Went on a Friday night around 11pm and it was pretty crowded, sort of impossible to sit down or interact with anyone. The upstairs lounge was nicer though, and the pianist was pretty good. I wish there was more space in here because that would've made the experience much more enjoyable, but we ended up going to the Stonewall nextdoor instead. read more

Two out-of- towners wandered into The Duplex late one August evening. They were weary from walking and in need of some entertainment and stiff drinks. They knew they had come to the right place when they walked upon the doorman engaging a stately woman, dressed for the night in skirted spandex and size 11ish heels. "Downstairs is the piano bar, upstairs you get me", she said through a smokey exhale of what I fantasized was a Virginia Slim, but was more than likely a Marlboro light. Without hesitation, the two travelers made their way upstairs. They passed a bustling piano bar on the left, but they already had their sights set on the upstairs entertainment. They made their way to the bar and were promptly greeted by a theatrical bartender. He danced from one customer to the next and didn't miss a beat. He served the couple with a heavy hand and they made their way to the last available seat to settle in for the show. The air was heavy with anticipation and a small crowd began to form. A young couple at the bar ordered a second.. or maybe third round and then, she appeared! The glitzy gal from outside burst onto the stage and immediately demanded our attention with a comical account of the night before. She was working through a day long hangover, you see, and she nursed it with tequila shot after tequila shot throughout her performance. I think I fell in love a little bit. The performance turned from comedy act to lead vocalist about the same time as her skirted spandex became skirt-less. With one fell swoop the skirt and an another tequila shot were gone. It pains me that I cannot remember her name but she embodied the best that night- Celine Dion, Madonna, Adele, Whitney Houston- never missing a beat. Yes, this was a night to remember for two weary travelers. We left The Duplex feeling like we had found our NY neighborhood bar- a place that welcomed us and everybody else with open arms and proper pours. We will find our way back here one day and hope that when we do, the lovely lady that made our night will be center stage. read more

Fun, tiny piano bar! Somehow we were able to get a table here. Well, not so much getting a table, more like squeezing in between two parties and sharing tables. Our server was friendly and attentive, even considering his occasional turn up on stage, along with the rest of the staff. Such a fun environment, and a very cool space! read more

Great venue. Sit back, grab a drink. Enjoy the piano player. Totes aws bar staff. Relax and enjoy your time. I did. And it was (to quote an Aussie) totes sick - that's a good thing btw !! William B is the best singer/bar manager IN THE WORLD!!! read more

I don't know how this qualifies as a "dance club" lol its tiny and people are packed in like sardines! Nevertheless, some exceptionally talented singers, musicians and comedians perform in here! The waitresses are adorable and hilarious themselves. Mixed crowd, definitely straight friendly, in fact I would say that over half the people in here are usually straight. Typical bar drinks, but a little funkier and friendlier atmosphere than the typical w.village bar. read more

This is one of my favorite bars in NY..but I may be a bit biased since I used to work there when I was a resident of the "Isle of Joy". A fun, piano bar/cabaret venue where you can drink, be merry and sing a show tune or two if you like. It's basically a live broadway karaoke bar and it's a blast. If you aren't into the live music, the upstairs bar is a more club atmosphere with regular top 40 music and music videos going playing on a large screen. The atmosphere is fun and on my recent trip to NY, it was great to revisit my old stomping ground and see old friends. The Duplex is also located literally 2 doors down from the infamous Stonewalls, where the gay rights movement really took flight in the city in 1969 when a group of gay men and women took a stand against the local police force. The owners of the Duplex also own the Stonewall, so there is a lot of history going back and forth between the two bars. All in all, this is a great place to have a good time and meet some very fun and interesting people. All the pianists are very talented and very accommodating to the drunken demands of a group of guys wanting to burst out in song and sing "It's Raining Men". :) read more

On Sunday nights, Brian sings and plays piano. He takes requests. He talks to the audience. He'll do a shot if you buy it for him. He'll play that Sondheim song for you, even though you've already pressured him into playing what you think are the greatest songs from the greatest musicals ever written. The drinks are a little pricey and the bar is a little dirty, but it's a decent time on a Sunday night. read more

Love this place!! MARIA... You gotta see her!! She's amazing! Sings as well as she serves! Fab bar with great love music.. Karaoke esque.. Best left to the professionals... And they're fab. Highly recommend this for straight as well as gays read more

