Lower East Side Bars & Nightlife

Lullaby is the kind of place you can order boozy punch and Dole whip cocktails. It’s dark. There’s a guy spinning vinyl at the end of the bar. People get up and dance, even though there’s not much space. It’s a great party—in the most low-key way.

Chef Flynn McGarry opened the original Gem restaurant at just 19 years old, and Gem Wine at 25. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, some context: McGarry started his first tasting restaurant at age 11, and he’s since trained at Alinea, Eleven Madison Park, and Noma, among others. Gem Wine has a great wine list, but McGarry’s menu, which changes weekly, is still the main event. The space (on a mostly residential block on the Lower East Side) is breezy and spacious, and it’s great for impressing a date.

On a quiet block of Broome Street, Ten Bells is easy to miss: It has a discreet facade and no obvious signage. Even though it opened ten years ago, it still exudes the vibe that it’s a local secret, which makes a visit here so fun on cold winter nights, when a quiet, empty corner is easy to find. While it’s billed as primarily a wine bar (they put a premium on organic and sustainable labels), the tapas are great, especially the boquerones (white anchovies in vinegar and olive oil) and the burrata with piquillo peppers and basil. There’s also a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. with $1 oysters.

This ‘70s-inspired Lower East Side bar-slash-restaurant is one of our favorite spots. Upstairs there are comfortable booths to melt into after a long day, short day—or anytime you just really need a cocktail. The bar snacks are good, especially the cauliflower steak on a bed of quinoa. Downstairs feels like a tricked-out version of your cool neighbor’s basement—pool table, sunken fireplace, and jukebox included, plus walls covered with tapestries and kitschy-cool posters.