NYC Dives

Larry Lawrence Bar 2

2006-03-06T23:02:00.000-05:00

Larry Lawrence Bar 2
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Larry Lawrence Interior

2006-03-06T23:01:00.001-05:00

Larry Lawrence Interior
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Blurry Larry Lawrence Sign

2006-03-06T23:01:00.000-05:00

Blurry Larry Lawrence Sign
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Larry Lawrence

2006-01-28T21:02:00.000-05:00

295 Grand St. bet. Roebling & Havemeyer

Not a dive at all (but that hasn't stopped us yet), this is a dark, high-ceilinged, brick-walled loungy sort of place. It's set back from the street by a long hallway and has no windows except a clever glass wall looking down from the smoking deck, which is very nice and similar to the one at Capone's, which was presumably reviewed here at some point.

drinks -- 3/5, about what you'd expect. Jean, who brought us there, recommends the white wine.

crowd -- 4/5, not too crowded, even on a Friday night -- and according to Jean it's even less crowded on weeknights ...which is a minus if you're into meeting new people and happiness and stuff, but a big plus for misanthropic hermits like your reviewers.

dive factor -- 1/5. if you've been reading this site from the beginning (i've just ruled out everyone on the planet), you may be asking yourself "how do these manhattanites, in between sneering at 'hipsters' and the 'nyu crowd', manage to find themselves in brooklyn every night and then find their way to the least divey, most manhattan-like bars there? why don't they just get some nice striped shirts and head for the meatpacking district and get it over with?" and the answer is, just shut up, ok?

Moto

2006-01-16T11:08:00.000-05:00

Moto
349 Broadway (Corner of Hooper)
718-599-6895
L Train to Lorimer Ave, JMZ

Though a trek from usual “North” Willimasburg, Moto is well worth the excursion to the south. The corner bar/bistro scores high marks on its great prices on drinks ($4 for interesting beers and $6-10 for a range of wines) and food (entrées $8-20 depending). There was also the plus of the décor – their website (http://www.circa1938.com/) has great photos which show the “mood” of the place, an early 20th century industrial hodgepodge including great ironworks surrounding you, the collectibles and also a pull-flush toilet. Adding to the fantasy city of industry feel is the elevated train rumbling above you, and the sparse, residential/industrial landscape around the place. Though not a dive in a traditional sense (we ought to rename this website) you do feel you are in a dive from a bygone era, and have the reasonable drinks to complement it. Also, live music certain nights, on a Friday was an old-time Django Reinhardt style jazz performance which lasted well past 1 a.m..

Décor (5/5) – Just great. This reviewer watched a documentary about the opening of the place (Eat This New York), so it can be even more appreciated.

Crowd (5/5) – Friendly and laid back. The wave of bad eggs that washes over the north is scared away by the “transitional” neighborhood leaving only those who appreciate it.

Drinks (4/5) – Though there could be more selection, the drinks are reasonably priced.

Dive Factor (3/5) – It gets a 3 for location and historical grit, however this is no Holiday Cocktail Lounge.

Alligator Lounge

2006-01-16T11:07:00.000-05:00

Alligator Lounge
600 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 599-4440
Cross Street: Lorimer Street
Subway: L at Lorimer St; G at Metropolitan Ave

This is probably the first all negative review of a bar here at NYC Dives. What an awful place. The pizza, though free, is second rate to Capone’s, takes way to long to get to you, and then its not really warm. The crowd just came from some NYU dorm, most likely theater as they were trying to fill auditoriums with each of their voices. Drinks were not that cheap. The woman at the bar was a bucket of attitude (screw service since I’m cute) as was the fellow behind it. The bar reminded me of people who call Hells Kitchen “Clinton” and drink there. Just awful.

Décor (1/5) – Makes Miami Vice look like high fashion. Feels like a sterile fast food restaurant.

Crowd (1/5) – Loud and obnoxious

Drinks (2/5) – Nothing special price, selection or pour wise

Dive Factor (1/5) – Clean cut hipsters. The one silver lining is that you want to go to a much better bar to dive in and forget your awful experience. (that bar is conveniently Moto which is a walk down Union and the next review!)

Musical Box

2005-12-27T20:10:00.000-05:00

219 Ave B
New York, NY 10009-3357
(212) 254-1731

The Musical Box, a no sign bar in the East Village is a worthwhile mention, cheap drinks, comfortable and plentiful couches in the back and a pool table make it a great place. As a bonus/drawback, there is a bathroom bouncer (how to fill that occupation out on a survey form I'm not clear on) which keeps the line moving Guantanamo style. Though - good drinks, reasonable pool table, small back area with seating to smoke/get air (note: do not be dumb like editors and close the door, you will get locked out and you will feel like an idiot thereafter).

Decor (3/5) - Faux-1897 dive

Crowd (2/5) - Borderline too crowded, over the border NYU screechy kids, but that only happened around midnight. Very nice before all that.

Drinks (4/5) - Good selection and reasonable (for the neighborhood) prices.

Dive Factor (2/5) - A good dive is hard to find, this bar is no dive, but good nonetheless due to cheapish drinks for the neighborhood.

The Levee in Williamsburg

2005-10-02T14:09:00.000-04:00

The Levee in Williamsburg
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

The Levee

2005-10-02T14:02:00.000-04:00

212 Berry St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 218-8787
Cross Street: North 3rd Street
Directions: L at Bedford Ave

NYC Diver was very happy to be drawn to the place by a lit up Pabst sign at 4 in the morning. A bar in Williamsburg open late is a rare thing, and stumbling upon this one was an excellent circumstance. While scoring low on dive, it scores high on jukebox, comfort and food/beer selection. Plenty of Lone Star, Frito Pie and other things from the southland are on the menu. The back room has comfy antique furniture, and board games are available to play. The jukebox is varied and excellent, Magnetic Fields, Hank Williams, Radiohead, metal, hip-hop, it pretty much has everything. Not on a main drag, it also has the nice feeling of not being too crowded. We hear but don't remember that there are pinball machines there as well.

