As great as the New York City area is, chances are that at some point, you've wanted to just pack your bags and make a run for it to a place that's anywhere but here. Maybe you're feeling homesick or just need a destination with different scenery, but if you're short on funds or can't get the time off from work, there are several bars and restaurants around the city that can give you a taste of the escape you so badly crave. If you're ready for a break from reality, there are several restaurants and bars around NYC that can make you feel like you're in a different locale.
L'Absinthe
Want to take a trip to Paris without the expensive plane fare? Head over to L'Absinthe Restaurant at 227 E. 67th St., where, between the food and decor, it'll feel as though you stepped right into the City of Lights. The menu, created by chef Jean-Michel Bergougnoux, includes dishes such as coq au vin garniture grand-mere, trois petits pots de creme, and buckwheat crepes. Happy hour is available Monday through Friday from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Brunch is available on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., and lunch is served Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Dinner is Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Rodeo Bar
Need a place where you can get cheap but strong drinks, have good food, toss peanut shells on the floor, and feel like you're in Austin, Texas? Rodeo Bar at 375 Third Ave. is where you want to be. The roadhouse decor and Tex-Mex cuisine will make you feel as though you should be sporting a cowboy hat. You'll hear live music seven days a week while chowing down on a variety of eats, including fried pickles, a barbecue brisket sandwich, and a 24-oz. rodeo steak. Rodeo Bar is open from 11:30 a.m. until 2 a.m.
Ontario Bar
As you can probably guess from the name of the bar, Ontario Bar is reminiscent of the popular province and sports a Canadian theme that will make you think you've crossed the border into the Great White North. When you walk into the Williamsburg watering hole at 559 Grand St., expect to see deer heads on the walls and hear Canadian music blasting. Down some Canadian beer, but bring food in if you want something to eat. They're open from Monday through Sunday from 5 p.m.-4 a.m.
Bourbon Street Bar & Grille
Walk into Bourbon Street Bar & Grille, and you'll be met with a New Orleans vibe and the smells of Creole food. On the menu, you'll find corn and crawfish chowder, royale macaroni and cheese, country-fried steak, and Cajun jambalaya, among other forms of Southern cuisine. They have a good amount of beer available on draft and in bottles, including Louisiana beer. As you can gather from the name, the bar also stocks an impressive amount of bourbon. Bourbon Street Bar & Grille is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 a.m. Located at 346 W. 46th St., it's easily accessible by bus, train, and subway.
Jones' Wood Foundry
If you need a little London in your life, head over to Jones' Wood Foundry at 401 E. 76th St. It's a gastropub that consists of British decor and food that's said to be authentic while actually tasting much better than typical pub fare. On the menu, you can find oxtail and root vegetable soup, cod and chips, steak and kidney foundry pie, crumpets, and figgy pudding ice cream. They have red and white wines, as well as a beer menu that offers of a good amount of British labels, such as Strongbow Dry Cider, Sam Smith Taddy Porter, and Wells Banana Bread Beer. They're open for brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dinner is Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, 6 p.m.-10:30 p.m. The bar is open daily from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday.
All of the aforementioned bars and restaurants have Facebook pages, so make sure to "like" them to stay up to date with the latest they have to offer.
Lauren Romano fell in love with NYC at a young age and has since navigated her way through the stores, museums, clubs, restaurants, parks, markets, and everything else the city has to offer.