Packed but cozy bar with good music. Generally good service but a bit confusing because bar service is separate from other service. They won't transfer anything. All the servers were lovely except a curly haired redhead who was mad that I didn't understand the distinction between "general bar service" and the bar service I had received previously... (what's the difference?) kind of aggressive and kind of ruined my night, or at least the mood. read more

Arr bar is a dope place with a great happy hour! Back room has couches And low music great for talking so you're not forced to scream above it! Cool grows super mixed and clean. Very attentive staff love this place and will return often hopefully today ! read more

After reading the reviews I decided to give Art Bar a visit. Thursday night a friend and I entered a well packed bar and ventured to the back room to see if we can score some seats. The back room was also packed itself with a 2 tables reserved. We manage to find some seating next to another group of people who were nice enough to make some space for us to sit. The Art Bar is a nice candle lit place where you can get cozy and enjoy the happy hour of 2 for 1 drinks. As far as the food goes we tried the fish and chips. Eh ..it was alright, I enjoyed the chips more than the fish and he enjoyed the fish more than the chips. Maybe next time I'll try the or chicken fingers or the nachos. Overall I had a decent time. It's nice low key place where you can take your date and have a good conversation of getting to know each other. read more

It's actually not too hard to find a seat at the bar at this tiny West Villager, and it's worth it to watch the blase bartendress custom-concoct the fun cocktails. (I got some sort of blackberry mojito.) The wraparound vinyl benches are also fun. But once it gets late, the (rather attractive) crowd turns unsuitably rowdy for such a laidback bar. Great location, cute drinks. read more

As far as bars with comfortable amounts of seating goes, tough to beat this place. There's copious amounts of seating both in the front and the back area -- though the back has a better spin with the plethora of couches and plush seating. Highly recommended for to take a group of friends or to go on a date. Drinks are reasonably priced and well prepared -- food is OK (if they improved on this one piece, then this bar would be an easy five stars). Service is excellent -- been coming here for the past couple of years and all those I've come across are very friendly folks. Give it a try - it's a nice haunt in the village. read more

I wouldn't have thought anything special about this place if I hadn't discovered a) the back room with the fireplace, persian rugs and pop-icon-last-supper-parody-mural on the wall and b) the pumpkin martini. Thanksgiving in a glass- delicious! For these 2 factors at least a cold-season revisit is in order. read more

Leron's Lesson: Art Bar is an excellent option in the west village if you want comfort, excellent service and a pretty good cheeseburger to go with your beer. Full Review: I came here halloween night to escape the insanity of the west village and have a few beers with my friends. After entering this excellent establishment I was greeted by bartenders covered in blood, pixie dust and guests wearing nothing but spandex. Halloween is the best night to go out. Art Bar has lots of booths, good to fit about 6 full grown adults comfortably. No children allowed at the bar. Also, they have a pretty cool back room with lots of couches and paintings that make this space unique. The service was excellent, extremely friendly and personable. I highly highly recommend going here to have a decent time and have solid conversation. read more

So Art Bar is really 3 stars for me... the drinks are fine (martinis all very sugary) and the food is standard food. The place is a little old and dingy. But they have great prices, and a fireplace in the back (past the bar!) - without being pretentious. Instead of feeling like you're sexing it up in a cozy old school library, you're sitting on old beat up college-style leather couches. There's a bit of art of the wall, but when I inquired, the server didn't know the artists (there's one big, particularly interesting tableau in the back). She said it's the most famous piece there and she should probably remember the name of the artist... Bottom line: the place doesn't meet my standards of what I like or expect in a bar, especially in the WV/MPD area. But it's chill and laid back, and does that well, which I appreciate. read more

I was here on a Friday evening in that limbo period between happy hour and the time that people actually go out to bars. They advertised a black cherry mojito in the front so I ordered that. It was ok--a little too maraschino for my taste. And it was $8. But we sat in the back on a comfy couch, admired the cool paintings around us, and found that the music was at a good volume for talking and being heard. So all in all, I'd go back and maybe just get a beer next time. read more