Decor (3.5/5) - OK, nice couches in the back, nicely done features from the old building.

Crowd (4/5) - Late night there was one, which made us happy enough. UPDATE: Loud and crowded earlier in night

Drinks (4/5) - Good selection of beer and bourbon

Dive Factor (3/5) - Its pretty nice and not cheap, but the great jukebox, late hours (for Brooklyn) and good seating make it worthwhile.

Rosemary's Greenpoint Tavern

2005-10-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

Rosemary's Greenpoint Tavern
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Rosemary's Greenpoint Tavern

2005-10-02T13:21:00.000-04:00

188 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211-2904
(718) 384-9539
Cross Street: Between North Seventh Street and North Sixth Street

As it is getting harder to find dives that are not over-reviewed (the slowing of post speed on his website), we think that this one is a good find. While not grimy and has electronic games and whatchamahaveyas, it does have huge Styrofoam (or sometimes plastic) cups of cheap beer for $3.50 (probably 32oz or so). While that should be good enough, the space is a good one, not too crowded but not too empty, with tables on the side, a bar and games/jukebox in the back. While one does have to try hard to be hipster, its not as the hipsters are unfriendly stock, so the crowd is pretty laid back. All in all, a great stop around Bedford for a beer.

Decor (5/5) - faded posters and 70s style fixins. nice plastic decorations that are seasonal

Crowd (4/5) - Happy hipsters

Drinks (5/5) - They also have liquor, but... $3.50 beers!

Dive Factor (3/5) - Its too nice to be a real dive, but still a good option.

Fun (previoulsy Funhouse)

2005-09-11T11:52:00.000-04:00

160 N 4th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211-3268
(718) 302-4300
Cross Street: Between Driggs Avenue and Bedford Avenue

The Funhouse (now Fun) is a great spot in the southernish part of Williamsburg. Near Black Betty and about 2 minutes from the Bedford avenue stop, it is [no longer large] space that is rarely full, but usually a fine time. There is no longer a ping pong table there, which is a shame but the place looks more loungy. The value conscious drinker will want the liquor here, as it is a good pour ($5-6 for what equates to a triple). Beer is OK ($5) but could be cheaper. DVDs on the wall, though the old Funhouse sculptures are gone.

Decor (3/5) - Bit more loungy and subdued than before

Crowd (3/5) - Usually not a huge one. The bar may now possibly cater toward the gay crowd who bring straight friends.

Drinks (3/5) - The beer is no deal, and the pours went up in price.

Dive Factor (2/5) - Trying to be a lounge. Old Funhouse R.I.P.

Penny at Funhouse

2005-09-11T11:51:00.000-04:00

Penny at Funhouse
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Dark picture of penny art at Funhouse

Last Exit

2005-09-06T21:59:00.000-04:00

136 Atlantic Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11201-6729
(718) 222-9198
Cross Street: Between Clinton Street and Henry Street

'Bout time we started posting again. We were at Last Exit on a lazy Saturday afternoon, so cannot speak to its night vibe, however, the place was great. Good couches inside and an ample backyard outside made it a great place to just sit, relax and have a beer. Not particularly divey (whatever that means), however, more thrift shop grunge. Drinks were OK prices for Brooklyn ($4-6 a beer) but not totally cheap. The people around were friendly, as was the bartender.

Decor (4/5) - Like out of a goodwill shop, but with ample comfortable seating. Rotating art on the wall also a draw. Outside is great and has many seats.

Crowd (3/5) - Friendly people from the neighborhood, though I hear at nights this place draws them in from all parts of BK

Drinks (2/5) - Them aint as cheap as ye'd think

Dive Factor (2/5) - Not a dive to drink your troubles away, more of a good bar to go to after Sahadi's and perhaps to spend a great night (though us day drinkers can't vouch for that one)

Last Exit Artwork Wall

2005-08-14T16:22:00.001-04:00

Last Exit Artwork
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Last Exit looking to Outside

2005-08-14T16:22:00.000-04:00

Last Exit looking to Outside
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Galapagos

2005-08-10T22:46:00.000-04:00

http://www.galapagosartspace.com

Here is what the New York Times said about this bar, according to their website:

“a truly sublime reflecting pool, an expansive cathedral-like interior, brilliantly spotlit, the scenery is lush,[an] ever-growing cultural oasis.”

Basically, you walk in the front door and across this little catwalk, next to a shallow pool with candles in it. This is actually pretty cool if you're (hypothetically) already a little drunk, because you won't realize it's a pool at all (it doesn't reflect much) and you'll think you're walking over empty space and clutch the railing.

I will defer the question of whether the rest of the bar can be called an "art space." It seems like a bar to me, but who am I to impose my hegemonic labels on the independent truth-claims of a community not my own? Decide for yourself. What I can tell you is that it has a high ceiling, a stage, and a bar (sorry, "drinking space"), and it gets crowded enough to make you wish the reflecting pool wasn't taking up all that room. There's another room in back and maybe an upstairs too, but neither was open.

music: 3/5 ... hit-and-miss, mostly, you know ...trip-hop ...um ...acid-funk ...whatever the kids are listening to these days. With video projections.

drinks: 3.5/5 ...vodka, gin, no complaints.

crowd: 2/5 ...unacceptable incidence of being in the way of the bar.

dive: 1/5 ...looks like some college stoner's trust fund project ("daaad, this IS a job!"). which isn't necessarily a criticism, but it disqualifies you as a dive.

overall: 3/5 ...i know i say this about almost every bar i review, but ...try to go on a weekday when it's not so crowded. because it gets pretty crowded.

