Advertises a fun, game-filled atmosphere so I went their for my birthday. Felt like I made a mistake - it was a big space and the music was average. There were no game areas, just a sad-looking beer pong table near the restrooms. We were going on a $300+ tab in their lounge area but they couldn't dim the lights over there for us, which was weird. Shots were decently priced - but that's barely a redeeming factor. read more

I had my birthday celebration here a few days ago and I must say it definitely was a 5 star experience!! Irina was amazing coordinating the entire event for us and our cocktail waitress, Amira was so stellar the entire evening. They decorated the space for us and reserved the beer pong table for us as well. Perfect customer service. I HIGHLY recommend The Whiskey Trader for any event. We will be back very soon!! read more

Whiskey Trader - Lounge area for private event! - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great atmosphere great drinks friendly people. Bartenders are amazing.!! Always refreshing to come here and get an ice cold beer before I start the whiskey drinking portion of the drink session. read more

Whiskey Trader - Ice cold beer at the Whiskey Trader. - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Friendly, chill sports bar to grab a beer, watch a game and hang with friends. Bartenders are good sports even if they don't agree with your choice of sports teams. Came here a few times, first time they had a one drink minimum per person, and the latest time was to watch this year's NFL division finals. They had free pizza that afternoon with purchase of a beer, which was a nice touch. Not too crowded on Saturday afternoons and evenings, each time we had a group of about 5-7 people and were able to be seated right away. Fairly typical selection of beers on tap and a fully stocked bar in case you wanted to order other drinks. They have specials on afternoons and during happy hours too, and reasonable prices considering the midtown location. read more

Whiskey Trader - Bar area with many tv's - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped in to check out the first half of a football game. Service was good, several drink specials and good pours. No food but they have a popcorn machine. It's kind of a downstairs location with a couple of levels and a private space for a party. Definitely on my list for a longer stay. Too bad I can't do 3.5 rating. read more

I will be recommending this bar to anyone and everyone. Amazing experience in an excellent location! The service & the drinks are phenomenal. I will be making my way back next time I am in NYC. read more

Whiskey Trader - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped by here to escape the summer heat on a Sunday afternoon while visiting Manhattan. Nice little basement bar not far from the south side of Central Park. On average, cocktails will run you around $15 which is typical for the area but they do offer specials as well. I had a Long Island that was made very well and the bartender (I think his name was TJ) was absolutely fantastic! Couldn't really beat a pickle back for $7 in this part of NYC! Not a huge tap list for beers, but they have your staples. They will hook you up with a big bowl of free popcorn which is pretty awesome and there are some games in the lower level of the bar if you want to hang out with friends. It was nice and quiet on the particular Sunday we visited, but I imagine it fills up when sports are on TV. Plenty of TVs by the way! Cool place to visit. I would go back for sure. read more

I had my 40th birthday here on the grand opening of the bar and have seen the changes over the past 14 years now. They have lasted because of the great staff and owners. Missed this place since the pandemic! Now they are following the rules and thankfully check every customer coming in for COVID-19 tracking. Great location Great people and good times! read more

Whiskey Trader - A fun Friday night! - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great place! Lucianna and TG are awesome bartenders. They will make sure everything is perfect and are super personable. Definitely one of my favorite spots in Manhattan. read more

Great bar! It was an amazing find! Work in the area and is very close to a lot of spots. Always able to watch the games there and it's a great atmosphere. The bartenders and all of the servers are all awesome and very accommodating. Drinks are always great and well priced. Will definitely be going back! read more

Not fancy, but a perfect, relaxed atmosphere for a mid-afternoon drink. Had old fashions and they were great. Everything was clean. If you appreciate a good neighborhood bar that has been around for a while this is your place. read more

Super nice people, super awesome staff great midtown hang out. Can even meet some great biz people here!

