Immaculate vibes, I cannot remember the last time I sat on plastic. Everything just feels right

My 2019...A wonderful night in NYC.

This place is just a bar but is also a classic of the LES. Yes I would come back for a beer, absolutely.

Great local bar with amazing service! Any bar that keeps their cold beers in an 80's style fridge behind the bar is awesome!! And the actually keep at tv on that is always running80's movies! Totally retro and totally awesome!!

Definitely a dive bar, but if you're into that authentic NY neighbourhood bar feel, this is your bar. They also had a slushie machine, so five stars because that coconut rum drink changed my life. Haha

Probably my favorite watering hole in all of NYC. Nothing much to say that hasn't already been said: cheap drinks, a pool table (!), couch seating, dim lighting, great music. Tip your bartenders well, esp. if Lou is working ;)

The J hole, as they call it, is a rare breed in nyc: it has cheap drinks. $2 PBRs. Enough said. If that not suffice you glutens then there’s a pool table, eclectic furniture and an angsty atmosphere.

Lady Gaga recently recommended this bar in her 73 Questions with VOGUE Magazine interview (On YouTube, Minute 8:17) released on September 13, 2018; that’s how I heard about this spot... planning on going very soon. Thanks Gaga.

Dive bar central! Fun crowd, very relaxed bar tendered, cheap drinks, and some fun bar games! Beware.... not for those who like dark places. But definitely for those who love Pacman!

Great 70s vibe, 3$ PBR great seats and a pool table

I can't remember all the wonderful times I've had here, and that's what makes me love the Johnsons. If you like drinking PBRs in your grandparents' basement and listening to 70s glam rock, this here's the joint.

Super chill dive bar. Great bartenders.

Glad this spot is still around to offer a simple, dive option in the area. Chill crowd, pool table, super cheap beers, graffitied bathroom. What more could you want.

Came on a Monday and met Luis! He is a sweetie 🥧 who makes the best mezcal sodas ;) He gave me a spread of dvds and I chose dirty dancing 💃 PS look how cute he is!

Luis is the most amazing, social and welcoming bartender. i am definitely coming back every monday. love this place bc of him. <3

We'd gi to a punk show at the ABC NO RIO and drain PBRs between shows. I can't wait until we can do that again. Nick Poot forever.

Erica was a great bartender. Keep going as we will visit again soon! One of the last great bars in the LES!

Fun, friendly and cheap. Love the $2 PBR, pool table and basement vibe. Always great music too.

Dive bar in the Lower East Side featuring $2 pabst blue ribbon and thrash punk. Divey, but in a way that makes you feel like you belong.

The bartender was excellent and the barback was as well. High volume for such a small venue and they handled it like champs. Thanks to the whole staff! Tip them well, because they put in the effort.

A bar where your night starts or ends. No inbetweens

If you feel like the bartenders are rude it's probably because ya don't belong in here. We always have great service and fun conversation with the staff and regulars. Nothing better than posting up with a pbr watching a VHS tape.

My favorite bar in the LES - seriously without this place I would probably have died of the awfulness of the stereotypical LES scene of NYU kids and just people that aren't my scene (obnoxious drunks lol) - they have THE BEST MUSIC HERE ALWAYS!! if you like good music - at least one of the bartenders will definitely have you covered with their taste in music if not all of them. I've never had a place where I love the music almost every single song (I'm actually pretty picky with my music so that says a lot..long story short - I want to hear good music while im out because it's more fun and why shouldn't you listen to good music out in a bar?) the crowd is a mix of all different kinds of people and everyone's super chill and friendly if you talk to any of them. This place definitely is the definition of dive bar but the personality from the badass people and music etc really makes it feel like a house party with some friends and soon to be new friends.. they have an old school PAC man game, pool table and usually a random movie playing on VHS behind the bar on silent. Oh and it's cash only! If you're looking for somewhere that's unique, chill and super cool people that have fun - this is a place you should try! If you're into high end cocktails with ingredients you can't pronounce or understand or want some process of knocking on a secret door to get a key from a clown up to a water tower or want to listen to generic electronic with a bunch of bros getting bottle service - do not come here. You will not enjoy it and likely it will go both ways you will not be enjoyed by those here (sorry but I'm being brutally honest here)

A great joint. Cheap bear and good music. The pool table is old and damage but that makes games more interesting. Attempted to decorate are all failed which makes the place super cool!

