Big Bar

Another of my son's favorite bars. All cash. Friendly bar. The owner and the bartender are both published writers. On the days he doesn't work, the bartender will spend 6 hours writing. Of course I got him to give me the 10,000 foot primer.

Bigbar is one of those joints that you dont want to tell anyone about, yet want to tell everyone about. Hence this review. Staff is incredible, the owner is awesome. Drinks are stiff, music is incredible. This bar is old new york in spirit and in reality, and the patrons who come here keep the vibe pristine. There's few bars in nyc which even hold a candle to this spot, and they select some incredible dj's if you're into non radio play music, record nerd related tunes, etc. This bar is hard to beat, in any era.

Miss My old school HOMEBOYS!! Baxter rocked the turntables. Best bar for LOCALS. Too bad LES has turned into one big NYU campus. BUMMER!!!! I miss my old LES.

Greatest bar ever. Cozy, warm, and welcoming with the friendliest bartenders, the most laid-back tunes, and cheap (for NYC) drinks. A great break from the overly commercial, overly crowded East Village options

Yes it's called Big bar, while it may not be a "big" space. The Vibes and ppl who are at that bar are amazing. From the amazing prices to the Dope bartenders. It doesn't matter if you go on a monday, Friday or Sunday.

Great vibes, friendly staff and crowd. A reasonably priced, well-made Manhattan, something in short supply these days in the easy village.

Friendly atmosphere. The bartender Brian (Bryan?) Was patient and supper accommodating and tried his best to make custom drinks and they came out great!

Best bar atmosphere in NYC. Bartenders and regulars are all super cool, and drinks are cheap. Cash only

Great little chill bar in the East Village. Bartender Kendra was awesome cool. The owner was super nice and friendly. Would hang out there anytime!

Amazing bar. Bouncer is the nicest bouncer in New York City!!!!! Srsly tho bouncer is rlly nice. 10/10 would recommend

Easily one of the best dive bars in NYC right now. Not dirty and not slummy, but very lowkey with cool and attentive staff

Cool, dim lit. Very nice vibes. Relaxing music. The owner is great, the bartenders are great and for the most part the people are great.

A hidden gem. Truly has the spirit of NYC. Everyone is amazing all the time here. Don't bring a bad attitude, it won't be tolerated; it's the best part of the experience here.

Cool little bar, decent prices and a really friendly crowd. We had a great time.

Sam Lawes

Cool little bar, decent prices and a really friendly crowd. We had a great time.

Zachary Greene

Great prices and innovative cocktails. Simple and clean for a dive. Very chill and extremely relaxed.

New bartender Crane is awesome. I was worried that the new guy wouldn’t be as cool as Jackson but this dude is really awesome!

Came here on a Wednesday night, honestly very pleasantly surprised! Live DJ, vibey music, intimate setting and lighting, chill bartender, on a Wednesday night? Well done!

Big Bar is the place I miss the most about NYC. We had the absolute privilege to live a few houses up from Big Bar for 4 years. The bar is cool, funky, the drinks are great, Stefan is awesome and the music is the shit. I loved everything about, and everybody in this place. It really made me feel like I belong. Next time I'm in NY, you are my first stop.

Excellent exceptional bar tender helper helped me find my car . When I couldn't remember where I parked it. She helped me find it from a few small details. I can't recall her name.

my fav bar when i visit nyc...reminds me of home, chicago. the bartenders are kind and interesting, the dj's are on point. ty ev.

Great local dive! Cash only, red neon lights and good tunes. Can’t ask for anything better in a busy city like NYC.