This is a great place to stop for cocktails, without having to spend a ton of money. Nice vibe, even if it's a bit lived in, almost homey, if not for the music choices--no accounting for taste. There is no food service but popcorn is freshly made and readily available and they allow food to be delivered or brought in, which is really nice. It's Midtown New York, so a lot of choices nearby. The service was excellent on our visit, couldn't ask for a more attentive staff, especially Natalie. read more

Whiskey Trader is my go-to spot for some time now! Gina and the whole team is always so kind and amazing every time we're here. Highest 5 star recommendation for this bar!!! -Doug C read more

Really great dive bar obviously not as spacious as other more expensive spots in the city, but great for a small group of friends.

As we entered the bar, the bartender aggressively asked for vaccination cards and made an aggressive remark about my friend for turning 21 (not the remark you want to hear for finally turning 21). The drinks were alright, not that much seating space. It's fine if you want to chill with a small group of friends with drinks. read more

Loved it! Did an open bar here with 50 people and everyone was so nice and attentive. We didn't have to go to the bar to order drinks because they would bring all the drinks to you. It was spacious and was just great vibes. 10/10 would recommend. read more

A very cool place in Midtown. I would come back here with my coworkers in the future.

This place is fun, has a cool vibe, and some good beer options. But I was brought here for one reason and one reason only. To take a pickle-back. Try and have an open mind here because I was surprised by how tasty it was. You take a shot of whiskey (Jamison I believe) and follow it with a shot of pickle juice. Okay, you're a bit grossed out right? But if you like pickles, then it's actually pretty good. But just in case you can follow it with a few swigs of beer and the taste is gone. I even ordered another round before we left. Here's my suggestion; if you are ever in Midtown you should go here, get some beer, maybe try a pickle-back and then do some people watching at Times Square with a nice buzz. read more

Whiskey Trader - Pickle-back. Shot of whiskey and a shot of pickle juice! - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Hmmmm. Whiskey Trader, you're kind of an odd duck. We were walking around looking for a place to grab some drinks and picked this place since people on Yelp said it had good prices and drink specials. Which it did. What it did NOT have was consistent pricing. I ordered a vodka soda which cost $8, but a shot of Stoli O (I believe) was $5. Huh? Well vodka cost more? Same with my boyfriend's drink. He got a whiskey soda, $8 - but a shot of Jameson cost less? Does soda water cost $3 or something? Yeah, NYC is expensive but the "specials" applied who knows when. It said all day...and when I did just get a Stoli shot it was $5. HEADSCRATCHER. Service was fine - except when the bartender's friend showed up and we watched them down shot after shot. I always find it weird when bartenders drink heavily at work, but that's just me. The space was very well laid out with nice TVs to watch the game on, and they had beer pong tables if you wanted to play. Overall, it's okay but the pricing thing really ticked me off so I doubt I'd be back. read more

My sister and I made a reservation for her birthday here Saturday night and it was the BEST. Everyone was so kind and they even put up balloons!! Service was top notch. We had an incredible evening. Thank you Whiskey Trader! read more

Whiskey Trader - Balloons and reserved space - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for an after work happy hour with a friend. The Ambiance was nice. Typical after work midtown crowd minus the stuffiness Drinks: Good drink specials!! The drinks were good and strong perfect after a long week! I will definitely be back again. Oh yea they gave us popcorn and it was soooooo good. read more

Whiskey Trader - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Came here to watch the NBA game last week with my friend last night, raptors against warriors. This place is okay, has a fair amount of seating etc. I only got one drink, a blue moon, which was $8. Reasonable for midtown I think? There are a number of TVs here, and they were also showing the boston-ny baseball game. The TV showing NBA went down for a few minutes (perhaps because it was raining), but eventually came back up. Overall, this is a totally normal bar. read more

Awesome bar to go to for any occasion. Management was extremely nice and helpful with setting up a surprise birthday party that included an amazing open bar package. The back of the bar has this semi-private section that easily fit 30+ people comfortably. This space gave off more of a lounge-vibe than a standard bar; there was multiple couch and chairs so everyone was able to get comfortable. They had a beer pong table and tvs set up in our section so we were able to watch college basketball as well. 100% going back the next time we have to plan an event!! read more

