Financial District
Rector St. and Washington St.
Lively bar, and the indoor space is decent sized but can get crowded, with a good sized outdoor space. Â The downside is that the outdoors area it rarely ever sees the sun; whether being blocked by the tall building it hides under or the scaffolding. Â So, crowd is mixed with tourists, business, young-uns, and the service is friendly. Above average beers at only slightly above average prices, taste fine.
West Side Highway and Vesey St.
Is it a tourist trap, yes, but it’s a relatively subdued crowd at this sky high bar.  If you don’t grab a table, there are a dozen or so bar stools up for grabs in this decently sized bar.  Service is good, views are great, not much more to it. Above average beers at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
John St. btw William and Gold St.
Putting aside the fact they use that awful acronym in their name, it’s the same as it’s midtown location, except way more business kids, and a big emphasis on kids.  Everyone in here is fresh out of college and surrounded by their peers, with a smattering of older folks there to pick up the tab or leer at said younger folks. It’s one big room, with everyone packed amongst reserved tables.  Lot’s of TV’s, average and above average beers at above average prices for all, taste fine.
John St. btw Cliff and Pearl St.
You drink down in this neighborhood, and you’re going to be with the business crowd or the tourist crowd.  While the former drink here into the night, it’s an older and more subdued after-work crowd you’ll find here, patiently enjoying happy hour before missing their train home.  Lots of TV’s, nice long space with tables in the back, and friendly service. Above average beers at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
Trinity Pl. btw Edgar and Rector St.
The latest in the chain of cheese steak bars in the city, and yet I hardly ever see a person eating a cheese steak.  That aside, it’s just a sports bar where the crowd is business and young people, plenty of TV’s, and the service is nice.  Average beers at average prices, taste fine.
Cedar St. btw Trinity Pl. and Broadway
Aside from the novelty of the old timey bank vault door, it’s just another bar in the Financial District. Â Enjoy watching pleated pants through the windows as you drink your slightly overpriced cocktail in the space that is usually packed with your business types. Â Cocktails at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
Fulton St. btw Nassau and Dutch St.
Huge bar that has always been crowded, albeit with plenty of room to move around, each time I’ve gone in.  Not as upscale as some other sports watering holes, but in no way a shit hole. Clientele is all business, plenty of sports on TV, and the service is quick on the service.  Average and above average beers at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
Aaaaaand another one bites the dust, supposedly turning into an Ainsworth…whoopee…
Liberty St. and Nassau St.
Well well, a nice quiet pub that’s sort of tucked away.  Upon finding the entrance, head up some stairs and you find a British themed water hole that has a good amount of space with British beers on tap.  Crowd is business type, can bring in the tourists. Average and above average beers at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
John St. btw South and Front St.
Pretty big bar that manages to make you feel comfy with a big group. Crowd is a pretty good mix of tourists, locals (yes, there are locals down here in this part of town) and business-types.  Solid staff that can handle the crowds, a pretty good spot all in all.  Average and above average drafts, above average prices, taste fine
Murray St. btw Church St. and Broadway
Besides the fact that I can use the bar as a shortcut to get from block to block on a cold day (of course stopping for a berer…naturally), this huge space draws your usual business crowd and probably has about 100 taps.  Plenty of space, plenty of TV’s, friendly service.  A few average beers with mostly above average beers on tap, average prices, taste fine.
Washington St. btw Rector and Carlisle St.
I’m not sure if this was once a church, but I’m definitely putting my money on it having been a diner at some point.  Straight up bars and tables (a few too many tables if you ask me…which, turns out, they aren’t) and you have a average sized bar with your average Financial District crowd of business kids, tourists, and construction workers, with a few TV’s showing sports.  Apparently they serve Chinese food in this bar, but all I saw were wings, so enjoy that.  Above average beers at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
South St. btw Pine St. and Maiden Ln.
Another bar taking up residency near the Seaport, and this one is a tale of two cities; half is pure bar, the other is a bar with pizza. Â Crowd is business kids with tourists, decent amount of space, nice view of Downtown Brooklyn. Â Above average beers at above average prices, taste fine.
William St. btw Broad and St. and Mill Ln.
German themed bar that is here for the business kid that are looking for slightly more beer for just slightly more money.  It’s a bar that stretches through the block, plenty of space, plenty of TV’s, lots of German beer.  Service is friendly, though pretty sure there isn’t one actual German server (not a dig, just funny that they have to wear the “German bar person†uniform).  German beers at average prices, taste fine.
