In my 20s it was college/dive bars for cheap drinks. In my 30s it was restaurant bars for food and drinks. In my 40s it was brew pubs for local IPAs. Now in my 50s I'm back to dive bars.
Great piece, David. Makes me think of the New French Bar in Minneapolis (sadly long gone) which was always crowded at night with artists and hipsters from the old warehouse district. Everybody knew everybody, the bartenders were young and good, and the music was current and not too loud. We stood around the bar with our actor friends who drank beer; we usually ordered cognac, having just come from dinner. One actor would put his empty beer glass on top of his head when he was ready for another round. "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," the bartender would yell out at closing time.
This is a constant discussion at the dinner table. Where have all the good bars gone! These days it’s increasingly difficult to find a good bar in the city. Most of them are so saturated in social media posting they’ve become overrun, too precious, or too loud. No more of this creakily hovering by the door for 15 minutes just for a seat at the bar. I want to show up, squeeze in for a seat and order a cold Martini. Standing is fine too! At a good bar, that just means it’s a good time!
When I started working in Manhattan in the early 80’s this was my place. On payday, cash the check at “ Manny Hanny”, go to Grand Central and get my shoes polished and hit Runyon’s. Great burgers, better conversations with gamblers, newspaper men, sportswriters and the occasional model. And in the winter run down to the Garden for a Ranger game. Good times. Thanks for triggering the memory again, David
I love going to lobby bars at fine hotels for the relaxed elegance especially if the bartenders are lifers that know their craft. Library Bar at The Rittenhouse in Philly comes to mind. By the way, this piece reminded me of a line from an article in Esquire I read many, many years ago, titled something like Everything a Man Should Know About Drinking: "Don't call the bartender Barkeep, Chief, Buddy or Ace, unless his actual name in fact, is Barkeep, Chief, Buddy, or Ace."
Great read. Sadly, many of these places don't exist anymore. Walker's in Tribeca is still going strong and is one of the few great bars/restaurants that pulls off a TV, and you don't even notice it all too much.
At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, I wonder if there’s room for “a good bar” being relative to someone’s experience? Maybe a bar that I / we dislike is actually something someone loves?
Then again, I THINK I get it. I patronize a wine bar (no hard liquor though, still have to find THAT bar) in SF compared to other wine bars because I have had great conversations with the staff there, it’s not too loud most of the time and there’s space for me to just think and savor the moment.
In my 20s it was college/dive bars for cheap drinks. In my 30s it was restaurant bars for food and drinks. In my 40s it was brew pubs for local IPAs. Now in my 50s I'm back to dive bars.
“A good rule of thumb is that if there’s a TV in any establishment then don’t order fish.” is the kind of inside baseball I’m here for.
Ha! Glad that one registered, James.
Great piece, David. Makes me think of the New French Bar in Minneapolis (sadly long gone) which was always crowded at night with artists and hipsters from the old warehouse district. Everybody knew everybody, the bartenders were young and good, and the music was current and not too loud. We stood around the bar with our actor friends who drank beer; we usually ordered cognac, having just come from dinner. One actor would put his empty beer glass on top of his head when he was ready for another round. "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," the bartender would yell out at closing time.
Thanks Dad! The New French. What a legendary place. Makes me happy. And a little bit sad.
This is a constant discussion at the dinner table. Where have all the good bars gone! These days it’s increasingly difficult to find a good bar in the city. Most of them are so saturated in social media posting they’ve become overrun, too precious, or too loud. No more of this creakily hovering by the door for 15 minutes just for a seat at the bar. I want to show up, squeeze in for a seat and order a cold Martini. Standing is fine too! At a good bar, that just means it’s a good time!
Daniel-
I think you have a hit on your hands--"Where Have All The Good Bars Gone?"
Cheers to good bars
When I started working in Manhattan in the early 80’s this was my place. On payday, cash the check at “ Manny Hanny”, go to Grand Central and get my shoes polished and hit Runyon’s. Great burgers, better conversations with gamblers, newspaper men, sportswriters and the occasional model. And in the winter run down to the Garden for a Ranger game. Good times. Thanks for triggering the memory again, David
https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/26/nyregion/soapboxmemories-of-a-lost-saloon.html?mwgrp=c-mbar&unlocked_article_code=1.F00.Ix-x.pSsTY0BazCE4&smid=url-share
I love going to lobby bars at fine hotels for the relaxed elegance especially if the bartenders are lifers that know their craft. Library Bar at The Rittenhouse in Philly comes to mind. By the way, this piece reminded me of a line from an article in Esquire I read many, many years ago, titled something like Everything a Man Should Know About Drinking: "Don't call the bartender Barkeep, Chief, Buddy or Ace, unless his actual name in fact, is Barkeep, Chief, Buddy, or Ace."
Great read. Sadly, many of these places don't exist anymore. Walker's in Tribeca is still going strong and is one of the few great bars/restaurants that pulls off a TV, and you don't even notice it all too much.
I’ve really come to appreciate small bars. A handful of seats, no TV, hushed conversation...heaven.
Thomas Piketty callback!
Ha! Yes, that took me a moment to remember the reference. They have closing times too!
I’m wondering, did Elaine’s in Manhattan qualify as a good bar? I was too intimidated to walk in ( also I didn’t have much money then).
I was too afraid, too! But it always seemed like a place where people kept saying it used to be better. Which is always funny to me.
I thought any bar that had this guy could not be half bad.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/09/nyregion/thomas-carney-dead.html
At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, I wonder if there’s room for “a good bar” being relative to someone’s experience? Maybe a bar that I / we dislike is actually something someone loves?
Then again, I THINK I get it. I patronize a wine bar (no hard liquor though, still have to find THAT bar) in SF compared to other wine bars because I have had great conversations with the staff there, it’s not too loud most of the time and there’s space for me to just think and savor the moment.
The Rusty Knot certainly broke the no theme rule. Ahoy Millennial Sailor.
Yes, it was a high lowbrow concept. But for me, high reward!
And when it opened is was before Millennial nonsense. It was people my age (late Gen X), which may be just as bad!
This is true... I’m textbook gen x but I’m happy to pass regrettable behavior onto millennials whenever I can.