Eh, I wasn't a fan. Definitely a dive bar. Bartender was rude, when i asked for a menu..said they don't have a menu and only serve well drinks. And when he eventually did serve my drink, it was in a smaller drink than the almost identical drink that my friend ordered... -.- The drinks were only $5 though. Crowd was very typical of a dive bar, ie not too young and not too many career types. Still decent number of people though so that's good (went on a Friday night around 10:30pm, btw). read more

Exactly what it is supposed to be. A neighborhood bar, for the neighborhood it lives in. I have a feeling most of the people who don't like this place probably don't live in the neighborhood. Been coming here for years for a great Guinness, great people and a killer juke. Not sure what else you expect from a neighborhood bar. Not to mention they are dog friendly. If you need a trendy scene you are looking in the wrong place. Pull up a chair and a have a drink. read more

I'm not much an Alphabet City kind of guy -- if I'm going out, it's not usually going to be in a place where I can be crowded into a small corner by collegiate frat types (not that there's anything wrong with that) when I had already staked my position at the bar. That's my spot, young'un, you best be steppin' off. But thanks to Mona's, we found a place to take us in after Ace Bar got to the point I half-expected Fire Marshall Bill to come in and tell us the place was too crowded. After a bit of a walk, we stumbled onto Mona's and got four beers and a table fairly easily without feeling like we were the only drunks out at 1 a.m. on a Saturday night. Here's to you Mona ... if I'm ever out in that area on a late night again, I know where to go. read more

I love dive bars. I wandered in here with my friends and it was great. Lots of room and strooooooong drinks. However, they turn off the jukebox at 10:40p (and then these great fiddlers started playing which was really awesome and refreshing). I smashed my finger in the bathroom, though. I am going to blame it on the door being too close to the sink, not my own drunkenness. Beware! read more

This bar was cute and okay for us to just sit and hang. Not much else to say... They have a pool table as well. People that come here look like regulars and pretty much know the bartender and stuff. Your basic naighborhood bar. (as one yelper mentioned) I was invited here for like a group gathering it was way back in the summer time. Don't remember the beers being ice cold and that annoyed me a little. Switched to a drink and that was kinda week but whatever, the company was good. Good to go if I lived down the block from this place but not somewhere you would go out of your way to go to. Just "ok" read more

I come here when my competitive pool team has to play here. It's not a bad spot.. DEFINITELY a dive, but drinks are affordable (and sometimes uber strong), though there's no food. But the bartenders will be happy to give you one of their 10,000 menus to order from :) Seems like a good place for a few happy hour drinks, they have a jukebox, pool table and Deer Hunter, but I'm not sure I would spend the entire night here. read more

My only regret about this place is not having discovered it sooner! It's a good thing I don't live in the area or I'd probably be there every night (heck, I'll probably be there anyway... I would deal with a long-distance bar relationship for a place this awesome). Cheap drinks all the time ($5 wells, lots of beers in the $3-5 range, $3 Guinness drafts all night on Thursdays), lots of interesting brands/types of alcohol especially for a dive bar (I distinctly remembered seeing a Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka bottle, and they had a brand of vodka called Balls...), friendly crowd with lots of regulars, a pool table, and skee ball in the very back. Every Tuesday they have live jazz, which is what I went for, but I'd love to go back on a different night to see what else they've got going on. read more

One time I dragged my friend here-- neither of us can remember why-- but it was pretty excellent. There were about 3 other people there, they all knew each others names and were extraordinarily drunk, and we felt so deliciously out of place that we were right at home. We went back recently, and it was even better. Definitely a total dive, but with lots of entertainment, including people that are VERY excited about buck hunting, and crazy old drunk people mumbling/wailing unintelligible wacky things. I'll go back, but mostly because it's within walking distance from my friend's apartment. Rock. read more

So I'm a little new to NYC, but up in Boston, Thurs night's are typically pretty crowded in the bars. Mona's, however, was just about perfect. Enough people to keep it lively, but not enough to keep you from getting a timely drink or three. Hell, I suspect I could have even gotten a game of pool in without much of a wait if I weren't too busy making wild gestures and knocking pints onto my girlfriend's lap. So yes, I was a bit drunk. That does NOT, however, taint my review. Quite the opposite, fearless reader! For the only reason why I was able to reach that state of sweet inebriation, is because Mona's prices accommodate even those on a homeless salary. Hell, they might even take food stamps there! Who knows? read more

I may have emphasized previously how great the jukebox is. Whatever I said, it was an understatement. I was able to spend $4 and essentially force the entire bar to listen to my dream Winter Mix. And they liked it. I mistook $3 Guinness night, and when I mentioned that I could hold out for three hours until the magic midnight struck, our bartender informed us that wasn't how it worked. Luckily, bartender-who-looked-liked-Clementine was able to meet my go-to request: "Something strong and tasty and ladylike and made with gin." WELL DONE BARTENDER. Let's get married now. read more

