I travel 6 hours just to see bands play this bar (psst catch The Sidney Green Street Band) Richie & Eliza are the best people & great bartenders/owners. Don't let the bikes out front deter you from stepping inside. Old school roadhouse dive in the very best sense of the word. Outstanding bands with no cover charge (please tip the bands & the bartenders!). Awesome front porch. Full bar. And you can order a cheese pizza but no regular menu here. Crowd is all ages, all walks of life. Parking lot. CASH ONLY ** ATM inside. Friendly! You'll keep coming back. Trust me. read more

See all

I don't know what the attraction is... The place is deceptively small and I can't tell why it's so small inside compared to the building size. No food, bar seats maybe 10 people, no room to move/stand and you're forced to sit on the front deck which is crowded. I hate giving bad reviews but I see no reason to go back. read more

My husband missed his bus from NYC to Wayne, and had to get off at Montclair so I had to get him. Not in the best mood, so we stopped in for our first drinks there. They had a lone singer, we had 2 drinks each - bought a couple for the singer/guitar player, and ended the evening with a smile on our faces. Had "Bar Pizza" which is what we'd pay $.99 for at the grocery store - but it was dinner. And then a patron shows up with hot dogs! We felt like we were invited into their home. Cash only and somehow we owed $100, but worth it. May go back - and sit outside. Wish we had motorcycles ... read more

See all

Great dive bar ambiance. Highly recommended. Very chill with low key crowd. Location easy to find.

The best place to go for drinks and amazing n awesome music. It's a must try it to believe it, if not you're missing out on the time of your life! Lisa Vig read more

Old. School. Dive. Bar. This place is great. BRING CASH. No CC accepted. Live music on weekends and special events. Definitely worth coming here! read more

Great Notch Inn - Bar - Bars Near Me - Little Falls, New Jersey

After all these years finally went there for the first time. Saw a friend play in a band. Small place but good vibe. It's cash only however they do have an atm. Glad this place was preserved through the highway construction. read more

Small and could be louder than expected. Bar service was outstanding and music venues exist. A fun place!

A great spot to visit for a refreshing beer or hard drink and enjoy live rock music. For years I always wanted to stop by, and my friend and I finally did. I met a my new friend to be there. People are kind and respectful. I love stopping by every chance I have. read more

Great little spot with a homey feel and solid pours. Lots of live music that I haven't been able to stay for but the regulars seem to love it! read more

Highly recommend as a Clifton resident who passed by the place my whole life. I personally get there before the live bands come on and enjoy talking to the owner Rich (who makes a great LIT, by the way) because he creates a very welcoming energy. When the weather gets nice the patio space is very large despite what it may seem from 46. read more

Great character to the vibe of the place, friendly crowd, good drinks and great live music. What more can I say? read more

Great Notch Inn - Bars Near Me - Little Falls, New Jersey

Been to the Notch many times over the years primarily when they have live music. Now this place has been around for a long time and use to be on the other side of the highway when the owners dad ran the joint then moved it to its current location. Now this place is not appealing to most folks especially when the bikes are out front but if your the right kind it's like home. Been here a few times when some of the NJ Devils players were hanging out but then again played hockey with many of characters over time. The place is small and is the size of a small living, dining room and den. Most times here the place was packed and the owner works the bar with help and is a friendly dude for the most part. When there's no band it's about drinking and when there's a band not much room to move. The parking lot is huge so parking won't be a problem. This place and many others were closed for a long time due to the idiot Phil Murphy and if you follow the statistics, NJ is the number one state for residents moving out and I have my last day coming in Dec-21, hooray but will miss this place and many others seeking out a life without a dumb Governor, terrible traffic and high taxes. read more

This is a great "Roadhouse" bar. Very small. Live entertainment on weekends. Been in the same families hands for years. A must stop at on a Sunday night! read more

I've been here two or three times in as many weeks and I have to say: I HAVE A GREAT F'N TIME THE MINUTE I WALK IN! I don't know what it is in particular about this place that always gets me. This is an old school bar. Cash only which, in my opinion, is it's only fault, drinking here is like going through a time warp where everything was simpler. I'm not kidding. Between the regulars and the bartenders there, you'll rarely ever look down at your smartphone. Great Notch Inn is very interactive. They, almost always, have live music playing and they don't charge a cover. Furthermore, Mondays is their Open Jam night so, not only do they play free live music, they open up any guitar, bass, drum player and/or vocalist positions to anyone who want to play so you can show up and just...well, JAM! I love it! Everyone is friendly and just walking in, you get a feel as if you know everyone in the bar because everyone there seems to know one another and they are very welcoming to newcomers. A long time ago, this establishment had a stigma of being a biker bar and, while they don't turn down any motorcycle club, it is genuinely a good, old fashioned bar where you can go drink, hang out, watch the game on TV and definitely enjoy some good tunes being played in a very intimate setting. Extra kudos for their actual front porch where you can take your beverages out with you whilst having a smoke. It's located on the westbound side of Route 46 which inadvertently almost seems to be one of that highway's exits, Great Notch Inn is a great place for groups wanting to come in and have a good time. Seating is limited but with a full bar and decent draft beer selection and some bar food and snacks available, it's akin to one of those historical treasures you have to visit at least once before you either die or move away from Jersey. read more

Owners are very friendly & cool. This place is historical and a must for motorcycle riders & fans. Great live music and plenty of parking.