Great cozy place to spend a weekday evening (especially since it is far less busy then). The food is good, the atmosphere is perfect to catch up with friends or just enjoy a random evening out and about. Service was SERIOUSLY lacking from the waitress, but the bartender was on top of her game which made up for it. Definitely a chill place to enjoy in the area. read more

I have a love/hate relationship with art bar. Sometimes its fantastic, other times its HORRIBLE, so consider this a review with 2.5 stars.. Love the back, really cozy and comfy perfect for dates. The "art" on the walls is a little skeptical, but it rotates enough that a simple side eye will suffice.. My main issue is the service. When I first started coming here it was great, but every time I come I seem to find something a little off. But this particular night started with a strange look from the bartender for ordering a drink at the bar and not from a seat (what? I don't get it either) and then very short service in the back. You would expect that from the comfy couches and chill music in the back you could hope to relax with your date, but leave it to your waitress to pop by every 5 minutes to remind you that her shift ends soon. That being said, every night that has art bar in it is memorable, good or bad. I'll be back.. probably.. ugh. read more

The back room with couches is great for a casual, intimate date. The drinks are good and well-priced. Busy and loud on a Thursday night, but not too much. You may have to get there by 9/930 to get a couch. However, the waitress did not anticipate us wanting more drinks. She only came at the very beginning and had to be flagged down to get the check. If she would have checked in on us once or twice, I guarantee we would have got another round. Funnily enough there weren't any pauses in conversation with my date, so I couldn't hail for the waitress if I wanted to. Keep this in mind when you go. read more

Really cool space that just goes on. There is almost a hidden back room (I didn't know about that initially). Drinks were reasonable and the atmosphere was really relaxing (I wish I had on sweats though). I would go back. read more

This bar was close to where i was staying i thought i might check it out. it was totally chill and relxed atmosphere, bartender was super friendly. They do have happy hour but I forgot what it was exactly. I highly recommend this bar. read more

Happy hour is very good deal here! Was also hungry, had the fish and chips but that was nothing to write home about. Samosas were good (albeit a little pricey) and dumplings were also good. Have a martini - you wont be disappointed. read more

A-ok. Thanks to yelp, I've always assumed art bar to be closer to west 4th than meat packing district. So i've always been a tad lazy to "walk down to the village". The happy hour convinced me to make a trip to the village, imagine my delight when i realized it was more meatpacking than west village. woooohooo. happy hour, from 4-7pm means 2 for 1 drinks - well drinks, beer and wine. Honestly, I'd stick with beer, the well drinks...were...to put it mildly, quite gross. And for a bar that calls itself"Art Bar" I didn't notice too much atmosphere or art :( was definitely a little disappointed. read more

I love this place! The front area is nothing special, but keep going to the back and you will find the cutest set-up of couches and coffee tables. It's the perfect place for intimate conversation with friends or date. read more

1st visit: Was only here for a short time, liked it. Reminded me of bars at home. Just wanted some wine, good house Cab... and randomly found out it was happy hour! Nice chill vibe. Only 3 stars because I didn't stay long, but will definitely have to check it out again to review the food and other drinks. read more

Haven't been here in ages and tonight was an odd one. For starters there's a $10 minimum on cards which is great because it's cheap. I ordered a drink and went to sit at the back. to wait for my friend to arrive and just relaxed in a warm, dry place. When I went to close my card after ordering a round for my friend and I the bartender, who was busy cleaning glasses, said it was "too much, ask the waitress". The waitress that had 4 booths and the whole back area to herself (no one else had been serving at that time). After that I was just thrown off. The waitress was attentive and quick. The crowd was chill and the music, while not anything I enjoyed (until they played The Smiths of course) would've been worse. But I wont be back due to the fact that two drinks and closing my tab was too much for the bartender. Lame! read more

This is a laid back bar with reasonable prices (for nyc). The back area has a bunch of couches so it's pretty cozy. I stuck to my usual (vodka soda) so I can't comment on the other cocktails but a few girlfriends had the martinis and said they were good (not bad considering they were listed at 7.00). I tried some spring rolls, which were delicious. The couple next to me got a burger and it looked amazing, I will definitely be returning to try the food. Our waitress was nice and very accommodating considering we were such a big group. I also really liked that she kept a running tab and then at the end we were able to go up to her and tell her what we had and pay individually. I hate being one of fifteen adults looking at a long check and trying to figure out how to split it; much easier the way the waitress set it up for us. I will definitely update this review when I return sometime within the next few weeks hopefully :) read more

