I sing here often and love the crowd. Especially Monday nights. Working with Darius the pianist is amazing and Maria and Susan are awesome bartenders and waitresses that also sing amazingly well. You never know what you are going to get here especially on Mondays! Drinks only for sale here but they are so cool about bringing in food and eating here. Love the caliber of talent and people at this place. Can't go wrong coming here. read more

I had Adam and Maria tonight and they were amazing. Adam was very attentive and was a joy to be around. Maria has amazing sangrias...ask for the red one ;) it's amazing. Overall my friends and I had a great night and it was made so by the awesome, friendly, and hysterical team at the Duplex. Had a great night and highly recommend! Thanks for the great night! read more

The Duplex is an incredible establishment. If you are looking for an open mic setting, or to be entertained, look NO further than this. Particularly on Monday and Thursday nights when Darius Frowner OWNS the piano, he is a professional who is ready and able to play all tunes, any style, you name it and Darius will accompany your performance with ease. Mondays and Thursdays on the bar and floor are Maria G, William B, and company who will take care of all of your drink needs. On top of this, they are incredible performers as well. There are many "singing waiter/waitress" establishments in the city, but the skill and emotion that Maria and William bring to their numbers is above and beyond the rest. The Duplex boasts the GREATEST open mic in all of the five boroughs. Make no mistake. read more

The gay guy on the first floor was sooooo rude and was upset that we asked the price of drinks. Too sassy to be a bartender. Wednesday nights on the first floor 12/30/15. So rude. Zero stars? read more

This place is ok. I'm. It really into piano bars though. They have good martinis though. The upper level is where the action is. I would suggest going up there and chilling. They also have a performance space up there. read more

I had the worst experience at this place!!!!! The bartender was so rude that I cannot even express myself... Just said get the f*** out of here... while I was sitting down on a chair on my phone in a great mood... he just got so angry at me without any reason and after that the owner and the security guy came over and didnt even wanna ask him whats wrong and just wanted to kick me and my wife out without even an explanation! My whole night was ruined! When we asked what is your reason to kick us out the owner was so ignorant and just called the police which also didnt wanna ask for reasons at all... Im sooooo upset!! So disappointed! And it was one of my favorite places!!! Never again... cannot believe this happened in NYC!!! #WheresJustice ?! No one even wanted to figure out the reason... absolutely wrong! read more

The Duplex - Such a rude person... - Gay Bars Near Me - New York City, New York

I never would have thought I'd end up in a place like this seven years after moving to NYC--it's like the place you go to seven days after you arrive, and then never again. I arrived on a quiet weeknight and was very pleased to see the place lightly populated with regulars and a friendly bartender...singing along to the Glee soundtrack. Because, please: stereotypes have to start somewhere. The bartender graciously obliged my request for a hot toddy by tracking down a tea kettle--because that is how to responsibly treat a cold--but then he charged me $10.50 for it! Is this what passes for normal drink prices in the West Village? Ugh, I am a huge curmudgeon these days. You young whippersnapper can have these downtown bars. I'll be slurping down my discounted drinks in Brokelyn. read more

Gayness abounddsssss!! This place is great. I really love piano playing gay guys. And piano playing straight guys but they don't tend to know the show tunes as well. And those are important. This, coupled with Marie's Crisis, is kind of like my heaven. There is a time to get up on the table and dance to the DJ playing Toxic and there is a time to get up on the table and dance to a guy playing the piano and singing Cell Block Tango. Both great kinds of dancing but for me, the Cell Block Tango might just win out. read more

Tonight was my first night in New York and we chose the The Duplex. The atmosphere was fabulous and our bartender was even more fabulous. Adam was amazing. He was very attentive and so funny too. He was celebrating his birthday. I loved every minute we spent there. Henry was fantastic on the piano. We'll definitely be back!! I've never felt more at home! I can't express how fabulous Adam is!! We definitely recommend the Duplex if you're looking for a good time! read more

A close friend and I decided this past Tuesday to tour all the gay bars our livers could handle in the Village, have never really hung out in the village unless for some sort of body modification. Duplex was our first stop, after meeting a group of very nice men outside the bar, one who told us he was a bartender for the bar upstairs and guarenteed a good time. My friend and I are two completely different people. He loves to dance, shake his butt with strobe lights in the backround and sweat and groping and....no. Not my style. Easy to say he did not enjoy the Duplex at all. I, on the other hand, absolutely loved it. As we entered I could hear the performer of the night singing Billy Joel, the crowd all seated and enjoying conversation over candlelight. Upstairs, at the bar, the bartender was nice enough to serve us two shots on the house in celebration of my 21st birthday...which happened back in October but who's complaining? Our drinks were very small, but well mixed. The crowd at the bar was extremely friendly and informed us on all the local bars we might be interested in, including a lesbian spot for me! We didn't spend much time there, as a big crowd came in all of whom seemed to know eachother. All in all, definitely a nice crowd. Friendly to old and new customers. Calm vibes, and a nice change from what you'll see at some of the places surrounding. Worth a shot! read more