Stone St. btw Hanover Sq. and Coenties Slip
Located beneath The Growler, this small cocktail bar is a quiet respite from the plethora of bars upstairs and outside.  Chatty bartenders, 20’s and 30’s crowd, cocktails at cocktails prices, taste pretty good.
Battery Park
Ok, the beer garden bar area is the part not facing the water (the water part is, of course and inconveniently, part of the restaurant). Â This hedge enclosed bar basically has about a dozen or so garden tables with umbrellas, and a quasi-tiki bar at one end. Â Not many people here except for people coming off the Ferries, so basically tourists. Â Average drinks at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
Fulton St. and Front St.
I’m pretty sure that this bar takes up three separate corners (and part of a street) on Fulton and Front Streets, so I’m going to review the one on the southwest corner because, after having walked through all three, this one looked the most bar like and the warmest (and I could sit).  So, this place has a good amount of standing space, indoor picnic tables for meeting new friends, and a lot of different beer taps.  Service is good, above average beers at slightly above average prices, taste fine.
Stone St. btw Coenties Slip and William St.
To say any bar on Stone Street is subdued is a stretch, but this is definitely one of the quieter venues on that stretch. Has your sports on TV, good amount of bar space, crowd is the same as pretty much every bar on Stone Street, meaning business kids and tourists mixed in with some people who want to actually watch the game. Above average drinks at above average prices, tastes fine.
Stone St. btw Coenties Slip and Broad Street
Mexican bar/restaurant, in basically the same way that most places labeled as such are there to provide some food if needed, but most people are here for margaritas, tequila, or to pack it to the gills on May 5th. Good amount of bar space, crowd is business kids, tourists, and those craving guacamole, etc. (it’s actually pretty good). Average taps, average prices, taste fine.
South St. btw Maiden Lane and John St.
Picnic benches with a good beer selection on a pier with good burgers (though pricey) = bar, so say I! Basically, I just summed it all up in that one sentence, but I’ll expand to show effort. New spot next to the Seaport where there’s a good amount of space to sit with some friends or make new ones, service is a little slow, and it’s outdoors. A negative is the looong walk back down the pier to the bathrooms. Above average beers at above average prices, taste fine.
Pearl St. btw Broad St. and Coenties Slip
I’ll give this bar credit for cramming in the most amounts of seats into a tiny bar room and somehow making it still easy to walk through. This place is a sports bar, filled with business kids, more business kids, and a random old crowd. It’s usually pretty packed with a few outdoor seats out front, service is pretty quick, average beers at average prices, taste fine.
Water St. btw Broad St. and Coenties Slip
Tiny bar in the Financial District. A bar that fits about 30 tops on the first floor, a bit more space upstairs for eating. The crowd is a little bit older than the business kids that flock after work (though they do get there eventually), the service is friendly and the food ain’t half bad. Above average beers at above average prices, taste fine.
World Financial Center
Like any bar downtown, this place is packed with business types on a work night, decent sized crowd of locals on the weekend. There’s a big inside space, though most people cram into the small outside space during the summer. Good view, staff gets a little phased by the crowds, average pints that taste fine and at average prices.
Merchant’s River House (Hudson River btw Albany and Liberty St.)
This is borderline restaurant, but I’m tossing it out there anyway. This place is more like a bar with two outdoor patios, two patios with cramped tables that you have to walk through to get into the bar area. The bar is a long, narrow space and the only place to stand is away from the bar next to the kitchen and bathrooms. They do have decent service, a mixed crowd of young and families (families sticking to the outside areas), an above average beer selection with a little above average prices.
Trinity St. btw Morris and Exchange St.
Probably the most crowded in the chain, this location serves the young business kids in the area, as well as a few wondering people in construction. Big space with not aor of room to move, needs a good airing out, but service is pretty quick and handles the youth well. Average pints at average prices, taste fine.
Albany St. and Washington St.
What is going on in here!?! Is it a bar with a buffet, why are there so many obstacles, exactly which door do I use to go in!?!?! So make your way in, go to the tiny bar in the corner. I you can’t squeeze in to one of the tables, you’ll be standing, but not in one group but on top of the sitters. Crowd is “passing through†never gets really crowded, quiet. Average tasting beers at average prices.
Albany St. and Washington St.