Under the Volcano

2005-07-20T23:12:00.000-04:00

Under the Volcano
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Great bar

Under the Volcano

2005-07-20T21:30:00.000-04:00

e. 36th bet. 5th & Madison
(212) 213-0093

"NYC Diver," your usual reviewer, is sick or in prison or something, and I'm taking the opportunity to review a place that's clearly below (above, I guess) his standards for a true "dive" but still deserves your attention.

Under the Volcano is named after the novel by Malcolm Lowry, by far the best book about drinking ever written (with the minor caveat that it will make you give up on life completely). They are not the first people to have this idea, but they've done a great job with it. There's a great selection of tequilas and of mescal, both of which figure heavily in the book, and the overall atmosphere is pleasant, social and low-key. There's a long bar and a dark alcove on either side with tables and chairs.

decor: 4/5 ...not divey but not trendy or high-end either

drinks: 5/5 ...prices were reasonable, good selection of beers, but the tequila and the five or six kinds of mescal are what really stand out. The one i had was very smoky and i recommend it, but shockingly i cannot remember the brand. i think it was around the middle of the list.

crowd: 4/5 ...not really a pickup-type place, but lots of interesting people, and no music or crowds so it's easy to have a real conversation.

can't remember the other categories, so

overall: 4/5 ...again, NOT a dive, but it's not the W or the Joshua Tree either, so you can still feel cooler than your co-workers. It's also right across the street from the Ginger Man, which is one of the better after-work crowd midtown places.

Siberia Bar

2005-07-07T12:14:00.000-04:00

Siberia Bar
356 W 40th St
New York, NY 10019-6743
(212) 333-4141
Btw. 8th Ave and 9th Ave - Closer to 9th - only has red light outside no sign

Siberia Bar in its new space is larger, though the odor and atmosphere remains. While the drinks may not be the cheapest anymore (though the bottled beer is your best choice if low on funds) a friendly atmosphere and great jukebox (country, magnetic fields, motown, more). The art on the wall is mixed, but made for the place. There is a bike in the middle of it now as well. If you are not a jukebox person, go to the Bellevue around the corner for cheap drinks and a dirty dive. Note that this was reviewed in the night, and word has it this bar is more after hours, so the character may change the later one goes.

Decor (3/5) - Biker/Angry Art, a small bar, a couple couches, a photo booth and a wide open middle area

Crowd (3/5) - Tourists(!) and scattered other after work (!) people

Drinks (2/5) - The liquor is not cheap, and the beer is OK

Dive Factor (2/5) - Looks divey, smells divey, but not cheap drinks and an uppity crowd? Wha' happen'?

Rudy's Bar and Grill

2005-06-30T12:34:00.000-04:00

Rudy's Bar and Grill
627 9th Ave
New York, NY 10036-3702
(212) 974-9169
Btw. 44th Street and 45th Street

Rudy's Bar and Grill has been around for the Hell's Kitchen (or "Clinton" or whatever its called now) gentrification, but has kept much its same character. There are regular drunks, after work yuppies, college kids, and folks who are nursing their beers while eating free hot dogs and popcorn.Insides a bit of a smaller space with 5 booths (2 round) and a long bar (the end of which has a newfangled electronic jukebox). There is an outside for smoking and drinking, which is pretty spacious, but like all outsides in NYC, closes around 11:30/12 or so. The beer is cheap, the liquor is moderate with a pitcher of American going for $8 a pint for $3 and a Wild Turkey for $5.50. The hot dogs are pretty good (just ask) and the bartenders will hand them out or giving out popcorn (though I hear sometimes they give patrons wait). Thanks to gentrification it's more of a faux-dive, its still a fine place to hit up when you're hard up with free dogs nd cheap beer.

Decor (4/5) - Grime and taped up seats make the decor pretty crappy - which ranks high in a dive bar site

Crowd (4/5) - Mixed, many a group of people come here, but after some drinks inter-mingling occurs. All types show up.

Drinks (4/5) - The beer is cheap, but the liquor is a bit more

Dive Factor (4/5) - If the clientele were more down, and the bartenders surlier, this would be a true dive but alas, happy faces and neighborhood gentrification has made this a destination for transplants who want to go to a dive.

Blarney Cove - Pic

2005-06-19T21:47:00.000-04:00

Blarney Cove Exterior
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Blarney Cove

2005-06-16T18:24:00.000-04:00

14th street bet. A+B

Ignore the Time Out New York "best dive bar" review in the window -- this isn't the best dive bar in the city (but it's a good one) and, more importantly, it doesn't seem like the kind of place where you'll run into any Time Out New York readers. On a Monday (Tuesday? they're starting to run together) night, the place was almost totally deserted except for a couple of guys at the jukebox and the bartender playing video games in the back.

Decor: long and narrow; the kind of brassy, seventies interior you might associate with mob movies. A little faded, but not in poor repair. 4/5

Jukebox: if we had a "weirdest jukebox" award ...it would go to the Holiday Lounge (*three* patty griffin albums? did she come in with a shotgun and load it herself?) but this place would be second. lots of frank sinatra with the white stripes and other newer, hipper stuff sprinkled in unselfconsciously. includes "she's got you" by patsy cline, which i have to stop using as a metric though because most bars seem to have it. 2/5

Drinks: ridiculously cheap if you stick to the specials -- two pints of killian's for $5. we didn't sample the liquor but will add something in the comments when we do. 4.5/5

Dive factor: this place really feels like a dive without feeling like they're going out of their way to be one (see Mars Bar, Botanica, etc, fine establishments all), which is unusual. And only matched so far, in this reviewer's opinion, by international bar. Which i would link to the review of if I knew how. 4.5/5.

