Guy Brighton's New York Guide

Brass Monkey

Brass Monkey- Little West 12th (btwn Washington & the West Side Highway) - Huge new wood panelled hall created for the enjoyment of a good drink. Large global beer selection. The Brass Monkey is good looking haunt that reminds me of a modern decent Irish/London pub and is a welcome change to the current crop of unimaginative neo-space-age bars around the corner (e.g. Highline).

Right now you can even take your pint outside the front for a cigarette. Very reasonable menu that includes Fish & Chips and Bangers & Mash. I fear that in 2 months this place will be swamped and unbearable like the rest of the area (except the great Passer By). Sept  23 '04

Update Feb 12 2005: Stay away on Saturday nights. The mob is in town. You'll be lining up outside for 30 minutes to enter an over-crowded space filled with folk who venutred far to be here.

Update Feb 17 2005: Thursday nights are busy but maintain the right mood. OK, it's not a 'trendy bar' but it's lively and has a decent pint. The barman even got me a free one on his round!

Update Feb 23 2005: Wednesday nights: perfect for that pint with a coupla mates.

Website

Guy's Diary posts about Brass Monkey
FRI 9th JULY : SHINE BRASS MONKEY SHINE
WEDS 14th JULY: WATCH THE BRASS MONKEYS
WED 11th AUG : GOOD AND BAD IN ONE DAY
THUR 12th AUG : DEFINITION OF A LADS NIGHT OUT
THUR 7th OCT : POPCORN

APT (or Apartment)

APT - 419 West 13th Street - If you can find the anonymous doorway (there's no sign - but often a queue/line) you'll find a great looking two-level bar. Sometimes it has great nights, sometimes it's full of Japanese cool hunters, sometimes full of 'hipsters', and sometimes it's full of drunk over-paid New Yorkers. Feb 18 '04

Update Summer 04: The summer's brought the crowds to the Meat Packing district and you'll find at weekends that this bar is probably unbearable at the moment.

Update Feb 12: A great night watching Norman Jay goes to show APT is a very decent venue, but maybe only one to visit when you know there's somethign special on. (We had to buy tickets - otherwise 'Guest List' looked horrific)

Places to go before APT
 Florent for a modern diner meal
Pastis for a bistro dinner
Ara on 9th for a fine wine
Soho House for a private smug little tipple

Places to go after APT
Passer By to raise your hands in the air and really finish yourself off

Guy's Diary Posts about APT
THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY : CLICK YOUR LEGS TOGETHER

Sat 12th Feb : Norman Jay

Maritime Hotel

88 9th Avenue, 15th Street 212-243-8400 - New bars and restaurants in a hotel that has port holes! Great looking builiding which has become very popular in the last 6 months year and a half. 3+ bars (inc. Hiro, Bottega), 2 restaurants (the Bottega and Japanese Matsuri) and more to come.

The trattoria Bottega has some mighty fine pizza and other menu items are: Tuna on White Beans; Artichokes in White-Truffle Oil; Pappardelle with Rabbit Ragu; Salmon Tartare; Chicken Under a Brick; and Lamb Shank in White Polenta, $19

A recent visit to the Bottega Bar on a Friday Night made me add this warning to this guide: A very tacky, cumbersome crowd visits this place at the weekend!!! Escape the maddening crowds in Meatpacking and get yourself down to Passer By or the Brass Monkey.

If you have to go there check out the bars upstairs and/or Hiro bar.

UPDATE FEB 10: Thursday night in the winter and this place is just quiet enough so you can appreicate what a good looking restaurant and bar this is. Pizza is still very good, the service a little moody - but could be just a one off.

Hotel Website

Subway Stops
A, C, E to 14th St.

Guy's Diary Posts about Maritime:
FRI 6th FEB: LA BOTTEGA OVER THE HEADA
SAT 14th FEB: VALIUM DAY

Passerby

West 15th near 10th - cool bar with 70s lit-up square tile floor (yes, I know I'm selling it to you already.. ;).