This is where I used to DJ my vintage vinyl records. In 2016 after my seafood delivery shift one night I wanted to toss a couple back before hitting the sack for the weekend so instead of my usual Holiday Cocktail Lounge visit (best bar with no windows btw-also a big bouncing souls fan) I gave this place a try after walking by on the opposite side of 7th one day seeing two signs in the window “open mic Fridays-Bring Your Own Vinyl Monday”. My test cocktail at the time for all my NYC bar visits (spirits permitting) was always a Tom Collins Bombay Sapphire. I stepped inside the red spaceship with the sounds of the Easy Rider soundtrack not coming from an ipod but from a little record player in the opposite corner of the entrance across the parlour floor. A man with a cool hat was sitting down looking at a milk-crate filled with LP’s. “This might be my new favorite place.” I thought. He was the bartender for the night and I ordered my cocktail and he passed the test it was made deliciously. He tomd me he was the owner. Stefan was his name and after a little bit of time he told me all about both the open mic and the BYOV night. It sounded like Mondays were gonna be my new haunt to extend my weekend from 3 days to 4. In my apartment at the time I had a bunch of 45’s I never spun in college bc I was too busy. I looked over to see a neon Red Stripe beer sign which is my all time favorite beer. People, when I tell you this beer was ice cold I could feel the tempreature drop in my body after sipping on the coolness of not only this drink but this vibe of the bar. Stefan and I became friends once he discovered my deep taste in music. I became somewhat of a resident DJ there every week as a volunteer to help bring a following and keep the guests satisfied. The family grew and soon local celebrities heard the music was good on Mondays so the word got out. I spun there until 2018 when I moved out of the city. Believe me when I say, this place was like my little heaven on earth, my home-away-from-home. I make it my base of operation every visit to the city now years later. No checks or credit cards, cash only. The best bar in the city and the best the Ukranian Village has to offer. Total strangers can become your new friends if you buy the ticket and take the ride. Life is worth living to be here.

A friend of a friend showed me this place 2 years ago. I instantly fell in love. When we stopped talking, I used the opportunity to steal Big Bar as my own. It's a very small bar-- about 4 booths. A couple of bar seats and limited standing room. But even while packed it's not claustrophobic. (Despite the fogged windows!) Before I go on, I must add IT IS CASH ONLY! But if you can run to an ATM or have a cash oriented mate, it's totally worth it! The lights are super soothing and I think they play music? I've never noticed, which is great because I love bars you don't have to shout at. The bartenders are cool and have a heavy pour. The drinks are very cheap. I think we paid three dollars for a good sized Jameson shot. We were shocked it was three dollars and shocked it was real Jameson. BB is def one of my regular haunts when I remember to take out cash. (Which is more often now.)

Andriy Yatsykiv

Came here on a Wednesday night, honestly very pleasantly surprised! Live DJ, vibey music, intimate setting and lighting, chill bartender, on a Wednesday night? Well done!

Alter Cohen

Excellent exceptional bar tender helper helped me find my car . When I couldn't remember where I parked it. She helped me find it from a few small details. I can't recall her name.

Nicole Pacelli

my fav bar when i visit nyc...reminds me of home, chicago. the bartenders are kind and interesting, the dj's are on point. ty ev.

Spencer Coplan

Great local dive! Cash only, red neon lights and good tunes. Can’t ask for anything better in a busy city like NYC.

Johannes Scharlau

Big Bar is the place I miss the most about NYC. We had the absolute privilege to live a few houses up from Big Bar for 4 years. The bar is cool, funky, the drinks are great, Stefan is awesome and the music is the shit. I loved everything about, and everybody in this place. It really made me feel like I belong. Next time I'm in NY, you are my first stop.

polarisdude21

This is where I used to DJ my vintage vinyl records. In 2016 after my seafood delivery shift one night I wanted to toss a couple back before hitting the sack for the weekend so instead of my usual Holiday Cocktail Lounge visit (best bar with no windows btw-also a big bouncing souls fan) I gave this place a try after walking by on the opposite side of 7th one day seeing two signs in the window “open mic Fridays-Bring Your Own Vinyl Monday”. My test cocktail at the time for all my NYC bar visits (spirits permitting) was always a Tom Collins Bombay Sapphire. I stepped inside the red spaceship with the sounds of the Easy Rider soundtrack not coming from an ipod but from a little record player in the opposite corner of the entrance across the parlour floor. A man with a cool hat was sitting down looking at a milk-crate filled with LP’s. “This might be my new favorite place.” I thought. He was the bartender for the night and I ordered my cocktail and he passed the test it was made deliciously. He tomd me he was the owner. Stefan was his name and after a little bit of time he told me all about both the open mic and the BYOV night. It sounded like Mondays were gonna be my new haunt to extend my weekend from 3 days to 4. In my apartment at the time I had a bunch of 45’s I never spun in college bc I was too busy. I looked over to see a neon Red Stripe beer sign which is my all time favorite beer. People, when I tell you this beer was ice cold I could feel the tempreature drop in my body after sipping on the coolness of not only this drink but this vibe of the bar. Stefan and I became friends once he discovered my deep taste in music. I became somewhat of a resident DJ there every week as a volunteer to help bring a following and keep the guests satisfied. The family grew and soon local celebrities heard the music was good on Mondays so the word got out. I spun there until 2018 when I moved out of the city. Believe me when I say, this place was like my little heaven on earth, my home-away-from-home. I make it my base of operation every visit to the city now years later. No checks or credit cards, cash only. The best bar in the city and the best the Ukranian Village has to offer. Total strangers can become your new friends if you buy the ticket and take the ride. Life is worth living to be here.

