Beer Authority, just steps from Port Authority, boasts an expansive bi-level space with 90 draft and 100 bottled beers, a bustling rooftop, and a laid-back vibe perfect for group outings or a casual drink.
"People sometimes ask us about relatively inexpensive places to drink outside with a group near Times Square, and our first instinct is to say something like, “Leave Times Square.” Then we remember Beer Authority, a huge bar across the street from Port Authority with a rooftop that doesn’t get as busy as it should (considering the other options in the neighborhood). If you work in the area, use this place as your default choice for outdoor Happy Hour drinks. There’s a great selection of beer, as well as wine and cocktails, and there are lots of big picnic tables on the roof." - hannah albertine
"When: Weekdays, 11am-7pm The Deal: $6 Select Shots; $10 Cocktails, $7 Select Drafts Despite the fact that it's across the street from Port Authority, we fully endorse this place. Beer Authority is huge, it has TVs everywhere, and there's even a big, semi-secret roof deck for when you need to breathe in air that isn’t accented with spilled beer. (Also, there's lots of beer.)" - Bryan Kim, Kenny Yang, Will Hartman
"For whatever reason, you’ve found yourself in Times Square at 1am. Rather than regretting the series of events that led to this moment, consider it water under the bridge, and go get a drink at Beer Authority. This bar across the street from the Port Authority has 90 beers on tap and another 100 by the bottle, and it’s open until 4am every day except Sundays (when it’s open until 2am). There’s a small bar on the ground floor that works if you don’t really feel like talking to anyone, and a huge second floor beer garden that’s the best spot in the area to drink with a big group." - matt tervooren
"Let’s say you missed your bus at Port Authority or had an epiphany and decided to call out sick while you were walking to work in Midtown. Head over to Beer Authority, get a big table by a window, and stare out at all the traffic on 8th Avenue. This is a huge bar on the second floor of a building on 40th (with a small space on the ground floor, too), and it’s a great place to camp out and have a drink. Despite the name, they also serve wine and cocktails, and there are plenty of TVs for watching sports." - bryan kim, matt tervooren
"Beer Authority is just across from Port Authority, and it’s secretly one of the biggest bars in the area. Walk inside, and you’ll just see a tiny room with a small bar - but up a flight of stairs there’s a huge open space filled with tables, and up one more floor, there’s a rooftop. Beer is (as the name would suggest) a priority here - there are almost 100 kinds on tap, in addition to another 100 bottled options and a full bar." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, matt tervooren
