1. Unpretentious drinking in the heart of New York: Nothing Really Matters

Midtown, New York

Midtown isn't exactly a mecca for getting a drink. Wandering through the city's CBD, you're more likely to encounter tourists, a man dressed as Spiderman and the ghosts of international capital than, say, a New Yorker. Nevertheless, NRM lights the torch for bars made for people who like to drink - how novel.


"Nothing Really Matters" is a unique addition to New York City's bar scene, located in an old subway station 9this is New York, after all). Situated between the entrance and turnstile of the downtown-bound 1 train station at 50th Street and Broadway. The interior is designed with a long oak bar backed by rows of bottles, creating a stunning visual akin to a "boozy skyline." The ambiance is enhanced with a disco ball in the corner and glitter wallpaper in the bathroom. The cocktail menu is a solipsistic tribute to New York, with names like the Empire State and Knickerbocker bramble, alongside classic and low- or no-ABV options.


The entrance to "Nothing Really Matters" is like stepping into a scene from a classic New York movie. It's adjacent to a Duane Reade on 50th Street near Broadway, marked by signage reminiscent of a former newsstand and barber shop, complete with an illustrated haircut legend. It's a clever use of space that nonetheless retains the atmosphere of a bar you could stay in without feeling like you've bought into another overhyped 'secret' bar.