Right across the hall from the famous café, this timeless hotel bar is often overlooked. That's a real shame, since the drinks and ambiance make this place a real winner. As classic as it gets, this is the quintessential east side hotel bar.

A New York classic. Get out your best duds and relax to the tunes of Bobby Short or other world-class musicians. Woody Allen has also been known to sit in on the occasional set, clarinet in tow. Expensive, but worth it, this is a true New York experience.

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.

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.

Another great hotel bar, this place is designed to feel like a European salon. The interior features easy chairs and book-lined shelves. Catering to a mixed crowd, it attracts everyone from business execs brokering big deals to sports fans trying to catch the score on the flat-screen TV.

It's hard to beat the experience of sipping champagne as you gaze out across Central Park at the New York skyline. The fact that you're doing it standing atop one of the world's greatest museums is even more remarkable. Open only during the warm-weather months.

This luxurious little outdoor bar sits across from the Metropolitan Museum. A long-time city favorite, the crowd is a true mix of locals and foreigners (and I don't mean just Brooklynites either). A trip to this bar is like a visit to the Tower of Babble, but with cell phones.