Though this Hell's Kitchen offshoot of nearby mega-dive Rudy's isn't as well known, patrons can expect the same type of lowbrow hospitality: free peanuts, hot dogs, popcorn and cheap beer. Living up to its moniker, the joint is decked with sideshow flair: clown mobiles, vintage circus prints, and bright, punchy colored walls and booths. Out back, expect a small, somewhat sterile outdoor space for smokers or those seeking a breath of fresh air. (615 Ninth Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts., no phone)
O'Flaherty's Ale House
This roomy, warm Restaurant Row pub might be the most comfortable bar in the city—three fireplaces, tons of seating, hundreds of books lining the walls, even a beer garden. Go for happy hour (which includes $3 pints, champagne and mixed cocktails) and stay for the better-than-good Irish and American grub and the nightly live music sing-along starting at 10:30 p.m. (334-336 W. 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., 212-581-9366)
Blue Fin
An attractive pre- and post-curtain crowd fills the downstairs bar at Blue Fin, Stephen Hanson's bi-level seafood restaurant at Times Square's W Hotel, where you can find them sipping wine from an extensive list or plucking out the Swedish fish that garnish the restaurant's signature cocktails like Naked in the Rain (strawberry green tea fizz with Reyka Vodka) and Scarlet Samba (Hangar One raspberry, cachaça and pomegranate). Ascend a dramatic staircase to a dining room outfitted with an additional dark bar, low ceilings and live jazz. (W Hotel Times Square, 1567 Broadway at 47th St., 212-918-1400)
Dalton's
In addition to 15 HD flat screens showing the night's games, this newish sports bar on the periphery of Port Authority offers 25 beers on tap, all-night shot specials, wing night on Mondays and prime rib specials on Wednesdays. Not the most charasmatic joint in the area, there's something distinctly generic—almost Midwestern—about its overall vibe. But if you're looking for a spot to catch the game, throw back a few beers and sample what some boldly claim to be the best wings in the area, it gets the job done. (611 Ninth Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts., 212-245-5511)
Sangria 46
Midtown’s Restaurant Row recently got busier with the addition of this tapas-and-sangria bar, which offers about eight homemade sangrias (ranging from cava to mango to strawberry-and-peach, and several specialty blends) and over three-dozen tapas plates. “The great thing about tapas is, you’re not stuck to one dish,” says co-owner Benny Castro, a native of northern Spain. “The bad thing is that a lot of new restaurants are going funkier—adding creams and sauces—which is fine, but it’s breaking away from tradition.” (338 W. 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., 212-581-8482)
Perdition
Everybody loves this laid-back Hell's Kitchen favorite offering kickass happy-hour happy specials every weekday, a wide range of draft and bottled beer (each swan neck tap of the 16 drafts offered is individually chilled by the Kilkenny system which cools each line from keg to tap, ensuring quality), and an uncharacteristic list of swanky martinis and house cocktails. Exposed brick presides over the front bar area, while an understated lounge of sorts exists toward the back, with cushy seating and low-slung tables. Expect two plasma screens tuned into major sporting events and a rotating roster of DJs and jazz bands providing frequent entertainment. (692 10th Ave. between 48th and 49th Sts., 212-582-5660)
Angus McIndoe
If the style seems familiar, that's because the namesake McIndoe was once the maitre d' at fellow theater hang Joe Allen, and he brought a similar vibe with him when he opened this place along with backers boasting some serious showbiz cache (Nathan Lane, Mel Brooks and the Weinstein brothers, anyone?) As you'd expect, the staff here is expert at getting you out the door in time to make a curtain (they keep a list of running times for current shows), but the best time to go is after 8 p.m., when the place clears out and you can relax at the bar over a strong martini or a juicy steak. It's not uncommon for post-theater patrons to spot the star of the latest Broadway smash at this tri-level restaurant, which boasts an undeniably classic New York ambience. (258 W. 44th St. between Broadway and Eighth Ave., 212-221-9222)
Casellula
With over 30 types of each, wine and cheese is the name of the game at Casellula, a charming Hell's Kitchen wine bar and cafe popular with the theater crowd and neighborhood folks alike. The menu is divided into sections according to the properties of the cheeses, and diners can mix and match according to their preferences. Larger plates, like salads and flatbreads, are also available. (401 W. 52nd St. at Ninth Ave., 212-247-8137)
