Fun Nightlife for Adults in New York City

If you've decided to vacation in New York City and want to mingle with the locals, you may be interested in some fun at the local bars. New Yorkers love their nightlife and their bars of all kinds prove it.

There are free brochures available at the GE Building information desk for self-guided walking tours. Getting a stroll around the city during the day will help you determine which area you may want to visit at night. You could always ask the motel staff for recommendations, of course. Just remember what is cheap to you may not be what is cheap to them; and if you want a cheap bar, you may get what you pay for.

You can have your choice of almost any type of bar, but if you want a biker bar try Hogs and Heifers on Washington, American Trash on First Avenue, and John Street Bar and Grill (on John Street, if you didn't guess already!).

Maybe all you're after is the lower-cost bars, just to say you went to a bar, or because you simply spent too much shopping and touring but still want to get out of your hotel for some nightlife. You might like The Johnsons on Rivington Street, which opens at 4 pm. It's friendly and affordable. Botanica on East Houston Street got good reviews and is open daily at 5 pm. This bar offers cheap drinks and two happy hours and there's plenty of seating here. Jimmy's Corner at West 44th Street is inexpensive.

Dance clubs are scattered about the city. Try The Culture Club on Varick Street for 80's music. They have a dress code of no athletic wear. The cover charge depends on the day and can go from free to $25. The Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club brings you a live swing band and take free swing lessons that are offered nightly. Located on West 46th Street, the cover charges are $7 on weekdays to $12 on weekends.

Perhaps you need something a little stronger and seek a whiskey bar. The Whiskey Bar on Broadway is a hotel bar with no admission charge and is open at 4 pm daily.

If it's something milder you seek, like a coffee bar, there are plenty of those, too. You will find no shortage of Starbucks, but for something different that's lower priced, try the Cocoa Bar on Seventh Avenue. There's also the Barrie House Gourmet Coffee on Nepperhan Avenue or Copper Brook on East 4th Street for lower priced coffee bar entertainment.

If you're scared to go out at night because of all the scary stories about New York City… first of all, any big city will have more crime because it has more people. Second, no matter whether you're in a big city or a small town, you have to use common sense and your instincts. If you act like a tourist, you're more of an open target for con men and others who prey on the unsuspecting. Remember to keep your money in a purse or wallet that is kept to the front of you and close to your body. Organize your money in private. Stay on main streets at night, and take a cab instead walking on a dark street or your are uncertain about how to get back to your hotel. Just be smart and stay alert so you can get the most from your night in the Big Apple!