Top 10 Bars of 2009

133 Avenue C, New York, NY 10009 (map)

There's no shortage of bars in Alphabet City, but this sleek cocktail lounge offers more mature East Village locals a respite from the area's many dives and rowdy party bars with a more refined attitude--making it suitable for those of us who want to drink like 21-year-olds, not with them. Friendly bartenders are happy to concoct original drinks upon request, and may even let you sample something before you commit, provided it's not too crowded. The low-key door policy and smoker-friendly back patio will remind you that you're still on Avenue C, and all the better for it.

675 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014 (map)

Formerly Level V, this tastefully appointed bar and lounge is stylish enough to have a tough, bottle-focused door policy. Instead, 675 Bar is democratic, with occasional waits owing only to its popularity and the need for crowd control. The cavernous, subterranean space is warmly lit, with retro furniture scattered about; foosball and pool offer imbibers a way to unwind, cocktail in hand, and escape from the B&T scene that dominates the rest of the Meatpacking District.

304 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009 (map)

Named after the mythological Aztec goddess of agave, this bi-level East Village looker is one of several newbies devoted to cocktails made with tequila and its cousin mezcal. Church pew benches and a 20-foot-wide stained glass chandelier shaped like a tarantula give Mayahuel an unusual, romantic charm, and a menu of cocktails devised by Death & Co. alum Philip Ward holds its own next to the city's more prominent cocktail clubhouses. It's enough to make us change our rule about mixing tequila with date night.

61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (map)

This 16-lane, 23,000-square-foot behemoth of a bowling alley is Williamsburg's second in as many years, and apparently there is no shortage of fun-loving Brooklyn hipsters to support it. The sheer magnitude of the 600-person capacity space allows Brooklyn Bowl to double as a venue for live music and other special events, enlivened by a full bar and gourmet eats provided by the Blue Ribbon restaurant group. What's not to love about that?

304 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010 (map)

Gimmicky though it may be, this long-awaited Gramercy-area ping-pong club (backed by actress Susan Sarandon) ventured to do something different in a city overrun with lots of, well, the same. Part full-service bar, part table tennis playpen, SPiN is open to members and guests alike, with tables rentable by the half-hour at a relatively affordable rate. Delirium Tremens on tap and stiff martinis are an added draw, plus--let's not kid ourselves--ping-pong is super fun when you're wasted. So there's also that.

3009 34th St, Astoria, NY 11103 (map)

It may seem like an unlikely contender for "best of" status, but don't write off this Astoria charmer, which comes from the team behind Wilfie & Nell. Locally sourced brews and snacks (like a Pat LaFrieda burger and fried McClure's pickles) give the bar a decidedly Manhattan-esque feel, while the laid-back, weathered aesthetic and indie rock tunes remind that you're not in Soho--and in this case, that's a good thing.

122 W 26th St, New York, NY 10001 (map)

Just as booze is recession-proof, so too is America's love of professional sports. This sprawling 6,000-square-foot space boasts a sea of flat-screen TVs in an upscale setting (think Gothic chandeliers and leather banquettes) that's well-suited to cheering on your favorite team or grabbing a pint and a bite. All the standard sports bar elements are also present--from frat boys to beer served in 100-ounce tubes--but specialty cocktails, wine and fancy snacks like lobster po' boy sliders mean even your girlfriend will feel comfortable on game day.

150-152 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014 (map)

In 2008, it was wine bars; in 2009, the gastropub trend took New York by storm, with everyone from Daniel Boulud to Michael Psilakis jumping on the bandwagon. Even the Martignetti brothers got in on the action. But this Scottish-themed West Village gastropub stole our hearts with its Scotch-based specialty cocktails and lodge-like design accents like pheasant wallpaper and a wall-mounted deer head. A working fireplace and tasty, authentic Scottish grub like beef cheek and ale pie also helped make this decision an easy one.