The Duplex - Drunk in love!!! - Gay Bars Near Me - New York City, New York

Such an amazing place. We stumbled upon this and almost didn't stop in, but I'm glad we did. We came on a Monday, which was story telling night. The MC pulls names out a bowl and people get up and tell their stories. The customer service was awesome! Will absolutely come back. FYI they also have late happy hour. read more

Fun classic NY piano bar. Weird bathroom situation weak drink, awkward layout..... none of that matter. It's a fun, age-diverse crowd, and you singalong to show tunes and 90s pop, and you feel no FOMO at all. read more

I'd heard great things about this place, so had to check it out. I was out on my own. Walked in and sat at the bar. Piano guy was singing and then the bar staff joined in. Cracking singers, good songs. The reason it is only A-OK is that it was pretty empty and REALLY straight, apart from the gay guy behind the bar and me the others were straight. I am happy with straight friendly places, but all majority straight. C'mon guys you have so may cool places to go to, leave it alone. Bar staff, not great customer service, too busy having fun with each other and singing. Perhaps I went too early and should have gone upstairs (empty at the time). I was there from 10pm to 11.30pm. The three straight girls sat next to me at the bar and their conversaton about guys, got me hooked, so i stayed. I'll go back and give it another chance........but it might be one of those fabulous gay places that straight people have taken over.........thats life........it'll come back to us soon, lets hope. read more

Came here on a failed stag do, two Brits were welcomed with open arms to a fantastic array of staff and music. We were quickly embraced an immediately felt at home at the place, the manager Darin an amazing credit to the business and also I would like to mention the piano player and obvs Charlie "top of the rock". Really would recommend to visit it has added a brilliant dynamic to our trip. Yours, (the Brits) Aka Cory an Bilal Aaka the shirtless straight guys. read more

I had the pleasure to go to the Duplex on a Monday night to see Darius Frowner's Singer Spotlight. Darius is a talented and gracious host who keeps the room running with a staff of talented/ funny performers and very talented regulars who attend religiously along with the couple surprises (to the upside) who wander in off the street or have heard of this evening which Darius has been rocking for many years. I had a blast, flirting with the attractive and friendly crowd and singing along.. While there is no music charge, be careful of the drink prices, without knowledge of the prices, I ordered two pints (recommended by the staff), and two shots of patron, and gulped when I was given the cost of $48.00 and sinnce that was all i ordered, It was well worth it for the entertainment vallue! read more

We were in the village and looking for a fun piano bar. Wow the Duplex was exactly what we were looking for! Amazing talent and staff. Don't miss it!!! read more

Some friends and I ended up here at the tail end of a bachelorette party last night, and we had such a fantastic time. Everyone was wonderful. Brain was singing and playing the piano, and he was super talented, funny and just a total sweetheart, especially to our bride-to-be. The waiter, whose name I unfortunately didn't catch, was great, too. Attentive, charming and also very sweet. And the bartender! She's got a wonderful voice. I don't know her name, either, sadly, but I think she was filling in for someone. Regardless, we loved her. Shortly before we left, Natalie Joy Johnson arrived and stole the show. She was the perfect note to end our party on. She was over-the-top, hilarious and just lovely. Thank you, Duplex, for a wonderful impromptu end to our bachelorette party! It was perfect. read more

Fantastic place!! Loved all the workers there. So friendly and lots of talent. A great place to have a good time and sing to some great songs! I was laughing the whole night while I was here. read more

Spent a week in New York to play some shows and my intent was to check out some piano bars in my off time. I decided to check out the Duplex on a Thursday night and I was pleasantly surprised by the marquee talent in the room. The pianist was Darius Frowner. He was hosting a piano singer spotlight. There were musicians from Broadway, and other guests who simply wanted to jam alongside pros. And the whole experience was very encouraging and fun! The bartenders were very funny, welcoming, and damn talented. I was incredibly pleased with the variety of genres played throughout the night, as I'm not very well versed in theatre music. Darius hardly took any breaks, and took the time to chat to seemingly everyone there. Definitely planning on catching him and the awesome staff again on a Monday or Thursday. read more

