A home away from home in the East Village. Cheap drinks, readings every night, dark & intimate. They've spiffed up the bathrooms lately, but it's still a place where you get a sense of what the EV used to be like.

Hidden gem in the EV. Not the best cocktails or beer selection but a chill place with a one of kind feel (rumor has it that it was the old Ukranian Worker's People Party HQ/Clubhouse before becoming a public bar).

Was there for drinks. Nice vibe. Quite loud and crowded. Good place for drinks. Service is ok but can be slow due to crowd.

Such a nice place. On the top flor, you will find find the red room, with jazz gigs of all sorts. People laugh, meet, dance. It’s always different and it’s always fun.

This is a cool, kitsch place to take a date you want to impress. It’s one of a kind aesthetic sets it apart from most other bars. The entranceway is epic, makes you feel like you’re going somewhere old and secret. Drink prices are solid too. Only gripe is there could be more seating.

We had a couple of beers, sitting in the bar and chattered with the hostess that was kind to tell us a little bit about this place's history. Not disappointed. Cozy and cool atmosphere.

Automatic 5 stars because they played Pigs (Three Different Ones) by Pink Floyd

I adore this place! It's got such a weird vibe with the communist theme, literary history, poetry readings and strong dive bar drinks and attitude. The staff are no nonsense but they'll treat you right if you act right. Just be careful of those stairs!!

We had a great time here! Thanks for the drinks and fun!

A very special place with a long history. Glad this institution is still around. The perfect place to grab a beer with your comrades and drink a very strong Baltika béer. Classic, old school, time really has stood still here. Oh and there is a great vaudeville style bar with performances upstairs and a bathtub too.

Great old world NYC underground charm. You can feel the history in the walls. Great vibes, kind staff and great drinks from Jonny D the bartender. Lori the hostess is so lovely, and accommodating. I can't wait to go back!

Mary is one of the best people at doing what she does. She is a very good person. We loved her service and her way of treating her clients. We appreciate you, Mary 🙂

Beyond the Red Room adventures await. Actually it's just a really nice spot to grab a drink and allow the decor and entertainment to penetrate your cranium. Enjoy and indulge.

I love this East Village gem of a bar its Red Room up the stairwell!

We organized a launch party for our artist here and found it to be a wonderful venue with friendly, helpful staff. Lori is terrific and helped to ensure the night ran smoothly and all our guests had a great time. The bartenders were lovely and made excellent drinks for our guests. Would highly recommend this place!

Great place. Found it on a Monday night and the vibes were there, super friendly bartender - will deff be back.

If you're looking for a unique and unforgettable experience in New York City, look no further than KGB Bar! Tucked away in a cozy corner of the city, this hidden gem offers an incredible vibe that's perfect for a night out with friends. From the moment you step inside, you'll be captivated by the eclectic and artsy atmosphere. The dimly lit interior, adorned with vintage Soviet memorabilia, creates a mysterious and intriguing ambiance that transports you to a different time and place. The people at KGB Bar are what truly make it special. The friendly and knowledgeable staff are always ready to recommend a drink that will suit your taste buds, and their passion for mixology shines through in every sip. The drinks are expertly crafted, and the extensive menu offers a wide variety of unique and creative concoctions that are sure to impress even the most discerning cocktail connoisseur. Whether you're in the mood for a classic cocktail or something more adventurous, KGB Bar has something for everyone. The menu features a delightful selection of drinks that are expertly crafted with top-notch ingredients. From the classic Moscow Mule to the intriguing Black Russian, there's no shortage of delicious libations to choose from. But it's not just the drinks that make KGB Bar stand out - it's the overall experience. The lively and welcoming atmosphere encourages conversation and laughter, making it the perfect spot to catch up with friends or meet new people. The talented live performers add to the unique vibe, providing entertainment that is second to none. In conclusion, KGB Bar is a must-visit destination for those seeking a one-of-a-kind experience in NYC. With its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and impressive drink menu, this hidden gem is a true gem in the city that never sleeps. I highly recommend it for a fun night out with friends or a memorable date night. Cheers to KGB Bar for an unforgettable five-star experience!