Tessie Viola

A friend of a friend showed me this place 2 years ago. I instantly fell in love. When we stopped talking, I used the opportunity to steal Big Bar as my own. It's a very small bar-- about 4 booths. A couple of bar seats and limited standing room. But even while packed it's not claustrophobic. (Despite the fogged windows!) Before I go on, I must add IT IS CASH ONLY! But if you can run to an ATM or have a cash oriented mate, it's totally worth it! The lights are super soothing and I think they play music? I've never noticed, which is great because I love bars you don't have to shout at. The bartenders are cool and have a heavy pour. The drinks are very cheap. I think we paid three dollars for a good sized Jameson shot. We were shocked it was three dollars and shocked it was real Jameson. BB is def one of my regular haunts when I remember to take out cash. (Which is more often now.)

calvin davis

only way to describe this place: great vibes!! been here several times both on dates and with friends and I can say with confidence that this is one of my favorite bars in New York! Brian is super chill and funny and knows how to make all the classic cocktails as well. just know that this bar is pretty small and get crowded on the weekend! I wouldn't come with a group bigger than 4, and don't forget, in classic new york fashion, this bar is CASH ONLY. enjoy!

This is a really excellent dive bar - nothing fancy here, just decently cheap drinks and a lot of seating to chat with friends.

Great vibes, great bar tender on sundays and tuesdays, had my best hot todys during the coldes winters

It’s ironically called big bar even though spaces are very limited in here - it’s definitely a vibe though with its cash only and overall divey atmosphere. Lots of disclaimers all around but if you know what you want and can be expedient about it, you’ll be well served here.

Rovik Robert

It’s ironically called big bar even though spaces are very limited in here - it’s definitely a vibe though with its cash only and overall divey atmosphere. Lots of disclaimers all around but if you know what you want and can be expedient about it, you’ll be well served here.

Well... I don't know how I never came here before but what a vibe. Soaked in red light, cash only, a very chill, eclectic crew, all of that made it for me a perfect later night after dinner spot, even if the back bar is unsurprisingly thin and I low-key hate carrying cash on me these days unless I'm a regular somewhere. As an old head with a kid, I'm not sure when I'll be back but when the opportunity presents itself, I'm down.

Super cozy and cute. No wait despite NYE weekend but still busy/lively. Love the red lights. Bartender was alright / weird vibes. Maybe they were tired / had cruddy customers before me. Just had a glass of a house red

Mike Alwill

Well... I don't know how I never came here before but what a vibe. Soaked in red light, cash only, a very chill, eclectic crew, all of that made it for me a perfect later night after dinner spot, even if the back bar is unsurprisingly thin and I low-key hate carrying cash on me these days unless I'm a regular somewhere. As an old head with a kid, I'm not sure when I'll be back but when the opportunity presents itself, I'm down.

Angie K

Super cozy and cute. No wait despite NYE weekend but still busy/lively. Love the red lights. Bartender was alright / weird vibes. Maybe they were tired / had cruddy customers before me. Just had a glass of a house red

Low key and affordable, but they overfilled my glass so I couldn’t move it without spilling, and the maraschino cherry was shriveled and black. I wasn’t even sure what it was supposed to be.

