Day Drinking: Get Drunk Before Sunset

475 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012 (map)

What's the best way to ease the pain of plowing through New York's tourist-packed Soho sidewalks? Drenching yourself in tequila, of course! Defectors from the neighborhood's chaotic shopping scene find solace in the delicious frozen pomegranate margaritas served at this upscale Mexican haunt, noon onward on weekdays, 11:30 on weekends. And as if tequila weren't enough entertainment for one afternoon, the heated street-side patio is prime for people-watching.

98 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002 (map)

Something about this Lower East Side staple evokes that European, it's-more-than-okay-to-day-drink feeling. Maybe it's the sidewalk seating, or the comprehensive and affordable wine list. Either way, it opens noon weekdays and 10am weekends and is always packed with well-heeled patrons looking appropriately loopy beside ever-dwindling carafes.

180 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (map)

Billyburgers can choose from the top-notch Irish, Scottish and Belgian beer selection at this unassuming bar daily from 1pm onwards. In warmer months, locals take it out back to the smoke-friendly garden for cheap barbecue, and sometimes friendly, sometimes raucous games of ping-pong under the sun. While the winners gloat, the disgruntled losers can hunker down on the bench by the front window, mocking the sober passersby. As an added bonus, drinks are enormous, strong and cheap.

55 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014 (map)

Even with the economy in freefall, this is a city where decadence refuses to die. Case in point: the weekend brunch scene at this lofty, African-inspired MePa hot spot. If, by 3pm, you're not dancing atop a table or getting sprayed by a bottle of Dom, you're obviously not having fun. Here, well-dressed socialites pay for the opportunity to play by day in the same extravagant environs usually reserved for VIP clubbers at night. And why shouldn't they--after all, what good is a trust fund if you can't squander it?

9 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014 (map)

The Meatpacking District might lose points for its bridge-and-tunnel crowd by night, but Keith McNally's French bistro is still frequented by true New Yorkers in search of an extended liquid lunch. No matter the hour--as early as the 8am opening on weekdays and 10am on weekends--drinking's implied (as is waiting for a table, though no one seems to mind). Choose a mimosa, a Bellini or glass of wine, and join the boisterous pack of early drinkers while you await the arrival of your steak tartare.

113 N. 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (map)

This massive bar is a go-to for Brooklynites in need of an early beer fix--it opens at 1pm on weekends--and a glance at a dirndl-clad waitress. The traditional Austro-Hungarian beer hall is enormous, but its amiable staff makes you feel at home as they serve up an assortment of brews, including hard-to-find varieties like Hofbrau Lager and Dentergems Witbier. To prolong the frat-tastic fun, consider coating your stomach with a helping or two of schnitzel.

101 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002 (map)

In warmer weather, happy drunken chatter pours through the wide-open windows at this Lower East Side bar that opens at noon on weekdays and 10am weekends. Beer connoisseurs recline at long, communal wooden tables, sipping rare ales and mingling with the neighborhood's requisite hipsters. After round three or four, soften your buzz and recharge before nightfall with a snack from Spitzer's reasonably priced menu of upscale pub grub.

425 West St, New York, NY 10014 (map)

Looking for a relaxed place to pre-game it on lazy weekend afternoons? At this nautically inspired bar you're likely to encounter a bunch of drunken sailors--or at least some hot, liquored-up scensters playing the part. Afternoon slackerdom abounds thanks to the noon open time, potent cocktails and better-than-average pub fare (like mini fish po boys). And if you tire of pounding Tacates, there’s pool to play.

64 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003 (map)

Sporting events may be the top reason for daytime drinking, and a flurry of flat-screen TVs and a catalogue of more than 100 beers from 20-plus countries make this East Village tavern ideal for full-scale partying on game day. Kick-off (or the first pitch) means beer, beer and more beer consumed alongside a lively crowd of post-collegiate sports fans. The bigger the game, the earlier you should arrive (it opens at noon); the deceptively large space gets packed quickly. In the off-season, head over for a booze-fueled brunch and see how many different brews you can test before sunset.