Chill vibes, GREAT bar tenders and cheap drinks. It’s a little quiet if you’re here before 10 but it’s a great place for a conversation and to just chill out.

Great atmosphere and bartenders with live jazz on Tuesday nights. Love it.

Sweet bar on Ave B, reasonable prices, cool atmosphere, cool bartender Kayla. I'd totally come back here, would be interested in going on jazz night.

Excellent place to see live jazz music. The level of talent was incredible. A place that feels like classic NY - affordable, eclectic, and alive

Monday night attracts some amazing Bluegrass pickers!

Great Jazz bar!

I've been meaning to come since I began living in the East Village. You have real live bluegrass! And real live jazz. Im looking forward to visiting again.

Superbylicious Monday and Tuesday night live music, $4 Guinness Thursdays ($7 usual), Pacman pool skeeball Buck-Hunter and a jukebox, cheapest can is $3, best jukebox track is 1013, no coffee machine. A great bar.

Showed up with some musician friends and lit the place up with some bluegrass. Bartenders and patrons were very friendly and welcoming will definitely be back to hear some of the finest NY underground bluegrass around!!

I love Mona’s. It’s such a great place. I’m there often for pool league and I get to enjoy bluegrass. The regular bluegrass players are really nice too.

Wonderful live jazz!

Mona’s is special. No attitude and superb Jazz w/no cover and a just folks having a ball is the vibe. The music Tuesday nights is of a very high quality and full of invention and swing. It’s comfy and a real refuge from the grind of NYC.

It's a great dive bar with a pool table in the back. Monday and Tuesday are the best for me. Monday is a live bluegrass jam and Tuesday is the 20s jazz swing jam. Both nights are a "in the know" musician hang and it gets going and goes really late. Don't be surprised if you loose track of time and get home in the wee hours if you go here!

At my cousin Yuri's recommendation, my friend and I came here for the live jazz music on a Tuesday night. Excellent music, cheap drinks, and such a fun experience! My friend and I actually ended up closing the bar at 4am. Can't wait to make it back here the next time I'm in town!

Ah, Mona's. Where else can you rub elbows with neighborhood seniors while watching Jeopardy!, listen to live jazz music every week, and people watch the youths of tomorrow coming in to get their drink on? Mona's is part of the Sophie's and Josie's family, and while the bars are similar--Sophie's and Josie's having near-identical layouts--everyone's got their favorite, mine being Mona's. As with all local dives, showing up with a good attitude and not being cheapskate when it comes to tipping will make your time infinitely more fun.

Monday evening, bluegrass live, don't miss out!!!

Great off the beaten path NYC bar away from the straight laced, cookie cutter parts of the city. Jam session night is a great night to be there and the staff was VERY nice to me. Had a lot of fun making friends with the fellow patrons.

This is a great bar, nothing here scared me and I didn't make what anyone could describe as "Halloween sound effects cd noises." I was smiling and laughing at a funny joke my friend said :)

Neighborhood staple with great live music. Always roll in for a good deal and a solid energy. An absolute classic that is welcome to those of all ages. Cash only highly recc'ed!!! “Always a five” my partner!

One of my all time favorite Manhattan bars.

Great ambiance, people are nice, the staff super friendly, great vibe!

+3

Gem hidden away in the east village. Went there to have a beer on a Monday around 7pm, only a few patrons and the barman which were quite welcoming. I saw the monday night bluegrass poster and asked about it, the barman told me it starts at 9pm and "the bar will not be the same in an hour's time". Boy was he right; bustling with people, great performers and very lively ambiance! Add to this cheap drinks and friendly staff and this just makes for a great all-round experience, will definitively be back!

Great live music, even late at night some nights. No cover, cheap drinks for any bar, especially a live music place. As many other reviews have mentioned though, be prepared though to deal with a sarcastic/rude (its hard to tell) bartender who will forget your order. They can be pushy with asking for tips for the band too. The other bartender was lovely though and made me feel like one of the regulars. So it just depends I guess.