This place is unlike any other bar you'll walk into in Manhattan, and I mean that in all the best ways. When you're ready to kick back with friends, share stories, and crush a few cases of PBR cans come to the Johnson. You won't be disappointed

Welcome to the MOTHHAflippinn’ Johnson’s baby!!! This bar molded me. I’m 38 now first went there when I was 19 do the math. One of the last original OG dives still fing rockin it. Used to play pool, smoke cigs play arcades kick it on this gangster old as hell couch. Felt like drinking at your grandmas house but in the heart of the apple. Let’s wish for many more glorious years or scallywagging nyc street grit 🤘🔥🤘🔥

no way yall complaining about bartenders at this spot. came in at 2am for the first time and had a blast. lost a game of pool to some cool cats, grabbed a couple heavy poured drinks and chilled listening to playboi carti till 3am. I was ready to buy a shirt but couldnt make it to last call lol! The 2 girls behind the bar saturday were killin it and had so much fun chatting up with them. dude the bouncer was wearing like real armor. stop being entitled and go chill.

Timeless dive with cheap drinks and a pool table

Best music and costumer service! The bartender Luis is so kind and professional. Definitely I’ll recommend this place to everybody 👍🏻

always a great time when i come to this bar! specially love when Eddie is bartending, he has great service and plays the best music :) he has become a good friend of mine and visiting him during his shifts has become a highlight of my week, would love to see him on more nights of the week!

I've found the dive bar of my dreams. I'm sooooooo in love with this place. Absolute quintessential dive bar.

Just the right vibe! A 2.00 can of PBR. Passed out on the couch and dropped my beer. Instead of being 86ed they just asked if I wanted another! 5 stars!

joe gorlan

Fairly priced, lots of seating, pool table (not sure whether it is free or paid), attentive staff. $15 card minimum.

LJ With no K

One of my favorite dive bars in NYC. You're not coming here for the ambiance, the food(do they even serve food?), or the awesome bathroom. It's the cheap drinks, chill crowd, and great bartenders

Alex N

I’ve been coming to the Johnson’s fairly regularly for the last couple months but I’ve found that Wednesday nights are the best. The bartender creates a very friendly atmosphere and engages with the customers. I have become friends with the people I sit next to at the bar because the bartender Eddie has started a conversation with us. I like coming to the Johnson’s for the music and the friendly atmosphere

Brandon G

Positive experience coming to this bar. Strong drinks that are reasonably priced. Lgbtq+ friendly and apart of the Lady Gaga history. Outgoing dive bar vibes with pool as the attraction to pass time.

Alison Adrat

The vibe is fantastic—chill but lively, with an inviting atmosphere. A special shoutout to Emma, the bartender, who made the night even more enjoyable. Her friendly, welcoming attitude really added to the overall experience. Definitely recommend this spot to anyone looking for great drinks, a fun vibe, and amazing service!

lindsey yessick

Great bar for a chill time. Feels like your living room

Jessica Bachansingh

divey bar experience that I loved. Showing vhs movies and pbr for excellent prices.

Aaron Smith

Tacky and campy, with bad vintage Christmas decor up in December. Take a snapshot and this place looks just like like a suburban, 70s basement or trailer park living room. The faint smell of soap belays how this is place is actually clean and thought out, despite its punk attitude. What a gem!

Nate Krantz

What an awesome spot. Felt like I was in the basement of some 70s sitcom character. Truly one of the best curated atmospheres of any dive bar I’ve been to in the city! Also, gotta love the super affordable drinks in a not-so-affordable part of Manhattan.

Jeremy Carmona

One of my favorite dive bars in the city and a neighborhood staple in the LES. The wood paneled walls and plastic covered sofas add to the lure of this place. I’d recommend going between 5pm-8pm during Mon-Thursday if you’re want to grab a seat.

Marcela Cortes

had a great time watching charly brown while having a couple of beers.

Joseph Burch

Great dive bar. TV, VHS combo, on top of a fridge full of amazing slaps, plays cult classic movies.