A great bar with a fantastic vibe. Downstairs there is a piano bar and upstairs you will find a second bar where there is a drag show almost every night of the week. Upstairs you will also find one of the best bartenders in NYC, Justin! If you are looking to have a great night, definitely check out The Duplex!! You will not be disappointed! read more

Cute, fun - feels like a very friendly neighborhood bar. People were having a drinks after work, but nothing to rave about. Service was very fast and friendly - they played a lot of 80's music. read more

I love The Duplex. I love playing the piano in the Upstairs room, it's my favorite cabaret piano in the city. I love the staff. The tech people are always top notch and attentive. Last night I attended the comedy open mic for the first time, and again wowed by the staff, the host, the talent, the bartender. In summary: I love the Duplex. read more

It's been a little over 3 years since I started coming down to New York on a monthly (or better) basis and since I've made the Duplex a regular part of those trips. I've found the piano staff unfailingly talented and the wait staff consistently courteous as well as talented in their own right. As a straight man I have felt as welcomed there as anyone regardless of gender orientation, race or national origin who walks through the door with an open mind and an open heart. Their intermittent charity cabaret series, The Duplex Gives Back, has genuinely provided some of my favorite times in the city. The Duplex has very much become \like a second home and my "happy place." When i ask myself what I want to do on a given evening in New York, the Duplex usually wins eventually. (All this after nearly nuking their sound system many years ago on my first visit but that's a whole other story). read more

After paying a $20 cover for both my friend and I we were treated to weak drinks and indifferent bartenders. We went for a quick walk to get some pizza. We came back to meet up with more friends and the bouncers wouldn't let us back in with out payin another $20 despite them not even being that busy. Avoid this place and go to better bars near by. read more

Ok, I'll admit that I came here for the comedy show they have in the caberet and not really to the bar area. So keep that in mind. Goddamn, the layout was confusing me. Maybe it was the rum. Or maybe I have no sense of direction but it took me awhile to actually find the area the comedy was in. (Turn left upstairs.) The drinks, they were strong! The comedy was funny. Our waiter was perfectly lovely. It was an all over good experience. The bathroom however, so many tears for the line that reaches to, and down, the stairs. Ducked over to the SB across the street. There was some lovely piano-ing and singing downstairs. read more

I've been here a few times with my girlfriend so we could enjoy a few drinks out on the sidewalk. The service was a little slow but friendly. The crowd is definitely more male, and the live entertainment they had upstairs was pretty good. However, the bar itself is a little grimy and needs some updating. I would come back here again but only to sit outside for some good people watching. read more

Been going to The Duplex for years. Went to the Upstairs bar where there's always good music and fun videos. HOWEVER the last time we went I was charged $13.50 for a Cosmo which was served in a small glass AND not even a full pour. Did I mention this was during Happy Hour? What ever happened to pouring the remaining cocktail left in the shaker into the customers glass instead of dumping it out in the sink? You do not serve a cocktail 3/4 full and charge $13.50 read more

Such a reliably excellent spot. I've been going here since I was in college. Friendly, funny, superfast staff--Justin in particular is wonderful. Always greets me when I come, knows my favorite drink, etc. Have never had anything but wonderful service here. Bring your friends!! read more

God I love this place! Every time we're in NYC it's tradition we hit up an all you can drink brunch then meander down to Duplex for a late afternoon singalong. There were 10 of us yesterday and Nate & Tina did not disappoint! Lots of songs from the 90s with charisma and a few fun updates for comic effect...we sang, we laughed, we got drunk. Drinks aren't cheap, but with the right crowd and entertainment is worth it! read more

I came here for drinks with friends after the pride parade. I had such a great time. Only thing is the bartender gave my card to someone else and I ended up having to replace my card. The manager was very accommodating and made sure he found out what happened. I ended up not having to pay for my drinks and the staff and manager were very apologetic. I will still return here, I love the crowd and the music. read more

Super fun!! Piano bar was very entertaining. The waitresses sing along! Only gripe is it's small so get there early other wise you won't get a seat. Well worth the wait!!!! read more