Lots to explore in this bar, conveniently in one of the best parts of New York City. They host fun, unique events like poetry nights and more worth checking out. Incredible history behind the making of the KGB Bar. The vibe is welcoming to all individuals, which I thoroughly appreciate.

NYC dive bar baby - I feel like you can't really have expectations from a dive bar, so what can I say.... it was cool, a nice place to hang and listen to some obscure local band playing a combo of instruments that one wouldn't expect from a quartet...it was a nice taste of NY... not for everyone's taste I guess...authenticity is the word though.

Great hidden spot for not too expensive drinks and nice live music. I wish they had any bar snacks though...

very nice bar, excellent staff and patrons

This bar is what I wanted NYC to be when I first moved here. It’s unaffected by sugar craving woo girls demanding minimalism, white walls, and and $20 salads. Instead - you get a deeply loved and lived-in historical landmark with ghosts still whispering from the red walls.

One of my favorite neighborhood watering holes. It's cozy and no frills and you definitely don't come here for the cocktails, but for the kitschy ambience and cozy beer-bar vibe. This spot gets randomly crowded at times as they host poetry readings and other events but call ahead or come in person and inquire, especially if you're on a date and you're into live jazz, and ask if upstairs is open. You're welcome! If you bump into the owner of the bar at any time, ask him how they settled on the name and theme, it's an awesome story.

One of my favorite bars in the city! The bartenders are always really fun to talk to and the ambiance is great. Not trying too hard but still nice. I like that the jazz nights are really busy but you can go downstairs if you want to have conversations. Martinis are great too

The KGB Bar is a great venue for theater, performance, and readings. I'm most familiar with the bar on the second floor, where I attend the Fantastic Fiction monthly readings, and it's a really fun place to hang out in.

Nico Amatullo

Great bar tucked away upstairs with relics of the Soviet era and a selection of good spirits and beer selection. Prompt service in a quaint atmosphere with flags to show support for Ukraine in light of the invasion by Russia.

A.C. Antonelli

KGB Bar is an absolute gem. It's cozy, comfortable, dimly lit, somewhat hidden, and the walls are all decorated with Soviet era photos and posters. The staff is super friendly on top of it. Enter the doors under the neon sign, then follow the stairs up one flight above the Kraine Theater to find the bar on your right. Try a Baltika if you're going for the full experience!

+4

Mia Vignola

A fun intimate space to see a show. There was no cover charge but you were encouraged to buy two drinks. The drinks ranged from $8 beer to $15 cocktails. The music was great. Get there before the doors open if you want to get a seat.

Chris C

Great bar. Next to New York theatre Workshop. Full of history. Staffs are super cool!

Hasanain Hasan

My new hot spot in town. Located in East village comes this venue that has lot to offer. On the first floor there is a theatre where I attended a one person play and she was very talented. Theatre comes with 20 dollars coverage and optional tips for the performer. Then there s first floor that has KGB bar، super cozy and many seating options. Second floor has the live music, the red room. The owner paid attention to make this place as authentic as possible, great job 👍.

+6

Oliver Wever

The place was busy with a younger crowd. But there were some older ones that were there and they are the regulars. Got to meet the owner as well. Really interesting spot and the eclectic art was neat.

Fyodor Druzin

Good place for a tight vibe to meet new and unexpected people. Something special in the air... film screenings below...

Anirudh Venkat

This is the kind of place you want to take someone who's visiting the city and wants to experience a hidden gem. But this is also a place you want to go regularly and befriend the bartenders. They've understandably adapted to support the Ukranian people at this time. Still retain their sense of history and old world charm.

+1

Eric Bunch

Great bar right next-door to New York Comedy club in the East Village. Me and my girlfriend just decided to go here after the comedy show on a whim. They had great drinks and the bartender was pretty awesome. The atmosphere was very dark with a lot of red and what seemed like takeoffs on communist Russia. Mark Normand and Ari Shaffir came in after the comedy show. Mark was super friendly and took a picture with me. I didn’t get to meet Ari unfortunately.