One of my favorite bars in NYC. It's a good place to chill with some friends - lots of space with comfy places to sit and good drinks. I've been here a bunch of times with friends and only ever sat in the back. The front and back parts of the bar seem to have totally different vibes; I would say the front is more of a traditional bar and the back is definitely more of a lounge. Anyway, the back has lots of comfy couches and chairs clustered around tables, with dim lighting and music that's loud enough to provide background noise but not too loud. This place has a great happy hour, though I've been here late night and their regular priced drinks are also affordable. I like that the artwork on the walls changes periodically; it seems like every time I go, there's something new to admire. You can't leave Art Bar without checking out the Last Supper painting - it's one of the few pieces in the bar that you can't buy, which is a shame, because I would gladly throw away my whole savings account on that painting alone. So so cool. I've tried several of the appetizers here - the nachos, chicken fingers, samosas, and quesadillas - and they're pretty standard bar food, but still tasty. The portions are pretty large, perfect to share with a group of friends. The service has been great every time I've been here. The waitresses have always been attentive and check on you throughout the night to see if there is anything else you need. I took off one star because the bathrooms are really grimey (and I usually don't even care what the bathrooms at a bar are like) and because this place is sometimes frequented by obnoxious too-drunk girls and a few too many hipsters during late night hours. But other than, it's a great spot and one of my staples. read more

I really like the vibe of Art Bar. Walk to the back area and you enter into this really chill, warm, and comfy space. Great for groups of people! The front area is not too appealing -- reminds me of the 70s. Great service and food -- my friend actually dropped her burger, we told the server and without any hesitation, she said no problem and got her a new one. That was something special! Delicious curly fries too! Yum!! Cheap beers as well! Approx. $5.50 each! read more

Not too bad. Interesting layout with the bar out front with little booths & a more relaxed "living room" style in the back. Drinks are relatively cheap ($6 beers). The only thing I didn't like was the service. It seemed like the whole place was packed and yet there were probably two bartenders and one waitress for all the tables. If you're not in a rush it's bearable seeing as the prices are good. read more

Went here on a Saturday night, about 11pm. I was pleasantly surprised with the spaciousness and quietness. We met good friends there and were able to hold a conversation and we got a booth right away thanks to the friendly bartender (didnt have to order food to sit, which was fantastic). We sat there for a few hours and our waitress was very attentive and friendly. The back room looked welcoming, even though a little tight. The restrooms could have been cleaner, but hey, this is NYC, not a surprise. I will definitely go back here! read more

I went here for drinks last night and it was an unexpected nice little find! I like the round booths - it's good for small groups (no more than 4, unless you're unnaturally thin and maybe you can squeeze in 5). We were in a seasonal mood so we stuck with Southampton pumpkin ales, but the cocktails looked amazing. They had a bloody mary with bacon vodka, which I think sounds like pure genius, and they had a lot of other creative drinks listed and they were decently cheap too. It's a narrow space in the front room, but to the back there are more tables and a lounging area, which evidently houses live music a few nights a week. I guess it was kind of loud, but we got there really early (8:30) so it started off quiet and then filled up as the night went on. A few beers in we ordered the curly fries and buffalo wings, both of which were great. The only weird thing about the menu is that the pricing was strange - the edamame was like $7 and the fries were like $4 (hence our reason for getting wings and not edamame!). We didn't get to check out the art, we were too busy catching up and chatting and having a good time - we'll have to do that next time. It's a nice little spot in a great location, I'll be back for sure. read more

Went on a weeknight to meet up with some old friends after work. LOVE LOVE LOVED IT! Food was perfect, drinks were great. Vibe was the best part of it. When you first walk in it's just a normal bar with booths and a normal crowd but go into the back and you're in your dream apartment, basically. Exposed brick, comfy couches, casual vibe. I could have hung out there all night it was awesome. Our waitress wasn't awesome but I wasn't expecting the best service ever and to be honest didn't really want her coming over all the time -- she was nice when we decided to stay for a few more drinks after she had already brought us the check. read more