It's a nice place with good live bands and of course a lively crowd, but it's very, very, very small venue so if you aren't comfortable in a tiny environment you can always step outside onto the porch or even onto the front lot and still hear the music :) read more

This is an institution. It looks like is a hundred years since it really is a hundred years old :). Been in the family for generations and they keep it that way. Decent selection of top-shelf and beers. On the highway with a large parking lot. read more

What a great little place! Stopped in here with my boyfriend who was visiting from out of town and Rich was so friendly and made the experience a great one! Can't wait to go back ! read more

I love the "Notch" always great music great friends n singing n dancing, that's right.... all the time, every time. It's the best place to have an ice cold beer & listen to some great classic rock & roll music, blues ~ everything about the Great Notch Inn is ..... awesome! Always a good time hanging out on the porch or sitting at the bar but mostly dancing & singing and having fun! I definitely give it a 5+ rating, if it went to a 10 star rating I'd definitely give it that a perfect 10 Richie n Gail n Lisa n Greg are so nice & friendly and always have great things to say about everyone. They're always smiling and laughing with everybody besides working so quickly to keep everyone satisfied. Extremely highly recommended ~ love this place! Keep on keepin' on you guys//gals! Love you all!! Lisa Vigilante :) read more

Picture this if you will....Guy and a girl walk into a bar...no this is not the start of a dirty knock knock joke, this really happened. A co-worker of mine and I found ourselves in the middle of Little Falls, NJ on a business trip. We are both Shower Curtain Ring distributors and wanted to go to a place to celebrate the large deal we just closed with the local high school. So we stumbled upon this bar right off the side of the road. There we are face to face with a big burly man dressed in all leather valeting Harley's sadly for us my coworker left her motorcycle back in Montana. I slipped the guy a Ben Franklin and we were granted entrance into the bar even though none of us have any tattoos or piercings. Here's where the fun begins. Just like you see in the movies, the needle scratched on the jukebox when we walked in and everyone starred at us. To break the awkward silence I let out a "hhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaa" the place went absolutely bonkers. I thought they were going to knock the walls down. My coworker had the time of her life, she was like a pig in shit, and the cougars that were in there really loved that I was wearing a jacket that was made from actual cloth and not leather with rhinestones. We introduced ourselves to a couple people playing pool in the back, one guy thought he was fresh and wanted to get silly with me, challenged me to a game round of pool. I politely declined, as I am not a big pool player, I like to throw darts and if he kept annoying me the next darts that will be thrown will be in his eye balls. The night was amazing, cheaply priced drinks, great crowd, and excellent music. Every time the front door flew open I thought Rick Springfield and Stevie Nicks were going to come in and belt out a duet together. We stuck out like sore thumbs, but I tell ya what, the woman in there loved couldnt keep their paws off of me and my coworker left me in the dust because she went home on the back a Harley with the bathroom attendant. I really hope her husband doesnt read this review. read more

I stopped here one late afternoon with my boyfriend after a ride. Bikes were lined up out front and music was pouring out of the open door. The bartender, an older woman, seemed to know everyone and was warm and welcoming to us newbies. There are tables and chairs on the front "porch?" where everyone was hanging out . I really don't know why I was apprehensive to stop in at first. I guess it's because Notch looks like the type of place where a Road House-esque young Patrick Swayze would be hanging out, ready to give out knuckle sandwiches to all unwelcome visitors. Great Notch Inn, you are actually a pretty cool place. :) read more

There is no better roadhouse where are the owners and staff take great care of you and the musicians are all amazing. There is not one bad night of music at the Great Notch Inn. If you have never been there but you've passed it many times stop in you'll be so pleasantly surprised and it will soon be your home away from home like it is for so many of us. read more

Amazing bar and historical place in NJ must visit. Great live music that you get to enjoy as you enjoy your drink with friends. Drink prices are very reasonable. Plenty space for parking read more

Great Notch Inn - Bars Near Me - Little Falls, New Jersey

See all

had a great chilled with some cool people ... would recommend to anyone who wants to chill and have a quiet drink

love the notch. love Rich the owner. definitely my fav little place. :) read more

This place looks really rough from the outside and it's not a modern bar but the place is a hidden gem. It's been there since the 1930's. It's family owned from the family that bought it in the 30's and has bands that play regularly. The owner is very nice and will tell you the history of the bar and you can tell it's special to him. He welcomed us in and super nice. It's a cool place. read more

Always a friendly face ! Cold beer and wide verity of liquor. The crowd here is like no other. You almost always meet a new friend. Good times for good people. And bike night is the bomb dignity . Yes I just bought that back... :) try this place!!! It small but powerful energy. Live music almost every night. See Rich he's the best!! read more