This is kind of like a “passing through†bar. You’re either going to the bar upstairs, happen to be staying in the hotel, or are visiting the Memorial/your place of work. It’s a huge bar in an alright amount of space, kind of quiet, most people keep to themselves. Average to above average prices for average tasting drinks.
South Street Seaport
This is the indoor bar inside the Seaport, and worth the walk up 3 floors to get to. And yes, though I said walk, it’s really an escalator I’ve seen it overflowing during a pub crawl, and then mildly crowded once the weather turns colder. Lots of space, friendly bartenders, average tasting beers at average prices.
South St. and Fulton St.
Don’t know why it’s taken me so long to visit this part of the chain, but it’s up there with the Union Square location as my favorite of the bunch. Mostly filled with tourists, usually easy enough to get a table, service is attentive, drinks are you regular Heartland brews at average prices.
Pearl St. btw Coenties and William St.
On a street where every bar is usually packed inside and outside, I was surprised at how empty this place was. I mean, it has the same amount of TV’s, maybe slightly smaller than the others, attractive wait staff, friendly bartender. Maybe it needs a better sign out front? Who knows, I’m not a marketer. Bud light and above average types of beers (Chimay, etc.) on tap at average prices, taste fine.
Washington St. btw Carlisle and Albany St.
I used to consider this the quiet side of the Financial District, the home of pubs and really old bars. But with new buildings, comes the new crowd…oh boy. B&T’s have crossed Trinity and gathered here. Decent amount of room, mixed age crowd, and good times staring at the hotel guests walking by as they head to their rooms. Beers are above average prices, taste average, service average.
South Street Seaport
I’m glad they’re continually finding ways to make the Seaport more attractive to the younger crowd…though now it’s a noisy, younger crowd. They basically plunked an outdoor club on the pier, threw in some Porto Potties, sprinkled in some average priced craft brews, and voila, you have an outdoor bar that is usually full of people. Tables to sit at, many places to stand, service is pretty quick, beers taste fine, and a foosball table.
Pearl St. and Broad St.
So, apparently this is place is really old. The original G. Dubya visited here, amongst other notables in the 1700’s, or so I was told. I’m curious if the bar portion felt like a Knights of Columbus hall back then too. Don’t get me wrong, years of staring at my parents fake wood paneling has numbed me to its effects, but seriously? In a bar? Well, the crowd was mixed (all 15 people) and the taps were averagely priced and tasted a little off, but the staff was pretty friendly.
Fulton St. btw William and Gold St.
So, I guess this place is different then its neighbors because it tries to be a bit more upscale than surrounding pubs. I would rather visit the neighbors. My friend swears by the bartender but there wasn’t enough to get me to go here over another bar. Though the college crowd seemed older, it’s still a college crowd. Beers tasted fine, average prices, but it’s really for the Pace kids who don’t want to travel too far but think that proper pubs are beneath them.
Cliff St. btw Fulton and John St.
So, though it kind of feels like someone’s college apartment in here (which isn’t the worst thing) I liked coming in here to get away from the packed bars nearby. Negative points for physically having taps but no actual beer in them. I do enjoy the free foosball (though two of the players had no legs) but they had a limited beer selection that tasted alright…you know, maybe I didn’t think this place was that great after all.
Bridge St. btw Whitehall and Broad St.
Okay, right off the bat, not your young Wall Street trader bar or college bar, which is good, I liked it here purely for that fact. That and an awesome jukebox (best in the city dare I say?). The bartenders are nice, the people here are really down to earth (mainly because you probably have to be a regular to figure out that, even though it doesn’t look it from the outside, it is actually open), and the taps are pretty good at your average prices.
Pearl St. btw Coenties Slip and William St.
We walked in through the Stone Street entrance and thought we were in an Asian fusion place. After cutting through the eatery, we came to the bar in the front. The pitcher specials were good, but the taps tasted a little harsh, and the individual drinks were average prices. There’s also not a ton of space.
Pearl St. btw Coenties Slip and William St.
I finally made it down here after everyone said I “had to check this place outâ€â€¦maybe they meant the James Joyce novel because I don’t know what they were talking about. The service was so frickin slow that we were making plans to go two steps down to the next bar on the street the second she took our order. I mean, it’s a big place with plenty of TV’s but it was more like a Denny’s that served brunch than a bar. We got our beers and they tasted average, average prices.
