Explore / New York, New York

New York City Spotlight

Contributor

Michael Travieso

Overview

New York City doesn't do anything quietly — and its cocktail and nightlife scene is no exception. From world-ranked bars in the East Village to drag brunches in Queens, the city layers creativity, culture, and community into every corner.

Whether you're chasing a perfectly crafted mezcal cocktail or stumbling into a speakeasy in a neighbourhood you didn't know existed, NYC rewards the curious and the adventurous alike. The beauty of it, as any local will tell you, is that the magic isn't reserved for a single zip code or price point — it's tucked into dive bars in Astoria, Korean diners across from award-winning cantinas, and rooftop spots where the theatre of service is half the experience. This is a city where possibilities, much like the cocktails, are endless.

Highlights

Image superbuenonyc.com/gallery

A Cocktail Scene Like Nowhere Else

Q: You work in one of the best bars in the world, where else in NYC should people go for an unforgettable cocktail?

A: One of my favourite and slightly underrated bars in NYC is George Bang Bang - those speakeasy vibes with super friendly service who are willing to chat as much or as little as you'd like (within reason and they're not busy) plus it doesn't feel stuffy.

Image @candbnyc

Local insight

Q: For someone visiting the city, what's a local spot or hidden gem you'd send them to (besides Superbueno, of course)?

A: I've already mentioned George Bang Bang, but I'd also likely send them to C&B in the East Village the next morning for brekkie - Ali, miss seeing you and so happy to have seen the business continue to thrive!

Favorite Neighborhood

Q: What's your favorite neighborhood for a night out and what makes it special?

A: ASTORIA - it's a super neighborhood vibe with the melting pot of humans it is, tons of solid bars and restaurants, and also the DRAG SCENE KILLS (noticing a pattern with me?)

Recharge the NYC Way

Q: How do you like to recharge and slow down in New York City?

A: Even in a city that never sleeps, locals know how to exhale. Singing your heart out at karaoke at Upstairs Bar, watching the seasons change at Bryant Park (summer movies, winter ice skating), or perching solo at the bar at Eleven Madison Park to enjoy the theatre of service - New York knows how to restore you.

Q: NYC living is famous for small apartments and high rent, what’s been your experience finding (and keeping) a good place here?

“

...keeping a good place is getting a good landlord or a rent stabilized lease (those don’t always come hand in hand, either) and if you have roommates, staying in good communication and passing the vibe check with one-another.

Key points to know

NYC nightlife scales to your budget

You don't need to spend big to experience something extraordinary. Some of the city's most electric nights out happen in neighbourhood bars and community venues in Queens and Brooklyn.

Seasonality matters here

Bryant Park shifts from an open-air cinema in summer to a full Winter Village with ice skating in the colder months. Experiencing NYC across seasons is one of those quietly essential local rituals.

Finding good housing means finding the right landlord (or roommate)

With rents continuing to climb, locals know the real wins are rent-stabilised leases and living with people you trust and genuinely get on with. A shared apartment with the right energy beats a solo place you can barely afford.

The outer boroughs are not second tier

Astoria in particular has a thriving food, bar, and drag scene that rivals anything in Manhattan — with a more neighbourhood, welcoming feel and a genuinely diverse crowd.

The hospitality industry has its own social ecosystem

NYC bartenders and restaurant staff host guest shifts from bars around the world, and the city's hospo community is tight-knit, creative, and passionate — showing up for one another's events and spaces.

Some of the best food in the city won't announce itself loudly

Places like Kisa (a Korean diner across from Superbueno) and Dhamaka offer extraordinary value and cooking that can stop you mid-bite — no hype machine required.

About the contributor

Michael Travieso is a New York City-based bartender currently working at Superbueno, the acclaimed Mexican-American cocktail bar in the East Village that has ranked among the best bars in North America. A champion of the city's drag scene and a genuine advocate for the spots that make New York feel like home.

Michael Travieso

@miichael.tr4vieso