What recession? There are so many bars opening lately that you’ll ask yourself this question, maybe even out loud, as you hop from one bar to the next. Whether you like to belt out karaoke tunes, dance the night away in the Meatpacking District, or just want to find a halfway-decent happy hour in Midtown after work, we have a spot for you. Here are five of the best—and the least known about—bars to open in the past few weeks.


Mayahuel
If beer isn't your thing, then you might want to stop by this still mostly-unknown tequila tavern in the East Village, which soft-opened a couple of weeks ago. Brought to you by the people behind Death & Co. just down the street, you might confuse the cocktail lounge for a monastery (you’ll find church pews and confessional booths for two). Have a drink or two, though, and you’ll soon be singing the praises of the tequila gods.

Baby Grand
There’s no shortage of karaoke bars in the city, but this new 25-seat watering hole—the brainchild of a former financier and his artist wife—serves up moderately-priced $8-$10 cocktails in an intimate setting on the LES. Teetotalers can sip on espresso drinks, and, if they’re brave enough, walk up to the mic to sing one of the bar’s 18,000 karaoke tracks.

Pony Bar
Don’t even think about ordering a foreign beer here. This new Hell’s Kitchen spot soft-opened a couple of weeks ago (only its devoted Twitter followers knew about it), but it’ll likely gain a quick and steady following with its $5 beers on tap. Offering about 20 on tap, were you really going for the bottled Bud anyway?

Blue Ruin
Here’s a new spot that’s more Hell’s Kitchen’s speed (think scantily-clad female bartenders—some of whom come from Red Rock West—and flaming shots). Some may consider it delightfully dive-y, but haven’t you heard? Dives are so en vogue right now, dahling.

Griffin
Everything old is new again: Another day, another club in the MPD. Those involved include veterans from Milk & Honey, Pink Elephant, and Cain, so it’s safe to say these people know what they’re doing. Consider yourself lucky if you manage to make it past the unmarked doors on Gansevoort Street and make it onto the VIP balcony.

--Christina Amoroso