Cliff St. btw Fulton and Beekman St.
Thank god I walked around the housing projects or I never would’ve found this place. This college bar is definitely tucked away. Feels like my den mother’s wood paneled living room in here. The place is a decent sized space, a younger crowd, and the beers taste fine and are average prices.
Broadway btw Rector and Thames St.
It’s tough to sell me on a bar with a gimmick, but I’ll let this one slide. Basically, you can draw on your place mat and they hang it up on the wall…cough…which basically makes the place look like your coworkers desk. Anywho, you practically walk into a basement to get in, the taps tasted fine and at an average prices, nothing but financial updates on the television though. The crowd was all business types, but a fun middle aged crowd.
Cliff St. btw Fulton and John St.
This bar is huge and it’s full of college kids, topped off with people who just can’t let go of college. The staff is friendly, lots of TV’s, lots of average priced, average tasting beer but the crowd is something you have to just put up with in order to go here. Some of the surrounding bars offer a quieter and a more low key atmosphere,college wasn’t low key now was it?
South St. and Peck Slip
Interesting place. I went in here thinking it was some ritzy place but it was just an extremely well lit place that had good pub food and a good tasting selection of beer, and at decent prices too. There were also plenty of TV’s and a great staff that made it easier to sit and watch the whole Mets game.
Greenwich St. and Cedar St.
Lots of space in here. There are tons of TV’s to watch almost anything you want. They have a good selection of beers that are average prices. You don’t really get the college crowd or work crowd in here, more like the older crowd from the locals, mainly because it’s covered by scaffolding.
Peck Slip btw Front and South St.
I felt unsure when I walked in as to what kind of bar this was going to be, a wine bar or your regular bar. I don’t think I saw one bottle of wine taken off the wall so a bar it is. This place had a lot of space, good service, and the beers were average prices. One of the better places in the area.
Nassau St. btw Beekman and Anne St.
I always wondered why this place was crowded when I walked by. After walking in, I still wonder. Definitely the dive bar of the Financial District, but with bikinis! Don’t get your hopes up, it’s not the greatest site to see. So it’s dark, filled with older guys and frat boys, and a little more dark in the back. But I’m not one to say no to a dive bar, but spent most of my time feeling sad for the two ladies behind the bar. My friend asked if they were twins and I said “No, but it looks like they’re both expecting twinsâ€â€¦zing! Beer tastes fine, average prices, you’re pretty much going to stand the whole time in here.
Pearl St. btw Wall and Hanover St.
For the record, I usually don’t dig bars with carpet, but I’ll let it slide. This is a pretty relaxed place with a good amount of bar space…I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it. I felt like I was in Labyrinth will all of the stairs leading places. The taps tasted fine, average prices and a middle aged, subdued crowd.
Peck Slip and Water St.
A two story bar that’s like night and day. Downstairs is a small corner bar and upstairs in someone’s 70’s living room with a pool table. I’m never a fan of places that relish in the fact that they only have specialty beers on tap but it’s a lot quieter than the college bars in the neighborhood and the beers taste fine, no matter what kind, and are reasonably priced.
Fulton St. btw William and Gold St.
This place used to be Exchange, and I’m glad to see that it’s not and that it’s much more welcoming and not so lounge-y anymore. That being said, the place is still tiny. There’s an okay amount of room, mainly having a small standing area in the back, but there’s not much to the place. Had TV’s, beer tasted fine and was average prices, mixed crowd.
Pearl St. btw Wall and Hanover St.
Probably my favorite bar downtown. Very friendly place, a huge bar, totally cool wait staff. The pints tasted fine and were at average prices. Lively crowd too. I really need to talk up the great bars with longer paragraphs.
John St. btw Broadway and Nassau St.
Big bar downtown, though once again, stairs to get into a bar suck. It’s kind of a weird scene. Some people left over from work, people who think it’s a club or lounge (if it is, they could find better elsewhere), Pace kids, and then those people who, like my friend, didn’t feel like walking further into the winding streets of the Financial District. The drinks are average price, taste average, and there’s not much to look at as far as entertainment.
Maiden Lane btw Gold and William St.
Cavernous bar; not in the dark way, just has oddly huge ceilings for a bar in the Financial District. It was kind of empty for a Friday night, but it seems like it attracts a bigger lunchtime crowd. The bartender was great, taps tasted fine and at average prices, and the food was pretty good too.
