Now that it’s officially summertime in New York, it’s time to start spending some of those personal days you’ve been saving at work, or taking more advantage of the fact that you work on nights/weekends while all the 9-to-5ers are holed up in their offices during the best part of the day. Of course, this opens up the opportunity for day drinking, arguably the best kind of drinking there is in summer weather (what else are you going to do in New York heat—sit in the humidity under the beating sun?). If you’re going to do the former, here are some top spots to do it…

 

Brunch means unlimited breakfast cocktails here, and the wait staff doesn’t put a time limit on it as is imposed on many other “unlimited” brunch drink spots, whether the limit is formal or informal (in other words, you won’t feel rushed as you embark on mimosa number five). The food will also get you through the day, with heavy enough brunch entrees to last you for hours—and if they don’t, you can order a single biscuit to sustain you when your main meal is over. (647 Grand St., Brooklyn; 718-782-4726)

 

This rooftop bar sits atop two indoor floors with a little outdoor bar marked by brick walls and a wood-paneled floor. Long tables make it a great place to drink with a group of friends, and the indoor floors make for some fun exploration if you’re going to be there all day and need a change of scenery. (47 E 29th St.; 212-685-4422)

 

With both bar and table seats available by the open windows, you get the best of both drinking indoors and outside during the heat of the day by Madison Square Park. The bar is quiet, but the bartenders and crowd are friendly. With a seaside theme, the fried seafood is a great option to go with beer, the burgers are solid, and everything is reasonably priced (so you can justify drinking there up through the end of happy hour at 7 PM). (14 E 23rd St.; 212-353-2400)

 

Though it doesn’t advertise it anywhere, Maison Kayser on 21st and Broadway in Flatiron lets patrons bring their own wine. There’s no corkage fee, and the only condition is that you spend a minimum of $10 at the restaurant. The food comes in small portions, so you can order bits throughout the day as you make it through your wine. (921 Broadway; 212-979-1600)

 

Though the drinks aren’t cheap and there’s a wait on weekends, this spot is worth it. Once you establish a place to sit, you’ll be almost guaranteed to make friends with the people around you (if you’re into that), after which you can playing drinking games with your giant beers. Weird quirk: You have to purchase a $9 ticket to get one of these beers (no cash is handled at the bar), or two such tickets if you want a really giant beer. If you’re lucky, you might even get in a game of ping-pong. (848 Washington St.; 212-645-4100)

 

If you want to start later in the afternoon, Shoolbred’s opens in the East Village at 4 PM on weekdays and offers outdoor seating that’s prime for people watching. While everyone rushes out of work, exhausted, at 6 PM, you can revel in the fact that you’ve already been drinking for two hours. Happy hour begins at opening and lasts until 8 PM every day, so you can get a buy-one-get-one-free deal on all beer and well drinks for hours. Also, the Blood Mary is especially spicy, with plenty of horseradish, hot sauce, and basil garlic vodka. (197 2nd Ave.; 212-529-0340)

 

Open daily from 11:30 AM - 4 AM, Blind Tiger specializes in craft beer and chill ambience. The draft beer list is long and full of surprises, with prices around $7. A wooden bar, tables, and stools along with a stone fireplace make the place feel homey, so you can get comfortable quickly and stay that way starting early and ending late. (281 Bleecker St.; 212-462-4682)