Great place. Great Tuesday bartenders. Live music. If you want to time travel back to the golden age of jazz while navigating through the local pool teams in the back room, this is the place on Tuesdays. Top notch musicians!!! A great bar all the way around.

love any slice here. I like fulgieri with hot honey, Reliably great. They cook a mindful amount of pizza for the day, not wasteful with their ingredients, are friendly. For the people. GrrrrrrGreat dough 10/10 🐯

Dive bar with Guinness on tap and new felt on the pool table. Low key, chill place, classic rock on the stereo. And a hunting video game, the only place you can hold a gun in NYC!!! Great bartender.

Great service Shane is an awsome bartender very helpful.

Great place for musical expression and improvisation. Come on a Tuesday night and you'll feel why they call it "hot" jazz! Drinks are extremely affordable and bartenders are great - buy a pitcher or some Genesee lager to get a buzz on a budget. Tip the band and bring your instrument if you stay past midnight on Monday or Tuesday - you never know what could happen!

jada gordon

A funky good LES time. Love the bartenders. No frills and very helpful.

Arnold Cutz

Mona’ Bar is hands down one of the best bars I’ve been to! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is inviting, stylish, and full of energy. The decor strikes the perfect balance between modern and cozy, making it a great spot for both a casual night out and a special occasion. The drink menu is incredible—a mix of classic cocktails and creative, house-made concoctions that you won’t find anywhere else. I tried their signature cocktail, and it was absolutely phenomenal—perfectly balanced, refreshing, and expertly crafted. The bartenders here are true mixologists; you can tell they put passion and skill into every drink they make. Beyond the drinks, the service at Mona’ Bar is top-notch. The staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely seems to enjoy being there. They go above and beyond to make sure you’re having a great time, whether it’s recommending a drink based on your taste or just making friendly conversation. The music and vibe are also worth mentioning. The playlist is always on point—not too loud, just the right mix of upbeat and chill, creating a lively but comfortable ambiance. If you’re looking for a place with great energy but without the overwhelming crowd, Mona’ Bar is the perfect spot. Overall, Mona’ Bar is a must-visit. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink after work, a date night, or a fun weekend out with friends, this place has it all. Amazing drinks, fantastic service, and an unbeatable atmosphere—I’ll definitely be coming back!

Gavin

Mona's is a great neighborhood bar with a friendly atmosphere. The bartender, Kayla, is absolutely awesome - super attentive and makes great drinks! They've got a fantastic pool table if you're looking for some fun, and it's really touching that they play Jeopardy in memory of a regular who passed away. I make a point to go when I’m in the city. It's clear this place has a strong sense of community. Definitely worth checking out!

Jack Werner

Really cool & cozy old bar in alphabet city. Pours a good guiness and has a table in the back. Loved my time at the Bluegrass Jam on Monday night (starts @9).

Ny Nguyễn

Went there on Mon night and there was live music. Cool setup/atmosphere

Christos Terzides

That's NYC! Especially on a Monday and Tuesday night when there's a Blue Grass and Jazz jam sessions. Most interesting people in the City. Get wasted without getting broke

+1

Bartender was incredibly rude: But rest of bar is pretty fun. Juke box gets turned off when rude bartender enters bar.

good place for some music and some chats took off one star because it’s narrow and hard to find good space, but it’s kind of always like that in nyc 🥲

Great dive bar, friendly patrons Guinness happy hour. I look forward to coming back.

only quiet bar. good high chair. cold beer brooklyn lager perfectly. no food service

Live music was good and the people enjoying them selves very kind and polite.

Hidden gem! Pool table and deer hunting games

You don't go to Mona's for the drinks. You go for the music. Tuesday nights with Dennis Lichtman (and a continuous rotation of other jazz musicians; bring your instrument if you want to get in on the action). Super fun, but plan on a late night, as it doesn't get going till 10pm.