David Williams

I’ve been coming here for years, definitely a chill experience if you want a few beers with good company.

Sandra Lifshits

Great dive bar, Pabst light for $3, packed on weekends

Nazah Mazid

DRINKS ARE AWESOME AND LOU IS THE BEST BARTENDER EVER ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Dark and dirty dive bar that is surprisingly homey. Cheap beer ($2 PBR), awesome plastic covered sofas. Bring hand sanitizer.

Definitely stands out with the 70s feel and crush velvet couches covered in that plastic-y material. Cheap beer and nice people!

This is one amazing dive bar. Worth visiting. Find a spot on the worn couch and stay a while. Guaranteed to not be dull.

It’s alright. Classic trashy dive bar scene so don’t expect somethin mad nice; however, if you’re looking for a quick drink it’s the spot

I don’t really remember what I drank there or if the selections were any good but I loved it for all it’s weirdness.

Good dive bar with cheap beer and drink specials. Pool table and jukebox. Sometimes crowded.

$3 PBR. nice and loud. Pool table and lots of seats.

If you are looking for a new place to bring a date, this is definitely NOT that place. If you are looking for a place with the feel of 1970s lower east side then this is DEFINITELY the place for you. It is easy to walk by WTTJ as the bar has no easily discernible signage and looks like a condemned tenement from the outside. But going inside you immediately realize that it was just part of the atmosphere. The drink to get when you are here is the bloody mary. Pickles, peppers, celery, sriracha and Guiness are part of what makes their unique bloodies. I highly recommend it. #MCC2013

Just to let everyone know. By law credit card minimum can’t exceed $10. No matter what they say. Minimum is $10 by NY state law.

This place looks like a living room from the 70s. If you want cheap PBR cans and sweaty dudes playing pool, this is your place, all the furniture is covered in plastic wrap.

So divey, so filthy, so dated, but so comfortable and great. The PBR is really cheap. Old furniture from a garage sale 20 years ago (probably). I wouldn't go when it is crowded, but it is awesome during the day. They have surprisingly good bloody marys. The also have one of the most graffiti'ed bathrooms in existence, but that is kind of a common occurrence around these parts.

Very cheap beer. Great crowd. Smells like your grandmothers basement. Very VERY divey. However, minimum credit card tab is $20.00. Not a fan.

Favorite Manhattan dive bar and a convenient place to pregame. Is extremely small, is decorated like your grandparents' basement from the 70's, has a jukebox, pool, a pac-man table, and cheap PBR.

This is one of my favorite LES dive bars. They've recently upgraded their fridge so it seems slightly less divey than before, but you really can't go wrong with $2 PBRs. And while you're there, grab a slice of pizza around the corner from Stanton Street Pizza. The bar is totally BYOP friendly.

It’s the diviest dive in divedom with $2 PBRs and for that I loved it. Bartender was pleasant but far to busy with her phone to bother with me. If you’re squeamish this is not the place for you, pretty gritty.

safari adventure man is the best bartender in nyc . also $3 pbrs

You may think you know dive bars, but you don't. Not until you have been here. This place is like hanging out in your grandma's basement while you drink PBR. It's a cool place that is very low key and a unique experience I can say I haven't really seen anywhere else. Drinks are cheap and ambiance is unique, not much more you could really ask for out of place like this.

Cecilia Coimbra

Amazing vibe with the pool table and decor. The high point is the $2 PBR

Michelle Galaz

If you are looking for a dive bar with strong drinks this is the place. Sitting in Rivington this means something if you are a GAGA fan. 1 bartender you will not get speciality cocktails this a PBR and vodka soda place with no frills gritty place.

Miss the Gaga days even though luc sucked. Wonder where the icedbt vodka special went still the cheapest 2 $ person in the city.

Place is pretty small and the music is not so great depending if your into the indie type music.

Bar has a cool vibe that's it! The bartenders were incredibly rude! If you want to get rushed through a drink orders. Or perhaps have a bartender walk away from you mid sentence them look no further You found your bar"Welcome To The Johnsons" 12-30-21 (update) I went back to Welcome To The Johnsons for a second time. I would have to say I've had a much better experience the second time around! Cool people vibey location and what do you know a friendly bartender. About it!

