Whenever I make it out to Manhattan I have to stop by the Carriage House, an Irish pub near the base of the gondola that parallels the Queensborough Bridge. I've never found it to be terribly crowded. The bartenders have always been friendly (and also seem to always be named Caroline). The options in the Jukebox are great. Being able to listen to My Bloody Valentine followed by Miles Davis and Edith Piaf is really nice as the mood changes from the social drinking hours to the melancholy and wistful. Afterward, the 24 hour bakery/deli "the Hot & Crusty" is just a few blocks away.
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