New York

New York. The city that never sleeps has one of the world’s most vibrant nightlife scenes.

The city comes alive after dusk — it blushes on its avenues, whispers on its bridges, grumbles in its bars, and roars in its clubs. Walk out onto the shadowy streets, and you’ll meet a place and a people whose vibe and verve simply couldn’t exist without the cover of darkness. New York’s id emerges each night; a nocturnal other half every bit as essential to its identity as its business-hours alter ego.

So, for everyone seeking that restive energy, a glimpse at the face behind the shimmering day-to-day mask; for anyone who isn’t afraid of the shadows, here is what to do when the sun goes down in NYC.

Check out our indepth guides to New York nightlife & clubbing below:

• Best Nightclubs in New York City
• New York Bottle Service 101
• Best NYC Dayparties, Pool Parties & Boozy Brunches
• Best EDM clubs in New York City
• Best hip hop clubs in New York City
• Best NYC Club Crawl
• Upcoming nightlife events in New York

Looking for more information on each club? Check out our club guides below.

Don’t forget – we also have a free mobile app that you can download here. Use the app to see who’s spinning, sign up for guestlists, buy tickets, and book bottle service!

New York Nightlife FAQ

What clubs in NYC do celebrities go to?

You’ll find celebrities at 1 OAK, Soho House, Le Bain, TAO Downtown, The Skylark, Fleur Room, 40/40, and Please don’t tell.

What are the best music festivals in New York?

The best annual summer music festivals in NYC include: Governor’s Ball (June), Electric Zoo (Labor Day) Afropunk (August) Chelsea Music Festival (June) CityParks Summerstage, Hot 97 Summer Jam.

What part of Manhattan has the best nightlife?

East Village, Lower East Side, Chelsea, and Meatpacking district tend to have the best nightlife options.

What are the best EDM clubs in New York?

The best EDM nightclubs in Manhattan are probably Marquee and Lavo. If you include Brooklyn – Avant Gardner, Elsewhere, Quantum, Schimanski.

What are the best Hip Hop clubs in New York?

The best hip hop clubs in New York are 1 OAK, Up & Down, Avenue, Jane Ballroom, Goldbar, and Tao Downtown.

Is weed legal in New York?

Medical marijuana is legal in New York but recreational marijuana is not. Smoking weed in public places not legal.

What time is last call in New York?

Last call for alcohol is 4 AM in New York, but clubs and bars may be open past that without serving alcohol. They can start serving again at 7 AM except on Sundays.

What time do clubs close in New York?

Most nightclubs will tend to close around 4 AM which is last call.

What are the hottest clubs in New York?

It depends what you’re looking for. The more exclusive venues in New York are Paul’s Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, The Box, 1 Oak, Fleur Room, Paradise Club.

What are the best pool parties in New York?

The best pool parties are Profundo pool club in queens and the Beach at Dream hotel downtown. On any given weekend during the summer there may also be one-off pool parties at one of the local hotel pools.

What are the best boozy brunches in New York?

The best boozy brunches are Bagatelle Brunch, Beauty & Essex Brunch, and Lavo Brunch.

What are the best spots for day drinking in New York?

There are a million places for day drinking in New York City. Here are a couple of our favorite day drinking spots:

• Frying Pan (Hudson River)
• The City Vineyard (Tribeca)
• Boulton & Watt (East Village)
• Blind Tiger (Greenwich Village)
• The Spaniard (West Village)
• Island Oyster (Governors Island)
• Biergarden at the Standard (Meatpacking)
• Brooklyn Barge (Greenpoint)
• The Standard (Noho)
• Bonnie Vee (Lower Manhattan)
• Gilligan’s (Soho)
• Sweet and Vicious (Lower Manhattan)
• Watermark Bar (Seaport)
• Stone Street (Financial District)

What are the best gay clubs in New York?

The best gay bars/clubs in New York include: Club Cumming, Metropolitan, Barracuda Lounge, The Rosemont, Cubbyhole, and Phoenix.

What are the best clubs in meatpacking district?

The best clubs in the Meatpacking district include: Electric Room, Tao Downtown, The Tippler, Brass Monkey, STK Downtown, 1 OAK, and Troy.

What are the most exclusive clubs in New York?

The most exclusive clubs in New York include 1 Oak, Box, Fleur Room, Paul’s Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Tao.

What are the best “Asian” clubs with Asian night in New York?

The best club to go asian clubbing is definitely Mission Nightclub. Brought to you by the creators of the now defunct Circle.

What are the best after hours spots in New York?

Most clubs close at 4 AM in New York – legally they aren’t allowed to serve alcohol after 4 AM. If you’re looking to party after that, your best bet is to head to Brooklyn – there’s a number of EDM clubs that stay open past 4. There are also a couple of spots in Ktown where the party keeps going after 4.