The Library

This place is a party! They play great music, have wonderful staff and a fantastic back room! When…read moreit's your birthday they have a special giant candle to blow out

Loud and friendly place with a dash of EXTRA. They really go the extra mile here with the mini…read moreposters they print out for customers. During my short time here, I saw waiter offer to buy shots for a table of guests -- super friendly stuff. Vibe is all fun. Burger was decent -- pre cut patty -- but cooked properly and they don't skimp on the cheddar cheese! Cheeseburger with Beer = $18. FF = + $3. Great lunch spot a block from the courthouse!

They printed our names and posted it on the bar. Awesome touch to set themselves apart from all the others who places visited.

BBQ Chicken Wings

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Inside

Nancy Whiskey Pub

3.9(274 reviews)

1.0 mi•TriBeCa

Found a glitch in the Tribeca matrix. Surrounded by $25 craft cocktails and organic kale salads…read moresits Nancy Whiskey Pub--a beautiful, glorious oasis of cheap drinks, neon lights, and bathroom graffiti. Established in 1967, and I'm pretty sure the vibe hasn't changed a single bit since. The place was absolutely packed wall-to-wall, but real talent knows how to navigate a crowd when there's a pint of Guinness and a plate of buffalo wings waiting on the other side. This spot is legendary for its shuffleboard table--no bumpers, pure skill, and zero room for error. Rumor has it they also roll out an inflatable pool on the sidewalk when the New York summer heat gets disrespectful, which is exactly the kind of unhinged energy I respect. If you need me, I'll be under the jukebox mapping out my professional shuffleboard career. 1 Lispenard St, New York, NY

Friendly people, mostly locals, and a good burger. A 1/2 pound bacon cheeseburger w/fries and…read moreGuinness that didn't break the bank.

Nancy's is our favorite bar to visit every time we are in NYC. Darby is a fantastic friendly bartender.

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Wings

Toad Hall

4.0(135 reviews)

0.9 mi•SoHo

On a windy day, I met up with a friend here for a drink and it ended up being such a great choice…read more This is a fantastic bar with a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. A really cozy spot on a block where no other bar can compete. This is one of those places you'd never know about unless you've been there before, were invited by someone, or just happened to stumble upon it while passing by. It has that quiet, tucked-away charm like a true neighborhood secret. The bartender was great, the vibe felt relaxed and friendly, and everything about the space gave off that traditional pub feel, which I absolutely love. The background music was spot-on not too loud, just enough to set the mood. I really hope I get the chance to come back again. This place has that classic, comfortable energy that makes you want to stay longer than planned.

I'm visiting from LA and this bar made me feel very welcomed! Joe is the best, he's super chill and…read moreremembers everyone by name. There's only bar service so be mindful coming on a busy day. They also don't serve food but I brought in a full pizza from a spot next door. They have plenty of options for drinks and the vibes are immaculate. 10/10 would get drunk here again. I'm dr

Gentle reminder to be nice

Exterior. Entrance

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Back area with a pool table

Onieals Grand Street

3.9(389 reviews)

0.6 mi•Little Italy

I love this place! It's sleek and quiet during the day, but I'm sure this place looks great at…read morenight too. Our waitress was awesome and attentive, but not over bearing. Perfect. Ordered a glass of champagne and a Prosecco Rosè; both delicious. The burger was top notch I'm afraid. the calamari chefs kiss! And the espresso was jet fuel. I would ten out of ten recommend this place to tourists or locals alike.

We ate dinner here last night and sat at one of the outside tables. I started with a Surfside tea…read moreand my husband had a cocktail which he enjoyed. He started with six oysters from the happy hour menu. While he said they were good, they were the smallest oysters I ever recall seeing. He had one of the burgers and upgraded to truffle parm fries. I tried a couple and didn't get the flavor that much considering they upcharged $4.00 for it! I had the hammered chicken which was good but felt like it was lacking flavor. It was super plain and I had higher hopes for the dish. I would not order it again.

0.5 mi•Lower East Side, Chinatown

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Clockwork Bar

4.3(106 reviews)

I like dive bars, but this place was gross. The glass ware smelled like stale cigarettes and the…read morebartender blew his nose into a paper towe and immediately returned to making drinks without washing his hands. DISGUSTING!

STEPH JUDGEMENT: The perfect East Village dive bar…read more The hubby and I were on our way to the Double Down Saloon when we spotted this place on Google Maps. We were intrigued by the name and reviews describing it as a "punk rock" dive bar. It was about 4pm when we got there, and there were a few patrons taking a break from the heat. We were looking for a dive and we found it: small and dark, festooned with graffiti and stickers, and there was indeed punk rock playing--perfect. We bellied up to the bar and my eyes went right to the frozen margarita machine--yes, please. It was heaven on a 95+ degree day. The hubby got a beer and bourbon. The drinks were cheap and the bartender was nice, even gamely posing for a drawing I did of him on a Post-It that went up with all the other little drawings behind the bar. Definitely a worthy stop.

Buena música, agradable, se puede hablar

The menu

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The Spring Lounge

3.7(286 reviews)

0.5 mi•Nolita

Love this place, the bartender Dave is super chill and very friendly. The the vibes are great here…read moreand I would definitely recommend!

