New York City

Motor City Bar 127 Ludlow St., 212-358-1595. An automotive-themed tribute to Motown, this Manhattan staple is still infused with Lower East Side spirit. Hubcaps adorn the walls and rock and roll fills the air. Though you'll find musicians and mechanics in the crowd, it is by no means exclusive—all drinkers are welcome. The booths are reminiscent of an old-school Ford's backseat, the pinball machine and Ms. Pac Man add diversions for your amusement. The bartenders are friendly, spunky, and slick as a gear shaft—when ordering two beers here you might get the response (as this reporter once did), "Seven dollah,
make you hollah!" All in all, this is a great place to drink with friends, even if they arrive late; buy your absent pal a drink, and the barkeep will put his name up on a board so he can collect it later.

Duff's 28 N. Third St., Brooklyn, 718-302-0411, duffsbrooklyn.com. Jimmy Duff's bar in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood is a bigger, riverside version of his old, gritty bar in Hell's Kitchen, the Bellevue Bar. Bearing all the marks of its former incarnation (including red lights, doll parts, and an Elvis bust) the new place also features some upgrades—most notably an outdoor deck. Here you can cook steak on the grill, smoke a cigarette, and take in the Brooklyn sunshine; it's a (relatively) fresh-aired Eden near the East River. Garnering awards both for best outdoor bar and best dive bar, this drinking hole never forgets its roots: hard rock (one of the best jukeboxes in the five boroughs), hard drinking ($1 PBRs and enough shots to make your liver shiver), and hard-core loyalty (pictures of Dancing Dominick, the bar's smooth-stepping mascot, still grace the place despite his passing).

Magnetic Field 97 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, 718-834-0069, magneticbrooklyn.com. Just a brief train ride away from the madding Manhattan crowd, this warmly lit haunt offers a little something for everyone. Vintage 45s spin in the classic jukebox, and a regular rotation of bands (from prototypical punk to faux '50s harmony groups) play on stage. If that doesn't work for you, DJs spin a few times a week—including an open turntable night on Mondays—and you can always keep yourself entertained at the Ms. Pac Man machine. Order the bubbly French 75, the rum-happy Dead Elvis, or choose from the unique list of local and legendary craft beers. The subtle Wild West milieu adds just the right amount of camp, and nights like Rockstar Wednesday ($5 for a beer and a shot) remind you what deals can be had on this side of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Related Links:
Double Down Saloon : http://www.doubledownsaloon.com/
Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce : http://www.fortydeuce.com/
Saint's & Sinners : http://www.saintsandsinnerslounge.net/
Clermont Lounge : http://www.clermontlounge.net/
Northside Tavern : http://www.northsidetavern.com/
Star Community Bar : http://www.starbaratlanta.com/
Hemlock Tavern : http://www.hemlocktavern.com/
Creekside Lounge : http://www.thecreeksidelounge.com/
Basement Pub : http://www.basementpub.com/
Velvet Lounge : http://www.velvetloungedc.com/
Wonderland Ballroom : http://www.wonderlandballroom.com/
Madam's Organ : http://www.madamsorgan.com/
CC Club : http://www.ccclubmpls.com/
Memory Lanes : http://www.memorylanesmpls.com/
Half Time Rec : http://www.halftimerec.com/
Pawn Shop Lounge : http://www.thepawnshoplounge.com/
Duff's Brooklyn : http://www.duffsbrooklyn.com/
Magnetic Field 97 : http://www.magneticbrooklyn.com/