WXOU Bar • 1994

A cash-only West Village dive where the jukebox spins dad rock, an Elvis bust presides over the bar, and an antique neon clock glows above regulars nursing well-priced whiskeys. Since 1994, this college radio-themed watering hole has drawn crowds with legendary happy hour specials and a studiously unpretentious vibe that feels increasingly rare in modern Manhattan. The bartenders pour strong, the crowd skews neighborhood, and the retro decor never tries too hard.