This is an alright bar. Nothing spectacular and nothing really wrong with it. I used to love it when there was a pool table upstairs, but that's long gone now. Upstairs is a cool little lounge with two private toilets and one shared sink. I suppose when it gets really crowded it can take a while to piss. So keep that in mind, or wear Depends. In the summer it's really nice to sit outside and enjoy some drinks. That's the best part. The room downstairs is odd. I went there with a friend one time and we had no idea it was amature comic night. You have to give those guys and girls credit. But watching those acts is like watching a gymnist with an eye-patch on the balance beam. I wasn't there to watch the show, I wanted to romance my date. So while he's chatting, they're performing and I'm digging my fork in my leg because it was very uncomfortable. The comedian confronts my date and gently tells him to shut-up. He has a problem with speaking softly so it happens again, etc. etc. We had to sneak out between acts. Just make sure you ask if they're going to have any open-mic acts before you decide to sit down there or you'll have to sit quietly and can't talk. read more

I can't believe I forgot to review my favorite hangout!. The first time I went there was on a Tuesday night. I had such an unforgettable night that I keep going ONLY on Tuesdays. It does not get over crowded and the atmosphere is lively and fun. The Tuesday pianist is awesome, so are the bartenders. Yes, this is the place where the bartenders sing beautifully. There is always audience participation and everyone inevitably has a fantastic time. read more

Nice place, lots of fun and great drinks, but double check for gratuity. Landed up here on a girl's night out. The place is cozy but nice inside with a good outdoor seating option as well. The bartender (Mike?) was hilarious and made the biggest shots and the stiffest margaritas. Seriously stiff. Plus side, they only use Silver Patron tequila, which is the only tequila I drink. The piano bar had various staff and customers singing oh-so-overdone songs (think 2 rounds of 'I will survive' in 30 min), but the songs were shaken up and sounded fun. The bartender went up for a rendition of 'purple rain' and gave a sizzling yet hilarious performance! Minus one star for overcharging us. The bill we got didn't say that gratuity had been included and there was no itemized bill either, so I ended up paying double gratuity. On a positive note, the bartender did find us on the upper floor to thank us. read more

Fun atmosphere when they decide to be nice to you. I called multiple times just to get a question answered about a show and each time the same guy either put me on "hold" or said "I don't know anything about that" and then hung up or said "sure" and then hung up. HORRIBLE service. read more

This place is a gem! We went to see if they had any shows, but it was a Monday night (Labor Day evening) ...so they didn't have any shows. HOWEVER, we had a blast! The employees all took a turn to sing songs, some customers jump in, and the piano player was wonderful. My wife and I got married the night before and they bought us a round of drinks and the whole bar did a "cheers" for us. We even had someone dedicate a song to us ... THUS ... wonderful people and atmosphere. Plenty of options to drink, we didn't investigate food at all. Straight or gay ... everyone is welcome, and a wonderful evening awaits. read more

Awesome place!!! And no cover charge! The piano player - Brian Nash - was beyond excellent. Able to play all kinds of requests, and was hilarious in his banter! Never took a break the entire time we were there. Servers - Deena and Trex - were fabulous singers as well. Extremely friendly, humorous, and so talented. Both performed songs from Hamilton that were phenomenally close to actual play performances, as we had just attended the matinee the same day we were at The Duplex. Highly recommend! read more

Such an amazing place that's so welcoming to people from all walks of life (especially the bartenders who are incredibly friendly and fun).

Good but not great. Only 3 mediocre beers on tap. But there is amble (for NY) outdoor seating. In the summer it is great to sit outside with a cold drink and enjoy some of the best people watching in the city. Inside the live piano player seemed like a lot of fun but the bar is weirdly shaped and hard to dance in. It seemed like there was only one server when I stopped in on a busy friday night. He was nice but clearly overworked and it took longer to get a check than it should have. Overall a casual not intense vibe. Mostly gays and hags with some lesbians sprinkled in. read more

This place is so amazing!!! William Blake is such a delight and made the night so amazing! Garret was amazing on the keys and made the night so memorable! Thank you so much EVERYONE! BRIAN AND ROB read more

A very entertaining bar in the West Village. The drinks are a little pricey but on par for the area. The entertainment is exceptional.

One of the best bar experiences I've had in a long time.Maria the bartender knows her craft, and the live piano made the night even better. Prices are what you'd expect from a manhattan bar about $8-12, but are pretty strong. Will definitely come back soon read more

The Duplex - The great maria - Gay Bars Near Me - New York City, New York