Tuesday nights live jazz starting at 11. The bar itself is your typical east village dive. Prices aren't bad, atmosphere is fine, but Tuesdays are great.

This place rocks. It's a total dive and the bar can be understaffed, but it's embedded in a scene that's unbeat. Monday's and Tuesday's the live music there is straight up, high quality neighborhood talent, and it doesn't end until late, late at night. If you're not looking for good tunes or a dank, musty place to drink, this might not be the place for you.

Monday night bluegrass is fun and entertaining, usually brings in a decently large crowd. The service can be slow, as the bartender can be quite a character. Don't yell at him, be patient, and eventually he'll get to you. Though I have definitely seen people just walk out after not being helped for 20 minutes. There are pool tables and video games in the back and plenty of seating. Drinks are standard price and the pours are generous.

Cool cozy place. We loved spending time with friends sure you will.

enjoyed this place while in NYC for NYE. has a good late night NYC vibe to it.

Incredible live music! Decent bar, good bartenders, but nobody checked my vaccinated status and nobody was wearing masks.

Daniel

cool place, even had a pool table, bartender had kind of an attitude so I didn't feel very welcomed.

Alison Pouw

live music and dive bar. great spot to grab a night cap, play some cards, play some pool and have a chill night. total hole in the wall. bring your ID and cash only under $20. great for groups and also has live music on select nights.

Hasanain Hasan

Lovely place, classic neighborhood bar with live music friendly staff. Went there on Tuesday night, they were playing jazz. Affordable prices, no coverage but courtesy tipping the band. They play late hours

+1

Lesson learned: the jukebox in back charges $5 a song and doesn’t even work

Meh, took 30 mins to get a drink and the latter half of the bar is run down. Normally a fine place to drink, but a bit of has been bar when it’s packed — which there were other bars to choose from in the area as it’s a great location (for me), at least drinks are cheap when you can place an order

Mona’s is a quiet neighborhood bar off on 14th street and Avenue B. We were lured here by the pool table and games we read about from other reviews. When we arrived, the vibe was extremely dull and there was barely any music playing. I can see this place being fun if you are with a big crew and feed the jukebox non-stop. This place has a lot of potential to be great if it was given some more TLC.

Great service and atmosphere - if you don’t mind occasionally dealing with a rowdy under 20 year old crowd

If you’re new to New York or looking for an 19+ crowd, this isn’t the place for you. If you want cheap drinks as a prerequisite for another establishment, try to leave after 30 min.

Decent bar with games like pool and skee-ball. When I went in the bartender was incredibly rude to us, and while I know that isn't always the case, I was put off by her behavior.

Aidan Parker

Cute spot, lady behind the bar is needlessly aggressive and mean. First time interacting with her: absolutely awful. Could be a really nice spot without her (hence the 2 stars)

Amitay Zimmerman

Honestly the beers were great. But the bartender was really aggravated with our very regular questions like how to use the pool table and can we have another beer. She seemed to be taking out her anger on something else on the customers and was not open to honest feedback, just hostile and not interested

Hard PASS on this place. My friend decided not to get a drink from the bartender who then called her a weirdo— which is weird within its own right. As we walked out she gave us the bird and screamed profanities. I’ll stay in Williamsburg, thanks.

First time there tonight. The bar tender yelled for my ID the second I went in. Gave it to her and she snatched it out of my hand and then she just yelled to me and my party to just get the f^%# out. No idea what just happened. Rude, unprofessional and ridiculous.

Terrible bartender and staff

bartender had the worst attitude, made my sober friend purchase a drink and said “you have to tip” while i was already putting one down.

We had a horrible interaction with the bartender. Incredibly rude. Good prices.

Horrible place, potentially racist. A group of friends, Asian and Latino, went to this place and got kicked out for no reason. The bartender started being mean to them, yelling at them. Stay away from this place if you are an immigrant. It's not safe.

