"If you’ve ever looked down at your drink and realized you can see your coaster right through the ice, you can likely thank this Long Island City bar: It’s been at the forefront of the clear-ice movement since opening in 2009. But while Dutch Kills now supplies the see-through stuff to other places via its own ice company, it’s so dark inside this long, memorabilia-filled bar that you'll barely be able to make out the color of your drink, let alone what's in it. That hardly matters when the house cocktails are stiff, perfectly balanced, and discounted during Happy Hour. The seasonal drinks are great too, and we’d recommend starting with anything whiskey-based. Sit in a booth with friends, or at the back bar if you’re solo, and order a sandwich when you need a bite." - bryan kim, neha talreja, sonal shah, willa moore
