As many East Village dive bars close, one esteemed classic - a haunt of Auden and Ginsberg - has made a comeback, reopening as a new and improved version of its former self.

This is a far cry from the Holiday Cocktail Lounge of yore. Gone are the sticky floors and scuffed chairs, the general air of being stuck together by tape and liquor. They've kept the retro look but given it a thorough scrub with the circular bar, multi-coloured holiday lights, and exotic mural still in place, but it's the menu where things have taken a drastic departure. A labor of love of snack mogul Robert Ehrlich, he brought in Michael and Danny Neff (Ward III, the Rum House, and Extra Fancy between them) to overhaul the drinks menu, so expect carefully thought-out craft cocktails and good bar snacks. 

Built in 1835, this has been a long-standing neighbourhood fixture (see above), and a haunt for poets and thinkers such as W.H. Auden, Allen Ginsberg and Leon Trotsky over the years. As many dive bars fall by the wayside, raise a glass to the Phoenix-like return of a classic. 

Ideal For

Craft cocktails in a cleaned-up dive.

Signature Drinks

The 'Research & Development' section of the menu allows you to sample proto-cocktails from their own basement lab for $10.