UPDATE: Our team of experts found the link to our previous review
http://nycdives.blogspot.com/2005/04/international-bar.html

The Delancey

2005-06-16T16:29:00.000-04:00

The Delancey
168 Delancey St
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-9920
Cross Street: Clinton Street
Directions: F at Delancey St; J, M, Z at Essex St
If going by cab, take Ridge down and then right onto Delancey before you get to Clinton

1/2 hipster, 1/2 striped shirt, The Delancey (though it sounds like a hotel it is not) is an odd duck. Usually a cover, but well drinks ($5) are cheap. Check out the "Death Disco" party every Wed., for good punk/hardcore bands, a good DJ/VJ on the main floor (the place has multiple floors), and, most important in the summer, no line for the roof (though it is quite crowded - FYI the roof closes at 12:30). Other days have varying covers, but usually no more than $7/$8. thankfully, its been open over a year so the buzz crowd is dwindling and the usual Lower LES crowd takes over. The mix that results is a good one, on the night of review, 3 transvestites, a group of JP Morgan summer investment banking associates, out of towners, art types and punk fans. Pretty good.

Decor (3/5) - The bottom and main floor are "trash-ablanca" to steal from a Black Betty review, but the roof is pretty swank - you wouldn't guess its a rock club.

Crowd (3/5) - Mixed which is nice, though points lost for a seeming lack of alcohol problems. Go there if you are in a good mood, not if you want a depressing dive (see the upcoming Blarney Cove review for that)

Drinks (4/5) - Strong and cheap

Dive Factor (3/5) - Bottom floors and location add to it, but the roof is pretty nice, it has goldfish and fountains! Oooo lala.

All in a nice place, pay the cover if you are seeing a band, if not go early in the week when the roof is not to crowded and fight off tropical Malaria with G&T's

Biny Karaoke

2005-06-16T15:21:00.000-04:00

Biny Karaoke
8 Thompson Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10013
(212) 334-5490

An ok place, the song selection is above average, as is the communal karaoke room - it is actually used and non-G&R songs are sung. The drinks are not cheap, and though it looks dumpy, is somewhat trendy.

Decor (2/5) - OK - the private rooms are oddly placed, and the communal room is oddly designed

Crowd (2/5) - Frat guys circa 1987 and locals

Drinks (2/5) - Over-priced and watery

Dive Factor (1/5) - Not a dive, just poor looking

Go to Sing Sing on 8th or K-town to save yourself the hassle.

Biny Karaoke - Picture

2005-06-12T21:03:00.000-04:00

BINY Kareoke in C-Town 6/11
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

The Trash Bar

2005-06-06T11:54:00.000-04:00

The Trash Bar
256 Grand St. at Roebling
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone: (718) 599-1000
Website: http://www.thetrashbar.com/

A bar set up to be a dive, but don't tell the bikers and sweaty rockers that. The highlight of a recent evening in the area, Trash offers seating in the form of old car seats (upstairs front seats, in the downstairs "lounge", back seats). The jukebox is excellent, 80s, Willie Nelson, hard rock metal - pretty comprehensive. $2 hot dogs aren't that great a deal but the free tater-tots every hour are. $2 PBR, cheap well drinks, and other cheap drinks makes one wax nostalgic for those 7th grade lunches eating army grade cafeteria tater tots and sipping on cheap booze (some of us went to NY public school). There is live music in the back, for those who don't care for a lack of high pitched ringing in the ear. Friendly hipsters, some biker and some rockers make the crowd interesting.

Decor (4/5) - Car seats, license plates, general roadside theme gets good points. Plus, car seats are pretty comfy

Crowd (4/5) - Nice mix, not too crowded, not too empty. Some counting on the free tater tots for dining, some hard-core drinkers

Drinks (3/5) - Average strength, fair prices

Dive Factor (3.5/5) - The faux dive turned into a pretty real one, though points are lost for not rock-bottom drink prices and general friendly atmosphere

Black Betty

2005-06-06T10:53:00.000-04:00

Black Betty
366 Metropolitan Ave (at Havemeyer)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Phone: 718-599-0243
Website: http://www.blackbetty.net

Black Betty is set up as a faux North African themed dive. Red walls, tattered seats, and other touches give the place a produced seedy decor, but one that is still a pleasure to spend time in. Ample room, many group tables and a central Wburg location makes it an ideal place to begin an evening. Though there early at time of review, there are DJs and live music (check out the website for further detail). The outdoor space is great, not too crowded, table seating, relaxed atmosphere... you can eat out there as well. This is a nice spot, though not a down an dirty dive, the drinks are pretty cheap, and the atmosphere is not pretentious (you won't find lone drinker, but you won't find striped shirts).

Decor (4/5) - Tricky, the divey middle eastern in contrived, but still divey. It works well however, along with the good seating and outdoor space.

Crowd (3/5) - Hipsters, vegans and neighborhood folk (who are hipsters)

Drinks (3/5) - Pretty good, $4-5 well, $7 top shelf. Well mixed.

Dive Factor (2/5) - Too friendly and laid-back a place to be a real dive, but still a good time. Looks like a dive, at least. Good compromise for your out-of-town friends who want to "totally go to a dive" but won't step foot in a real dump (i.e. Mars Bar)

Open Bars and All-you-can-drink Specials

2005-06-02T16:41:00.000-04:00

New York Metro, a fine source for lists of drinking related items, put out another list of places which have open bars or all-you-can-drink specials. Some applicable ones follow:

Select deals cribbed from New York Metro - extensive list here:

TUESDAY
8-11pm: Doc Holliday's The Deal: $5 for unlimited Bud Lite drafts.The Draw: Drinks are always as cheap as the dirt on the floor at Doc's, but this may be their best
special of all.
9-12pm: The Cellar The Deal: $12 for all-you-can-drink Bud, Yeungling, and well drinks (Thursdays also). The draw: Compared to Doc's, this basement bar's backyard patio is literally a breath of fresh air. Service can be slow: the barkeeps card all the babyfaces who walk in from the NYU dorms. Stay sober by making use of the pizza joint next door or the many takeout menus on hand.

FRIDAY
6pm-3:30am: Bar 4 The Deal: Any day of the week, $15 for unlimited PBRs and Yeunglings. The Draw: Hand over a $20 and get the change in quarters: the day-long beerfest at this casual Park Slope spot means you'll have plenty of time to beat the high score on the Ms. Pac Man/Galaga machine.