Cheap drinks ($5 well drinks & drafts), lots of space, and a jukebox. I'm pretty sure dive bars don't get any better than this. The bartender who was working when I went either hated life or hated me and my friends, but she was still efficient so I won't complain. Also, there was a pug sitting at the bar. Basically, if you don't feel like elbowing through a crowd of B&T bros and waiting 10 minutes every time you want a drink, Mona's is the place to go. read more

This is a perfect dive bar. You can sit amongst regulars from the neighborhood, hipsters, and other interesting characters. Knock back a $3 Guinness (or a few, if you so desire) and either delight in the crowd, shoot a game of pool, or move along onto your next destination. read more

You want to catch up with a friend and maybe play a billard game, this is your place. This is a great place to people watch the folks across the street going to Pouring Ribbons. read more

Good little small town vibe bar. It's a place where everyone knows your name :) no thrills or what not so just go there and have a good time and if you're in the mood to play some pool they have that too! read more

I like a good dive bar. I like a place with cool bartender, a ratty pool table, cheap hooch and old black bar stools. Mona's has got me covered on that end. I've rolled in here for a mid-afternoon beer; a mid-afternoon bourbon; a late night drink and most recently...the longest, sloppiest game of cutthroat quite possibly ever played. I think we actually gave up after about 45 minutes and just sat there drinking and forlornly looking at the table. A couple hours later, the bartender was yelling to us from the front of the bar as my buddy sat there holding his head in his hands, quite possibly napping. I found out the next day, we both ended up falling asleep on our respective rides home...way to go Mona's, way to go. read more

Best dive bar on the LES. Quaintly rude staff Great juke box, attractive and smart regulars.

Straight up neighborhood bar. Nice servers, and pool. No frills. read more

If it bothers you that you can't use your credit card for every drink you order, that a bar doesn't have a drink menu, that a bar doesn't have the food you expect or that you have any f*cking expectations about what you think you should find on Ave B and 13th Street...the truth is...you don't deserve to be there because you're not cool and you know it and everyone knows it, but you think you know what a 'New York Bar' should be, and you're trying to make every place conform to your expectations by writing long-*ss yelp reviews that really just display your lack of adventurous spirit because you really just want a $14 cocktail and a plate of $10 brussels sprouts and instead you find yourself face to face with a gruff bartender who pours you large glasses of booze at a fair price..and he doesn't try to be your friend, because that's not what this is about at all, and you are sad because you want everyone to love you and conform to your expectations and once again you're on yelp complaining and complaining, using language you picked up at some writers workshop ten years ago..and you don't have the words to review Mona's because you don't know what it means to be cool, order a drink, hand over some cash, listen to a great jukebox and be lucky enough not to be assaulted on avenue B like you probably would be if you'd been there twenty years ago, but you wouldn't have dared, because you know, in your heart, you don't deserve it. read more

I just had a terrible experience with the bartender who berated me for not tipping a sufficient amount. She rudely insisted that I change the amount on my receipt until I complied. Will never be returning here and definitely would not recommend. read more

I would have loved this bar, except that Mona made it a point to ask my two friends to order a drink or leave in the middle of a pool game. Not cool, Mona. Not cool. "This is a bar, not a pool hall. Everyone needs to buy a drink." I will buy a round, but not here! read more

The bartenders are horrible. I understand its the mood of the bar to be laid back and divey but to treat customers less than human is never what people want. I went here for a friends birthday. I wasnt feeling well and had chugged a ton of water which made me feel full and I was trying to get to the bathroom and a little bit of WATER came up. The bartender was a complete B. I had one drink the whole night and since I had no cash I used my card but there was a $10 minimum so I told them to charge $10 because I knew I didn't want to drink anymore. She kicked me out of the bar, yelling at me. I apologized and said I would clean up the LITTLE BIT OF WATER. Honestly, I've worked at bars and restaurants in New Orleans and have had my fair share of drunks and cleaning up puke but I NEVER treated anyone of those sick PAYING CUSTOMERS the way this woman did. I understand getting pissed but you work at a bar, it comes with the territory. The drinks were over priced. I love a dive bar but I will never return and caution people to stay away. There's so many better bars in the neighborhood. I don't go to a bar to be treated like crap by ratchety angry bartenders. Even before everything that happened the bartender was a complete a-hole. I don't need to waste my time or money on this place. read more

Mona's is terrible. You should tell your friends, especially the ones form NYU, not to come here. The pool table, Foosball and Big Buck Hunter are all the worst. The movies they show at the bar are awful and the live music that they occasionally have is abysmal. So please, go somewhere else and tell your friends to do the same. read more

$3 pints of Guinness awesome jukebox bring in your Artichoke pizza + five blocks from home _________________________ Yeah, I dig Mona's read more

Great atmosphere, incredible service and the music is exceptional. Let's call a spade a spade here and call it was it is, it's a dive bar. However, as far as five bars go Monas is a great atmosphere with service that adds to the experience and a draught beer list to keep the night fascinating. Good stuff. read more

