the UES isn't that bad...

usually thinking about heading to the upper east side makes me grimace: there's always traffic due to the number of cars slowly hunting for street parking (is the UES the densest neighborhood in manhattan??), it's far (always more than a $10 cab) and it's generic (have you been the to restaurant pudding stones - spots like that are what make the UES so horrific). plus considering the diverse group that lives there (from super rich to 20-somethings sharing a 1-bedroom amongst 3), it lacks a relative number of good restaurants and bars. everything east of lexington ave (i wanted to say park, but i remembered lex bar & books) is pretty much Frat Party USA (one could say the same about my neighborhood, murray hill - but i live west of park ave).

yet, i spend an inordinate amount of time up there.

fine, two of my favorite people live there, but in order for me to continue traveling north, i had to find some redeeming factors about the UES (and obviously they're all drink... and food).

accademia di vino - the food is good, it's casual and cute, they have great wine and it's not expensive. my kind of restaurant.

gael pub tuesday night trivia - dave the quizmaster is quick-witted, the questions are actually hard, and the bartenders on tuesday night (shane & finn) are pretty attractive. note: the food is terrible.

the nook at dylan murphy's - dylan murphy's is a good bar, but the bar they created downstairs (called "the nook") is GREAT - it's cozy and has personality. plus they introduced me to the double espresso - delish. the owners (jack/blake) are the best.

trinity pub - it's a total irish pub dive, they redid it and now there's less standing room, and i hate their cocktail glasses, but for some reason, it's comforting (gavin's the best bartender - it used to be terry, but he's no longer with them).


accademia di vino
1081 third avenue at 64th street
new york, ny 10021
212/888.6333

the gael pub
1465 third avenue between 82/83rd streets
new york, ny 10028
212/517.4141

dylan murphy's
1453 third avenue between 82/83rd streets
new york, ny 10028
212/988.9431

trinity pub
299 east 84th street between 2/3rd avenues
new york, ny 10028
212/327.4450