I came here with two friends after walking around the city and attending the Game Of Thrones exhibit in the city. We were hustling and bustling all day and we decided to stop in here for a drink. The place is pretty divey and dark, but we found some seats by the bar and saw the drink specials. $3 draft bud light, $5 shots. We indulged. We had a few shots and beers and just sat and talked. They also had free wifi, which was pretty nice since I don't have a smart phone and could connect my ipod touch (I know, I'm living in the past but I'm upgrading soon). I think the absolute selling point that really made this place great was the bartender. Granted it wasn't too busy, but she was just sooooooo attentive. She recommended drinks for my female friend and kept coming back whenever she noticed our drinks were low. I think the thing that surprised me the most was that she kept coming back even when my female friend was drinking water at one point and asking if she wanted more water. I've never gotten that kind of service at any other bar. I wish I got her name so I could mention her here, but alas, I did not. On the way to the bathroom I noticed that there was a sitting/lounging area, but we didn't really look over there and just stayed at the bar. Also people keep talking about free popcorn, but we didn't get any :( I don't know if they stopped doing that or if it was just that day, but a little sadness, but I won't hold it against them. read more

I was looking for a bar near my job so I can relax with a margarita. I stumble into Whiskey Traders which was a pleasant surprise. Not only was the margarita great but they had a large of scotches. Great place!!! read more

Awesome bar and I love coming there! The bartenders and drinks are perfect. We come after work all the time! read more

Whiskey Trader - Jager bombs - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

One of my friends celebrated her birthday here, citing this as one of her favorite spots. I arrived with a girlfriend and a guy friend. None of us was aware that there was a dress code. After checking out the Yelp reviews (which calls this place a "sports bar") and the website (which says "casual neat"), I didn't think I had to warn my guy friend. But when we arrived, the bouncer told him he couldn't go in because he was wearing Tims. In spite of our pleas, even from the birthday girl who's a regular costumer, he refused to give him admittance. He said there was a strict dress code, yet he was letting in guys in dirty sneakers and baggy jeans. Beside the boots, my friend was dressed very "neatly." In the end, he decided to give up and go home. The argument we had with the bouncer brought the mood down. Besides that... There's no cover, free coat check, the drinks are very reasonably priced for this area, the bartenders are great, and the music is a great mix of merengue, bachata, and contemporary pop hits. I wish I can say the same about the crowd though. The place was filled with mostly guys (I would say it seemed like 3/4 of the place was guys). A group of them attempted to follow me and my girlfriend to the train station when we left. I think the bouncers should worry more about shady costumers and their costumers' safety than ONE guy with boots. read more

My friends are such weirdos. Don't worry, I don't say anything behind their backs that I wouldn't say right to their faces. I say that they are weirdos because we started the night at one of those bars where drinks are $18/mixed cocktail and $9/beer, got some slices, then came to Whiskey Tavern. Still dressed to the 9's from our previous gathering, we strolled into the bar with about 10 people and proceeded to turn the place into our own personal party. The drinks were obviously cheaper than the last bar, and there was a good level of alcohol in them. I hate when they give you a glass that appears to have nothing in it, but the same is true for a drink that tastes like it was mixed at a local frat party. Whiskey Tavern, much like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, got it juuuuust right. The music was fantastic. It was like party music from 1996-now. Such a fun mix. There were a few songs where we actually stopped our conversations to remark, "Oh, wow. I haven't heard this song in forever!" It is definitely conveying a sense of don't take yourself too seriously, grab a beer and have some fun. Bathrooms were clean and well-stocked, and no line to get in. That alone deserves a star. We also got a game of beer pong going down on the basement level. As we got drunker we started games with the free popcorn, such as "put your beer on the ledge and we are all going to try to throw popcorn into it." I know, I know -- the custodial staff must hate us, but I made most of my shots.* *Comparatively speaking. Actual ratio was about 1/5. read more