So it's been almost a year since I was treated poorly at Mona's aka Sophie's bar. You think someone would have reached out to me and rectified this whole thing. But nope nothing. No contact nothing. read more

I found Mona's the first night in my apt on Ave. B. As their patrons slipped quarters into the jukebox they had no idea they were also turning my bed into a less than relaxing vibrating mattress. I went downstairs to see what all of the hulabaloo was about and that's when I started spending all of my time with Emmit the bartender who's very relaxing Irish accent and even more relaxing Guiness made me fall into a sleep that not even Hell's Bells on the juke could disturb. That's an Irish lullaby. read more

Only thing going for this place is the rag time jazz on Tuesdays. Staff is miserable and inhospitable.

Amazing LES dive bar. Probably my third favorite to the two Irish bars I have previously reviewed. I was there last night till about 3:30 AM. I was playing in the Irish session with some killer musicians so I was drinking for free which is always a plus. They also recently acquired a piano which is very cool. The vibe of the place and the music is kinda dark and moody. (I dunno what other nights are like, but Mondays are the shit.) The back room features a pool table, a juke box, exposed brick walls, and graffiti-covered bathrooms. By the end of the night, the bartender lit up inside which gave everyone else the cue to do the same. Indoor smoking in NY?? Shh... Great Guinness here, served in PROPER pint glasses! Watch out, some places have "pint" glasses that don't measure out to proper pints. You'll feel the heftiness of a true pint glass at this spot. read more

Although not local for me, this is the epitome of the perfect local watering hole. Friendly bartenders who share cookies and cheese (randomly) with you, pour a fair drink, and a great jukebox? Don't mind if I do. The pool table at the back is a nice touch too. Divey in all the right ways, yeah, I call that winning. read more

This could possibly be my favorite place to go on a Thursday night. Yes, it's a bit of a dive bar. But with $3 Guinness on tap, who cares? The bartenders are friendly and the music selection is usually good. read more

If you're going to buy PBR at a bar, it shouldn't be more than $2. I'm glad that Mona's got that memo. The music wasn't so loud that I had to scream at my friends. How considerate! There was a deer shooting video game. I've never shot a deer, but when I decide the time is right, Mona's here I come. read more

For some reason, Mona's always smells a little bit funny. But it's a dive bar, so it fits. The drinks are cheap and the bartenders are friendly, so I recommend it. Also, there's a pool table in the back, if you can manage to take it over from the pool league guys who dominate all night. read more

Went in with a friend the other day as a reminiscent visit. This place is great! It's sort of dive bar got a face lift. Lot's of space. GREAT beer prices and decent selection. Wouldn't mind visiting more... read more

A hidden gem, fantastic house band as well as a jukebox (not digital) of 70s to 90s favorites, a ski ball and arcade area and great drinks at a reasonable price. Sure to become a regular after happening upon it your first visit read more

My roommate and I first went to Mona's in search of Emmet, a bartender who is the stuff of legends. We were crushed to find he'd gone back to Ireland, but bartenders Chrissy and Brian--legends in their own right, it turns out--soon took the edge off with strong and cheap whiskey and cokes. Mona's is at its best when the regulars are at the bar, its worst when students and the tragically hip stumble in. (We once saw a group of students order pints of Guinness and take them before the bartender had finished pouring, drinking big swigs without a second spared for letting the stuff settle.) The jukebox is amazing, less so are the bands they have on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Trad music and students notwithstanding, it's a cozy, friendly, and a comfortable place for an after work drink or a Saturday night out. There's no better bar in the East Village. read more

Great music. Outside of Havana, it is hard to find world class music in a local pub like Mona's. Mona's is one of the few places left where this is still possible and affordable in NYC. The prices are low, and food quality is surprisingly high considering the moderate cost. Overall, Great Bar. Reminds me of old New York before the white washing. read more

Dark, dirty and smelly place, rude staff (especially tall skinny grandpa behind the bar), crowd is depressing, keep walking!

Pros: - $3 Guinness pints on Thursday nights - Quality pool table and jukebox - Good brew selection - Plenty of seating - Relaxed crowd Cons: - Incredibly slow bartenders - Distance from trains - Bland decor Verdict: It's not the easiest bar to get to, but the hike is worth it on Thursday nights. Bring a group of friends and imbibe in three dollar Guinness pints. Just don't forget your patience - these tenders are the slowest in town. read more

A true s-hole staffed by a true a-hole. No food. No ambiance. No service. The bartender managed to be rude to both me and my friend in less than 2 minutes. Yeah, I'm sure they have cheap drinks, but I'll pay an extra couple of bucks to drink out of clean glasses and get service from actual human beings. Ugh. read more

Mona's gets four stars for it's price and friendlyness. It's tough to beat $3 Guiness on Thursdays. If you're looking for swank or atmosphere, you should look elsewhere though. read more