Tucked away in The William Hotel, this cozy British gastropub serves modern twists on classics alongside craft beers, making it the perfect Midtown hangout.
"The Shakespeare feels a lot like an upscale pub in a small English town. Located in the bottom of a little hotel near Bryant Park, it’s got two big rooms, wooden walls and ceilings, and it doesn’t feel as sterile as most of the area’s drinking establishments. When the Happy Hour hang turns into dinner, consult the full lunch and dinner menu. They’ve got some solid pub food, like bangers and mash and shepherd's pie. Drop by to get your bearings if you’ve just taken the train in, and need a spot to strategize your next move. " - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine, molly fitzpatrick
"Chef Jason Hicks brings a modern take to British food in this upscale yet relaxed and cozy restaurant. Hidden in the back of The William Hotel, this is a great place for afternoon tea in their charming outdoor patio or a romantic dinner in their sophisticated, art-filled dining room. And if you want to extend your evening with a pint in a no-frills British pub, pop downstairs for a nightcap at The Shakespeare." - Marcelo Cardoso
"When: Mon-Fri, 4pm-7pm The Deal: $2 Off Drafts; $3 Off Wine By The Glass Yet another pub—only this one's English, and it's decorated like something you'd stumble across in the countryside. Try this cozy spot in the bottom of a hotel near Bryant Park for some after-work bangers and mash." - Bryan Kim, Kenny Yang, Will Hartman
"For day drinking in Midtown, you have a few options. You can sit in the lobby of a Sheraton, drink a too-sweet cosmo, and eavesdrop on some Dutch tourists who are trying to figure out where Leo hangs out, or you can go The Shakespeare. It’s a nice, cozy pub in a basement, and they serve everything from steak to kale salad." - bryan kim, matt tervooren
"“Want to hang in Midtown?” is a question no one deserves to have directed at them. But if you’re looking for a place to meet Sam and Josh and Chad in between their apartments on the Upper East Side and yours downtown, The Shakespeare is a great middle-ground option. We wouldn’t suggest you bring a group of 15 during Happy Hour, but at all other times, with its two big rooms and not-soulless atmosphere, The Shakespeare is an actually nice Midtown hang." - bryan kim, katherine lewin, neha talreja, kenny yang