Love this place! There's a great happy hour where wine, drafts, and well drinks (I think) are all half off! You can get a pretty good glass of wine for 3$ which sounds like a good deal to me. Normal prices are 6.50-ish for glasses of wine, 5.50 for beers, 8-10$ for specialty drinks which is not expensive either. I've also come here late night and there's always been a pretty great atmosphere. The front looks like a traditional normal bar, but if you keep on walking deeper in you can see that there is a more lounge-like area with couches. The bartenders are always pretty nice and there's always a pretty good crowd. A little difficult to get a hold of them but which bartenders aren't in NY bars? All in all, a great place to come chill with some friends and for some low key drinking. read more

I love this place. The back section is adorable. There are couches to hang out at in the back if you get there early enough to snag a spot. Note: Long Islands here are a bit strong. read more

Came here on Halloween, just as it was opening, so we headed to the back room to grab some couches. I ordered a mojito and I'm not the biggest fan of mojitos but this place has the right proportion to mint and alcohol. I hate drinking a mojito and then not know that I have a huge piece pf mint stuck in my teeth. That has happened way too many times. They were strong and after my second one I will have to admit I was a bit buzzed. I'd give it 5 stars but I wasn't too keen on the food here. It's a great spot for a date but I'd probably go to a restaurant beforehand and then end up here as my final destination. Seriously try the mojitos.... they are that good. read more

This spot is a true gem. It's not many (good) bars in Manhattan where you can get a quality $6 draft beer and $7 glass of wine AND a $7 veggie burger all at once. I've been here twice now in the past two weeks and the reason I keep coming back is not just the cheap drinks and food, but the ambiance. Walk in and you'll see the classic bar with 5 or so booths. The trick is to keep going and walk in behind the curtain - there, you will find a small room full of squishy couches and artwork clad walls. Unlike a lot of places in trendier neighborhoods where you need to jostle for a bar stool (or pay $12 for a meh cocktail), you can grab a couch here no problem and settle down with a $8 cocktail or a $28 bottle of champagne, if you're feeling bubbly. Also, both times I've been I have seen multiple couples some clearly on their first date and some going at it like the couch was their own personal hotel bed. Either way, great date spot! And (my personal favorite) ladies night read more

I meet friends here for happy hour one random Thursday night. The back room was completely full, and so were all the tables by the bar. The 4 of us squeezed into a place at the bar. The female bartender was nice, the Ginger Mojito was alright, really nothing to special about it....We waited for a table to open up, so we could order food. The Spring rolls were alright, again nothing to write home about....the crowd was mostly couples and a few groups. I didn't see any peeps that were DTF and honestly the crowd was pretty normal (not really attractive/not really unattractive) really nothing to write home about! It kinda reminds me of being at a bar in Jersey City! I'm not really sure if I'd go back....with so many bar choices in NYC, this one really did nothing for me. read more

Comfortable seating (front booths are perfect height resting your arms, and back area has tons of couches/pillows), cheap beers ($3 drafts from 4-7 every day), and a diverse food menu by anyone's bar standards.. Great place to catch up with friends. read more

A friend told me about this place being her favorite bar to go to a while back, so I decided to check it out for myself. In the front, it looks like a normal dimly-lit bar that's nothing special. But if you head towards the back through a small hallway, the bar opens up to a spacious high-ceiling room filled with couches, small cocktail tables, and art plastered all over the walls. Such a great place to meet up for happy hour with friends after work or intimate date at night. The first time I came here was before heading to a club in Meatpacking with a girlfriend. It was straight throwback season when it came to the music playlist, so I was totally digging the vibes. I ordered a Butterscotch Martini while my friend had a Chocolate Martini. I mean, for $8 the drinks were delish! Pretty cheap, too. We also had another round with their Mojitos, which I highly recommend. LOVE! I've returned here a few more times, but for their happy hour. Their appetizers are not bad; calamari was fine, guacamole and brie was decent, and cajun popcorn shrimp was real good. I always try to make an effort to come out to Art Bar whenever I'm looking to chill and pregame for the night or for a date. Def recommend if you're looking to get cozy and stay low key. read more

