibe. In the dark warmth, one can almost imagine a massive stone fireplace roaring with pots of stew simmering over open flames, or moors lying in wait just on the other side of the smoked windows. This rustic, colonial gastropub is one of the latest additions to 15th street. When we asked the bartender why the pub was named after Ichabod Crane’s spooky pursuer, he gestured toward the door and asked us what street we were adjacent to: Irving Place - and local legend claims Washington Irving lived at 122 East 17th Street. His famed character’s namesake bar is anything but sinister. The rotating seasonal beers and atypical comfort food could warm anyone's bones.

Serving an interesting but decadent assortment of coffees, hot cakes, desserts, Japanese tapas, sandwiches, pasta, and more, Hi-Collar functions as many things. In the morning the atmosphere is subdued and relaxed like a coffee shop, as customers come to enjoy “kissaten” – a term to describe Japanese-style coffee shops. The lady we spoke to at Hi-Collar told us their coffee selection is extensive and that there are a variety of beans to choose from. Not only is there the opportunity to select the bean varietal, but one can also choose how the coffee is made as well: pour over, aeropress, or siphon—each method drawing out a distinct flavor. For the non-coffee drinker, there are teas and even a fruit milkshake. As the afternoon wears on and evening approaches, Hi-Collar becomes a bar complete with wine, sake, and beer. Inquiring about the name, we found that Hi-Collar is in fact a term that came to be during the Japanese Jazz Age, when Western culture infiltrated Japan and many men were seen wearing Western style high collars. The only seating available is at the long bar, and the beautiful flowers and lamps that hang from the ceiling add to the allure of this multifaceted nook on 10th.

Beneath the Spanish Benevolent Society lies La Nacional, one of Manhattan’s most authentic Spanish restaurants and the most easily accessible part of the society. Just by walking down the steps into the dimly lit basement lounge, we felt the bustle of 14th street quickly recede and we were transported across the ocean. La Nacional has the same relaxed, no frills atmosphere as most tapas bars in Spain. We gazed at the old photographs from the society’s earlier years on the walls and then had the option of sipping a drink at the bar, sampling some classic simple Spanish tapas such as tortilla de patatas, croquetas or chorizo, or dining on a full meal of paella. Perhaps the most authentic option, though, was to simply have a seat by the television to watch the fútbol game - it is always on. For visitors from Spain who want a taste of home, those of us pining for the Spanish travels of our past, or New Yorkers simply curious about a new culture, La Nacional is the place to go.

A city landmark and a slice of Old New York, Pete's Tavern has been serving food and draft beer uninterrupted since 1864. It does not take much to envision Pete's as it was a century and a half ago. The scarred, carved bar, the high-backed booths, tin ceiling and functional 1950's register are reminders that this was once the favorite haunt of writer O. Henry, a speakeasy, and a pre-Civil War "grocery & grog. " Walking through the rooms, one can also discover hundreds of photos of people from our past - James Cagney, Mickey Mantle, and celebrities of today, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Adam Sandler. To drink here is to drink half in the past and half in the present.

Enter through the looming stone archway and immense wooden doors and walk inside the Horseman, where the gloomy interior is an aesthetic rather than dreary. The exposed brick, recycled wood from new England barns, and flickering natural gas lamps conjure a communal vibe. In the dark warmth, one can almost imagine a massive stone fireplace roaring with pots of stew simmering over open flames, or moors lying in wait just on the other side of the smoked windows. This rustic, colonial gastropub is one of the latest additions to 15th street. When we asked the bartender why the pub was named after Ichabod Crane’s spooky pursuer, he gestured toward the door and asked us what street we were adjacent to: Irving Place - and local legend claims Washington Irving lived at 122 East 17th Street. His famed character’s namesake bar is anything but sinister. The rotating seasonal beers and atypical comfort food could warm anyone's bones.

An Irish pub right in the middle of St. Marks, Bull McCabe's is the epitome of a dive bar. Serving up alcohol since 1959, the interior is permanently laced with the scent of beer. The location is adorned with a pool table, a TV, and, for those of us with a certain inclination, the most exciting thing about this bar is that it features a Ms. Pac Man machine.

A unique hybrid between a bar and an arcade, this space attracts gamers and beer enthusiasts alike. Among all the Barcade locations, there are 300 games. The gaming selection is balanced between standards, such as Asteroids and all three original Star Wars games, and more oddball finds like a maze game called Anteater and the desert-themed adventure Slither. Patrons compete for a hallowed place on Barcade’s high score board, which keeps track of the best of the best for each game. While many come for the games, they stay for the beer. Barcade features twenty-five rotating taps of all-American craft beer. Their selection is all draft with no cans of Bud Light to be found. Each day, a new beer menu is printed, complete with in-depth descriptions of each brew, encouraging everyone to try something new.

Cozy and classy are what come to mind when we think of this wine bar. There is no liquor served here, only wine and beer, and no hearty meals either, just simple snacks. But you can count on an order of olives, cheeses and cured meats to pair perfectly with your drink of choice.

Wednesday evenings are Salsa Night at this multi-level bar, and the dance floor is full. I cannot say we participated, but we did enjoy watching some superb dancers alongside obvious beginners. Stop by here any day of the week to dance the night away; the music is always playing and the crowd is moving to the beat.

There are pool tables, ping pong tables, darts, foosball, and more pool tables at this incredibly large venue. It is plush, sleek, and so much fun. Pull up a chair, grab a drink at the bar, and be a spectator - or pick up a stick and play some pool - either way there is great entertainment to be had. Amsterdam Billiards offers pool lessons for every level player and will happily host any kind of private party, no matter what size the group.

An Irish pub right in the middle of St. Marks, Bull McCabe's is the epitome of a dive bar. Serving up alcohol since 1959, the interior is permanently laced with the scent of beer. The location is adorned with a pool table, a TV, and, for those of us with a certain inclination, the most exciting thing about this bar is that it features a Ms. Pac Man machine.

In 1989, Pat Cormican, a Galway native, turned what was once a blues club into a true green pub serving Guinness on tap behind a scuffed wooden bar. Today he shares this Irish joint with his son, John Patrick, offering hearty, belly-filling grub and a few TVs to round out the experience. When I asked Pat what a patron can expect to find at Shades of Green, he amiably told me, “You get what you get, ” and grinned. For Pat, he feels that the days of name and face familiarity of regulars might be gone, but he and his family promise to continue running a hospitable taproom.

Bedecked with TV monitors from top to bottom, SideBAR is a late night, fashionable sports bar. The food is hearty, exactly what one would expect to find on a barroom’s menu. Looping around through its back horseshoe passage is the adjacent tap house, Little Town.