As Is NYC

"Possibly the coolest bar in the neighborhood, As Is is neither flashy nor divey, and it somehow doesn't get too crowded. The room is full of plants and exposed brick, and there's a nerdy beer selection in addition to a few house cocktails. If you're looking for a pre-theater or after-work spot, come here. This is also an ideal place for a first date, in case you're doing that in Midtown for some reason." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, sonal shah, tiffany yannetta

"Midtown needs more places like As Is. A big open room with potted plants and brick walls, this bar is great for anything from pre-theater drinks to a big group hang with your Tuesday night running club. The staff is friendly, the bar food is better than you expect, and there’s always a great beer section, with wine and cocktail options as well." - bryan kim

"When you think about neighborhoods with great bars, Hell’s Kitchen probably isn’t the first that comes to mind. But if you live or work in the area, you should know about As Is. It’s bright and well-designed, and in the daytime it feels sort of like a coffee shop. They also serve a bunch of beers that only serious beer nerds will be familiar with, and they have cocktails and natural wines as well. So, while we don’t say this often, maybe you should go hang out on 50th Street." - bryan kim, matt tervooren

"As Is is a bit sleeker-looking than Dianne and Elisabeth, but you can think of this as steadily getting more sophisticated as you drink, instead of less. This is a good choice for an indoor hang with friends and will excite all of the people in your life who get craft brewery and natural winery newsletters in their inboxes." - hannah albertine

"If you spend time in Hell’s Kitchen or the Theater District, it’s important that you know about As Is. It’s a busy spot with hardwood floors and potted plants, and it’s perfect for a first date, a drink before a show, or a meeting with your local run club (which is something we’ve definitely witnessed here). You can grab a table in the dark back corner and share some nachos with someone, or you can just find a seat at the bar and do an impromptu beer tasting. They typically have about 20 semi-obscure beers on tap (with an emphasis on stuff from the Northeast), and there are some natural wines and cocktails as well." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, matt tervooren