The location has been occupied by bars since New York City’s pre-Prohibition Era. It’s the kind of place to grab a seat and settle in for hours.

Glacken’s is nothing if not reliable: It has been pouring beer in the neighborhood since 1940 and hasn’t slowed down for, give or take, 80 years. Doesn’t hurt that it’s within walking distance of Yankee Stadium, too.

Open since 1942, Reif’s is a neighborhood bar with a friendly staff, where patrons all seem to know each other. PBRs are always flowing, whether inside or on the bar’s outdoor patio.

This historic, no-frills dive opened in 1933 and has been serving stunningly cheap bottles and drafts ever since. Normally the move is not to eat at a dive bar, but exceptions are made in the name of free hot dogs.

This grimy, narrow bar in the heart of Times Square is full of character, and only recently reopened after owner and boxing world legend Jimmy Glenn passed away due to coronavirus complications in 2020. Beers start at less than $4 and are always served cold.

Enjoy $6 jar-and-shot specials in the backyard, and outside food is welcome at this Sunnyside dive. Beloved by locals, neighborhood watering hole the Jar Bar is open on both Thanksgiving and Christmas, it shows the games, and offers pool, darts, and other games.

Very tiny and very divey, Johnny’s in the West Village is a time-capsule bar, otherwise surrounded by an ever-changing neighborhood.

The Stonewall Inn gets all the attention when it comes to NYC’s most historic gay bars, but Julius is even older and less of a tourist destination. Well drinks and beers are under $10, which is just one reason this narrow bar is often packed — though it’s cash only. The underrated burger, cooked on grill top across the wooden bar, is also very popular after a drink or two.

This is the third home for International Bar, which started on St. Mark’s Place in the ’70s and then had a stint down the street. Now it has settled into the former site of Coal Yard, where the crowd is local, there is a constant flow of New York characters, and cans of beer start at $4.

A ‘70s-era, no-frills bar filled with locals in between Death & Company and Amor Y Amargo.

Horseshoe Bar, or 7B, with over 30 taps, has been around forever, it seems, though it’s a favorite among punk rockers of a certain era and beyond.It’s often a cameo in Russian Doll, and our sister publication reminds us it’s been in Jessica Jones, Crocodile Dundee, The Godfather Part II, Rent, and lots and lots of Law & Order.

The vibe at this LES staple is a 1970s basement laden with wood and plastic, but dirtier. The affordable drinks add to the dingy charm.

Rocka Rolla comes from the same people behind some of Brooklyn’s best dives, including Do Or Dive, Lucky Dog, Skinny Dennis, and others, but this Williamsburg watering hole is one of our favorites of the bunch. It’s located steps from the Birria-Landia taco truck, and brings together the best of dive bar conventions — classic rock, beer served in goblets, frozen coffee drinks — in a spacious setting with room to spread out. Now open noon to 4 a.m., with a Monday night concert played on the big screen, like Judas Priest and Blondie, starting at 9 p.m.

Aside from being a literal dive bar (it’s on the basement level), this Bed-Stuy bar embodies every sense of the word: mind-blowingly dirty and wonderfully cheap. It’s closed on Mondays.

Between the $6 beer and shot combos and $6 Frito pies, Brooklyn Ice House is a reliable stop any day of the week. Cash only.

A go-to dive with comfortable booths and a bit of attitude used to be called Mooney’s and changed to the current iteration when Sharlene Frank bought it in 2009.