Worth a visit to see the spectacular interior design. This late-night favorite, located beneath the 59th street bridge, features a soaring tiled and arched ceiling. The service is hit or miss, but the food is consistently top notch. Oysters Rockefeller, crab cakes and pork chops are just a few of the house specialties.

This place has been feeding the Izod crowd since before the Preppy handbook gave them a quasi-identity. The burgers still hold up, and it's always a safe bet for a quick meal. Between the throngs of regulars and the crowded bar, it can get a little loud. But, hey, that's part of its charm. Love it or hate it, J.G. Mellon is part of the very fabric of the Upper East Side.

Drawing a broad mix of folks, from the twenty-somethings to seniors, this place is always packed. There's a full menu that sets it far and away above standard pub grub and a cigar bar downstairs should you be craving an after-dinner stogy. Something for everyone, no wonder this place remains a local favorite.

Considered one of New York's most authentic dive bars, this place has been around since 1933. In fact, the only thing that's changed is a few more wrinkles on the faces of the hardened old-timers that line the bar stools. With its venerable history, it has been featured in the New York Times as a true throwback to the past.

This wine bar had made many a patron yearn for an early retirement to Tuscany. Between the outstanding selection of wines and the delectable panini, Vero is a nice change of pace from the usual. The crowd tends to be a bit older and mellower (like a fine wine) than your ordinary east side bar.