Went here for a quick drink with a friend on an completely empty Wednesday afternoon. Ordered a beer and a double whiskey- was charged $30. Not cool trying to take advantage of a non-local. AVOID.

I was walking on avenue B when i heard shouting from Mona's. I was across the street but it looked like a male bartender was drunkenly shouting and spitting at a group of girls to get out of the bar. I thought I heard racial slurs from the bartender and was astounded to see such a disgusting elderly man screaming at women like that. almost called the police but it looked like everyone was safe- huge AVOID.

Difficult to understand why they treat everyone so badly when people just wanna order a drink. I mean especially the woman at the bar – Keila (?), who treats people as if she hates them. You gotta improve that! Your behavior is such a shame. The ONLY bad aspect about Mona’s is how they treat customers at the bar.

Rude bartender for no reason. I asked if I could get my drink mixed with lemonade. The response was a very rude “No, you can’t. Nope! I’m not making you fresh lemonade.” Not at all what I was implying or asking for. :( I really don’t understand the harshness when I could’ve just been told that they don’t have lemonade. Would not have been a big deal to me. Won’t be coming back.

Some of the rudest staff I've ever encountered. Do not recommend if you want to be treated respectfully.

I went here on a Saturday night with a bunch of friends. All of us are fun people and we don’t get in trouble. We tip generously and we are the politest bunch of people you will meet. The bartenders for some reason just weren’t having it with our presence. They seemed not just to have a problem with me but our whole group and I couldn’t figure out why. At one point I caught the bartender rolling her eyes and scowling at us. I tried to strike a conversation with her to ask her if everything was okay, or if one my friends misbehaved. Her response? Another eye roll. Who does that? Besides the serious attitude issues, the lady bartender (‘mean suburban Mom’ as my friend calls her) absolutely refused to even look at us, despite us being the only people getting drinks at the bar. No amount of cheap drinks is ever going to make up for the fact that Mona’s has some mean mean mean bartenders. Enough mean people in New York already, don’t need no negative Nancy’s on Saturdays. Do NOT go here or you’ll be treated like filth.

The bartender was unhappy he not welcomed and I do not want to go back to see his face again (look at him) Rude bartender Rude Rude You supposed to be happy when you want to drink But Mona’Bar is not the place ….

Extremely rude staff, dirty sticky seats, tables and bar. Bathrooms are covered in urine and god knows what else?! "Cheap" prices for rude service is just not worth it.

the bartenders were rude and generally awful when the big one is not behind the bar it is a good time but the big one with braids is the rudest and most awful person in the service industry avoid at all costs tbh

I wish I could give this bar 0 stars… so rude I’m disgusted and so so disappointed

One of their regulars at the bar, got really aggressive and loud to my friend, and I because he overheard us talking about how we thought we were up next for pool he started screaming in our faces, came up to our table, was clapping in our faces and slamming on our table and yelling at us because he was defensive over playing pool? Then his wife came to berate us once we started defending ourselves and blaming us for the altercation, because we got loud back at him claiming that we made him aggressive after responding back to him while he got in our faces yelling at us, for no reason we weren’t even talking to him in the first place! then the bartender kicked us all out and didn’t even care that that guy was harassing us. We told them we weren’t going to leave until they left first because we did not feel safe as the guys wife was trying to make us fight her and he seemed like he hit women too. The bartender did not care and said that the couple had been coming there for 10 years and never had any problems( I doubt it) We finally left after them and when we came outside they were beating up and ripping the shirt off two guys who were trying to defend us. I seriously think that guy beat his wife. Anyways wouldn’t recommend. All the 11star reviews make sense

Came on a Tuesday after playing the piano bar & was exhaustwd but excited to see the brilliant musicians. Similar to other reviewers, I had a horrible interaction with the bartenders. Incredibly rude & plain nasty. While trying to e-mail the receipt to myself on their device, the bartender aggressively ripped the machine from my hands. Really rubbed me the wrong way, which sucks because the musicians are so welcoming & amazing. No need for me to come back.