Really cute, authentic and affordable easy village bar. Unfortunately I had a bad experience with a bartender that soured my outlook on the place. After buying a couple drinks and hanging out with some friends, I asked the bartender if I could grab a water for my friend and me. She openly rolled our eyes at us then looked at the people next to us and said “I can’t even try to hide how annoying this is” then continued to rudely talk about us to them right in front of our faces.

Bartender pressured me to tip by withholding my water. Of course, having received that service, I didn't tip. In retaliation, the bartender had me leave. I happened to be the only mixed race person there among whites so that's suspicious but she may have been dealing with lots of no tippers that day too--not to excuse her behavior, of course.

Terrible, terrible service. Rude, unwelcoming, openly hostile bartender. Will never, ever go there again. Bartender made sure of that.

bartender was extremely rude for no reason :/

At the end of the day it's a bar.... The bartender and bouncer are the singular most offensive and pretensous people I have ever met in my life. Full of self importance and a vibe like they are keepers of all. They essence of the place has great bones and a good vibe overall... Just hope you catch the bartender on a night she isn't feeling like being rude and stuck up.Its far away from a premium bar and has an attitude problem equal to the snobbiest bars in all of Manhattan.... It's a hard Miss.

I stopped by Big Bar while visiting New York, and it was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve ever had. The bartender was incredibly rude from the very beginning — no greeting, no smile, just an attitude like I was bothering her by even being there. She clearly had no idea what she was doing and couldn’t answer the simplest questions about the place. I didn’t even end up ordering a drink because the atmosphere was so unpleasant and unprofessional. I left after a few minutes, completely unimpressed. For a city like New York, where good service is everywhere, this was a huge letdown. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

I had a very disappointing experience at Bog Bar in New York. We asked about the recipe for a Whiskey Sour, and were told it’s just whiskey and lemon juice. When we mentioned that a classic Whiskey Sour usually includes egg white, the staff became rude, told us not to “teach the bartender how to do their job,” and we were basically kicked out shortly after. Instead of a friendly conversation or a simple explanation, we were met with disrespect and attitude. Customer service matters, and no one deserves to be treated like that. Would not recommend this place.

I would leave zero stars if I could— I work service too and never leave reviews, this case was extremely bad and deserves to be shared. Absolutely horrible experience with the femme presenting bartender on a pretty empty Saturday. Extremely rude, condescending, unbearable and had to leave pretty immediately, it was ageist and very unpleasant to be around. The two lonely men sitting there were also questionable and she seemed way kinder to them, than to us fellow non-men with a kind demeanor. Will not come back, thank you for making us feel horrible. Thank you!

Looks like some bartenders take tips for granted, expecting tips while being so rude to customers with the excuse of “being busy”. Wow, what a good reason for being disrespectful of customers. Reminder of the principle of a tip (which unfortunately has been forgotten): tips are here to reward good services for bartenders who deserve them, they should not be taken for granted. So just one thing busy bartender: if you want some tips, just do your job properly by being just slightly nicer, and not just demand “give me tips “. For your pride at least!

