East End Bar and Grill
Address: 1664 1st Avenue (at East 87th Street)
Phone: 212-348-3783
Website: www.eastendbar.com/
A classic brass and wood Irish Bar. The Guinness is great. The food is far better than average for bar grub. The Irish brunch on Sundays is always a true stand-out. The crowd here tends to be a nice mix of everyone from 20-something Wall-Streeters to 70-something Irish grandmas. More often than not, it's the grandmothers causing the biggest ruckus.
The Auction House
Address: 300 East 89th Street
Phone: 212-427-4458
There's no sign for this dark-paneled sanctuary, so be sure to look for the large red drapes in the window. There's also a strictly enforced dress code, although exceptions have been made for New York Rangers. In the glory days of Mark Messier, this was reportedly one of the favorite after-game spots.
This lovely little wine bar is located right across the street from the restaurant of the same name. The wine selection is surprisingly good, and there are plenty of delicious small entrées available to go with them: A perfect place for a date or just a quiet moment.
A mellow Irish place with a warm and comfortable ambiance. There's no food available, but the back room is the ideal venue for a quiet drink with friends. This is one of the better Irish pubs in the area.