Playing Pool at Doc Holliday's

2005-05-24T13:37:00.000-04:00

Interior shot of Doc Holliday's and pool table

Doc Holliday's

2005-05-24T11:37:00.000-04:00

Avenue A & 10th street

Doc Holliday's benefited greatly from the demise of the Village Idiot, which had it beat in every category of the ironic country-and-western bar awards -- i.e. more bras above the bar instead of cowboy boots nailed to the ceiling, more space, better pool table, actual Bettie Page bondage movies instead of Bettie Page murals on the wall, genuinely insane old men who would eagerly discuss said movies with you instead of a few moody forty-year-olds, and, in a nod to this site's editor, slightly fewer NYU freshmen (although I really don't see the problem there).

But the Idiot is gone, and Doc's is still one of the better places in the Tompkins Square Park area, especially since it usually doesn't get quite as crowded as Niagara or some of its other neighbors.

Decor -- 3.5/5 ... all I will add to my above commentary is that the last time I was there someone looked at me, looked at Bettie Page, looked at me again and said "watch out ... that's a man" and then disappeared into the bathroom. Oh, and there's a pool table.

Crowd -- 3.5/5 ... sometimes one or two hell's angel types, but usually pretty typical for the neighborhood

Drinks -- 3/5 ... normal selection, reasonable prices

Jukebox (i just added this category) -- 2/5 ... 3.5 for the selection, but i'm not sure it's hooked up to the speakers. let's put it this way: if you really, REALLY like "a boy named sue," "folsom prison blues," "the devil went down to georgia," and really that's about it, you'll be in heaven

Dive factor -- 3.5/5 ... something about hipsters, etc.

Overall -- 3.5/5 ... all the above comments may sound kind of grouchy but I actually spend a fair amount of time here. A consistent and somewhat relaxed stop in a fairly keyed-up neighborhood. As usual it can get a little mobbed on Friday or Saturday night, but even then only for an hour or two. Worth a trip if you're in the neighborhood.

Holiday Cocktail Lounge

2005-05-24T10:59:00.000-04:00

Holiday Cocktail Lounge
75 St Marks Pl
New York, NY 10003-7944
(212) 777-9637
St Marks btw. 1st and 2nd ave (close to 1st)

The Holiday Cocktail Lounge is another bar in NY that you wish has a 30+ year lease and won't get kicked out by the next hot Tapas-Sushi-Boutique Burger fusion bistro / sake bar. Walk inside and the walls are a mix of liquor ads from the 70's and 80's, faded yellow newspaper articles about US soccer teams from the 70's, and Christmas lights. The TV uses an antennae, and doesn't really work (the bartender will give it a loving tap every so often). The drinks are cheap, $2-5 for beer and $3-7 for drinks. The place is spacious (even more so since its really never that crowded). Faux leather booths held with duct tape and faux wood plastic tables bring to mind the Simpsons quote re: Moe's "This place isn't a Faux-Dive; this place is a dive!"

Decor (5/5) - Great. Nothing past 1993 here. Looks like a dive out of a 1980s Rodney Dangerfield movie. Ample seating with rooms for groups, and also good smaller booths. Plenty of standing room if you are so inclined.

Crowd (5/5) - Bikers, old alcoholics, young alcoholics, cheap hipsters. Not an NYU freshman in sight.

Drinks (5/5) - Cheap, not too stingy a pour, cheap

Dive Factor (5/5) - The first 5/5 for a dive!

It beats its close-by dive neighbor, International Bar, as there is no interesting jukebox (I don't recall one at all). This is just a dingy place to hide and drink away. Perfect to spend an evening in, or at least to start out on the cheap. Nobody checking Crackberrys here.

Outside the Holiday Cocktail Lounge

2005-05-23T08:48:00.000-04:00

Holiday Cocktail Lounge - St Marks btw 1st & 2nd

2005-05-22T20:49:00.000-04:00

Dark Bar (name forgotten) near Rothko

Botanica Well Drink Bar

2005-05-19T04:00:00.000-04:00

Botanica Well Drink Bar
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Hotel Metro Rooftop Bar

2005-05-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

Hotel Metro Rooftop Bar (take far right elevator)
45 W. 35th St. (Midtown West)
between Fifth and Sixth Aves.
212-279-3535

Dives are relative I suppose. In NY, a rooftop bar that is anything but overpriced and trendy could, streching the definition, be called a dive. This is that rooftop bar. Stepping onto it, it seems like the roof of your friend's apartment, or, for suburban types, a porch. Some tables, a central standing area and lounge chairs are the furniture here. There is a happy hour from 6-7:30 with cheapish beer ($3). My non-happy hour Jack and Coke (a glass of Jack with a shot of Coke) was $7. Steep, but compared to the Pen-Top's $20, cheap for a rooftop bar. The music was a nice laid back mix of southern and classic rock, though other reviews note some sort of DJ (maybe this happens when the weather gets warmer in June/July).

Decor (3/5) - Like a porch. Not divey, not nice.

Crowd (3/5) - After work/hotel guests, almost all. No real other reason to travel to that area.

Drinks (3/5) - $7 is not cheap, but it was well poured. Beers are more reasonable

Dive Factor (2/5) - Compared to other hotel rooftop bars, this place is a hole, but, compared to other normal bars, its kinda nice

2 Years after the Ban - Smoking Bars

2005-05-10T16:43:00.000-04:00

While many bars look the other way (we don't post those little factoids for obvious reasons) there are some "legit" bars where you can smoke. The site NewYorkology does a great service in providing a list of who is left. While none on the list would ever make it in here (some are pretty swank), Circa Tabac is a great bar, dark, comfortable and with strong drinks, all sans a cigar store/hotel flavor.