This bar looks divey from the outside, but walk inside and you'll find that it's actually pretty clean. Still comfy and casual. One minor caveat: You're going to smell like the free popcorn when you leave. We arrived early so there were still plenty of seating available, both at the bar and tables. There's a huge flatscreen TV over the bar so you can watch whatever sports game is on. There are also some couches in the back area, which can be reserved for large groups. read more

Came here for an after party for an event. Staff was friendly enough, we did get to bring in outside food and it was dark though a bit loud for my tastes. Definitely seemed like a comfortable establishment and I have no complaints to speak of, especially considering there were free chips and popcorn at our tables but I'm not sure if that was from the event organizers or the venue. I didn't know about this place before so glad I found it. read more

I came into the city for a show and wanted to have some drinks close by (but not too close to Time's Square). This place has a really comfortable and fun atmosphere and we received excellent service. Some good specials IMO too, can't go wrong with $4 Bud Lite!! I would definitely come back here and recommend it to anyone looking for a chill place to watch some sports or hang with friends. When I come back I'll be trying out the beer pong table for sure!! read more

Whiskey Trader - bar area - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I would say that this is one of the best bars in the city. Drinks of almost any choice are a decent enough price... Bartenders are friendly and cool... Cool atmosphere... Cool people that attend here (at least on Friday nights)... A definite recommend! read more

Came here with a friend to meet some people after work and it was a fun time! We were there during Happy Hour and it was Halloween time so there were cauldrons of candy and the famous and DELICIOUS freshly popped and salted popcorn! It's FREE and UNLIMITED! =) Drink specials are pretty cool too. Got a few rounds of patron shots and at $5 a pop, why not? The atmosphere is fun (though the night we were there it was a packed house filled to the brim with "monkey suits" as my friend would put it). They also have a foosball table and pretty friendly staff. It was a good times with good people! i would go again :) read more

Is this even a happy hour special or just a dive bar price? LOVE the free popcorn, complements my $3 bud light draft well. CON: Can any of the waitresses pour? Hey, I know I'm a lady, but I went to school in the Midwest & know what froth is & hope to never see any. Inches of froth should be inversely related to the size you look for in a man. Just saying. The Ambiance is 100% dive bar meets coyote ugly with a make out room in the back. Come for Happy Hour, bring your friends. Don't trust the others that venture out into these hidden woods. read more

LOVE THEIR POPCORN. I think that's the main reason I return and it's not too far for me to get on a train from work. Went there a few times with co-workers and it's always been fun and pleasant, They need better music read more

Some new friends took us here for a drink. Upon entry they had a rack you could hang your coat. Headed to the bar and after about 5 minutes we were able to get seats for a group of 4. Ordered a round of Moscow mules. Meh. Doesn't seem NYC has that down yet. I switched to cranberry vodkas, while the rest of the group switched to different mixed drinks. Prompt service. Plus, Bar serves you popcorn, which you will inevitably eat while drinking, even if you aren't hungry. Noticed a beer pong table downstairs by the bathrooms (no one was using it, while I was there.) Probably a totally different vibe later in the night versus 6pm on a Saturday. read more

My wife and I stopped in in the last days of 2013 to catch the Duke game and have some beer. (Despite the name, we wanted beer.) WT did not disappoint! We sat at the bar and were pleasantly surprised by fresh-popped free popcorn, a good draught beer selection, and a pleasant barkeep. The space is not wide but super-deep, and although we could see how it could get packed like a sardine tin, there weren't many people there, and we had the place to ourselves. Nice lounge area down from the bar, and beer pong past that on the way to the clean restrooms. I'd come here again. read more

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Second time here and absolutely love it! Downstairs out of the way from the crowd yet 3 blocks from our hotel,main location by Central Park and time square! Very relaxing atmosphere great music and awesome drinks! Games on the back to stay entertained. Will come back again next visit! read more

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Nice enough joint. Nothing worth writing home to momma about ! Good vibe , reasonable drinks ! Beer ping seems to be a big draw with customers. Very lively place. Bartenders are fair in service but not overly friendly or engaging ! Free popcorn , Yay ! May return , but not overly anxious to do so .... read more

Whiskey Trader - Sports Bars Near Me - New York, New York