169 Bar

This drinking establishment purports to be a New Orleans–themed bar, which doesn’t do justice to just how truly weird and fun it is. Illuminated by what appears to be every hue of lightbulb imaginable, this Lower East Side staple looks as though a basement dive, a ’70s rec room, and a circus got into a beautiful, bizarre car accident. There’s always a $5 shot-and-beer special ($3 during happy hour!); there’s also a very serviceable raw bar (the “OYSTER BAR” sign seems like it was printed using the “banner” function on a now-extinct version of Microsoft Word). There’s a leopard-print pool table, a fish tank, and a large metal cage in the middle of the room that, while we’ve never seen anyone dance in it, feels like a sort of good-time Chekovian gun. It’s easy to while away many hazy hours here, and if you try to walk in to Mission Chinese next door without a reservation, you’ll probably have to. Laissez les bon temps roulez!

PRO TIP: You can text your food or drink order to the bar, which feels more like cheeky early-aughts kitsch than scary iFuture.

THE DETAILS: The place turns into a real zoo on weekends. Go during the afternoon (the bar opens at noon) or early on weeknights for a vibe that is still lively but more subdued.