Perfect if you want to avoid Saturday night crowds.

laid back, great place to go and have actual conversations with your mates

One of my favorite bars in Manhattan. Quiet enough to have a conversation but not so quiet that you have to listen to the table next to you.

Cute little spot that’s perfect for cold, rainy days. The hot spiked cider is great.

A cozy, casual environment for talking with friends over a beer 🍻

Great bar with good live music. The drinks were slightly pricy but worth the ambiance.

Great spot for a drink and a chat. The Scratcher Sessions on Sunday are a great way to hear real talent in an intimate setting.

The last of a dying breed, cozy dark bar that used to host the staff of the Village voice. Very friendly bartenders.

Irish bar and excellent taste in music (a bar that plays Cocteau Twins is heaven on earth).

Walked into here by chance. Low profile bar with great music selection and beer.

I love this hidden bar, visited this place 13 years ago on a first date with my future wife.

Loud af on a Saturday night but probably chill earlier or on a weekday - good drinks tho.

No teevees. And there were dudes wearing tweed. Very happy-place.

Great quiet spot to sit and have a drink with friends. Good beer selection

What a nice bar ! Discreet/ rustic / divy / amazing beer selection

Simple, unpretentious, but high quality drinks and people in a platonic ideal of a basement bar.

The most friendly cozy bar in the east village the bartender always have a beautiful attitude

My favorite downtown dive bar. Solid beer selection, spacious

Very affordable for the area. Good vibes. Great playlist.

Cozy spot for pints any day of the week and great live music on Sunday evenings.

Very chill place. It's hard to locate, but it is just a 2-3 steps down from where Google tells you the location. The place has good drinks and the bartenders don't shy away from putting alcohol in your drinks. I ordered a whiskey and Coke, and the amount of whiskey in that drink was crazy.

In the far right corner near the bar a small gathering of friends huddled around a candle radiating warmth. In another corner a middle aged man drank his whiskey in silence, enjoying his solitude. My eyes dart to my glass, half empty, NO, half full. I have to think positively. Finally I stand up, but I quickly trip and fall to the floor. I look up, eyes full of shame. My friends have tied my shoelaces together. This will be the last time.

We love the scratcher. Mature college + crowd. Good mix of age and background... Very cozy. Good value. We have been before and will go again.

One of my fav in the area. Super nice atmosphere, lighting, crowd, beers and service. What you want more ? Get into this bar now !

Noticed it as I was walking by and decided to stop in for a drink. Definitely more of a local place with a speak easy vibe and great happy hour specials. Will definitely return next time I'm in town!

Neighborhood place back open through this madness. Rains came today but didn't spoil the love, hospitality, and comraderie. Stop by, say hello, have a pint or two and keep local spots going.

A bar that turns primarily into a listening room on Sunday night. The audience is quiet and attentive.

Randomly wandered into this little bar on Sunday evening. Nice cozy bar with decent seating and they had a live band playing.

A NY live music treasure for the Scratcher Sessions on Sundays.

Very unpretentious and super relaxed. Heard several MBV songs during my 3 hour stay and it really made my evening.

Coming from the UK, it's hard to replicate the pub culture but The Scratcher does a great job at capturing some that same feeling. The staff were really friendly, good selection of drinks and a nice atmosphere as a whole.

My heart belongs to The Scratcher. It is unmatched in warm, loving consistency. It became my favorite bar when I first arrived in New York 18 years ago, and remains nearly unchanged in that time. Dark, low-key, charming, alluring, unpretentious, and confident... Frankly it would make make for the perfect girlfriend if it weren't for the the alcohol dependency.

Great little bar. Quiet most weekdays but loud close to and on the weekends. While crowded it can get loud, but never rowdy. The service has been solid and they always have a couple options for cider which is always nice to see!

Great prices for Manhattan, not too crowded. Happy hour specials and other good deals, like PBR + a shot of whiskey for $7! The bartender was also very friendly. A good option if you're around the East Village!

One of my favorite downtown bars, especially on an off night (Tuesday or Wednesday) when it’s less busy. Great drinks and hang. Friday and Saturday can get packed, but also fun in a different way.

