Good Bar Scenes for People over 40.

[angelaToronto]

I am looking for suggestions of bars we could go in NYC that appeal to a more "mature" crowd. But not too "mature"........

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Cava
185 W 80th St, New York, NY 10024

[dbylaska]

Have you tried Angel Share? I have not been there but have read some wonderful reviews that sound so civilized! I am over 40 and it calls my name!

[orthorunner]

Do you want wine or cocktails?
There are a ton of wine bars in various areas of town that would likely work for you.
Among excellent cocktail bars: Milk and Honey, Death and Co, Raines Law Room, Angel Share: all fit your description. Ber Centrale is fun for classic cocktails and a fun atmosphere, but does not have the creativity/cocktail talent of the others.
DUring the week, options such as Employees Only, Pegu Club, Mayahuel could also work but during the weekend usually have a livelier/louder crowd and get very busy
Of note, these places generally only will seat you if they have a seat available, so it is best to get there early or make reservations when possible

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Employees Only
510 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Pegu Club
77 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012

Milk and Honey
134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

Raines Law Room
48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

Mayahuel
304 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003

[FrankRaes]

Hi orthorunner,

Do you know some areas in NY city with some pubs/bars for people aged around 40-50 who drink wine or fruit beers? i'm searching for some bars/pubs/terraces where people of this age can relax and drink some whine or fruit beers...

[orthorunner]

I am actually not much of a beer drinker, but some spots that have a good beer selection include Blind Tiger Ale House and Pony Bar. These spots usually draw somewhat of a younger crowd than some of the cocktail spots (lower price point) but at the same time do not have an immature crowd. Do you want more casual or does it not matter as long as it is relaxed?

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Blind Tiger
281 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

[porker]

Hi angelatoronto,
For some reason, I assume your from the GTA and you'll be visiting NYC for a short time. Just a suggestion if you find yourselves in Times Square and needing a drink. Sure you can stop in any of those places (I dunno, planet hollywood, hard rock, espn zone, toysRus...), but for an oasis, head to Jimmy's Corner on 44th just east of 7th.
Not necessarily for over 40 (I'm 44 BTW), but a cool sanctuary from the frenzy and cheap drinks to boot!

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Jimmy's Corner
140 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

[chow_gal]

Just be aware Jimmy's Corner is a complete dive. Owned by an old time ex-boxing trainer, Jimmy Glenn. Sure it has a lot of character, but it is really a total dive, if that's what you are looking for.

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Jimmy's Corner
140 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

[porker]

You say "total dive" in such a.... a...negative way - haha!
It is a dive, but in not in a dangerous or repulsive way. BTW I think (from what I've heard - I've been there only 12 times or so) Jimmy is a cutman rather than a trainer and he might still be active - at least he was two years ago when he was away at the Mohegan Sun working a boxer's corner.

And a dive is sometimes really what I look for!

[D...DF]

In addition to the good rec's above, Temple Bar.

[bronwen]

I would recommend the great hotel bars like Bemelmans Bar, Oak Bar, King Cole, Le Caprice.

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King Cole Bar
2 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022

Bemelmans Bar
35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021

[Spiritchaser]

I strongly agree with the Oak Bar (in the Plaza hotel) recommendation. A really great place that's part of a vanishing breed. In addition to the Oak Bar I would suggest Bar Pleiades at The Surrey.

I can't speak to this one personally but I've heard alot about the new bar at the Empire State building, people say it's like stepping back in time.

[calconscious]

My partner and I love the bar at Gilt. I return to nyc on Saturday evenings - Penn at about 8:50 - at Gilt by 9:10. Quiet but still happening - and I like their bar menu as well. I went to Employees Only a few months ago - made me wish there was a chowhound for 45 and older... this post has me excited to try Angel Share.

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Employees Only
510 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

[MMRuth]

All favorites of mine, and I also like Bar Pleiades and the bar at the Mark.

[MMRuth]

I would add that I don't think that Le Caprice has a bar area aside from the bar stools at the bar itself.

[il Trifulau]

Finally...some suggestions that make sense.
I also prefer a table at the lounge at SoHo Grand.

[thew]

i'm turning 50 this year, and the bars that appeal to me are often bars that appeal to a younger crowd as well.

you age doesn't tell me your taste or what your looking for.

do you want mixologist type cocktails? a dive? an old school place?

here's a list of some of my faves:
http://www.yelp.com/list/mixology-nyc...

[jrnlmkr]

dear thew.

i, too, am 50 (yikes) but don't like places fifty years old are supposed to like. generally, when i show up at a restaurant or bar that interest me, everyone is half my age. you seem like the perfect person to ask this question:

i am in new york for a month, pretending to not be from la, and i'm looking for places, bars and restaurants that are current, extraordinary, hip, and, here's the catch, have other hipster middle aged patrons, but not tourists and not creepy old men.

to give you an idea of my tastes, my meal at tailor several years ago was one of the most memorable of my life but i hate wd50, could eat the pork chop rice at baoguette all day, got a stomach ache from porchetta, but still go back for more, and never miss soft serve at milk, though i prefer chickalicious.

any advice would be welcome.

[uwsister]

Where do you go in L.A.? Might be helpful to know since some Chowhounds are familiar with both cities.

[chow_gal]

I don't see this as a question of age at all. Perhaps you can post separately with your preferences/dislikes in a dining spot. Tailor, wd50, baoguette, porchetta - those choices have nothing to do with age it seems.

[jrnlmkr]

you must not be over 40 if you don't see it a question of age. My point was that I'm looking for places with interesting food where there might be people my age, too. It just isn't that fun to eat dinner in a sea of people who don't even notice you are alive.

[peterlugerfan]

The Mark, DBGB,

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DBGB
299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

[peterlugerfan]

T Bar on 3rd ave near 73rd st. Bars at the new Surrey or Mark Hotels,

[thew]

something about tbar is a real turnoff to me. trying to be hip, ending up stuffy. or something. can't quite put my finger on it

[princeofpork]

The place is crawling with cougars

[jrnlmkr]

although i live in los angeles and, as a friend tells me, reek of LA, i'm just finishing up a month in new york and after eating and drinking myself silly, i fancy myself a mini-expert on the subject.
first, no matter how good and affordable the food is, skip otto; it feels like a frat party fast forwarded about five years and, well, yuck. dbgb had promise, but both times i went, the bar was full of tourists and the benches for two are weird if you are alone. really, who is going to walk up and sit on a squishy upholstered stool with a stranger? They really lost me when I ordered pasta and the bartender asked if i wanted it with or without sausage neglecting to mention the three slices of meat would nearly double the price. not nice. if you are looking for a mixed crowd and a small bar, try cookshop. it is very neighborhoody, though full of midwestern tourists during the day, and quite a friendly place. The place is buzzy and fun and full of quirky regulars, random celebrities.
A client took me to the one place i return over and over, Barbuto, sort of an upscale cheers with really good food. During the day, I hear it is tourist city, but at night, the bar is full of neighborhood regulars stopping in for a meal and a drink. More than once, more than twice, I saw lone guests strike up conversations with the person in the stool next to them and just as many times, watched those conversations stretch long into the night.
Regulars get treated well and it isn't unusual for little gifts of food to arrive just because. Beware, Barbuto doesn't serve the cheapest glass of wine in town, but the place is comfortable, really comfortable, the food fantastic in a homesy folksy kind of way and the service is attentive without being annoying. The place can get loud, but I've never not had a grand time there.