Big Bar is hard to miss with its bright red interior lights shining onto the sidewalk, but when you walk inside you’ll have wished you did miss it. I recently had the displeasure of stopping by this ‘dive bar’ and it was an experience I won’t soon forget; unfortunately. This bar harbors a particularly rancid vibe. Everything from the bar tender’s hall monitor attitude, to the Gen X clientele sitting at the bar top, to the bald man in a bright blue sweater standing outside holding the door looking to start arguments. It all meshed into a miserable, spoilt, and rank experience. This self touted ‘dive bar’ is a total disaster from start to finish. The atmosphere is dreadful. The space is cramped and awkward. The decor is tacky and lacking grace. It is all too evident that they tried too hard to come off as this trendy, relaxed, dingy dive bar but you can feel how incredibly gauche and trite the ambience really is. The supposed "dive bar" charm was nowhere to be found. Instead, it felt more like a sterile and sanitized version, where an older crowd can live out their dreams cosplaying being a patron at a dive bar. Without actually having to step foot in one. The raw authenticity of a dive bar is nowhere to be found here. Instead what you will encounter is a travesty of such magnitude that it defies the very essence of what it seeks to embody. Stripped of any genuine character, it is a desolate void. Big Bar’s ambiance is a facade. A cheap costume masking a soul devoid of grit or character. Stepping inside, the sterility of the place struck me immediately. But it was the customer service that truly revealed the rot at the core. At the helm of this charade was a bartender whose demeanor is a chilling specter of authoritarianism. Her presence fills the room and adds to the festering of a putrid environment. We did not get her name, but she is a heavy set brunette woman with glasses and nose piercings. She made comments that were teetering on discriminatory and seemed to convey a covert racism. She was abrasive with a patron over a seemingly arbitrary qualm. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear other patrons share a similar experience. The libations, one might hope, would salvage some semblance of a good experience, but they were as soulless as the decor. The drinks are underwhelming and bereft of any skill or care in their making. They didn’t seem to have any thing of substance worth drinking. All the bartender had was well liquor and flat beer. And in a location filled with other options that have better drinks and a more refined atmosphere, we did not stay long. In sum, this Gen X haven is truly a pit of despair and disappointment. This establishment is a blight upon the landscape of nightlife. A soulless simulacrum devoid of the grit, grime, and charm that define a dive bar. It feels more of a sterile tomb and I would implore seekers of a genuine experience to look elsewhere.

Bouncer dressed like where’s Waldo for Halloween tonight is a problem for a small business like this. I walked in with a few girls and he was hitting on the customers inside I did not see anyone in the front of the door so I walked inside. I thought he was just some big goofy Halloween dressed older over weight guy talking to younger girls. As I got though the door he started getting aggressive super weird because he’s a lot shorter than me and I’m not an aggressive person. He asked for ids I thought he was being funny but still reached in my back pocket to accommodate him. That’s when things got really weird he started acting aggressive so I turned around to leave because I don’t want to hurt this bully so I said I’m gonna just leave.. That’s when I asked the girls I was with to come he decided to follow me out screaming have a good day just so we are clear it’s night time! This place should really watch who they hire because clearly they don’t! You have been warned stay away from this place!

I really regret to change my review here. I really liked the place and used to go there. There is a specific bartender working there that is absolutely rude. She made a whole scene because some people tipped only $5 for 5 cans of beer. She was ringing some bells and her friends were shouting 'you should tip your bartender and blah blah..' and pointing to those people (that had actually tipped). Let alone that she earlier did lift me from my seat for her those friends of her to sit... When we told her that we understand that you are busy but this doesnt justify you being rude she took our drinks from us (had just bought them and i had personally tipped $3 for a jin) and asked us to leave the place. She just ruins that great bar and the nice vibe.

Евгений Бодрый

I stopped by Big Bar while visiting New York, and it was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve ever had. The bartender was incredibly rude from the very beginning — no greeting, no smile, just an attitude like I was bothering her by even being there. She clearly had no idea what she was doing and couldn’t answer the simplest questions about the place. I didn’t even end up ordering a drink because the atmosphere was so unpleasant and unprofessional. I left after a few minutes, completely unimpressed. For a city like New York, where good service is everywhere, this was a huge letdown. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

Богдан Горбунов

I had a very disappointing experience at Bog Bar in New York. We asked about the recipe for a Whiskey Sour, and were told it’s just whiskey and lemon juice. When we mentioned that a classic Whiskey Sour usually includes egg white, the staff became rude, told us not to “teach the bartender how to do their job,” and we were basically kicked out shortly after. Instead of a friendly conversation or a simple explanation, we were met with disrespect and attitude. Customer service matters, and no one deserves to be treated like that. Would not recommend this place.

noah bergman

I would leave zero stars if I could— I work service too and never leave reviews, this case was extremely bad and deserves to be shared. Absolutely horrible experience with the femme presenting bartender on a pretty empty Saturday. Extremely rude, condescending, unbearable and had to leave pretty immediately, it was ageist and very unpleasant to be around. The two lonely men sitting there were also questionable and she seemed way kinder to them, than to us fellow non-men with a kind demeanor. Will not come back, thank you for making us feel horrible. Thank you!