Jack Pitts

The Scratcher is honestly one of my favorite bars in New York City. It has a divey feel, but it’s actually really nice and comfortable — the kind of place you go when you just want a good drink without any fuss. Drinks are affordable, especially if you’re out with friends, and the service has always been solid. It stays lively, but it’s not a club vibe at all, which makes it perfect for actually hanging out and talking. The crowd feels very normal and down-to-earth, which I really appreciate. It’s a fantastic stop on a bar crawl or a great place for a nightcap. Highly recommend.

Tyler Wayne

bartender is a stand up guy. the reason for the 5 stars is that they replaced the candles with fake ones. completely improved the vibe. pls never bring the old candles back. if you do i'll give you 3 stars, love the playlist.

Bayley Sweitzer

Awesome bar always loved this place BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REAL CANDLES? Please bring back the tiny fires. Would be a five star bar for me if the real candles came back. edit: [sorry about the permit issue. I hope yall get it sorted out.]

Robert Burak

Superb bar. Great atmosphere.

Skip Zimmerman

We found this place by accident after it was clear there'd be no room at McSorleys a couple of blocks away (New Year's weekend, of course). A dim but warm Irish pub with a comfortable, welcoming feel. Great beers served by a nice bartender! We stayed a couple of hours, just needing a refuge after having walked the city all day, and it was perfect. No food - just beer and whiskey in a great atmosphere. I could tell it would tune up later with music and singing from communal tables. A great place where we'll return for sure.

Sawyer Obropta

Great service and atmosphere. Came only for drinks, but the bartender was extremely friendly and considerate. A lovely hole-in-the-wall place for people looking to catch a quick drink (or several)

Kristen

The Scratcher is a nice little bar located in the East Village! The atmosphere inside of this place is so cozy & the staff are attentive. They made me a great margarita - I definitely recommend this spot!

Kalle Ryan

When I lived in New York this was where I always came for a drink and a chat. Well known at the time as a haunt for Irish musicians and artists like Glen Hansard & others. I recently went back and it is still unchanged in the best possible way. Unremarkable from the outside but once you go down the steps and slide inside it has a special energy.No blaring tellys, good music drifting from the speakers, solid friendly bartenders. A long bar and creaky floorboards, every corner filled with characters. Still one of my favorites.

shimmeringpath

Cool little chill spot for drinks . Cocktails and Guinness . They have live music sometimes. Wooden benches and pretty lights. They also play UK music mostly older stuff but it's cool. I don't think they have food but saw a group bring in a pizza so I guess you can bring your own. Probably good for Girls Night get-together or just weekend drinks. 5th Street between 2nd and 3rd . East Village. They have Hot Toddy in cooler weather.

+4

Matt Hardwick

The Scratcher is one of my go-to dive bars in the East Village when I know a conversation is on the agenda. This place is not usually too busy or noisy until after 11, and almost never so busy that one feels uncomfortable ordering a drink from the bar. I have had many good conversations at this bar without the noise level causing any problems. They usually do have someone checking IDs on the way down the steps into the bar. The seating is bench seating for most tables, and they usually have a candle on each table for ambient lighting. The bartenders make themselves available and don't usually need to be flagged down for ordering. They have an acceptable range of drink options. Plenty of beer on tap, and a more limited liquor selection. They make water available at the side of the bar. The prices are affordable as expected.

Kelly Morris

If you live in the East Village, this is/was a favorite dive of someone you know- for good reason. Ambiance has always been cozy and inviting, with sounds of saxophone drifting out of the windows on rainy Sunday nights. Now- Natalie and Francesca have breathed new happy life into it with the outdoor seating, lovingly crafted around a menu of cheese toasts (Irish for grilled cheese), cucumber (tea) sandwiches, and the best pb&j on the block, with a side of tortilla chips. Add the chips to the sandwich to zazz it up. A night spent here with a drink, a pb&j, and good company (person or newspaper) is such a happy night. You can’t find better people or a calmer, happier ambiance.

Abby Sasser

I kind of want to rate this bar one star so you’ll stay away, but I just can’t do it. This is the best neighborhood bar in the east village. Cozy and simple. Great beer, great whiskey, great people. Can’t ask for more.

A.C. Antonelli

The Scratcher is a perfect place to grab a low-key drink. It's dimly lit and comfortable. Sort of a romantic vibe even. There's plenty of space if you're in a larger group, or smaller tables if you're going for something one-on-one. Maybe it's just me but any place with year-round Christmas lights is a winner in my book.

Jon Hill

The Manhattan version of The Lamb on Holloway Road in London. Brilliantly pitched at the dingier side of bars without being bottom of the barrel dive.

