Under 21 Art Gallery Opening Receptions
Every Thursday night (Every night of the week, but Thursday/Friday are the busiest nights), galleries in New York throw opening receptions for various new shows. These events are great for meeting new people and experiencing upcoming artists and different mediums. Go gallery hopping and discover the art critic in yourself! (Pro tip: they never ID for the free wine.)
Under 21 Baby’s All Right
Described on their website as, “Part circus, part astrological mysticism, and part quirky homestead”, this venue is the perfect place to go to see some of the best live bands in Brooklyn. Check their calendar for varying show age restrictions and ticket sales
Under 21 Gonzalez y Gonzalez
Located right in Greenwich Village, Gonzalez y Gonzalez is the perfect place for salsa dancing and guacamole eating (and has an inexpensive cover charge).
Under 21 Caravan of Dreams
Caravan of Dreams is a romantic bohemian style cafe in East Village that serves as the perfect place to experience delicious vegan cuisine in an intimate environment full of live music every night.
Under 21 Ellen's Stardust Diner
Ellen's Stardust Diner is a classic dining experience where the waitstaff takes dinner and a show to a whole new level. This place is perfect for groups who can't help but sing along to their favorite show tunes.
Under 21 Bowlmor Lanes
Bowlmor Lanes provides clients with the chicest bowling experience possible. The Manhattan locations are at Chelsea Piers and in Times Square. Go to Bowlmor with a group for a guaranteed good time at any age
Under 21 Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Get your culture on at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe with live works of literature, music, theater, performance art, poetry slam, hip hop, and visual art presented by people of all backgrounds. This is the perfect place to go if you're looking to fall in love with a handsome, brooding poet over a fresh cappuccino.
Under 21 BAMcafé
The cafe directly above the Brooklyn Academy of Music lobby hosts a weekly performance series featuring everything from Spoken Word and Jazz to Afro-pop and Experimental music. Join in on Thursdays and Fridays for live music, and Saturdays for the dance parties.
Under 21 Pacha NYC
The Hell's Kitchen venue hosts EDM parties every weekend for those 18+ and is known for having huge DJs, so be prepared to dance.
Under 21 Terminal 5
What was originally a nightclub, is now owned and operated by The Bowery Presents and serves as one of New York's best music venues.
Under 21 Webster Hall
doubles as home to a top notch 19+ nightclub and host of concerts for all ages, making it one of the most popular venues for the underage masses to find a good party.
Under 21 Santos Party House
The venue serves as a concert hall, dance club, and lounge allowing for a diverse schedule of events.
21+ LITTLE BRANCH
This basement speakeasy has an elegant 1920s feel, and if you can reserve a table, it’s perfect date-night material. Candlelight lends a sexy glow to the cozy, leather-lined booths, and if you order the “Bartender’s Choice,” the bartender will make a custom cocktail based on your tastes. Get there late and you’ll likely find a jazz trio stationed at the piano.
21+ LEE’S TAVERN
The thin-crusted bar pizzas at this beloved Staten Island tavern may be its best-known feature, but it’s much more of a neighborhood bar than a pizzeria. Now nearly 80 years old, Lee’s remains family owned, and on any given day you'll find the bar filled with longtime regulars. There’s no sign outside because no one needs it, everyone knows this is Lee’s.
Employees Only
Employees Only was one of the city’s first not-so-secret, super-popular NYC speakeasies, and it’s a favorite among bartenders and other industry folks, thanks to a kitchen that’s open ‘til 3:30am. It’s the sort of place that inspires devotion: Every bartender here has the Employees Only logo tattooed on them, and even barbacking is a coveted position.
BOHEMIAN HALL & BEER GARDEN
This sprawling Astoria spot is not only the city’s oldest beer garden, it’s also one of the biggest with friendly crowds, affordable drinks, and a great outdoor space. The grilled brats, schnitzel, and $18 pitchers of beer are great year-round, but the bar really hits its peak when the weather is warm and you can settle in for an afternoon at one of the many picnic tables outside.
Carlyle Hotel
Visiting the bar at the Carlyle Hotel is like stepping into old New York. The drinks are expensive, the ceiling is covered in gold leaf, and the waiters are all in white jackets.
Barcade
Barcade combines a big selection of craft beer with an even bigger selection of retro arcade games, culminating in what’s basically the best high school hangout you never had.
Charles Hanson’s 169 Soul Jazz Oyster Bar "169 Bar"
Between the cheap drinks, the vaguely New Orleanian menu, the leopard-print pool table, and the clutter of kitschy decor, this place is a one-of-a-kind Chinatown staple