+2

Super unique spot with several rooms! No cover, great service, unique vibes. Live music was on the first floor when we met, where you're treated to movie theater-style seating and an elevated dance floor. Three second floor seemed the most like a typical dive, while the third was more danc-y and had a very young crowd.

אופז ק

A rare place where you can enjoy real good live music with a free entry. I enjoyed the vibe - especially on the weekdays. The drink pricing was high - 6.5 for club soda with bitters, but I take it easy because they let me see a great show.

Chris Boodram

It was really cool bar. They had 3 floors. A small and intimate bar on the second floor. The third floor was a bar with some live jazz and the first floor had theater seating for a live performance happening there. Came at my brother's recommendation and I would pass that on!

Hidden on the 2nd floor of an apartment building on 4th street, KGB is laid back, has interesting decor. The bar is great for hanging out post dinner, the music is not super loud so you can actually have a good conversation. Not as packed as most of the other Lower East Side bars, which I like.

It's kind of legendary and I was there for a Live Magazine event with Jeff Wright. Had a great evening. Got drunk among the poets. No idea how much I spent, and I met some folks who identify as "gender fluid" for the first time, which was interesting. However, writing the phrase for the first time, "fluid" sounds a little messy and a little iffy when coupled with "gender". I'm only talking about the words, not the actions. Gender mobile sounds, well, safer.

KGB is a mashed-up representation of the East Village overall, with literary readings and book launches happening one night, and eclectic ragers happening the next - which is to say you never quite know what you'll get, but you know you'll have fun, nevertheless. The staff here is great, and the atmosphere is vibrant, no clue about the food, though!

When they do jazz upstairs, this place is great. It's small and it's intimate. The bartenders are relatable and fun. There's a good vibe going on here.

Cool bar. Can get pretty packed. I couldn't move around much when I visited but that's because of an event I went to. It's more of a place I'd stop by to grab a drink if I'm in the area.

I caught one of Salty Brine's fantastic Wed night shows here. Really enjoyed the show and the room but the selection of beers at the bar is poor and the two drink minimum exacerbates that problem.

KGB Bar is a hidden gem in the city, offering a unique Soviet-themed atmosphere and a good selection of spirits and beer. The bar is filled with Soviet era items, books and art, which is entertaining. As others have said, it's great to see that the bar has adapted to support Ukraine in light of the recent invasion by Russia, while still retaining a sense of history.

A great spot for a drink. I've visited twice (both times on Friday night) and greatly enjoyed this bar. Standard bar drink options are available, including a short list of bottled beers. The environment is relaxed and it's quiet enough to carry on a conversation.

Great atmosphere and the design. Nice music.This bar holds interesting events , however, the bartender didn't know cocktail's recipes and the variety of alcohol is not that great. Overall would go again,hope to see another bartender this time

A moody, atmospheric, Soviet-themed dive bar. A decent (but not extensive) beer/wine list and well drinks are available for decent prices. No food, but this is a bar you visit for the ambiance. There are plenty of decent places to eat nearby. Worth a visit if you're up for some red-soaked Soviet ambience or looking to prepare yourself for impending life under our Russian overlords.

Great place to come for a literary reading. Convenient location. Good drinks. Eat before you arrive - no food served. Kitschy Soviet decor, wonderful ambience for a literary crowd.

I came here for NYE. The Michael Arnella band played and the ambiance was very cool-5 stars. Very nice bartenders. But Idk how it is on the regular and its very small and the people who showed up after midnight were aittle young and shady. I wish to give it 4.5 stars bc it is cool with history.

Atmosphere was great but possibly the worst (yet strongest, so bonus points?) espresso martini I’ve ever had

I went there on a weeknight and it proved to be pretty quiet, nice bar, all full of red and communist propaganda which gives it a nice feel. I wish it would have been more rugged though, like really have a communist feel to it but what can you do? :-) Gets noisy when it becomes crowded though, so not really the place to go if you want a cozy quiet place like the good old communist block.

Pretty decent dive bar. Laid back vibe. Good music. Nothing to write home about but they do have loads of literature readings during the week. Large format (25oz) Baltika beers for $7. Could do worse really.