I really love this place. Came here on a date and ended up staying for 4hrs drinking the amazing sangria and having some fun conversations on their couches inside. The place gets full, and people come sit next to you on the couches, they are meant to be shared. And no one minds. The crowd is young and fun, friends in groups, couples canoodling. The wait staff is friendly and leave people alone, while making sure they are getting their drinks. It was one of the most fun evenings i've spent. Great spot! read more

Specifically chose this bar for a date because of the back room and the fireplace. I called ahead of time to ask if the fire would be on at 2:30pm (as that was the whole point of the day - finding a place to drink by a fire in the cold) on Saturday and what the chances of getting a seat close to the fire was. Woman told me the fire would definitely be on and that we would definitely get a seat as so few people come that early. Score! When we arrived, the bartender seemed annoyed that we even showed up and told us the back was closed (the front of the bar is def not great - only the back room is worth the visit). I asked if there was anyway they could light the fire for us for one drink. He gave an attitudish no. After our 1 drink (we were not going to stay for more as the vibe was awful and the front door was open making it freezing) I went to the bathroom in the back and guess what? The fire place was roaring. There were plenty of tables and no one back there. The bartender, seeing me back there, explained that there was a party coming later in the day - I guess he didn't want to wipe the table down for the party that was coming later after our drink? Not sure why he made such a big deal of not letting us back there. I will never be back, that's for sure!!! read more

I don't exactly know why, but this place just didn't really appeal to me. It's a good local dive-ish bar in the west village, but there are plenty of other good ones. Food and drinks were alright, and service was a tad slow. Despite all of this, I actually WOULD come here again, only with more people (instead of just 3). I think this is the type of place that kind fades into the background and doesn't try to overly impress you (which I appreciate), so the crowd that you go with plays a much bigger role in determining if you're gonna have a good time here. read more

I've only been on weeknights, but I've heard it can get really packed on weekends. When you first walk in, it's a tiny bar with booths along one wall. I wasn't very impressed, but when I entered the back room, I was blown away. There are half a dozen couches, all very cozy looking. People with bed bug phobia might take one look and run out the door, but I found it very homey and low key. The waitress was just attentive enough and wasn't pushy at all. The prices are unbelievable as well! I had 2 drinks and something to nibble on, for a grand total of $12! I almost forgot I was in NY. There were only 2-3 other couches occupied with each time, so it felt very relaxing. I can't imagine a packed room with people hovering over the couches, or blocking the narrow passageways between couches...I think I'll just stick to my after work happy hours at Art Bar. Bonus, it's close to one of my favorite Italian restaurants: Piccolo Angolo read more

This is a hugely biased review because this is my neighborhood locale - and pretty much the only cheap bar in the area that i like - but still, I honestly love this place and had to give it 5 stars :) When you first walk in to art bar the seating doesn't seem great but walk to the end of the bar to the back room which is much nicer with comfy sofas that are especially cozy in winter because they have a fireplace! Friendly staff, cheap drinks and late night service. Definitely recommended! read more

Seeking out a Happy Hour nearby the office, Yelp produced this wonderous place. See, it was Valentines Day and I needed to drown my sorrow. Luckily their half price happy hour went until 8, which fit snuggly into my limited budget. My friend and I grabbed two plush chairs by the fireplace in the back room and had a great time despite the numerous couples making out around us. I don't blame these couples, the couches and low-lit room make for the purrrr-fect cozy date place but does not serve them exclusively. People were also celebrating a birthday in the back room, taking shots and what not. The front part of the place seemed more up to party though. The menu items are also reasonably, reasonably priced. I think the mozzarella sticks we got were like 6.50. They had salads, sandwiches, more than your standard bar food, but not too far out of the realm. read more

Great place. Good service. Great place for a date if you don't want to SCREAM & SHOUT just to have a regular conversation. If you want a real comfy place to hang and sit on very homely but cool sofas go through to the back section behind the curtain. Overall a really nice experience. I'd go there again and again. Don't ask me about the food. I'm a Brit not a foodie. Its all food to me ;) read more