With America still stuck in one of the biggest recession since The Great Depression, days and nights of eating out have been hard to come by. We get it, so we pulled out some of the hottest restaurants and bars out of our little black book that has some of the happiest of happy hours around. Whether the hotspot is a chill bar to hang out with your friends or it’s an upscale restaurant to lure in a love interest, we got your back.
Eat
Mission Chinese Food
154 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
Courtesy of Andrew Rowat
Mission Chinese Food, the popular San Francisco Sichuan-fusion restaurant, recently opened its second location in New York City. With chef and owner Danny Bowien at the helm, it is sure to be just as good as the original. Most of the menu is the same as the San Francisco joint. Although the restaurant does not take reservations, they offer free beer for guests waiting in line. Moreover, a percentage of the proceeds are donated to local food charities. Enjoy some delicious, not to mention cheap, spicy Asian cuisine while supporting a great cause.
Delicatessen
54 Prince Street
New York, NY 10012
Courtesy of Guest of a Guest
Located in trendy Soho, Delicatessen is a garage turned restaurant. On a nice day, the garage doors are open and allow for easy people watching. Delicatessen serves diner food with a sophisticated twist. Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, each day features a different plat de jour.
Drink
Tiki Mondays with Brian Miller
Lani Kai
525 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013
Courtesy of Lani Kai
Every Monday, Brian Miller teams up with other local bartenders to create unique tropical cocktails at Lani Kai, Julie Reiner’s Hawaiian haven in Manhattan. Starting at $13, arrive during happy hour (6-8 pm) to get half-price on a couple of the evening’s featured drinks. These fruity cocktails are the perfect pick-me-up after a manic Monday.
The Frying Pan
Pier 66
New York, NY 10001
Courtesy of The Funky Apple
It’s not often that you get to drink on a historical monument. Built in 1929, the Lightship “Frying Pan” is one of only 13 remaining lightships. After sinking and staying underwater for three years, the “Frying Pan” was restored and docked at Pier 66 in Hudson River Park. This remarkable ship is now home to an outdoor bar. Grab a drink and explore the entire ship which is open to the public.
Enjoy
SummerStage at Central Park
Central Park
Manhattan, NY
Courtesy of City Parks Foundation Blog
There’s nothing like spending a summer day at the park listening to great music. Throughout the summer, the City Parks Foundation puts on SummerStage, a series of outdoor concerts in New York City. This year, the lineup at Central Park is quite impressive, including the likes of Nora Jones and Foster the People. Tickets are going quickly though so make sure to purchase yours soon! It’s the perfect romantic summer date night.
Pink Elephant NYC
40 W. 8th Street
New York, NY 10011
Courtesy of blackbookmag.com
After shutting down in 2009 due to financial problems, Pink Elephant is reopening its New York club, this time in a smaller location. It still aims to have all the pizzazz of its former days though. From a room covered entirely in LED lights to doormen in pink suits, Pink Elephant offers all the glitz and glamour of a retro-style New York. Having just reopened in May, it’s best to hit up this club a little later in the summer after they’ve worked out all the kinks.