Smith Street Pub Crawl

2005-05-09T19:41:00.000-04:00

Another good article from New York Metro outlining a Smith Street Pub Crawl.

McSwiggans

2005-05-09T16:24:00.000-04:00

McSwiggans
393 2ND Ave
New York, NY 10010-4627
(212) 725-8740

NOTE: There is an all you can drink special on Wed. nights till midnight. $10 a cup. The hidden cost is in tolerating youngsters spilling drinks on you and general crowdedness. Curmudgeons beware, socials delight, Wed is a different night.

McSwiggans is one of the better bars in the far east Gramercy area, and it happens to be one of the diviest. On any given night there will be a smattering of people at the bar, and maybe a couple playing pool or darts (though never a line for these things really). Booze isn't expensive, and the Jukebox has classic rock. If you want the deerhunter game, its here too, along with one of those LCD consols with note the difference pictures, seemingly taken from soft core porn. All in all a good place to spend a relaxed evening if you are in the neighborhood.

Decor (4/5) - More dingy than others (hence the higher rating). Pool table and darts nice add, plenty of things to do at the bar involving pointy metal things and big sticks (what better things to use drunk?)

Crowd (4/5) - Some mellow neighborhood people, some hard core winos. Good mix.

Drinks (3/5) - Normal price, good strength

Dive Factor (4/5) - Sans Wed., this is a pretty grimy and half empty place. High scores here.

Muldoons

2005-04-29T10:12:00.000-04:00

Muldoons
3rd Ave @ 43rd

Every once in a while, one gets the notion in one's head to have a proper lunch. Other times, one just wants to drink at noon on a weekday. For the latter crowd, Muldoons is a good choice. When visiting there at 12:15pm the bar was filled with office workers, construction crews (booze+heavy machinery+possible debris=avoiding contruction sites during daytime) and some regulars. On a sunny 86 degree day, the reason why we choose this pub rather than the host of other lunch time pick me up establishments along third below 47th was a little outside patio out back. This patio proved underused, or unheard of, as there were only a couple guests. A TV playing NY1 was perched so all can see, and there were about 4 booths and 2 tables.

The food was OK, if not a bit overpriced. When we got the bill, however, we were quite pleasantly surprised that our McSorley pints cost $2.50! In the future for the thrifty citizen, lunches there will be liquid. A friendly waitstaff and clientele mix make Muldoons an enjoyable island in the sea of midtown east power lunch/chain restaurants. Not too dingy, but not too nice, Muldoons is a good place for a pint, just avoid the food.

Decor (3/5) - Typical Irish pub interior, bar in front, tables in back room, then a patio out back.

Crowd (4/5) - Mixed. Though the decor may not suggest a "dive" the hard lunchtime drinking' crowd is one part of the equation

Drinks (4/5) - The other part of the equation. Cheap beers. Not sure about well drinks, but it seemed like a reasonable place.

Dive Factor (3/5) - Too "nice" a decor, but the crowd a
blogID=11467252

Botanica Bar Interior - PIC

2005-04-23T21:42:00.000-04:00

Botanica Bar Interior
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Botanica

2005-04-22T10:30:00.000-04:00

Botanica
47 E Houston St
New York, NY 10012-2749
(212) 343-7251
Between Mulberry and Mott

Though the westerly address and the name hint of a trendy lounge, Botanica is a very down to earth place nestled between an environmentalist collective and an empty lot on Houston street. Pretty spacious, with booths, tables, and a great back room, the decor is "sturdy ramshackle" (not sure what that means). The set-up is a big draw, as there are three types of layouts in the one bar. In the front, tables and booths with high, faux leather benches. In the middle, round tables for groups, then something that looks like a fireplace, some more group seating with a lower height, and then the backroom, which looks like someone's social club for hipsters.

Decor (4/5) - Divish, vintage furniture, shaky tables and chairs, looks like everything was bought at the flea market

Crowd (3.5/5) - Hipsters and locals seemed to dominate on Thursday night, though I hear NYU kids come to the place on the weekend. Not a hard drinking crowd though, hence the knockdown from a 4.

Drinks (3/5) - Not the cheap, but not too bad. $3-5 beers (though there was a $2 bud light pint special). You can also get food from the "kitchen" (some unknown source of delivery).

Dive Factor (3.5/5) - Somewhat divey, but too enjoyable to get the true sense (friendly people and medium priced drinks take away from the dive factor but add the the good bar factor).

Blue & Gold

2005-04-12T13:25:00.000-04:00

Blue & Gold
79 E 7th St
New York, NY 10003-8158
7th and 1st Avenue
(212) 473-8918

What would a Dive discussion be without mention of the venerable Blue & Gold. Delighting NYU students and alcoholics for years, the basement level bar is a fine trip to your excursion to intoxication. The cheap ($3+ ) shots and beers, coupled with the famous #1 or #2 "Happy Meal" choice brings in a good mix of people. Drink in a booth or loiter around the pool table. Also, check out the board games on the table.

Decor (4/5) - Hackneyed description, but like a 70's rec room. Board games and pool table included. Bar as you come in, booth seating opposite. Then in the back a pool table. Above the bar is the hefty list of shots, and the happy list of prices.

Crowd (3/5) - On Saturdays, striped shirts and baseball caps in the earlier evening pre-gaming, more drunken hipsters as the night progresses. Over the week more low-key, a better time to go. On all nights mixed age, though leans toward college to post college (yes, that vague age group)

Drinks (5/5) - CHEAP! Beers $2.50+, shots $3+ and a "Happy Meal" or a beer and a shot for $5. Good selection to boot, this gets a solid alcohol rating.

Dive factor (3.5/5) - Looks like a dive, priced like a dive, but the happy lookin' clean cut kids who come here on weekends detract from the dive factor (i.e. unhappy drinkers drinking in squalor). Still, well worth a trip to sit about and drink without eating into your rent money, or to drink before wasting your rent money on $10 fill-in-the-blank-itinis

Smokes at Rocky's

2005-04-05T23:11:00.000-04:00

Smokes at Rocky's
Originally uploaded by NYC Tom.

