New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, will direct the state’s liquor officials to create a hybrid license that would allow for dancing in some restaurants.
Under current state regulations, dancing is allowed in taverns and bars after establishments go through bureaucratic processes at the state and local level. But it is not allowed in restaurants.
Ms. Hochul’s “2026 State of the State” book released Tuesday said “some applicants — especially those who want to operate as a restaurant at some times and a bar or tavern at other times — self-identify as restaurants but operate as nightclubs.”
As a result, the dancing and clubbing at these places, designated as restaurants, lead to more noise complaints and enforcement of the anti-dancing regulations by the New York State Liquor Authority.
Ms. Hochul plans to ask the agency to begin allowing dancing at designated bars and taverns by default and also to create a hybrid restaurant-tavern license. The book says that “for applicants who want to operate as both a restaurant and bar or club at different times, the new hybrid license type will bring more transparency to the community.”
Melissa Fleischut, CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, told the New York Post that “there are likely some restaurateurs who would want to do that. It creates new opportunity by cutting through red tape.”