Great Notch Inn - Double shots! - Bars Near Me - Little Falls, New Jersey

See all

Really does have the best A/C in the summer time. In the winter time..... .....okay who really cares what time of the year? It's fun, always. Solid people sitting at and behind the bar. You can meet a retired journalist, a loan shark, a brain doctor, a mom who looks 35 but claims she is pushing 45... (cougars!!! believe me, they are here, ohhh yes yes they are here..!) If you into decent to decently hot, recently single, 40-is-the-new-30 milfy/cougar chicks wearing skin-tight leather and rhinestone embellished jeans and black crop tops/bikini tops.. look no further. Instant +5 points if you own - or plan on owning - or realize you absolutely NEED to own a Harley. You already know about the Notch, so whatever, you don't count. The place is mobbed on the weekends, and most weekday nights. What is the deal? I am quite fond of the Notch, I must admit. Everyone just keeps it real. I like that, yes... never had a bad time...never felt robbed or cheated out of anything... have gotten sufficiently smashed and not once did I feel unsafe or uncomfortable, quite the opposite, really. Like, if someone did anything out of line to me or to one of my girlfriends that was inappropriate, rude, or disgusting....there would be about 7 or 8 big guys tossing this pig onto 46. Don't come here expecting to get a seat. Not gonna happen, sorry friend, but this is the price you pay, and you better NOT sit in that god damn seat when the oldest-regular at the bar decides he is packin' it in for the night, oh no, no, no... you will let the NEXT person who has been waiting to sit in that chair for over an hour SIT THE HELL DOWN. Does your girlfriend's feet hurt? Awww, sweetie, you are at the Great Notch Inn. I have no sympathy for you and no one else does either. Well, that part is a little harsh, but this has happened! I was a witness to the meltdown of a chick wearing these heinous snake-print, open-toed, strappy-and-tacky, stiletto nightmare.... Yuck, oh and a 10-inch skirt. Freezing her ass off and feet throbbing in pain. She looked absolutely miserable. Do not be this girl. Get your cowboy boots or your biker boots. I love that look any way, it's so much more fun than the non-sense you see literally everywhere, ugh, keep shopping at Salvation Army, freaking hipsters. Right. Big point I am going to make. If you are a smug, pretentious, little slimeball, the lowest of the low, hipster trash, with your fake glasses and your fake ripped $100 dollar PIXIES t-shirt .... because you watched Fight Club in a film class you took at Essex CC that now you are, like, this Chuck Palahniuk expert..... ok, do not come here, the PBR is really over-priced and flat. read more

PBR on tap and not b/c it is trendy. 60 y/o biker chicks wearing next to nothing grinding each other. This place is a Poison video 30 years on. A true biker bar. read more

First- Do you have on jeans and a black tshirt? If not, keep driving...maybe any place in the world will accept you. There is a strict dress code. Second- Beware of disgruntled old man. He may look like Santa's little helper but his internal fury is much grander. Don't look or touch his motorcycle, or the rest of the elves come running for ya. Third- Cash only? Seriously, it's 2014 To conclude- I would rather play in RT 3 traffic than revisit this mid-life crisis. read more

I started going there in Oct 2013,,I loved going there the ppl were awesome,,and Rich was a great guy,,hope everyone is had met still continue to go and have a blast,,I miss alot of ppl,,,always recommend when someone needs a good place to go.... read more

Best air conditioning system in new jersey ..... They took the front door off!

History, bikes, beer, and non stop rock ... What more could you ask for? Super friendly crowd in this historic bar that caters to the biker crowd, but welcomes everyone. The owner Rich connects with all customers and makes them feel at home. This place is truly a gem for anybody a fan of dive bars and local musical talent. read more

Yes. I would come here again and again. Super friendly crowd, great band, the bar pizza was exactly what it needed to be, loved loved loved it! read more

If you are lucky a Sicilian will buy you molto cocktails.

went twice to see bands that were suggested by word of mouth, great bands , stops there, 3 beers all flat! no carbonation...no refunds either, very cold, aloof bar staff. this one jerk tapped me and shooed me away from being too close to his girl, 20 years ago I'd have dragged him out the door and thrown his ass on rt 46...I moved the 1/2 inch there was to move and mouthed blow me to him. no hard ass or trouble makers here, very civil crowd, fits 22-25 with a shoe horn. $5 a beer , should be carbonated...twice was plenty. no food, 1 oz bags of chips, $1.50 not for me or most people who want to be able to move a few inches at some point. read more

The Notch is my kind of joint. It attracts a wide variety of patrons, not just "bikers". Their drinks are the real deal and not too expensive. And they sometimes get good bands. read more

Great local dive bar! I stopped in about 9 on a Monday night and the place was dead, but then musicians started showing up and by 9:30 they had a rocking blues jam going on. By 10 the place was standing room only packed as people were dancing and just generally having a great time. I wish I didn't need to be at work the next morning. I'll be back again! read more

Love it. Very chill place. Cool biker crowd. Only complaint is when there's a band the music is too loud