The live music here was really good. The atmosphere and decor was vintage and felt like it took me back in time. The drinks were slightly pricy but nothing too outrageous. The crowd was a younger college crowd which was positively surprising.

TYPICAL DIVE BAR UP A STEEP SET OF STEPS. THEY DO A FUN SHOW WITH UKULELE PERFORMERS. THE DRINKS ARE A LITTLE PRICEY BUT NOT UNUSUALLY HIGH FOR NYC. DECENTLY CLEAN BATHROOM,PROFESSIONAL STAFF. I THINK YOU'RE ALLOWED TO BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AS LONG AS YOUR BUYING DRINKS.

cool atmosphere, interior was smaller than anticipated tho.

Very well decorated, staff was friendly. Was extremely busy on a Tuesday night.

Happened upon this establishment on a night out with my college friend and my long term partner who has a squat PR related knee injury. The drinks and ambiance were fantastic but there were few available seats so my partner had to take a knee at the table we were sitting at. Enjoyed the environment and chats we had with interesting strangers.

Cool spot to hit. It’s old but got a good atmosphere. Drinks are strong. People are down to earth.Bar tenders were def cool to.

Good spot for a different kind of night out. Bouncers were super friendly, the place is cool inside! Typical beer prices for NYC.

Unique bar and kind bartenders Very typical wells and beer offerings

This is a small bar on the second floor that is decorated in a number of Soviet-era flags and propoganda posters. I got a vodka kahula and stood in the corner with a strong and good-flavored drink. It's very easy for it to be crowded, so unless you're with a group and can justify a table, it might be a bit awkward.

Jackie L

Interesting vibe. There’s a communist flag and political memorabilia on the wall. The selection is small as is the bar! It’s on the second floor of a building (I believe it’s a theater downstairs). They have Baltika which is what I would describe as a Russian Heineken!

Dana Stewart

It was dark and cozy. As an African Americans, my wife and I were made very comfortable. The drinks were above average, not weak or watered down. This is not a place to go to eat at. Buy the popcorn, have a drink or 2, and enjoy the show. The comedians were 4 stars good.

James Tarantine

This is a fun and unique place to hang out with friends! The three levels offer each a unique experience to be had. Floor one gives off the atmosphere of a theater. The seating makes one feel like they are in store for a wonderful and fun performance (even if one is not there for the night). Floor two is your typical bar vibe. You get a single short bar with tight seating that is more laid back for sitting and sipping. Finally, floor three is for the close jazz and instrumental performances. If you want to sit and listen to music this is perfect. Overall a great experience for friends, or a small group setting,

Rajeswari Das

The live music was good! Drinks were potent. Really cool vibe!

Manny F

If you're looking for a unique and atmospheric bar experience in Manhattan, KGB Bar is a great option. This tiny bar is decorated in a Soviet-themed style, complete with red velvet curtains, propaganda posters, and a statue of Lenin. The atmosphere is definitely unique and fun, but be prepared for a bit of a crowd, especially on weekends. The drinks at KGB Bar are on the pricier side, with a Tito's martini costing $17. However, the drinks are well-made and the atmosphere is definitely worth the extra cost. The food menu is limited, but there are a few small plates and snacks available. Overall, KGB Bar is a great place to go for a fun and unique night out in Manhattan. Just be prepared for a bit of a crowd and a higher price tag than you might be used to.

I did not have a good time at this place. It took me a while to get drinks, the music was okay, and the people were rude. If you know this place well then good for you, but if you are looking for a new place to go to then I do not recommend here

Very crowded and the bartender on the second floor literally yelled at me lol. Apparently that is her thing. The third floor was much nicer, less crowded, and had live music. Very enjoyable.

A bit cramped, but still a cool, stylish place to revel in the atmosphere. Come especially for a literature reading.

Great Bar. Only drinks and the cocktail was good. The Jazz performance by Teddy was very good. Can't wait to see her flourish in her singing career.

Anton S.

Bar sounded intriguing, but disappointed a bit. The atmosphere is not-KGB at all, except for some thematic posters on the wall. Basically just an american dive bar. Drinks are simple. But it is a chill vibe inside - very non-pretentious.