Rich Ruszkowski

Great small venue for drinks and Live music on sundays! I have been here several times for performances. Bar staff is nice and drink selection is decent. Arrive early for performances as seats do go quickly. I reccomend arriving an hour early for first performance and stay for all acts! You won't be disappointed in your choice here. Cheers!

Great bar for drinks and chilling with friends. Quintessential nyc bar

Chill basement space with good beer selection. Bathroom is always freezing though.

Good dive bar with happy hour from 4 to 8.

Cheap drinks, friendly service, and no food.

No frills, stick to beer and simple cocktails

Good prices, but Salt on rim in Margarita was kind of too 'thick' like for BBQ.

Cute little spot near Astor place. Loved the bartender super sweet

If I could reserve the table by the window on the right, I'd go here every day. Sit anywhere else and it looks like an average pub.

Cozy, out-of-the-way neighborhood joint that is around the corner from me. Music on weekends though I usually go during the week when it is quiet.

Good enough bar, but doesn't really stand out from the crowd for the neighborhood. Average prices.

Met with some former and current co-workers here to catch up and chat. The place was perfect. It was not crowded and you could hear yourself talking. Would definitely sit down and have a drink here anytime.

Fun great vibe! Nothing amazing, very solid bar - good beer list

Go down a few steps and find yourself in an off-avenue dive bar that hasn’t changed in years. Prices are decent; beers are $6-8, and $2 off drafts, bottled and well drinks during happy hour.

Very chill vibe. Really cheap. Does have a funky smell in there.

Its a regular bar, prices are fair and the place is very clean thought!I don't add 5 stars cause I think they have to change few things, like games for costumer or even peanuts!that could make a difference between a regular bar and great place that brings great experiences to costumers...

A delightfully cozy place that reminds me of living in London. Drinks are perfectly good, but this place is worth a visit for the feel. Warm, inviting, casual, it's a good place to dip in to.

Dark and mysterious basement level bar - went early evening and it was quiet and friendly but soon became packed with after work locals. Would recommend.

A friendly, below-ground watering hole. No gimmicks here, just good drinks in a cozy place. Best of all, there are no TVs in sight.

Laid back neighbourhood bar with cheap drinks (PBR cans for $3!) Nothing fancy about the joint, just a good place to have a beer and a chat.

Is a cool bar, wasn't too crowded on a Saturday night and happy hour till 8pm. Will make it a favorite of the city

The Scratcher has good service and good drink prices! We had a great time at the cozy, heated outdoor seating.

After dinner, my party girl friends still wanted to go out so we went to a bar near by where we were. This small bar looks mysterious to is so my friends decide to step in. It was Sunday night and we were surprised they had a live music. We enjoy the music and people were getting in a place more. I havd a great time with my friends.

One of the go-to places with my classmates from grad school, after a long week of reading and writing! It has a cozy vibe but is also spacious and can get pretty crowded after 6ish. They take card and have happy hours with wine options, if I remember correctly.

Had a some drinks with friends. The atmosphere was perfect for catching up. The drinks were strong but asking for a double resulted in being charged for 2 drinks resulting in a 30 dollar double.

Rebecca

I went to a birthday party here where they booked the downstairs room. It was very cozy, had it's own separate bar. The drinks were pretty good and normally priced for NYC. I would definitely consider having an event here. One draw back is that for whatever reason the downstairs bar didn't have it's own credit card reader. So the bartender kept having to go upstairs to ring people up if they didn't have a tab open.

Adam Friedman

My wife and I visited probably around the mid or late afternoon and the place was very quiet, just one other party. It was great. The bar quickly filled up, which we expected, but had a good time nonetheless. As it is below street level, it has a nice dark vibe to it, complemented by a lot of dark woods and dim lighting. Only comment would be that they seemed slightly short staffed, but we could have simply been there before extra hands arrived.

Good beer. Live music. Mostly ppl above 30 yo

This type of snatch is quite the catch. White Widow is my favorite dish by far.

Bar located below street level; bar area seats about ten; cafe feel with four-seat tables; wood panel floors; music played on speakers; craft beer on tap; domestic bottles; happy hour; bar & shot special; no menu but outside food allowed in; decent prices; went on a Thursday during happy hour (somewhat of a crowd)

OK place. The bar and doorman is very cool. The selection is good. The prices are okay, compared to NYC standard. However, the bartenders can be a bit rude. They removed our drinks before we were finished.

