How to Drink Like an NYC Local

September 23, 2022 ctn_admin

Looking for a go-to spot to drink and hang like a true New York local? Ray’s Bar is a beloved NYC hotspot inspired by the comforting familiarity of local bars found across America, delivering a friendly neighborhood joint in the Lower East Side of Manhattan – the place where even travelers, from Colorado to London, feel at home. Effortlessly cool, the Chrystie Street watering hole is designed for New Yorkers to connect and collaborate, inviting soon-to-be friends to meet and gather over Miller High Lifes and smash burgers in a small-town bar setting. The hometown bar is part of Authentic Hospitality’s ‘instant-hit’ roster, including Pebble Bar, Bar Calico, and The Jane. Images here and menus here. The hometown hangout prioritizes community, good laughs, and

Ray’s thrives on joyful simplicity, offering classic bar staples done well. Guests can find a range of bottled beers (often hailing from the Midwest) alongside a selection of gin, tequila, rum, whiskey, and vodka. The quintessential bar food menu is full of delicious absurdities like Petit Poulet (Chicken Nuggets) or Batonnets De Mozz (Mozzarella Sticks with Monte’s Sauce); Ray’s always makes sure that you’re in on the joke. Other guest favorites include Royale With Cheese (Single or Double Cheeseburger), Cigars Au Poulet (Buffalo Chicken Taquitos), and Le Dog (Hot Dog).

Ray’s takes its Americana design cues from the well-loved and patinated hometown bars found across the country. The team engaged artist, Matt McCormick, to collaborate on the project. The Chrystie Street corner bar is filled with the familiar staples that you would easily find in the home basement bar your dad built; wood paneling, vinyl booths, vintage neon bar signs, checkerboard flooring, a pool table that’s seen better days, and signed photographs of people he may or may not have met. In February 2020, the team opened Downstairs at Ray’s, a hidden spot directly underneath the main bar. Designed by The Springs Collective, the subterranean room features floor-to-ceiling shag carpeting, tartan carpeted walls, and a working fireplace. The unassuming destination prioritises good company to the sounds of contemporary country, Southern rock, and hip-hop.

Ray’s is located at 177 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002, open Monday-Friday 5 pm-2 am, Saturday-Sunday 1 pm-2 am. Patrons are welcomed on a first-come-first-serve, with dine-in and takeout options available. For more information, visit www.raysbarnyc.com and www.authentic.nyc, and follow Ray’s and Authentic Hospitality on Instagram at @raysbarnyc and @authentic.ny.