Dimly lit, Soviet themed bar. It was kind of dirty looking, but not necessarily in a bad way. Nothing really special about it. It wasn't too packed as we were able to get a table to relax at. The drinks were fine and inexpensive. When I went to pay my tab, of course the credit card machine was "broken", so I had to give them all the cash I had. That really annoyed me. All in all, the bar was OK, but I would not seek it out for a good time on a Saturday night. I would give this place 2.5 stars with I could.

Visited KGB Bar on Halloween for a couple of cocktails, expecting a spooky good time. The atmosphere was not bad, and unfortunately, the drinks didn't quite hit the mark. Both cocktails we tried lacked the finesse and flavor we were hoping for, coming off as rather underwhelming. Service was not quick, and the setting was a little bit interesting, but the drinks were a letdown. An average experience on what should have been a standout night.

Live jazz music was amazing but READ YOUR RECEIPT!!!!!!! Ordered a cocktail that was listed for $12 that was essentially alllll ginger beer with a blue moon in the bottle. Bill was charged $15 for cocktail and $8 for blue moon. When questioning the server he stated, "tax would be ABOUT $2 and then I added an extra $1" since when is tax and random amounts added in at whim without a separate breakdown of the actual amount. This is completely unacceptable and I will not be back because of these sleazy tactics. The music was the ONLY thing enjoyed. Unacceptable

Rude staff here. They accused my 24 year old brother of using a fake ID and turned him away. It’s 2025, get an ID scanner

DO NOT GO HERE! The bouncer and bartender were extremely rude, the atmosphere was disappointing, and it smelled horrible.

If you want to order something, you have to wait in a single queue for the whole bar, order from a menu without price tags then pay for an overpriced beer plus 20% tip that automatically adds to the bill for a rude server just passing a bottle

SECURITY THREATENED TO SHOOT ME Security threatened to shoot me for opening beer outside of bar. We bought drinks like normal and tipped. Not even a joke, security literally said “i will shoot you”.

Pretty good entertainment however I have never encountered a nastier bar tender than upstairs in the Jazz lounge. She made me immediately turn and leave despite the good comedian. No comedian was worth giving her ANY of my money. Also drinks upstairs are SO expensive for how dirty the bar is and every event has a two drink minimum (many you also must buy a ticket). You won't leave spending less than $25 (buying bottle beer) plus ticket and fee. After leaving the first bartender we found that they serve better priced drinks (that are exactly the same) on the second level but don't allow you to bring them upstairs.

I've not been in the bar, but I'm sure it's awesome. The one star review is for the complete failure of whoever owns the bar in working to have patrons respect the community the bar is located in. KGB is the only bar on a residential block and there has been no effort made to educate patrons about the fact that people actually live in the surrounding buildings.....y'know, regular working stiffs who need to get sleep before they get up for work at regular jobs. I, for instance, live in one of the walk-ups a couple of doors away and get up for work at 4am. EVERY Thursday I get woken up at about 1am by the first wave of selfish, out of neighborhood drunkards who proceed to exit the bar in waves until after I leave for work at about 4:45am. A simple communication with patrons....and maybe a quick check by security staff to move them on and/or ask them to be quiet when a group leaves.....would go a long toward showing that the owner of this establishment really cares about the community they operate within. A couple of weeks in and no response from management emphasizes my point. Thanks, KGB.

The ambience was awesome! Unfortunately, the bartender was so rude and kicked us out because of our party size of 8 occupying too much space without ordering enough drinks (we ordered 4). There was also one beer brought in from outside by a girl who played cards with us, which angered her a lot even though we did not bring that beer in. We tried to explain the situation and also offered to buy as many rounds possible or to pay a spending minimum to let us stay, but she was incredibly rude and kept saying “you guys are done” and “get the hell out” which I feel was definitely uncalled for, since we were amicable and over apologetic for something that wasn’t our fault in the first place. Overall, I would not recommend this place for larger parties who are looking for a casual spot.