A nice little joint that gets rocking on the late side. Passerby's the best place in the area if you want to have fun but avoid the not so fancy Meatpacking crowds at the weekend. Really hits its peak about 4am on Fridays and Saturdays (the DJs only come on at 12pm) when they shut the doors and turn up the sound. Some evidence of smoking very late night.

Guy's Diary Posts about Passer By
BRIT INVASION - 5th NOVEMBER to 10th NOVEMBER
FRI 16th APR : ABOUT
SUN 9th MAY : MOTHER DAY
FRIDAY 11th JUNE : DEAL THE CARDS
FRI 9th JULY : SHINE BRASS MONKEY SHINE
SAT 6th NOV : PASS HER
SAT 18th DEC : PASS HER BY

5 Ninth / 5 9th

5 9th Avenue (btwn Gansevoort & Little West 12th) 212-929-9460 - An oasis amongst the cattlesheds of Meatpacking. In a converted Town House the place (when I visited) reeked gentle class and sober sophistication.

Zak Pelaccio's cooking spans the globe but has an affinity for Asian ingredients. Innovative twists on soft-shell crabs, ribs, scallops.

Bar & Books

c/o Hudson & Horatio, West Village - It's a bit up its arse, but this small cubby hole looks like a gents club, still has a smoking license, and plays Bond films on the TV. Great turkey club sandwich.

In the winter it can get a little too fumy inside as the cigar crowd puff away - but in the summer, you can lounge on the pavement chairs and sup away.

Still need a local puff?
Try the patio at the Maritime Hotel, 9th Ave
Visit the balcony at Park on 10th Ave
Pop out back after a dance at Cielo, Little West 12th
Eat and fume in the back garden at Paradou, Little West 12th

Where to go before or after Bar & Books
A place to meet if you plan to eat is Bivio across the road.

Soho House NY

29-35 9th Avenue (and 14th) (212) 627 9800 - Sister of the Private Members Club in London's Soho. I think the true way to enjoy this private club place is to avoid having membership and finding a way to sneak in.....

Here are my favorite activities at Soho House NYC:

Sneaking my friends in at 1am when the member goes home
Blagging it into magazine launch parties to enjoy free vodka on the roof
Playing Boggle on the sun roof with random film execs !???

My impression is that earlier in the week is better - towards the weekend it fills with 'monied' New Yorkers - if you catch my drift.

Web Site
Map

Guy's Diary posts about Soho House NY:
SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER: SOHO HOUSE NYC / SOHO LOUSE
MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER : RECOVERY
WED 17th FEB: GROOVE JET

Other Links Worth Checking
Skinny Dipping At Soho House (Gridskipper)

Bivio

Hudson & Horatio - New styled bar for older styled people. Food chalked up ont he baords looks modern and relaxed (yet to try). Small cozy bar space too with slightly aloof bar staff.

Check Restaurant.com for discounts (via printable vouchers) at this restaurant.

Places to go before and after Bivio
Bar & Books - for a sip of wine and a smoke
APT for a lounge or a groove
Passer By for a trashy and tight boogie

Guy's Diary posts on Bivio
THUR 29th JAN: TESTING TIME FOR NEW YORK

Pastis

9th Ave., New York, NY 10014 (c/o Little West 12th) - The classic. Go there anytime but make sure you go there for Brunch and people watching. I'll go anytime for the Hanger Steak. Busy comso crowd / Brit pack.

Pastis Menu
Map
Price range: $$$ ($30-45)

Guy's Diary posts about Pastis
Two significant events

Book Suggestions

Cielo

Little West 12th & 9th Ave - Well designed space that attracts a big crowd of party goers to dance to all types of music. Smoking area out back.

Update: The summer's brought the crowds to the Meat Packing district and you'll find at weekends that this bar is probably unbearable at the moment.

Where to go before Cielo
Pastis for dining and posing
Ara on 9th Ave for a get away from the crowds
APT for a cool scene

Guy's Diary posts on Cielo
THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY : CLICK YOUR LEGS TOGETHER