I am from Southern California, I have been to every gay bar in WEHO (west hollywood) and they may look "fancy". But I would pick this place over the abbey any day! I walk in and everyone is just so nice. Not just the staff but the customers also. Several different guys came up to me and just started taking to me, that never happens in CA. It's a fun bar with a polite clientele, and the staff is so nice also. The piano player was great, and some of those singers were just breathtaking. What a great experience. I'm defiantly planing to come back to this little gem. read more

I was there for NYC Pride. There was a cover given the strong demand to be inside for its prime location right along the parade. The owner allowed far, far too many people to buy entry. They had the doors open along Christopher street with space for patrons who wanted to get a close view of the parade. Drinks were not allowed outside, so after we finished our fist we decided to take a peek and then wanted to come back in. When we tried we were told to get in line, they had reached capacity inside. There was no easy way to exit since we were in the outside space they had prepared for people at Duplex. We also could not get back inside to buy drinks or meet up with our friends. It took 45 minutes waiting under the hot sun to get back in. The owner seemed to have decided to sell as many possible wristbands as he could regardless of what he could accommodate. Completely unsafe. I asked to speak to the manager. The owner was there and was completely dismissive. He could have cared less. His primary purpose was to collect as much money as possible. We could have stood along the sidewalk for free. We paid so we could be inside somewhere. If you're going to sell entry, that should be possible for whoever has paid. And if you make those who have paid wait out in the sun like that, you should at least be apologetic. He absolutely was not. read more

Cindy and I are devastated to learn that Maria Gentile will not be at the Duplex on weekends. We will not be visiting your establishment until this is resolved. I realize one or two people will not effect your bottom line. Social media is a powerful tool. Please reconsider your business plan. Maria makes your business successful. read more

Duplex is fun. I'll be honest. I mean I have only been there once, and I got incredibly wasted, and that pretty much makes everything better. It wasn't really packed for midnight, but was still fun. Upstairs was the area that I was in with a few friends including new ones that I met through my ex. I had one too many capecod's and couldn't think of anything else more creative to drink. Its clean, its simple, but if only they put a scoooooooooch more vodka. The bartender there was a sweetheart and she thanked me for double rolling up my gum in tissue -- because I'm a gentleman of course. They have this little trivia game on the TV as well -- which I doubt anyone would even bother paying attention to. Generally I like it. I do have that smallllllll tincy little teeny weeny problem when going to bars and such, and that is, well, I'm 20. As if anybody ever questions me at the door on how old I look. .... except for Pieces. Shhh. read more

Sing a song with your own piano man and feel like a star--if only for a moment. Seriously, he knows every song under the sun. Or go upstairs to the cabaret and listen to the "almost Broadway" crowd put you to shame with their renditions from Spring Awakening. I went with a big group of people for a friend's birthday on a Saturday night. And yes, my male friends did get hit on by other men. But we all had so much fun, it didn't matter. Way cooler than karaoke. read more

Duplex is THE experience in the West Village, not just because of its inimitable atmosphere, but primarily because of Maria and her fabulous cocktails! Just walk in and ask for her specials - she'll 100% guess what you need and will make it happen, exceedeng your every expectation :) my recipe for happiness is Maria's Blueberry Cheesecake Martini! read more

This place is awesome! Their bartender T-Rex is super nice and laughed at all my shitty jokes. It makes me less empty inside. She even did a shot with me! Today I gained a new friend. read more

Scene: Smallish - old school, almost basementy main level bar. There is a second (also small) bar upstairs; it has a bit more... I dunno youngish/clubby vibe. But not elitist or douchey at all. Crowd: Really diverse all ages and colors in here - nobody cares. As another poster said: "equality is real in this place". Stimulus: Chatty, friendly locals OUTSTANDING live entertainment. At one point the bartender did a fantastic rendition of one of my favorite Otis Redding songs. Afterwards I excused myself to the upstairs (bathroom break) and they were playing MosDef... I dont think Ive ever had such an experience at a gay bar before. Verdict: Oh god yes. The Duplex is the shit. read more

We have been going here for years. First started going here as a tourist and then moved from California to NYC 8 years ago. Almost 20 years later we have always had a great time. Maria is the best and always makes us feel like we're at home. Thank you to Maria and everyone at the Duplex for wonderful memories. read more

Had a good time. The liquor is mixed with lower quality liquor and tastes like turpentine. It will make you vomit instantly. Stick to beer.

