New York

The Water Street Bar & Restaurant is a mellow and sophisticated place to pass an hour or two of down time in the gratuitously gentrified little community of Dumbo. Not ten years ago the area was nothing but warehouses. Now, however, with countless chic eateries and numerous antique and custom-made furniture stores, it conjures up images of scenic and moneyed little hamlets on the water such as Sausalito and Provincetown. So after you have a stroll around, which shouldn’t take that long, stop in for a drink and enjoy a World Cup match. Their international clientele and staff – the bartender was Italian, the jazz musicians French – and late-night hours promise plenty of coverage of the world’s most popular sporting event. But be prepared, the neighborhood supports a small group of English ex-pats. That being said, Dumbo is so low-key that I doubt you will encounter any “hooliganism.” If you go on a Sunday afternoon you can get a truly superb burger with an entrée and a cocktail of your choice for $14.95. Private rooms are available to rent for occasions.

Photo:  Michael Massmann