Thousands of sailors, Coast Guardsmen and marine are visiting New York City this week, brought to our faithful shore by navy and Coast Guard vessels and tall ships that are available for public viewing. It’s all part of FleetWeek and OpSail, a once every four years celebration of tall ships.

For sailors, Fleet Week is a chance to cut months of monotony and isolation with a visit by tens of thousands of New Yorkers and tourists eager to get a glimpse of the seafaring lifestyle. It is also an opportunity to take in all the sights and sounds of New York City. For many, their first question is, “what are the best bars for Fleet Week in NYC?”

For visitors, its a chance to see some of the most seaworthy ships on earth, and enjoy the youth and energy of a dedicated group of seamen and seawomen,

We heartily welcome all sailors and visitors to Rattle N Hum, on 33rd St. between Madison and Fifth (around the corner from the Empire State Building). Zagat’s, CBS, and many other publications have named us the best craft beer bar in NYC. We offer 40 taps of craft beer, 100 more types of beer in bottles, and a full bar for those who prefer wine and spirits. We also offer outstanding pub food.

For tourists enjoying the city this week, we are happy to tell you that we are also the best family friendly restaurant near the Empire State Building. We welcome children of all ages until about 6 pm. Also, if you’re in Times Square, visit our sister establishment, Beer Authority, the best family friendly restaurant in Times Square.

Today from 5-7 pm is the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course, near Baltimore, MD.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another will try to add the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, to his resume.

In his way stands a full field of 11 horses, including:

• Bodemeister, 2nd in the Derby after setting a blistering pace,
• Creative Cause, who lost a close one to I’ll Have Another in the Santa Anita Derby and ran fifth in the Kentucky Derby, and may be ready to produce a top effort that could put him in the picture at nice odds, and
• Went the Day Well, a fast closing fourth after a troubled trip.

With our 40 taps of craft beer, and another 100 types of beer in bottle, there’s no better place to drink craft beer in NYC. We also offer a customary full bar.We also offer outstanding pub fare, from Shepherd’s Pie to four types of sliders, to a bevy of salads and wraps for those who like to walk on the mild side.

This Saturday, May 19, it’s FC Bayern München vs. Chelsea FC in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, live from Fußball Arena München.

For many Euro soccer fans, it’s hard to find where to watch the Champions League Final in New York City.

Rattle N Hum shows most European sporting events and will be one of the best craft beer bars in NYC showing the Champions League Final. Unlike many of the alternatives you might be considering, we do not get insanely packed for these events; we usually have room to spare and everyone can watch the game in relative comfort.

We’ll be serving our regular menu, including our extraordinary 40 taps of craft beer.

Call us today at 212-481-1586 to reserve your table, and come early.

On Tuesday, May 15, our beer event will feature a large number of beers from Harpoon Brewery, from Boston, MA and Windsor, VT.

Take this tour of Harpoon’s brewing process.

The list of beers is still being finalized, but we expect that Harpoon will be showcasing about 20 of its brews, including some rare specialty beers.

Names that will certainly be included:

Harpoon IPA

Leviathan Barleywine 2010 and 2011

Leviathan Imperial IPA

Leviathan Quad

100 Barrel Series: Catamount Maple Wheat

Rich and Dan’s Rye IPA

Harpoon Summer

UFO Hefeweizen

UFO Pale Ale

UFO Raspberry

UFO White

Harpoon Cider

Harpoon Celtic Ale

Harpoon Dark

Come out this Tuesday and try of all your Harpoon favorites! We’ll be pouring some of these all week, as well, and likely offering some on “Kick the Keg” Sundays.

Come see why some consider Rattle N Hum the best craft beer bar in NYC!

Rattle N Hum: the best bar near the Empire State Building.

Looking for a new spot for Girls’ Night Out in NYC? In case you haven’t heard, there’s a craft beer craze taking over NYC, and it’s not just for the boys. With blogs like Girls’ Pint Out and The Beer Babe leading the way, ladies are stepping into the wonderful world of craft beer like never before. As the best craft beer bar in NYC, there’s nowhere better to experience craft beers than at Rattle n Hum. Come see, and let us help you develop an appreciation for craft beer while you’re here.

Not sure where to begin? Well, don’t worry about having that confused newbie experience and a condescending server. Our staff warmly welcomes newcomers – we love craft beer and we love talking and teaching people about it! We are more than happy to make recommendations, and to teach you as much (or as little) as you’d like to know about craft beers. (Read up on what makes a craft brewer here.)

Why Rattle n Hum? First, our beer menu changes regularly – we have 40 taps of craft beer that we rotate constantly, so you’ll always be able to try new things. We clean the lines after we change every keg – which we’re doing all the time, since we sell so much beer – not once a week, as required by state law and practiced by most bars in the area (gross!). So, you will get the taste and experience that the brewer intended, not a dirty or watered down version of the same.

While you’re enjoying and tasting beers, you’ll also love our food menu. We have beer/food pairing recommendations for everything on our extensive and varied menu – think bar food, enhanced. Enjoying Strong Ale? Try our Spicy Chicken sliders, served with jack chees, jalapeno, greens and brown ale mustard. For a lighter, refreshing experience, pair a Hefeweizen with our Rattle n Hummus platter. There’s literally something for every taste.