Wow now this place redefines diveness in a dive bar. Located in my favorite east side of the city, we stumbled into this bar while waiting for some friends. This place has definitely some really wierd/interesting ambience and setup. Here are few of my observations about Johnson's - * Drinks are cheap * Tons of interesting people * Some really interesting family pictures on the walls close to bar * A couch at one corner where you will be tempted to sit down. Take my advice avoid it and you will thank me It is a good place to kill time and get drunk before to other places in LES.

It’s a dive bar. If you like dive bars you probably are in to this. I thought I liked dive bars. I think I have other ones I like more. Honestly. This is a thing that’s really subjective. Someone probably loves it here. I think everyone just has like dive bar one true loves. For me this isn’t it. But you should try it for yourself.

Definitely a dive spot, really small place, drink prices are really cheap had a slight smell of funk but overall it was a ok spot.

The bartender was incredibly rude to us, next level rude, but I suppose we all have bad days/nights. Yes, we still tipped well. Will not return even for the cheap drinks and suburban basement vibes. If you just want to get wrecked with a small paycheck, go here. Also do yourself and your pants a favor; don't sit on the couch.

Maybe it's just not my scene but this bar seems to have an outsize popularity given its offerings. There's an astroturf front lawn area that leads to a dark bar. I'm not sure if this place appeals to a younger crowd but I tried this place a couple times and honestly found the place unpleasantly crowded everytime. They do serve food if you can get the attention of a bartender but given the density of customers, that seemed to leave at least a couple people I saw standing awkwardly trying to eat late night snacks amid a lot of jostling. I guess the crowds mean I'm missing something but I'm not a fan.

Cool atmosphere, classic dive bar, but that comes with some drawbacks. Got overcharged 6 bucks compared to my friend who got the same drinks. When corrected the bartender kept saying I had an extra shot

Worst bar experience ever. Bartender needs to get off the pool table and back behind the bar. Would give this place -1 stars if I could.

This is not my vibe. Dirty and dingy. There's a regular fridge behind the bar ... Like for a home ... Not great, but it seemed like people liked it.

the bartender here charged me $15 for a black russian and the bouncer kept re-checking my friends id’s because he was on his phone the whole time i was told this place had a great vibe and it does inside but management here is poor

Walked for 45 mins to go here. Google says it’s open at 13:00. I arrived at 13:18 and it’s not open.

We asked for a cocktail and rather than say she couldn’t make it, the server became defensive. Very unfriendly and hostile service.

Seriously this bar sucks so hard and the bartender was such a giant pos that I felt the need to leave a second 1 star review. I'd give this place zero stars if I could. Go literally anywhere else. If you can't afford to spend more than $2 for a beer then maybe you shouldn't be going out. Everything about this place was a giant red flag and I wish I had listened because I had one of the worst nights ever at this place. Seriously, what kind of bartender has someone thrown out for pointing out that he overcharged them? The bartenders who work at this hellhole, that's who.

I don’t even know how to explain what happened because you really should have been there to see it with your own eyes. I’m just a swedish dude who gets nothing out of writing this review other than to warn people, ESPECIALLY girls because I witnessed something I thought only existed in movies. There is a female bartender who for some reason is the biggest diva (check more bad and honest reviews out and you’ll get the picture) Anyways, she had a HUGE problem with my friend and long story short - she somehow managed to turn the whole bar against her by lying, making HERSELF the victim, and calling my friend a b**** repeatedly. Even though my friend literally did NOTHING but exist. It was so unprofessional and sad. She even went as far as to make up scenarios. I have seen people banned from bars because they were too drunk or violent but not for existing. My friend just existed. We couldn’t take it seriously. It was a bit funny to see a grown women act like a teenager. You could just see a narcissistic women desperately trying to get her minions (guys that work in the bar with her and obey her AT ALL COSTS because she probably sucked their d**** at some point or promised to) to obey her. Very immature. (HIGH SCHOOL BRAIN.) I think she is threatened by other women’s beauty. I kept trying to figure it out, what would make another female hate my friend THIS MUCH for no reason. But It was your classic girl on girl hate based on looks. So girls: Please don’t let this insecure women get the pleasure out of bullying you. Go somewhere that’s not TOXIC AF luckily my best friend handled it like a badass lol