Vintage

International Bar

2005-04-05T15:31:00.000-04:00

International Bar
120 1st Ave
New York, NY 10003
Between 7th and 8th Street
(212) 777-9244

A true dive always leaves you wondering what type of disease you picked up there, and the International Bar obliges. Perhaps one of the last great dives in the East Village, International boasts a table with as many crags as the patron's memory.

Decor (4/5) - Anti-Bush, old vintage signs (not newly bought vintage, just old), dusty martini glasses make way for the more often used beer and mixed drink glasses. Dingy peanuts in the corner (that probably Jimmy Carter grew), inexplicable coasters advertising trips to Ryder's Cup - the place had few golf-looking fans.

Crowd (4/5) - Went on a Thursday, not empty not crowded, people just back from the film forum mixed with hipsters mixed with local drunks. The bartender was surly. The lack of scene was the scene.

Drinks (5/5) - Cheap and painful. Beers $2.50 - $4.50, shot prices hazy, but could buy 2 premium beers and 2 not premium shots for $16 (ok, that's $3.50 a shot). If you are into S&M the house shots are for you.

What is important to note was the quality of the jukebox. It had everything from country to classical to punk to hip new music &tc. Really one of the best in the city, and also a real draw.

Dive Factor (4/5) - The only reason it doesn't get a 5 is because people know its a dive, therefore softening the crowd. All in all a great bar.

Southside Lounge

2005-04-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

Williamsburg
Broadway bet. Wythe & Kent

decor: 3.5/5 ... small and cozy. i think there was a dj, but my memory is hazy.

crowd: 4/5 ... friendly and easygoing

drinks: 4/5 ... seemed to have a good beer selection, a little on the cheaper side, with good beer/shot type specials and good happy hour discounts

dive factor: 2.5/5 ... not really.

overall: 4/5 ... pleasant, friendly, not too loud ... probably a good end-of-the-night type place

Rocky's

2005-04-04T10:47:00.001-04:00

Williamsburg
Kent Ave. + S. 5th

The bartender told me this place was called Rocky's, but it seems to have a lot of names. you'll know it by the huge mermaid sculptures in the middle of the bar.

decor: 3/5 ... very spacious, high ceilings, pool table, little raised stage for a band ... kind of a warehouse feel overall

crowd: 3/5 ... almost totally empty but the few people there (who were all playing pool) seemed all right

drinks: 3/5 ... i really have no idea how to rate drinks, let's be honest

dive factor: 4/5

overall: 3.5/5 ... this place has some key ingredients of a dive: dark, mostly empty, located in a dicey neighborhood down by the river ... seems like it would be a great place to go see a band, or on a night when they have some kind of event (the bartender mentioned female mud-wrestling but i forget the dates) ... it's big enough and out of the way enough that i can't see it ever getting too crowded.

The Subway

2005-04-04T02:19:00.000-04:00

Williamsburg
Metropolitan & Union (right at the top of subway stairs)
(718) 218-7856

Stepped into this place to watch the massive & unexplained crowd of people across the street ... someone said maybe the L train broke down and they were waiting for a shuttle, but I never saw it. Other suggestions welcome.

Decor: 4/5 ... lots of cool subway signs & paraphernalia all over walls ... not a very divey effect, more like TGI Friday's, but still pretty cool. nice back room with pool table.

Drinks: 3/5 ... only had one beer, $5, nothing wrong with it

Crowd: 4/5 ... mixed and friendly

Dive factor: 3/5 ... points for being at the top of the subway stairs, but not very divey otherwise ... seems like despite its name we have yet to uncover many actual dives on this blog

Overall: 4/5 ... a solid bar. nice concept, not overdone, relaxed & friendly atmosphere.

Grand Central Bar

2005-04-04T02:08:00.000-04:00

Williamsburg
Grand St. bet. Manhattan + Leonard
(718) 387-5515

Not much to say about this one. Seems like it wasn't meant to be a dive, but it's becoming one because it's not really drawing a lot of visitors.

Decor: 3.5/5 ... interesting (read: creepy) art on walls, pool table, small raised stage for a band (no band) ... back room with couches seemed nice. TVs over the bar, tuned to sitcoms.

Crowd: 3/5 ... just one group of people discussing where else to go, plus a couple of older guys at the bar

Drinks: 2/5 ... standard selection of beers, standard pricing ... someone ordered jim beam or something else pretty common and they didn't have it, so that's a one point deduction.

Dive factor: 3.5/5

Overall: i actually liked this place. i think it would be great with a few more people. not sure when it would be busy though, if not on a friday night. let's say a good place to go with a group that can take over a section of it.

Pete's Candy Store

2005-04-04T01:53:00.000-04:00

Williamsburg
709 Lorimer St. (just above BQE)
(718) 302 - 3770
website

This place seems very popular, and I'm sure I'm the ten millionth person to review it on a blog, but here goes...

decor: 4/5 ... much-commented-on railroad car style room (where the bands play) is cool-looking but cramped. most of the points are for the large backyard area with smoking, which was much less crowded than the bar when i was there

music: 3.5/5 ... good band in the mopey neil young vein

crowd: 3/5 ... mostly young hipster types ... an awful lot of people seemed to be in the band that was going on next

drinks: 3/5 ... pretty typical ... beers $5, cheap shots

dive factor: 2/5

summary ... decent venue for music and worth seeing once, but a little cramped (on a friday night, at least) ... probably better on weeknights, and in the summer when backyard fills up and thins the crowd a little

Bar Food for the Down and Out

2005-03-28T17:22:00.000-05:00

New York Metro's website has a quality post about free food in bars. While Rudy's is well know for having free hot dogs (its dinginess still there, but with the gentrification of Hell's Kitchen... I mean Clinton, losing its charm - nice outside garden though) pleasant surprises were the Blind Tiger Ale House's weekend bagel brunch, starting at 1pm (it also has free hot dogs Monday @ 6 and free Murray's cheese Wednsday @ 6). and Rolf's with free German sandwhiches everyday @ 5 (and a pretty good beer selection), which is good as its bar is usually lacking at night.