You’re of course welcome any time, but we also offer fun events regularly. Every Tuesday, we offer craft beer tastings, hosted by different breweries each week; this is a great way to experience and learn about craft beer. We also have a relaxed Jazz Night every Monday evening, live music most Saturday nights, and our famous “Kick the Keg” special $5 drafts on Sundays.

Beer is way more than B*d L***t. But, it doesn’t mean you have to shimmy up to the bartender and ask for “whatever is good, light and a little fruity.” If you’re going to drink it, know what you’re drinking. – and we’re here to help. And, we’ve got to say, you’re going to get bonus points with the guys for knowing your beer too. They might not say it aloud, but they’re going to be impressed. So, for your next girls night out, skip the wine bars and skip Meatpacking, and come see us at Rattle n Hum. You’ll be glad you did.

Hotels Near Rattle N Hum Bar NYC

Tourists and business people from near and far often visit the neighborhood around Rattle N Hum.

• We’re a block away from the Empire State Building, which more than 3.5 million tourists visit each year. It is also the second-largest office building in the US, after the Pentagon, and thus attracts almost as many business visitors as tourists.

• We’re about 5 minutes from Penn Station, which is a transit hub for Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, the Long Island Railroad and six subway lines.

• We’re also 5 minutes from Madison Square Garden, the World’s Most Famous Arena.

• Lastly, we’re about a ten-minute walk (or one subway stop) from Times Square, Grand Central Station, the NY Public Library, Bryant Park, the United Nations, and Madison Square Park.

In light of our proximity to so many important business, cultural and tourist venues in Manhattan, it is no surprise that the neighborhood around Rattle N Hum harbors quite a few hotels. Some are historic, and some are newly updated and offer the best value in midtown Manhattan hotels.

Savvy business people and tourists love that, a mere ten minutes away from Times Square, Grand Central and the United Nations, they can find a first-rate hotel at a discount price.

Now we don’t mean rock bottom prices – the cheapest hotels in Manhattan are not for the feint of heart. No, we mean hotels that are clean, comfortable, provide good service, and are conveniently located, but perhaps with smaller rooms or fewer amenities than you might find at other hotels. But you don’t come to New York to hang out in your hotel room, and you can find every amenity your mind can conjure somewhere in NYC.

Another thing to note is that, across the board, hotel prices vary widely depending on the season, night of the week, etc. Often the best deals are those booked within a week of arrival.

With that in mind, some of our favorite nearby hotels that provide a great experience at a good price:

• The NYMA Hotel, about a two-minute walk from Rattle N Hum at 6 W. 32^nd St., opened about ten years ago and was renovated and rebranded in 2010 as an independent hotel. Its rates are generally in the range of $140 to $240 per night. It offers free WiFi (we HATE paying for WiFi), free breakfast and reduced rate parking up the block. We think that, all-in-all, it is one of the best discount hotels in New York, and more than 800 4-Star reviews of NYMA Hotel on TripAdvisor agree.

• Right across the street from NYMA is LaQuinta Manhattan, which, like NYMA Hotel, is managed by Apple Core Hotel Group. It also offers free WiFi and breakfast and reduced-rate parking nearby. Frommers calls it “a top Midtown budget choice” and notes that it is housed in a 1904 Beaux Arts structure. Frommers report that “service is friendly…. the rooms are basic in motel-room decor and size, but there’s nothing wrong with that, especially at these prices.”

• Hotel 373 is a deluxe, boutique hotel at 373 Fifth Ave., near 35^th St. and about a 3-minute walk to Rattle N Hum. Reviews of Hotel 373 on Hotels.com average to 4.0 out of 5, and note it offers one of the best deals on NYC hotels.

• For those looking for a great deal on a room but in a more upscale environment, the Roger Williams Hotel is for you. It’s at 31^st and Madison, just a three-minute walk from Rattle N Hum. Check out Quikbook’s video review of Hotel Roger Williams.

• The Herald Square Hotel, a boutique hotel at 19 W. 31^st St. is often booked, so it can be difficult to find reservations. If you’re fortunate enough to find a room, you may find yourself agreeing with those who recently gave it stellar ratings on TripAdvisor.

All of these places provide fine lodging at a fair price, but most do not offer a full-service bar or restaurant, and one of them offer the best craft beer in NYC. Thus, you probably found this post by Googling something like, “best bar near Empire State Building,” “lunch near Hotel Roger Williams,” “brunch near United Nations,” or “best craft beer midtown NYC.”

Rattle N Hum is all of these things, and more. CBS called us the best craft beer bar in NYC; NY Magazine’s review makes clear that Rattle N Hum is one of the best bars in NYC.

So, when staying in the neighborhood, make us your true NYC home. Sure, the fine hotels mentioned above are where you lay your head down, but Rattle N Hum is where you set your head right. Not only do we have 40 taps pouring the finest craft beer in the world, and a full bar of liquors and wines, we also offer outstanding pub fare with a Celtic twist, and world-class hospitality from a gracious staff of bartenders and wait staff. We’ll transport you to a new land, away from all your worries, but you won’t suffer any TSA security checkpoints along the way.

We’re located on 33rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue. Call us at 212-481-1586 to make a reservation.