Good drinks...good vibes...noisy.

Cool bar. One bartender though - service wasn’t great b/c of that. I would come back, and adjust my rating if better staffed and less crowded. Cheers.

Henry Beebe-Center

bartender is a stand up guy. the reason for the 3 stars is that they replaced the candles with fake ones. completely ruined the vibe. pls bring the candles back. if you do i'd give you 5 stars, the playlist could use a tiny bit of work but thats more of personal preference thing, wouldn't hold it against you.

Not my scene. The younger folk have taken over all the bars. Nothing really left for older customers.

Went the other night with some friends, isn’t a bad place so to speak but…the older female bartender was extremely rude, seeing what people have said in previous reviews makes total sense, she was enraged after I only tipped her a couple dollars for pouring me the cheapest beer on draft, so much so that she refused to serve anyone I was with, including anyone who we spoke to in the bar “your with them I'm not going to let anyone serve you” Im not the confrontational type so I just shrugged it off and went to find somewhere to sit with my friends, she then proceeded to stare at everyone who I was with for the entirety of the time we were there trying her hardest to make us uncomfortable, she probably refused a third of the people there drinks for simply interacting with the group of people I was with. I get maybe not serving me but making a scene and blacklisting a third of the people in the bar? That can’t be good for business…..if you come here, expect to tip your hourly wage for a draft beer or the 52 year old bartender will make a scene

Taha M

We came to this bar excited to support a local spot and brought a good sized group of friends to enjoy the night. Unfortunately, the experience was not what we expected. Instead of being welcomed for bringing in business, we were met with hostility from the bartender, who seemed annoyed at how many of us showed up for our event. It felt like we were being punished for trying to have a good time. The service was slow, dismissive, and honestly uncomfortable. At one point, it felt like we were inconveniencing the bartender just by ordering drinks. On top of that, there was little to no music, which made the atmosphere feel dead and awkward. We were only trying to celebrate a moving away party.

Empty .. sad ... the bartender have no life! Bad place and pretty expansive

This is purely based on the hostile attitude I and my wife were met with as soon as we entered this place. We looked on several online forums to find a good place to meet friends before a gig. The Scratcher had good reviews and was listed in several places as open from 11am to 4am. We walked in at 3.35 pm to whom I assume was the owner/manager sat with an employee at a table. Before we'd barely got through the door one of them said "were not open" in what I can only describe as a rude manner. No apology, smile or any other friendly gesture. I ended up apologising as I'm polite I felt like we had intruded on something. We left confused and offended, and unwilling to return. A shame. As I'm sure it's a great bar. But customer service is always the first impression made.

I went to the Scatcher to lounge in the off hours. I tried ordering food, and they didn’t have a kitchen. I still sat down. After sitting, I went to charge my phone and chat on the phone, seeing the bar has few patrons. I was there for 30 minutes. As I got up to leave, the owner and bartender saw it fit to accost me - calling me rude for not buying a drink and were upset I didn’t tip them for getting water. There is not a cover charge to get in, which I’d guess would deter customers yet they want to charge me a fee for being in the bar. Starbucks had a training for this exact situation. As Starbucks knows, it’s best to be hospitable. They told me not to return for this, and I would advise you not to go there.

Petra Ruiz galbe

Me and my friends are from Spain and we just understanding the tipping culture here in the us. When we talked with our friends from us about this they told us that you have to give a minimum of 20% in a restaurant and places like fast food or bars it’s a curtesy but not something obligated. With this in in mind my friend we she payed she didn’t left a tip bc 1. 6’5 for a cider is kinda overpriced 2. The bartender with didn’t come to our table or anything we went to the bar and she just took the cans out of the freezer and nothing else, not a glass or even straw. We payed and 5 minutes after she came to our table, slammed the bill and (not even joking) screamed that she didn’t care that we were from Spain that in the us you leave a tip and we have to fix the bill. Okay, we’re genuinely sorry for that, we had no idea that tip was also mandatory in this case. Still, there was 100 ways of how to approach this and she just took the worst one. When u are working the priority should be the manners and professionalism and that was just not it. I worked as a waitress and I know is tiring and sometimes really exhausting but I would have never approach to a client like that, and talking with my American friends said in my social media they all agreed that that behavior is not normall. Also the place was full of empty tables with glasses on it