DO NOT COME HERE. Security THREATENED TO SHOOT MY FRIEND and threw a drink on him just because we brought in a single can of beer which is crazy. Mind you we went here on a week night with a small group, we bought multiple drinks, tipped as well and left calmly and quickly as soon as they asked us to; we understood some bars don’t allow outside drinks but were not aware of this rule in KGB and it was shocking to receive such immediately hostile treatment. It is absolutely irrational to threaten someone’s personal safety so severely over something so trivial, and absolutely unprofessional. Don’t think any upstanding establishment should be employing people THAT unstable. I really used to love this place but that was completely unacceptable.

The experience in this bar actually traumatized me. The bartender is the rudest person I had the unpleasantness of meeting in NYC. I just happened to see two friends in front of the bar, and they asked me and another friend to go upstairs. I was super happy to see them, but after literally 2 minutes of sitting there, I had to leave. The bartender asked me what I wanted to drink, and I said that I wasn’t drinking. She just yelled at me to get out (my other friends were drinking). The worst part? I am on a sober journey, and all I could have was a Coke, but she didn’t even let me order anything. I just left traumatized.

SECURITY THREATENED TO SHOOT MY FRIEND. We were asked to leave because I brought an outside drink (reasonable), but then as we left the security and bartender got extremely belligerent for no reason and the security threatened ‘to shoot my friend’. He should probably be fired for that

I was there with my pregnant friend who was obviously getting non-alcoholic drinks and they were so rude to her because she was “wasting a seat for paying customers”… so then my pregnant friend and the other 8 of us paying customers, buying full priced drinks, stood up and left.

The bouncer turned away a 24 year old for “not being 5’10” as listed on his ID, refused to use a scanner, and was terribly rude. I will not be coming back. Use a scanner and don’t decide you can decide who is 5’9 and who is 5’10.

The bartender lady is the rudest person i've ever encountered in my life. She just starts yelling out of nothing when we are deciding on a drink only when it's been 5 mins since we came then yells "leave if you are not gonna buy anything?" Like calm down we are tourists we are not used to the brands and drink names here? NEVER COME HERE ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A TOURIST OR A WOMAN

Frances S.

Two weeks ago my friends and I came to KGB for some drinks at the end of our night. While the rest of our friends ordered drinks at the bar, me and two of my girlfriends went to use the bathroom together. This is common, no? Here I guess not because the bartender, also female, came charging in and verbally assaulted us forcing us to open the stall door in a compromised position. We were not doing anything illegal, only talking and peeing. We loved this place and had been here many times, sadly I don’t think we can return after the bartender KICKED US OUT after we left the stall calmly and respected her orders. Super wack and disrespectful.

A Masood

I had the worst cocktails I’ve ever been served here. The bartender clearly did not care in the slightest about what he was making. I ordered a Negroni and a Margarita — two of the most basic, standard cocktails imaginable — and he proceeded to throw together random bottles that had absolutely nothing to do with either drink. When I pointed out that he was using the same ingredients for two completely different cocktails, his response was shockingly rude: we were welcome to leave if we didn’t like it. No apology, no attempt to fix the drinks, just pure rudeness. To make matters worse, we were still charged $18 per drink for these undrinkable disasters. On top of that, when I checked my statement the next day, there was an extra $10 charge that looks like either a fraudulent tip or an outright overcharge, without consent. I’ve been trying to contact the bar for over a week to resolve this and no one answers or responds. Completely unprofessional, dishonest, and borderline scammy. Do yourself a favor, save your money and go literally anywhere else.

Derek Cross

Went to KGB Bar with my girlfriend and my son expecting a chill, classic NYC spot, but the experience turned sour fast. I got up to use the bathroom and when I came back an older woman had put her purse on my chair; I calmly told her I was sitting there and she completely ignored me and claimed the seat, so I simply picked up her purse and handed it back to her. No yelling, no drama. Suddenly the bartender closes our tabs and tells me “I gave you the opportunity to be nice but you were rude,” which made zero sense to any of us—we were honestly stunned. It felt like we were gaslighted for no reason, with no attempt to hear our side or de-escalate. Cool bar, but the staff response was unfair and left a really bad taste.