If you want a packed, bro-y bar that's noisy and obnoxious, you'll love it here. I did not, and my…read moregroup left pretty quickly.

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Barrrrrr

Saint Tuesday

4.3(74 reviews)

0.9 mi•Chinatown

Stepping into this dark intimate speakeasy in Tribeca is a perfect find for a girls night out…read more Saint Tuesday has live jazz and hand-crafted cocktails with in house-made ingredients. Once you find the entrance, you're immersed into an underground world where the rush of the city melts away. Tell your server what your flavor of choice is and the mixologist will create something for you. Don't like it? No worries, they will try again. We don't visit while there were any bands, but if you like jazz and good drinks, this is definitely a spot to try! Definitely recommend reservations for this place and give yourself sometime to find it.. almost guaranteed you won't find it the first time you look. Lentz_explore

Super cool speakeasy under the Walker Hotel. The vibe is almost like luxury cave if that vibes. We…read moregot there around 8ish and that was perfect cause we were told the music started at 8:30. It was also perfect cause we were able to easy get a table as the spot is cozy. They have light bites and a unique drink menu. While the menu says they aren't mixologists but rather bartenders, I disagree cause what was happening behind that bar was pure craft!! Music was chill jazzy and not overly loud. The photos came out way more bright than it actually is in there. Seemed to be a popular date spot or even small groups. Definitely a cool experience!!

Baby Gray ($22)

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DaviD's

4.9(21 reviews)

0.5 mi•Lower East Side

David was super welcoming and we loved the vibe. Can't say enough about David's. Best owner…read moreoperated bar.I've been to in new york city

A true NY dive bar, we had such a great night! Not much seating inside, literally 8 spots at the…read morebar and two small cocktail tables so I'm happy it was nice enough to sit outside. David's is in the heart of Chinatown so this is a great place to people watch. Drinks are pretty affordable, would definitely like to come back for Happy Hour but very cute and will be back!

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Vig Bar

3.9(226 reviews)

0.4 mi•Nolita

A bit too young for my taste but the bartenders here and nice and work quickly…read more Music was fine from what I remember, a little fratty. They have sports playing on TVs above the bar so that's nice if you want to dissociate a bit. Came here after a birthday dinner and had a El Spicy Rico which was actually pretty good. I wouldn't choose to come here just because the demographic and music, but if I were 21, I could see myself coming here.

I've been going to this neighborhood bar for years--it's one of my go-to spots in Nolita and it's…read morealways a great time. The staff is always super friendly. They don't serve food, but you can get food delivered right to the bar. The music is always good, and it's a great place for summer vibes with their outdoor seating. It usually gets pretty packed after 10pm.

Pickle back shots

Bar area

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Pickle back shots

Tom & Jerry's

3.9(301 reviews)

0.4 mi•NoHo

The bar was kind of hard to find. I had to check that I was at the right place when I saw the 288…read morenumber. There's no sign outside. This was an okay bar. Nothing special. It says cash only, but you can use a card for 2 drink minimum. It's kinda dark inside. There's bar seating and some tables. It's really nothing special. They do have matchboxes though at the front window!

First time here back in June 2025. Bar is near the Broadway & Lafayette subway station…read more We came in at 2 pm on a Saturday. Place was air-conditioned and a man & his dog at at the bar. We picked a table and sat down. Then, we ordered drinks from the bar. Bartender was pleasant and made decent drinks. Bathroom in the back corner.

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Inside

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55 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Niels K.

8 years ago

The owner or main bartender (wearing a pony) was the most racist guy I've ever seen in my entire life. My brother and sister (both visiting for the first time from Germany) were shocked how they were treated at this place. After purchasing 8 drinks at the bar, the bartender came up to us out of nowhere right before closing and said: "if you don't finish your drink in 5 minutes I'm kicking all of you a out" (we laughed and thought he was kidding). 5 Minutes after he came up to us and threatened to beat us to death if we wouldn't leave and said that we should go back to Germany and go where we belong. I've been to nyc multiple times and I've never experienced anything like that. Avoid this place at all times. The owners of this place should be banned from having a bar/ restaurant for their entire life. read more

Josh N.

3 years ago

I found this place a bit confusing, as it seemed to cater to a specific niche that didn't align with my preferences. It appeared to target a particular type of person, but I didn't quite connect with that vibe. They had a film featuring Macaulay Culkin and played artsy music, which added to the overall ambiance. The drinks were tasty, but were quite overpriced. However, there were some technical issues that affected our experience. For instance, my friend attempted to use a vending machine, but it didn't function properly, which was a letdown. Overall, while the establishment had its own distinct atmosphere, it didn't resonate with me personally. The combination of the film, music, and technical glitch left me feeling a bit disconnected from the place. read more

Jonny D.