Kudos also to New York Metro for their feature on old fashioned cocktails on the LES.

The Hanger

2005-03-28T15:06:00.000-05:00

The Hanger
217 E Third St
New York, NY 10009-7521
212-228-1030

Venue:
Coming in, a long bar to squeeze through leads to a mix of goodwill couches and 1940's era photographs fill the back room. Ample couches and seating in the back, as well as standing room if needed. Backroom-ish type area in back. Couches are comfy,

Spacing (4/5 - no troubles)
Lighting (3/5 - dark enough)
Dive Atmosphere (3/5 - not a true dive, but not fancified... one must lower the dive standard in New York)

Drinks:
Here your reviewer is hazy, so they must have been strong. Above average, though not that much, selection of beer and the usual liquors you would find. The drinks are neither cheap nor expensive (if I recall $15 for 2 good scotches) - $4-6 for a beer. Not drop down dive pricing, but not high trend-setter pricing. Service was very friendly, asked the patrons what music they wanted played.

Price (3/5 - normal)
Strength (3/5 - normal)
Selection (3/5 - normal)
Service (5/5 - friendly)

Crowd:
20's age some groups. Not that crowded, but was 2am on a Thursday.

Summary - A good place to spend a couple of hours if you can sit down and also a convenient stop before close-by music venues (i.e. nublu)

Detour Jazz Club

2005-03-22T10:33:00.000-05:00

Detour
349 E. 13th St.
New York, NY 10003
http://www.jazzatdetour.com/

Venue:
Detour has been around since 1995 and is one of the only non-cover jazz clubs of quality. The space is not too big or small, and at max could pack 40 people in. There are some high tables, some low tables and some benches against the wall. The tables are not too packed in, which is a common problem at NY jazz clubs. The candlelit tables are composed of old slogans and vintage ads, giving the occupant something to look at in between sets or if conversation runs dry. The lights are rarely white, with most being covered in transparent red, green or blue, with the stage area being lit, but not too bright.

Spacing (3/5 - better than most jazz clubs spacing, but still tight)
Lighting (4/5 - Dark enough, but not too dark not to see performers)
Table Wobble (2/5 - surf's up, thankfully the drinks are cheap)
Dive Atmosphere - (2/5 - Middle of the road, not dingy, but not fancy - points off for not being depressing)

Drinks:
A value - I hope they have a long lease. Any other no cover club would make it up with $10 drinks. Here, a martini is $8, and the top shelf beer is $6. Beers on tap include Yuengling, Brooklyn Weiss, Seasonal choice (Sam Adams White at the time), Carlsberg, Bass and Guinness. Big bottle selection including Leffe ($6) and others like Stella, Amstel Light, etc. ($5). I hope they have a long lease.

Price (5/5 - for a no cover jazz club not bad)
Strength (3/5 - normal)
Selection (3.5/5 - better than average but not blown away)
Service (4/5 - friendly)

* 2 drink minimum on honor system

Crowd:
Handful of friends of the band, some tourists (3 aggressive picture takers were then when we visited), a couple lone jazz (or drink) fans, some couples of all ages, some groups. On weekends I would imagine NYU students trying too hard, but a nice weekday crowd.

Crowd on Dive Scale (2/5 - happy and alcohol problem free)
Diversity (4/5 - nice diversity of age and interest)
Stranger Approachability (1/5 - this ain't the place)

And the band (Mirja Makela Quartet feat. Mika Pohjola) was great.

Summary:
Scores low on actually being a dive, but scores high on being a great bar to listen to music. When the music stops (12:30am weekdays) and you need a dive, International Bar (1st Ave @ 7th) is closeby, but do support the free venue (and the band) by drinking and tipping generously.

2005-03-15T22:58:00.000-05:00

Ear Inn Picture thanks to Forgotten NY

Forgotten NY Bar Crawl

2005-03-15T17:08:00.000-05:00

From one of the best websites about urban history comes the idea of the Forgotten NY bar crawl. You can read about the sites and see pictures here, and below find the list of bars:

Bridge Cafe (est. 1794!) - 279 Water St. (by Dover)
McSorley's Old Ale House - East 7th and 3rd
Chumley's - Bedford Street north of Barrow
White Horse Tavern - Hudson St. and West 11th
Ear Inn - 326 Spring St
Old Town Bar - E. 18th between Broadway and Park Ave. South

While McSorley's and White Horse are the better known, the Ear Inn and Old Town Bar pack patrons in as well. Chumley's also has a great burger. Bridge Cafe sounds great, perhaps a review is in order as it is a lesser known spot.

Welcome to NYC Dives

2005-03-15T03:42:00.000-05:00

NYC Dives is as the name, much like a commercial not featuring the product, suggests: a weblog about dive bars in New York City. While one can pick up a TONY, Dive Bar book, or search Shecky's, these tend to give a small one paragraph description, and repeat the same famous "dives" (McSorleySwigginsBlueGoldetc). Here at the NYC Dives, motivation and alcohol consumption at the bar permitting, we take a different approach. Pictures, interviews with bartenders, and "live reports" from the bars.

Be warned, however, as character of these places may change night to night. McSwiggans can be a diver's Xanadu Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but come Wednesday (all you can drink) and the weekend, enjoy elbowing with drunk NYU students and frat guys from Penn. These reviews aren't limited to the weekend, as the best dive bar, and drinking, experience is over the week. There are no Jettas from Jersey coming in to sample our city's fine bars like on weekends, it is pure New Yorkers, searching for a good time and an excuse not to be in the apartment.