Welcome to Bar of the Week, a running series from TV and City that highlights New York’s best spots for drinks, vibes, and just the right amount of chaos.
Each week, we spotlight one bar. Sometimes it’s a cozy cocktail lounge. Sometimes it’s a sprawling beer hall. Sometimes it’s a barely-marked door behind a fake hardware store. We don’t try to cover every bar in the city. Just the ones we actually go to. The ones we’d take a friend, a first date, or someone visiting who asks, “So where do you usually hang out?”
These aren’t curated for algorithms or chasing clout. They’re the bars that make up New York. One week at a time.
🍹 Bar of the Week: E’s Bar
📍 Location: 511 Amsterdam Ave, Upper West Side
🚇 Nearest Subway: 86th Street (1, B, C)
Vibe: Your ideal casual first-date spot. Or catch-up-with-a-friend spot. Or “I just got off the train and need a good drink before heading home” spot. E’s Bar wears a lot of hats, and it wears them well.
🪑 Why We Love It
E’s is what happens when when you cross Central Perk with booze, trivia nights, and games you can actually play. There’s a lived-in charm to this Upper West Side favorite. Booth seating gives you just enough privacy, a back room doubles as an event space, and shelves are lined with Jenga, Connect Four, and old-school board games. It’s intimate, but never dull.
This is the rare bar that threads the needle between rowdy and relaxed. The music is just loud enough to keep things fun but never so loud that you can’t hear your date recount their recent trauma or triumph.
🍓 What to Order
Anything frozen. Seriously. The frozen drinks at E’s are dependably delicious, a slushy boozy bliss. Not feeling like a frozen night? The classics here are all solid and generously poured. No pretense, no weird infusions, just well-made drinks.
🎤 Fun and Games
E’s hosts weekly trivia nights and the occasional comedy show in their back room, which you can also rent for private events. They’re known to go all out for holidays like Halloween and New Year’s, but even on a regular weeknight, there’s usually something going on. It’s the kind of place where regulars are born.
🗽 Why It’s a TV and City Pick
This is the bar you imagine your sitcom self frequenting. The UWS backdrop. The post-show wind-down vibe. The comfort of knowing your friends will always say “let’s meet at E’s.” If you’re looking to make NYC feel like home or like your own little TV show, this is the place to start.
TV and City 