Great Happy Hour drinks and a fabulous meeting point for friends to get together. This place is literally across the street from the 1 train's Christopher Street so it was easy for everyone to find, also a great location to start a night of bar hopping! read more

This place is legit. I always have a blast every time I come out. T-Rex is the most amazing and accommodating hostess.

We came eagerly awaiting a performance by Evan Laurence. Singer, comedian, entertainer. Unfortunately, according to the management the show had to be cancelled because they didn't feel the audience was big enough (11 people) they comped our drinks but rushed us out of the room., Even though there wasn't any other group waiting for the room. They then charged Mr Laurence an Exorbitant cancellation fee of $375!!!! It was their cancellation. Not his! How is this legally possible? Shame on you Duplex! read more

When I die & go to heaven, it will be just like The Duplex. I love this place. Endless fun & singing & dancing & tambourine shakin'! Maria is THE BEST. She always surprises me with a fruity drink that is absolutely delicious, plus her positive energy is infecting! A great performer. I look forward to hearing her every time I am in this heavenly place. Truly one of the best staples in New York City! read more

UPDATED: I'm very sorry to learn that our favorite bartender, waitperson, and singer, has been let go from her Friday and Saturday night shifts after more than 15 years. She was the main reason we came to the Duplex several times a month on Friday and Saturday for the past 16+ years. I'm afraid the owner has made a mistake and taken away one of the real gems that the Duplex had to offer. Personnel changes at a place as intimate as the Duplex have devastating effects on the overall atmosphere. We will need to reevaluate our loyalty to an establishment that appears to value its employee's loyalty, skill, and hard work so little. I'm sure newcomers and tourists won't notice anything different, but regulars will. ORIGINAL: It's not for nothing that those of us who go to the Duplex several times a month refer to the Duplex as "the happiest place on earth." We patronize the piano bar downstairs the majority of the time. The staff is excellent and committed to making sure everyone has the best time. Maria, Gerry, Adam, Michael, Will, Dan and all the rest will see that it's an evening you won't forget. The drinks are excellent and fairly priced. The crowd is very mixed and everyone is friendly. We've met so many friends there - friends for the evening and friends for years. Sure it's a gay bar but everyone is welcome as long as you aren't obnoxious (and you know who you are). Every night is different, but the process is the same - come and hear great singers, songwriters and amateurs have a turn in the "glory that is the spotlight at the Duplex." The music is a excellent mix of old and new, Broadway, Motown, and pop. You won't be sorry. We've be going for 15 years and it never fails to make me joyful for having been there. And it you get really wasted, they will hold back your hair. read more

Wished I knew this was a gay bar, didn't check Yelp, people were friendly though, regardless of orientation. My girlfriend and I went in here to get a quick drink, went upstairs, very crowded, so decided to check out downstairs. Nice place, average priced drinks, (2 Black Russians $19.) Guy singing at the piano was very entertaining, he was lively and talented, we were enjoying it, but wanted to check other places in the area. read more

This place has been around since the dawn of man. It's got a lot of really cool history to it and is a landmark institution in the West Village. And it just keeps getting better and better. The new owners are making some much needed changes. The formerly worst bathrooms in the West Village are completely redone (thank God!) the upstairs bar has been totally renovated and gone from dumpy dive to loungey vibe. This past summer we spent almost every Friday night in the outdoor cafe. The best people watching spot in the Village. But while all that is great, my friends and I really go because the staff and the other customers are chill and that makes it an easy hang. read more

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Just went to the Duplex for my bachelorette party this past weekend. What a GREAT time! Shout out to the fabulous Nate who made my night by serenading me in several songs! Everyone, from the performers to the bartenders (even the bouncer) was so nice and made me feel incredibly special. The service was great with the side benefit of awesome personalities! I cannot wait to go back! (As a side note: the bartenders and dance vibe upstairs was fun as well. I only wish the DJ would have played some of our dance requests, especially as we were the few people dancing. However, you cannot beat downstairs for lively fun and entertainment! They truly are the BEST!) Crissy read more