Delphine Kak

Looks like some bartenders take tips for granted, expecting tips while being so rude to customers with the excuse of “being busy”. Wow, what a good reason for being disrespectful of customers. Reminder of the principle of a tip (which unfortunately has been forgotten): tips are here to reward good services for bartenders who deserve them, they should not be taken for granted. So just one thing busy bartender: if you want some tips, just do your job properly by being just slightly nicer, and not just demand “give me tips “. For your pride at least!

Daniel

Bouncer dressed like where’s Waldo for Halloween tonight is a problem for a small business like this. I walked in with a few girls and he was hitting on the customers inside I did not see anyone in the front of the door so I walked inside. I thought he was just some big goofy Halloween dressed older over weight guy talking to younger girls. As I got though the door he started getting aggressive super weird because he’s a lot shorter than me and I’m not an aggressive person. He asked for ids I thought he was being funny but still reached in my back pocket to accommodate him. That’s when things got really weird he started acting aggressive so I turned around to leave because I don’t want to hurt this bully so I said I’m gonna just leave.. That’s when I asked the girls I was with to come he decided to follow me out screaming have a good day just so we are clear it’s night time! This place should really watch who they hire because clearly they don’t! You have been warned stay away from this place!

Matthew Armanda

Big Bar is hard to miss with its bright red interior lights shining onto the sidewalk, but when you walk inside you’ll have wished you did miss it. I recently had the displeasure of stopping by this ‘dive bar’ and it was an experience I won’t soon forget; unfortunately. This bar harbors a particularly rancid vibe. Everything from the bar tender’s hall monitor attitude, to the Gen X clientele sitting at the bar top, to the bald man in a bright blue sweater standing outside holding the door looking to start arguments. It all meshed into a miserable, spoilt, and rank experience. This self touted ‘dive bar’ is a total disaster from start to finish. The atmosphere is dreadful. The space is cramped and awkward. The decor is tacky and lacking grace. It is all too evident that they tried too hard to come off as this trendy, relaxed, dingy dive bar but you can feel how incredibly gauche and trite the ambience really is. The supposed "dive bar" charm was nowhere to be found. Instead, it felt more like a sterile and sanitized version, where an older crowd can live out their dreams cosplaying being a patron at a dive bar. Without actually having to step foot in one. The raw authenticity of a dive bar is nowhere to be found here. Instead what you will encounter is a travesty of such magnitude that it defies the very essence of what it seeks to embody. Stripped of any genuine character, it is a desolate void. Big Bar’s ambiance is a facade. A cheap costume masking a soul devoid of grit or character. Stepping inside, the sterility of the place struck me immediately. But it was the customer service that truly revealed the rot at the core. At the helm of this charade was a bartender whose demeanor is a chilling specter of authoritarianism. Her presence fills the room and adds to the festering of a putrid environment. We did not get her name, but she is a heavy set brunette woman with glasses and nose piercings. She made comments that were teetering on discriminatory and seemed to convey a covert racism. She was abrasive with a patron over a seemingly arbitrary qualm. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear other patrons share a similar experience. The libations, one might hope, would salvage some semblance of a good experience, but they were as soulless as the decor. The drinks are underwhelming and bereft of any skill or care in their making. They didn’t seem to have any thing of substance worth drinking. All the bartender had was well liquor and flat beer. And in a location filled with other options that have better drinks and a more refined atmosphere, we did not stay long. In sum, this Gen X haven is truly a pit of despair and disappointment. This establishment is a blight upon the landscape of nightlife. A soulless simulacrum devoid of the grit, grime, and charm that define a dive bar. It feels more of a sterile tomb and I would implore seekers of a genuine experience to look elsewhere.

Charis Brakatselos

I really regret to change my review here. I really liked the place and used to go there. There is a specific bartender working there that is absolutely rude. She made a whole scene because some people tipped only $5 for 5 cans of beer. She was ringing some bells and her friends were shouting 'you should tip your bartender and blah blah..' and pointing to those people (that had actually tipped). Let alone that she earlier did lift me from my seat for her those friends of her to sit... When we told her that we understand that you are busy but this doesnt justify you being rude she took our drinks from us (had just bought them and i had personally tipped $3 for a jin) and asked us to leave the place. She just ruins that great bar and the nice vibe.