For some reason I believe my other review was hidden. I’m here to support the other 1-star reviews about a particular bartender. She ruined my experience there by being incredibly rude and displaying the behavior of a grumpy, condescending person who shouldn’t be in the service industry. I sense a common theme here, which is a shame bc it had potential to be a cool bar.

The bar itself fine but the bartenders here are consistently so rude. There’s 2 different ones who are both awful. Something’s in the water. Dirty glasses are cluttering the counter. Such weird vibes.

Me and my friends went in there completely sober, and the blue hair bartender asked us to leave. She just assumed we had been drinking since we are a bunch of twenty-something year olds. No chance to even ask her what the issue was. Not friendly and wouldn’t recommend bringing a group of people here.

Run away form this bar they’re over tipping and the guy at the front door is very rude and agressive I hope he’ll get fired soon for the good of the bar

The guy at the front door was really rude and aggressive even though we were sober and very polite. I hope they’ll fire him very soon for the good of the bar.

Zach Lipkin

I hate to leave a bad review, but the bartender was so insanely rude it felt unacceptable. I went to pay, and she literally yelled at me before I even started talking. Then proceeded to argue over the tip, which was already over 25%, and kept yelling at me to “try again, kid” and pay more. Extremely inappropriate behavior that made everyone at the bar very uncomfortable.

María Teresa Burguillo Escobar

Bad attitude, zero tact, a nasty vibe… and 24 dollars for a pint of beer and a finger of hazelnut liqueur. What a rip-off

Reuben

I thought the female bartender is very rude. From the very beginning she decided she did not like us and from then on every time we tried to get her attention she chewed us out. Then had the nerve to complain about a 10% tip. I have no idea how she got hired at what used to be an excellent bar. It was not a nice time.

David Beston

Went there on Thursday Late afternoon. The bartender, Female (I think), Had a horrible attitude. I got up and walked out. Been in the neighborhood for 30 years. This place is trash.

sahar

The black bouncer stole money from my purse that I left next to the bathroom and went to tell me that if something’s missing from my bag is not his fault. I CAUGHT HIM counting cash outside and confronted him about stealing from me (it was a lot of money) and I told him to admit to it right now. So he did and gave me the cash back. I can’t believe the person who’s supposed to ensure security is the thief. That is absolutely insane and I’m sure it’s not his first time. You guys need new staff. A lot of Rude bartenders too

x

I used to be a regular at Mona's and it's overall a nice bar, but the one blonde curly haired bartender is always rude and has an attitude. After the last time I went there I'll never be back because she treats customers like they're less than her and always talks in a stuck up way. I don't recommend going to this bar when she is working, and definitely don't tip her.

ruby g

BEWARE. Worst experience ever. As two young women, my friend and I came here but were met with the most hostile and racist environment. We were verbally assaulted and threatened by a man because we asked to play pool. The bartender started yelling at us as well trying to kick us out instead of him even though we said we were afraid the guy would follow and harm us, the bartender said I don’t care he’s a loyal customer. Finally a different customer intervened to help us and the man ended up actually assaulting him and ripping his clothes. My friend and I had to literally run away down the street.

Paweł I.

I went there for the first time in my life because it was recommended to me and I had a terrible experience. Whoever let this woman work there as a bartender made a huge mistake. She made fun of me and my friends in front of other guests sitting at the bar, gaslighting and was very rude when taking a simple order. I understand it was late and she may have wanted to go home but I work in service and would never make my customers feel uncomfortable.

Karina Larregui

I went to this bar on Christmas with my brother walked in and the bartender with the blue hair was very rude I never experienced anything like this in my life she looked at me and said ur not getting served u can go mind you I waked in completely sober so I was so confused why I wasn’t being served and spoken to in a very degrading manner