It's still February, and with snow on the way, it's clear that we haven't kicked all of winter's teeth out yet. We've already told you where to drink near a roaring fire, but here are a few more bars where you can escape February's grip and raise a warm glass to March.
Crown Vic: This big beautiful Williamsburg bar opened over the summer, with a big outdoor drinking area in front and a massive outdoor patio in the back. (Jelly NYC fans will recall that this was briefly the Rock Yard.) But you don't need to wait for warm weather to check out Crown Vic; it's also an ideal wintertime hotspot, with a roaring fire up front, DJs spinning vinyl almost every night of the week, a solid comfort food menu, and a good selection of hot cocktails—all priced at $7. They've got a hot toddy, a Mexican hot chocolate with tequila and optional cayenne, a spiked hot Cider, a spiked Cinnamon toddy, and a green ginger toddy with a green tea infusion. 60 South 2nd Street, Williamsburg
Brandy Library: Whisky and bourbon have had their day! It is time for brandy's big moment in the trend spotlight. And nothing will put the fire in your belly like a toasty glass of Martell VSOP Very Fine, Medallion ($18) served at this TriBeCa hotspot. This spirit is known for its diversity and subtlety of flavor—not for being something you wash down with a pickle chaser. From Churchill's favorite Armenian vintage to the more well-known varieties from France, brandy encompasses a myriad of flavors to enchant every palate, and the Brandy Library will school you on all of them. 25 North Moore Street
(The Vault at Pfaff's)
The Vault At Pfaff's: For a brief spell this dimly-lit subterranean lounge at Broadway and Bleecker was a semi-private speakeasy called Woodson & Ford. But long before that, it was an underground beer hall owned by Charles Pfaff, who opened it in the 1850s. The ambiance has everything you desire on a cold winter's night: plush banquettes, antique chandeliers, atavistic bar accoutrement, and cocktail waitresses slinking around in vintage-looking threads. The fastidiously-prepared cocktails are up in the lofty $16 range, but a drink like the Winter Lowball goes a long way: It's made with Calvados, an apple brandy from Basse-Normandie; Yellow Chartreuse; Benedictine; two dashes House made bitters; and served in a large rocks glass with Club Soda and a brandied cherry. Meet someone rich and make them take you here. 643 Broadway
Angel's Share: At this point everybody knows about this "secret speakeasy" but it still holds a special place in our hearts, simply because it's cozy, dark and has exceptional cocktails. Not to mention pretty good Japanese food on demand. Angel's Share is the kind of candlelit and intimate utopia you want on a cold night. (But go on a cold weeknight to avoid NYU hordes.) 8 Stuyvesant Street
Saxon + Parole: Here we have a luxe East Village restaurant with a charming bar that becomes sort of a sexy singles scene on certain nights. But whether you come to mingle or arrive for an assignation, two fancy wintertime cocktails are probably worth your trouble: the Truffled Hot Buttered Rum, with ginger syrup, and the Calyspso Coffee, made with chicory-infused bourbon, Galliano Ristretto, white crème de cacao, agave nectar, black coffee and amaretto cream. And if you desire more heat for your belly, S+P specializes in "grilled meats and aquatic delights." 316 Bowery (at Bleecker)
(With Nell Casey)
