The Three Best Gramercy Bars To Check Out This Weekend

GRAMERCY, NY — If you're going out of town for the long weekend, enjoy! The rest of us will be in the city, drinking away the cold. If you're in the Gramercy neighborhood, check out these places for cocktails and catharsis:

1. Ampersand (294 3rd Ave. between 22nd and 23rd streets)

"Tucked right under 23rd closer to Gramercy," one Yelp reviewer writes, "the narrow cocktail bar gave off speakeasy-vibes without feeling pretentious."

The general consensus seems to be that this is the rare bar that you should come to not just for the cocktails but also the food. Patrons especially recommend the "burger burger" and the Wild Mushroom Tacos.

2. Dear Irving (55 Irving Place, between 17th and 18th streets)

"Dear Irving," one Yelp reviewer starts out, "you were lovely[...]Like Meaghan Dorman's other bars, Dear Irving is a classy and intimately romantic cocktail bar."

One note: The bar takes reservations, and you might want to make one if you can; it tends to fill up.

Also, at $16, the cocktails aren't exactly cheap, but Yelp reviewers seem to think that they're worth it. The "Whiskey Business" and the "Vice Versa" are especially recommended.

3. Gramercy Park Bar (322 2nd Ave., between 19th and 18th streets)

Three different Yelp reviewers call this place a "hidden gem." Lazy writing? Or could it be that it's the only way to describe this treasure of a bar, which claims to be "the perfect local spot to meet friends for after work drinks or catch a game on the big screen"?

4. I know I said best three bars, but I'd be remiss if I didn't throw in Shades of Green (125 E. 15th St between Irving Place and 3rd Ave.)

Though it's mildly lacking in great Yelp reviews (one reviewer generously reports that it "doesn't smell"), if you're looking for something spacious, low-key, with cocktails that are definitely not $16, I'd recommend checking out this Irish pub.

Image via Google Maps