Front St. btw Beekman St and Peck Slip
Nothing like a frat bar in the middle of NYC’s history. Every time I’m in here the place is packed. One difference between this and other college crowd bars is that women actually venture in here on their own. Granted, I’m not big on the beer they have on tap, but it came in a plastic cup so I wasn’t expecting perfection. Tons of TV’s and someone with taste seems to be controlling the music. Beers were average prices and tastes like light beer in a plastic cup.
Cliff St. btw John and Fulton St.
This place used to be Amarok, and the bar was tiny back then. It still is small but now they have added a swing over the bar for the bartenders…yeah, it’s exactly as it sounds. God bless the servers for voluntarily getting up there, though it’s really too small of a place to enjoy it. Beers still tastes fine, average prices, and the crowd is a sausage fest that are there for the swing watching.
Exchange St. btw William and Broad St.
It’s basically the Sutton Place of the Financial District, without the rooftop. Definitely a young crowd that shows up right after the closing bell. It’s your typical yuppie kids that have nothing great to talk about. The drinks taste fine, average prices, and small TV’s with stocks on, because the costumers didn’t get enough during the day.
John St. btw Pearl and Water St.
After climbing the Matterhorn of staircases, you come to this delightful slice of thugged out heaven. Suck it in and make your way around the pool table to head to the bar. Drinks are average prices, taste fine, and if you’re looking to shake your thang in a bar that looks like someone’s basement, then hang here.
Fulton St. and South St.
The smallest of the chain, it’s still got a great location right across from the Seaport. This one is a little more of a bar than a restaurant but the space is still small. Drinks still taste good albeit a tiny bit above average price.
Pearl St. btw Pine and Wall St.
One of the closest things to a pub that I’ve seen in NYC. Very friendly bar located in an area where there are a bunch of nice Irish pubs, but this one feels authentic. Lots of room to sit, stand, good open space, good tasting taps, average prices, plenty of TV’s, mixed crowd, zero complaints.
Beekman St. btw Front and South St.
So there are next to no lounges in this area downtown but this place tries to hold its own. I kind of liked it even though I think most lounges are ridiculous. I was there with a group and we were served quickly and they had a decent selection of average priced beer that tasted fine. They also have cupcakes that we eventually convinced the owner to give us for free…we should’ve been paid to eat them.Â
South St. btw Beekman St. and Peck Slip
I thought this place was a restaurant every time I’ve walked by. It’s not far off, but it feels more like a cafeteria where you can grab some beers and have pub grub instead of actual fish. The bar is pretty small, though a decent amount of sitting space in the back. The service is pretty quick, beers tastes fine, costs average prices, a crowd of tourists or the few people who actually live down here comprises the crowd.
Stone St. and Coenties Slip
I love how the happy hour special was a $5 pint of Coors Lite. That being said, this place has way too many tables and not a lot of bar space. The wait staff was friendly, though they did seem genuinely shocked when I questioned the specials and their prices. The taps tasted fine and the crowd was the same as all of the other Stone Street bars…young.
Fulton St. btw William and Nassau St.
Yeah, not my least favorite of the chain, but by no means my favorite. The bartender was making the best of the sparse, slightly creepy crowd. There was decently priced beer that tasted fine and a couple of small TV’s, but there was a ton of space in here with nothing going on.
Beekman St. btw Nassau and William St.
Even though my friend wanted me to comment that this place smells like a cat, I’m going to give it a better review, and hopefully more complimentary. This was a good after-work place for a couple of beers and to watch a game. The crowd was older than the college bars in the area but not with “old creepy men†(thanks again Michele). The beer selection was good and average priced, tasted fine, and there was seating for food too.
Beckett’s (Pearl St. btw Coenties Slip and William St.)
Definitely my favorite bar on this one block strip. The service was great, nice outdoor seating, very friendly and hot hostess/waitresses, and the food was actually pretty good. To be fair, I could barely see inside the bathroom and they kept switching the TV’s to games that no one cared about. But I would definitely go back here for the beers (which tasted fine and were average prices) and crowd…and did I mention the hostess/waitresses?
Stone St. btw Whitehall and Broad St.
Your every mans bar, and every type does come here. Don’t make the mistake of sitting at the front small table and not order from the waitress. I know, that should be common sense, but the small round tables at the front are for casual standing! Anywho, the bartender was great, taps tasted a little off but they cost a little less than average, so there you go.
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