Here come the fake IDs—the end of summer means co-eds are infiltrating their way back into the NYC nightlife scene. This fall, the return to the grind should be a well-lubed one, since many new hotspots have opened from Columbia to NYU for the studious set to let off some steam. Whether you’re a Phi Kappa on the hunt for a new stomping ground or you just want to know where to get a pint for the price of ramen noodles, you won’t be able to resist testing out these places at least once.
Stumble Inn
Thunder Jackson’s
169 Bleecker St. (Sullivan & Thompson Sts.)
Greenwich Village 212.677.6700
Scattered roadside paraphernalia on the walls and young, tattooed barkeeps encourage the college crowd to stop in, but the eats at this new sports bar might lure the most curious of foodies to step into NYU Ground Zero. Fried Dominican cheese isn’t your average mozzarella stick, and the “dirty” burgers (made with Thunder Jackson's signature "dirty" rub and honey) will leave you in tears of happiness. But of course, there are the money traps these kinds of bars inevitably have—only a soused co-ed would consider paying $12 for a paper bag-wrapped 40 of Miller High Life.
The Stumble Inn
1454 2nd Ave. (@ 76th St.)
Upper East Side 212.650.0561
Joining its fellow comrades Off the Wagon, Jake’s Dilemma, The Gin Mill, and Down the Hatch in drunken frat-tastic glory, Stumble Inn takes the place of what used to be Mo’s Caribbean. Initially, the NYC Best Bars team earned a fist shake or two for forgoing their Cuban-inspired spot in favor of yet another college sports bar, but the Stumble Inn does have a few interesting things to offer, like stuffed burgers. And with the killer drink specials this bar offers, the formula here sticks to the age-old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” maxim, with nightly deals like dollar drafts on Monday nights.
123BurgerShotBeer
738 10th Ave. (50th & 51st Sts.)
Hell's Kitchen 212.315.0123
The college drinking curve just got easier: cheap eats, cheap shots, and cheap beer. The crime fighters at John Jay College are in for some trouble this semester as this straightforward, surefire hit has taken up residence right in their neighborhood. The $1 burgers in question are sliders (minimum order of three, and they’re not half bad), and $3 for a beer covers everything from Bud Light to Dos Equis. It’s a good thing too, you might need quite a few of those beers before you can bring yourself to order one of the $2 shots, which feature names like “8-Ball” and “Screaming Orgasm.”
Village Pourhouse Upper West Side
982 Amsterdam Ave. (108th & 109th Sts.)
With pub food, 25-cent wings, and an event called “Beertopia,” Village Pourhouse knows what college kids want. The blueprint works so well, the folks at the East Village outpost had to open a second location, coming next week. Good luck to the ivy leaguers over at Columbia, you’ll need to use your brainpower to concoct those hangover remedies.
International Bar
120 1/2 First Ave., (7th St. & St. Marks Pl.)
East Village 212.777.9244
Cheap drinks and overflowing martinis will lure the conversational co-ed to this resuscitated spot. Brought back to life after three years on hiatus, this neighborhood dive is aimed more at the eager graduate than the perpetual frat-boy. This might be a safe spot for those who’ve already had their commencement ceremonies. Find a young hopeful and share pre-gentrification stories over a cold one.
Sidebar
120 E. 15th St. (@ Irving Pl.)
Gramercy 212.677.2900
This “upscale sports bar” is set up to be the place for New School and NYU Law Students. Its location next door to Irving Plaza, however, makes it accessible to the tight-pants wearing rock set as well, (who, in all fairness, could be the very same art and legal students). Foie gras deviled eggs may make the food seem a bit beyond the realm of the typical college student, but start drinking copious amounts of wine, and the warm wood interior will feel dining hall away from home.
