There are many lounges in NYC that make hanging out with friends an excellent time. Whether you like the eclectic, the funky, hip hop or dance, secret entrances or wide open spaces, lounges in NYC cover any taste and range from classy to casual. Some of the best lounges in NYC are the most difficult to find, but once you discover them, you will be raving about them for years.
A lot of lounges come and go, but there seem to be those constants that people enjoy frequenting week after week. If you ask local New Yorkers, they will tell you which lounges you need to visit to make your NYC trip complete. Some of the best kept secrets are these lounges, so be prepared to do a little searching to find these great establishments.
A few of the best lounges in NYC
Raines Law Room is one of those crazy lounges in NYC that follows the speakeasy style of the prohibition years. This intimate and romantic lounge is said to be very classy and quiet and is a good place for a first date. On weekends, this busy lounge can have a wait list for people to get in, so the process is that you arrive, leave your number and wait for a call back. In the meantime you can go elsewhere for a drink or something to eat. The food at this lounge is said to be off the charts.
Angel’s Share is referred to by some as a “speakeasy” but it is another one of those intimate lounges that serves top notch drinks and libations. The atmosphere is quiet and intimate and actually has rules posted on the door that you “keep the noise down”. Another “rule” only allows groups of 4 to enter together, so if you are looking to gather with a large group of friends, this is not the place to go. Japanese appetizers are served with cocktails at the bar.
Death & Company is one of those places that people rave about. This lounge is not known for its food, but for its authenticity and character. Many people agree that this is one of the most unique lounges in NYC because of its originality. It has a lot of unusual and expensive drinks on the menu, but if you are looking for some great food, then you need to go elsewhere.
The Blue Ribbon Downing Bar is a small neighborhood lounge located in the West Village. The food is incredibly delicious and the drinks are amazing with names like “shoot the piano player” and “el barbon”. There are only about 20 seats in the place, so you need to arrive early or you may not find one. This is a great place to take a first date because of the intimate and quiet setting, and the delicious food.
This is not an extensive list of lounges that you can go to in NYC, but it is a list of the local favorite “speak easy” style lounges. Once you start to check out some of the fabulous lounges in NYC, you will see that each place has its own special atmosphere.