15 years ago

Dive Bar Awesomeness. I like a place that screams F* U to conventional wisdom and encourages bad behavior. So obviously this is a place I stop by whenever I'm in the neighborhood. The jukebox is full of great music (no top 40's crap). The crowd is eclectic mix of all walks of life, a melting pot of NYC's tribes, the local characters, the outcast and the occasional curiosity seeker. The Happy Hour will somehow turn into a night long bender (be prepared to come back the next to collect your credit card and sign your tab). Why Not 5 Stars? LOVE HURTS: The day after consists of major brain damage and a migraine that can only be cured with a bullet to the brain... But I still love them nonetheless. read more

Melville G.

Elite 21

134

425

944

10 years ago

First dive bar I've visited that has a library theme. They have a bunch of bookshelves along the walls with some old hardbound books on them. There's also a few caricatures of authors as murals on the walls, and a large screen in the back showing movies on silent (Sin city was playing when we visited). Otherwise an overall dive bar-esque atmosphere with tons of graffiti in the bathrooms and a large functional bar with cool bartenders. We came here late on a Saturday night (post midnight) and it was not too packed. We got a table to sit at almost when we walked in. Good selection of beer on tap, and all reasonably priced drinks. Will be back here again. read more

Christopher C.

Elite 20

430

1638

348

14 years ago

Came here for a UYE this weekend. Thanks Ileana for setting it up. I saw some old friends and met some new which is the whole point right? This is a classic dive bar with great drink specials and great music. Genesee cream ale check, 24oz Tecate check. I also have to thank Ramon for introducing me to my new summer cocktail...the J&G This is a great place is you want to drink and drink a lot. read more

lauren t.

19 years ago

I realize in retrospect the main reason I loved this place the first time I went was because I was sick and stopped up and so did not notice the bizarre stink of... is that pee? And vomit?? Going back a week or so ago, my sinuses were working and PHEW. They got a workOUT. Grosss. Maybe next time I'm sick or wasted I will not notice and can enjoy myself properly.. read more

Peter H.

10 years ago

They've the greatest punk juke box in the city, a real juke box with genuine CD's interior. I kept flipping back and forth in complete amazement. And they were running Sid & Nancy on a projector also. Yet somehow it was not pretentious or striving overly hard to be cool. And the drinks were wild affordable, which is the determining factor in the five stars. read more

Sean D.

11 years ago

I went here based off a recommendation from a local friend that lives in Manhattan. I love this bar, reminds me of the dive bars back home, great atmosphere. The odd random movies they play on the projector are great, drink specials, the prices and how great our waitress was has had me coming back when I am in town. read more

Jen N.

7 years ago

This place is a joke with a fat ugly gray haired bouncer threatening anyone who stands 20 feet of the glass. Apparently if you're within 20 feet and stare at the place, it'll blow down. Such a joke threatening our group that he's going to beat the guys asses. He sounded very drunk which is concerning for a bouncer. read more

Alisa M.

11 years ago

This place is super awesome and super divy atmosphere. I just love this kind of places? They are super fun, not pretentious and you can be yourself here. Hands down one of the best drinking and getting drunk places in East Village! There are lots of good places but The Library is ... its classic you know? read more

Kaydence C.

2 years ago

The Library is a decent spot for a night out. The vibe is chill, and it's a good place to catch up with friends over drinks. The music isn't too loud, which helps with conversation, but it could definitely use more variety. Overall, it's an alright choice if you're looking for something low-key! read more

Kathleen P.

2 years ago

The library is a great place to go for an afternoon drink. They have a really friendly service and a wonderful atmosphere. The bartenders keep the patrons in check and the vibe moving. I honestly cannot say enough good things about the bartenders. One of the best nights I had while visiting NY! read more

Leon F.

10 years ago

Just another dive bar. Wanted to have a drink by myself the other night so headed over to this place. The bartender took her time to ask what I would drink... Music was ok, lots of loud people... it might be a good spot if u wanna just get drunk coz drinks are cheap. read more

Jesse W.

8 years ago

Stumbled into this bar to have a beer and cool down what a great find!! Can't comment on the food but the beer was good. The service is great and the staff are lots of fun.. Feels like your neighborhood bar, definitely hang out there again. read more

Eva J.

8 years ago

Easily one of the worst bars I've been to. Weird vibes everywhere - later discovered the hard way that the staff and new manager is just straight up racist. This is toxic for 2019. Will not be returning. read more

Diana F.

10 years ago

I do not recommend. The place was crowded and it took us way too too long to get inside. The drinks felt water down and not that tasty. I will not be coming back until management changes their drinks. read more

Samuel B.

100

18 years ago

The loss of my sight was a great fillip. If I could go deaf and dumb I think I might pant on to be a hundred. Books & Booze. Half of one, more useful than the whole. Nothing to be done. read more

Sharon R.

8 years ago

Awful place with even worse customer service. I walked in and was ignored by both the female and male bartenders. I would never recommend or visit this racist establishment ever again. read more

Krista P.

12 years ago

This bar was awesome, and Kristin made us feel right at home! They even had pink champagne in cans. What more could you ask for?? I will definitely come back next time I'm in town. read more

Lane B.

11 years ago

I've spent many a Saturday afternoon having a few cocktails here before heading over to see a movie on Houston. Great local vibe. Feels like East Village is supposed to feel like. read more

The Library - divebars - Updated September 2026

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