Fantastic Cat: Five Essential NYC Night Spots

In search of New York's hottest club after you catch Fantastic Cat smash WFUV's High Line Bash at City Winery on April 30? Bill Hader's Stefon Zelesky might be "S.N.L." history, but all four of Fantastic Cat's lead vocalists — Mike Montali, Anthony D'Amato, Don DeLego and Brian Dunne — are ready to step in for him. In "Five Essential NYC Night Spots," the guys sing the praises of a few, well, more interesting places in the Big Apple.

If none of their suggestions grab you, we heartily recommend heading home with Fantastic Cat's two great albums — 2022's The Very Best of Fantastic Cat and 2024's Now That's What I Call Fantastic Cat — and listening to both on your turntable or audio streamer of choice. And if you've never caught them live, you're in for a treat at the High Line Bash or their upcoming tour.

Fantastic Cat's Five Essential NYC Night Spots:

Celeb Sightings
Just steps from the bright lights and fine dining of Times Square, there's a star-studded celebrity hangout where all are welcome. That's right, A-listers know to check their egos at the door here: you can talk to them, take photos with them, even touch them. Plus it's totally affordable and the dress code is a relaxed, Midwestern casual. For all these reasons and more, when the sun goes down, you'll find me rubbing elbows with icons at Madame Tussauds. - Mike Montali 

Paperback Paradise
It's 8:55 p.m. on a Friday. Where can you find me? That's right, in the bathroom at the Union Square Barnes & Noble. If you're still in the stall when the store closes at 9, they just lock you in overnight, enabling you to stay and read as many books as you want for free. It's my little way of fighting back against Amazon and all the other online retailers driving mom-and-pop shops like Barnes (the mom) & Noble (the pop) out of business. - Anthony D'Amato 

Serenity and the City
Sometimes when the hustle and bustle of the City That Never Sleeps gets to be too much, you need a moment to collect yourself. Sure, you could book a flight to the Bahamas to get your groove back, but there's actually a nighttime oasis of calm hiding right here in Midtown, a little place I like to call the Port Authority. Take a load off on one of its several metal chairs, catch a show as New Jersey's drunkest commuters duke it out, and enjoy the intoxicating aroma of diesel fuel mixed with Auntie Anne's pretzels. It's a little slice of heaven right here in Hell's Kitchen. - Don DiLego 

Big Bargains
A lot of people think the best time to find bargains is during the day, when stores are open, but I'm here to blow your mind with a little #lifehack. People put their trash out at night. That's right, after-hours on garbage night, the city is a veritable buffet of steals and deals. Need a baby stroller with three wheels? Head to Park Slope! Want some lightly worn dentures? The Upper West Side's got you covered! Looking for a little plastic baggie with some leftover cocaine dust? Meet me in the Financial District! Happy hunting! - Brian Dunne 

NY State of Mind
For an after-show hang, we don't even have to discuss it at this point. Everyone just knows we're going to our usual spot: Billy Joel's house. Sure, Long Island's a little out of the way, but it's always worth the trip. For food, drinks, and laughs, you just can't beat Billy Joel's house. One of these nights, he's going to let us in, and it's going to be even better. - Fantastic Cat (Supergroup)

- April 2025