This is not the “rough” or “gritty” pub that some the of reviewers here seem to say it is. They must have not been for a drink anywhere that is ungentrified! I’m from Glasgow, Scotland and I’ve been to some rough pubs. But as rough as some of them were, they were always pretty friendly because that’s what most down to earth, working class people are… friendly.. This, my friends, is cold, pretentious and cocky excuse of a pub.. Actually, maybe I’m being a bit harsh. But bottom line is: it’s not rough in the slightest. To be honest, it would be a nice wee bar if the female bartender was not so incredibly rude.. Glared us down when we ordered, no smiles or welcomes, inspected me and my brother IDs like border security and took ages to take our orders. Worst of all, I am quite unfamiliar with the American tipping system (coming from Scotland) and I was assuming you leave the tip before you leave the bar but as I finished paying for my second drink, she rudely exclaimed “You gotta start tipping your bartenders” and proceeded to snatch a dollar out of my hand. One of the rudest things I’ve ever experienced from bar staff or actually any hospitality staff anywhere.

Welcome to the credit card theft. I came with my daughter and her friends last night. She gave the bartender her credit card, which was then returned to the wrong person. Shortly afterwards, there were fraudulent charges on her card. When she texted the bartender today to ask for the owner/manager’s contact for help in dealing with her credit card company, she got this response: “So the guy who misplaced your card is the manager, that's the thing :/ it's happened to me before tho, you just have to call your bank and dispute the charges and they give you the money back Sorry again for the headache not sure how else I can help” No responsibility taken, no apology call or anything from incompetent manager. STAY AWAY!

Visited this bar for the first and last time. The music was good, the decor was...different. The beers are cheap. Cool. The bartender, some dude with a giant chip on his shoulder, was pretty inattentive, which became clear when he overcharged me for a beer I didn't order. When I pointed out his error rather than apologize he proceeded to go ballistic and threw money at me and told me the conversation was OVER. Keep in mind this was for a $4 beer. I told him he doesn't get to screw up and then be dismissive of me and he had me thrown out, but not before climbing onto the bar in full view of the other patrons and threatening to hit me. He's clearly got issues and shouldn't be working such a "high stress" job where he has to do things like count up to the number 5. In short, this bar sucks, the people who were there at first were okay and at the end sucked, the bartender is an idiot and a dick, and the bouncer is a loser. There are so many other dive bars that don't make you deal with all the BS. Go to one of those.

The bartender was so high that as my very well mannered and educated friend and me walked in, she start screaming at us with a nasty attitude asking for vaccination and ID that we promptly showed her! She kept saying something that we could barely hear and clearly didn’t understand till she screamed “I’m not going to serve you!”. Same destiny happened to other friends of us that were already there drinking. They went outside smoking a cigarette and when they got back they couldn’t get anymore drinks because she “decided so” for no understandable reason! We have been many other times there and we go often to play pool. Place is cool, but bartender girl with plastic surgery has a nasty attitude and she destroys the business. Sincerely

steve

Disgusting dirty place. Wash your hands after entering. It is so gross. Poor service too. Uggh

Charlyn D.

I’m usually a regular here weekends and all, but the past 2 Fridays I visited the night shift bartenders seem to be charging me a dollar for a straw!! Mind you it’s not like they haven’t seen me here before so this nonsense is new! & childish Like this is my first time EVER! hearing anyone or any establishment charge a dollar for a straw just because the day of week it is. Absolutely ridiculous. For sure lost a regular!

I.B. D.1

The security guard was really friendly and let me in without an ID however when I requested to keep a bar tab open, knowing that I can pay with my phone, the bartender declined my service and took back the beer for not having an ID.

I got stabbed here! Stay away!! Went here with a friend and we were just minding our own business when a rather sketchy person at a bar started harassing us. When I was leaving I got stabbed…Police came later but when that happen I told the bouncer not only did nothing but let the perp go… HE FAILED TO DO HIS JOB… and most likely was friends with the perp who stabbed me who seem to be a local here. There are other nicer places in LES. Hope this helps someone. Stay safe and don’t underestimate your safety