Every time I drop by The Duplex on a Monday night to catch the Singer Spotlight, I'm always impressed at the excitement and talent that Darius Frowner gets to perform. You never know who is going to sing; from random people having a drink to tourists or even the occasional Broadway star! The atmosphere is awesome and Darius leads the night by engaging the crowd and keeping the music coming with a wide variety of styles and genres, from smooth R&B to Broadway to rock and pop. I can't wait to go back and enjoy one of the well crafted cocktails from the bartender (who goes up and belts out some tunes herself!) and maybe even get up there and have Darius make me sound awesome! read more

My wife and I stopped by on a Sunday night to hear Brian rock out on the piano. I was surprise at how small the place really is; you are almost forced to socialize with the table next to you. This was not a problem in my mind! It was fun talking with the people around us. The staff was AWESOME! It wasn't packed, so they had time to walk around and talk to people. They made us feel right at home. I would love to drop by again when I'm back in NYC! read more

I went here this past week for a friend's cabaret in the theater upstairs. It's a great little theater with little tables and such. There's a two drink min. which is per usual at this type of place. I am not sure how you could get a performance there but if a friend of yours is performing, go! It will be an intimate affair! read more

Great cabaret upstairs, wonderful night with small drinks, but not overpriced.

I went to the downstairs piano bar. Great time. Vibrant and welcoming. Great staff and fun piano players. Definitely small. Get there early for a seat and hang out. Please tip. Unbelievable how people go to a place with live entertainment, no cover charge, and then don't tip. People gotta eat! Thanks to Gerry on piano and the singing bartenders and staff, our group had a blast. read more

Talent is great. Management sucks. Was a great time to be there when the health inspector came-infinite flaws.

The Duplex is a very old establishment and it is known for certain events. From drag shows to cabaret and stand up, it's all there and up to you to choose from. I've been going there for years and have seen mostly cabaret shows. The stage area is nice and since the place is long, anywhere you sit you'll see the show. The place is conveniently located near the path and subway stations and is easy to find and very well known in the neighborhood, if you get lost, just ask. The wait staff is usually magical and works throughout the shows and will bring you your two drinks minimum or more as you order. They do not serve food during the shows and that is a problem as 2 drinks without food can get people fall from their stools. But the shows are on average 60 minutes or less so you should survive. Be aware that you must climb steps and there is no elevator, so if you are in a wheelchair or with crutches, good luck. Since at times they are three shows the same evening, and the place is tiny, the audience arrives on time and leaves on time as well. This is a business not a place to chill after the show. Move in and out as fast as you can pay your cover charge. read more

I haven't been here since I lived in NYC but I always had a blast. Long long ago, I recall a Partridge Family sing-along with drag queens. Of course I was young and part of their target audience and the Partridge family was from my childhood. Now a 30-year-old wouldn't know what the hell a Partridge was so I've embarrassed myself because I'm old. back in the day it was predominately gay men who were welcoming to this straight white gal. read more

The Duplex is my FAVORITE place in the city. Nowhere else has the history, the talent, and the sense of humor that this place does, while maintaining a neighborhood-hang vibe. It has become a home-away-from-home for some of my friends, but you don't have to be a regular to feel welcome. For an extra treat, be sure to stop by when Henry is playing. All of the pianists are fairly adept at requests but Henry is so game (and gifted) and likeable that it is almost MORE fun when someone requests a song that has no business being played in a piano bar. The whole crowd gets united in seeing just how he'll pull it off and it makes for the most fun night. See you there soon! read more

The Duplex has been a mainstay of the West Village for as long as I can remember - and that's a LONG time. It's a spectacularly inclusive place, comfortably mixing locals and tourists of all ethnicities and genders alike. My numerous experiences there have always been joyful fun. There are precious few true piano bars left in NYC and this is a jewel - the staff is comprised of the cream of the musical crop and they are welcoming when a neophyte takes the mike, singing along in harmony and providing percussion on occasion. I love The Duplex. Long may it stand. read more

My gf and I moved in around the corner, and we were excited to try this place out and enjoy the patio. Got there on Sunday shortly after they opened. Were seated on the patio and told immediately that as more people showed up, we'd have to move. Ummm, what? I asked why we'd have to move, server said because they'd need the four-top we were sitting at. Ok, fine, I guess, but why lead with that when there were only three other groups there and our butts hadn't hit the seats yet. Plus I had to ask for the reason why. But we brushed it off and decided to enjoy the weather. Ordered a pitcher of Stella, which he forgot about, and we had to remind him 10 minutes later. The bill: $38. It was four beers. So I guess Stella is $10 a glass there. Anywho, they lost this bar-loving couple. On to the next. read more

The duplex is the best spot for a weeknight + weekend. Ask Maria for the special drinks, always incredible!