Welcome to the second installment in Where to be Well-Dressed in New York this Season, updated for Fall 2026. This season, I wanted to showcase establishments that may not come up on an Apple Maps “best of” highlight, or be on top of your list if you’re visiting the city for the weekend. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to dress to the nines, or somewhere to unbutton your collar and let loose, you will find it below. I can personally attest to all of the locations, and hope to guide you along the road less travelled to experience a New York that many believe only exists in movies from before the year 2000.
For liquor and music
Polly’s - Midtown - Many establishments in the city claim to be Art Deco or 1920s inspired, but Polly’s truly is. Velvet, crystal, and sin combine for a plush venue that brings wayward fun night after night. Thursday through Saturday you’ll find some kind of live entertainment: Jazz, Burlesque, or the Blues, take your pick, all free of cover charges. Polly’s also features an impressive and envelope-pushing cocktail program, highlighted by the Mezcal Inferno, a personal favorite of mine while soaking in the atmosphere and pretending I’m an extra in Babylon. Come here after your dinner or theater obligations and enjoy their post-11 P.M. after hours menu of intoxicated indulgences. Walk-ins welcomed, reservation if you’re like me and plan your evenings down to the half hour.
Café Carlyle (above) - Upper East Side - While officially listed as a cabaret, if you know the Rosewood Group, you know the level of luxury and hospitality to expect from Café Carlyle. You will notice the grand piano anchoring the mural-clad dining room after you traverse through the stunning gallery. You are then seated in a room that makes you feel like you won a lottery ticket just to be admitted. The first time I came here, I felt it was exactly what the club from Goodfellas or Legend (2015) must have been like. Low lit, small tables with a signature style lamp, and a lightly elevated stage set the tone for the evening; during which you’ll be entertained by the city’s finest entertainment. Check their website for their entertainment programs, evenings are ticketed individually. Check for reservations at least 72 hours in advance.
The Nines (below) - NoHo - for a truly opulent night on the town, I cannot recommend the Nines enough. Upscale and acutely aware of its excesses, The Nines features nightly live music and plush leopard carpets that perfectly compliment a complete cocktail menu of classics and elevated bar bites. Top it off with an enforced dress code, and you’ll be sure to find yourself completely unaware of what decade you are in while you enjoy the city’s best Jazz and its finest spirits. However, be prepared to spend: the $45 per person music fee on Jazz trio/quartet nights lets you know immediately what you’re in for, and the cocktails are all top shelf. Reservation required, begin checking two weeks in advance.
For food and revelations
Lucien - Bowery - while I myself have never been to Paris, I would imagine Lucien is exactly what the boisterous Parisian bistro is like on a Saturday night. Walk-in only, tightly packed, low lit, and bursting with the smell of French cooking, I seldom enjoy meals more than this one. This is a casual place, as it tends to be crowded with trendy downtown types, but the European feel ensures you won’t feel out of place in a three piece or in the gentleman’s uniform. The dishes at Lucien are extremely French and unapologetic about it: I don’t know what half of them are or how to pronounce them, but they are all good. Come to Lucien, get lost in the chaos and chatter, and don’t skip the foie gras. Walk-in only, gets really busy after 9 P.M.
Monkey Bar (above) - Midtown - Monkey Bar is one of a few iconic New York City institutions that has undergone significant evolution in its nearly 100 years in business; but it has always retained the core of old-world elegance that first made it famous. Walk past the masses clamoring to get one of a few first-come-first-serve bar room seats and step down into the dining room decorated by Ed Sorel to experience one of the bastions of New York City food culture, enjoyed by common folk such as myself and the likes of Drew Barrymore—who I bumped into here. Sorry, Drew. Monkey Bar, to me, is American food at its very best: high quality ingredients, cooked well, situated next to classic and well-adorned accoutrements. The cocktail and wine lists are impressively comprehensive, and a full experience is warranted here: multiple appetizers (don’t skip the Monkey Bread), and please ensure you save room and sobriety for dessert (carrot cake) and an after-dinner amaro or port. Reservation required for the full experience, begin checking three weeks in advance.
The Waverly Inn (above) - West Villiage - American comfort food at its best, The Waverly Inn and Garden is one of my favorite all-around places in the city. The restaurant dates back to the 20s, but was reopened in 2006 under its current moniker and interiors, which feature dark red leather banquettes, low wooden ceilings, and hand-painted murals of NYC social legends, which all feels old school in just the right way. The patio has a rather different feel: more airy and open, featuring ivy-clad walls and seasonal decor that is always beautiful. Sit inside if you are coming for dinner, outside if you are coming for brunch. The biscuits that arrive at your table unprompted after being seated are a serious highlight: don’t be shy with the honey butter. Reservation required, they drop on Resy two weeks in advance.
For beer and bar snacks
John Sullivan’s - Garment District - John Sullivan’s is the quintessential after work drink spot. Here, you’ll be rubbing elbows with garment district technicians and heads of design alike in a classic Irish Pub environment. In case one Guinness turns into two or three, they have a full menu with Nachos Supreme I think about more often than I’d like to admit. A green flag I always love to see is an all-Irish bar crew, bolstered by taps that pour European classics not found often in the U.S.
The Scratcher (above) - East Village - Step down into The Scratcher and find yourself transported to an American pub that takes the best of the British style to create an after work drinking hole that covers everything: light bites, friendly bartenders, and enough mahogany to feel lived in. Frequent drink specials ensure you can stop by more than once a week if you please, and the Guinness is the creamiest I’ve found in lower Manhattan. If you have a group of coworkers, the alcove in the back provides a great view of the barroom while you gossip about the new hire and scheme over who will be getting promoted next.
Banter - Williamsburg - Banter is the most faithful recreation of a British Pub I have experienced in New York. A devout Premier League establishment, Banter boasts a cavernous barroom, classic British pub food, and well-worn wooden seating alcoves scattered around that truly help you escape the bustle of the city. The small front patio area has a TV that shows Premier League games and a few creaky tables that you will need to watch your beer at after you set it down. The bartenders are all lovely, and you will be sharing seats with the same sort of clientele as The Craic from last year’s edition: guys that are more into Rolex and Omega than Brooks Brothers and J. Press.
For rare finds and gentleman’s goods
Ebreo Vintage (below) - Williamsburg - I stumbled into this place very shortly after it had opened, while Julian was still setting up racks and hanging posters on the walls. He was extremely hospitable, knowledgeable, and I could tell immediately that he would be a success. Fast forward 2+ years, and he and Sabine are, without question, a success. Ebreo Vintage is now the premier location in Williamsburg for vintage suits, specializing in 60s through 90s Italian menswear. You’ll also find a full range of shirts, sweaters, odd pants and jackets, and an impressive selection of both classic and unique shoes (no sneakers here).
Alfargo’s Marketplace (below) - I did not include Alfargo’s Marketplace on my previous year’s write up of where the well-dressed ought to gather in New York. I decided to leave it off as I felt it was important to write about places that anyone could go to, whether they were visiting or a local looking for a new place to check out. However, in the year since that last article, Alfargo’s has become more frequent and significantly larger. Their locations now range from the Seaport to Williamsburg, and their vendors become more specialized and curated every event. I have been blessed to get to know several of the founding members of Alfargo’s, and all of them approach the event with the care and enthusiasm that any reader of TNBC approaches their daily dressing. Here, you’ll find everything from 40s Americana to 80s Armani to genuine bespoke tailors. I’ve found it to also be a great way to connect with people that share the same passion and commitment for clothing in a way that all of us do.
