Bars Before Breakfast
Updated: August 19, 2008
The five martini lunch is for amateurs; real boozers know that waiting until noon means you've wasted four hours of prime drinking time. Not every bar opens with the sun, however, so here's our cheat sheet on where to go when you need an early morning pick-me-up.
Breakfast of Champions
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Biddy Early's
Read Reviews43 Murray St, New York, NY 10007 (map)
Although this Irish watering hole is actually named for an historical figure, it just so happens that Biddy Early also opens early--at 8am daily. And why drink coffee to stay awake when you can drink Irish coffee and snooze at your desk all day?
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Blarney Cove Inc
Read Reviews510 E 14th St, New York, NY 10009 (map)
Even on this slummy stretch of East 14th Street, Blarney Cove stands out as one of the grimier establishments. When the bartender (who goes by the charming moniker, "Popeye") opens the doors at 8am, old-timey regulars slide into their bar stools and start the day off right: With a pint of Guinness and an old war story.
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Hank's Saloon
Read Reviews46 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (map)
Why should Manhattanites have all the fun? This rough and tumble hillbilly bar, located between Boerum Hill and Park Slope, hangs tough while the neighbors get trendy. So let your posh friends wait until a "respectable" hour to get drinks at a "respectable" establishment. In the meantime you'll be living it up with an 11am cocktail. Suckers.
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Jeremy's Ale House
Read Reviews228 Front St, New York, NY 10038 (map)
It's Monday morning, and you've got the shakes. Bad. If you're going to survive that first meeting of the day, you're going to need a drink. Stop hyperventilating and head to Jeremy's for a 32-ounce beer in a Styrofoam cup. You can worry about your alleged drinking problem later.
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Milano's Bar
Read Reviews51 E Houston St, New York, NY 10012 (map)
There's no food, no credit card machine and no pretense at this neighborhood bar, a true dive among dives. Saunter in after 8am and join the fun. As a plus, the early morning crowd here tends to be less creepy, thanks to the normal people who stop by after the night shift. On the downside, you're drinking at 8am. So ... there's that.
