

Viewers Rate NYC Bars
"The
collective knowledge of some of NY's most prolific bar
flies"
To submit a
rating of a New York bar, click here
Note: The opinions
expressed are those of individual surveyors,
and are not necessarily the opinions of MurphGuide Entertainment
Listed
Alphabetically: This Page: V
A
- B - C - D
- E - F - G
- H - I - J
- K - L - M
- N - O - P
- Q - R - S
- T - U - V
- W - X - Y
- Z
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Vazac's
Horshoe Bar (7B) (Avg. of 5 reviews) |
108 Ave. B (E. 7th St.) | 5.6 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.8 |
Comments
-
Vazac's (aka Vazac's Horseshoe Bar, The Horseshoe Bar, 7-B.
Historical pre-prohibition dive bar in the East Village area of
Manhattan made famous by numerous location appearances in movies
like Crocodile Dundee and The Color of Money. The mixed crowd
includes longtime regulars, sports bar crawlers and college and
punk/gothic type newbies. Drinks are inexpensive comparatively
and the jukebox and pinball machines will keep you entertained
even after you've been blown off by one of the many tattoo girls
who frequent this establishment. Often reported sightings of
celebrities include Soprano's cast members, Sinead O'Connor,
Janeane Garofalo, Matt Stone (South Park). Sunday nights rumored
to be a Satanist hang out. - D.B.
Great jukebox. D.L.
Good for pinball -- 2 or 3 recent machines in good shape. - C.A.
Beware, ladies if you are not a regular or regularly sleeping
with one of the male bartenders: You'll wait a good 25 minutes to
get attention. The boys seem to be too busy doing shots with the
regulars to provide adequate service. Amy, if she is still
there, will provide all who enter with a drink and a smile with
minimal if any wait time. - P.F.M.
Somewhat indifferent bartenders - it is possible to wait a while for a drink. - S.C.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Velvet Cup | 40-31 162nd St., Flushing, Queens | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
Comments - Small,
quiet, friendly bar near the Broadway LIRR station. High ceiling.
Interesting bric-a-brac items decorate the place. Odd shaped bar.
TV, jukebox, video games, bowling game. Formerly the host of top
country music acts. Friendly and efficient bartenders. Reasonable
prices. Bathrooms are
adequate. - T.K.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Verchovyna (Avg. of 2 reviews) |
81 E. 7th St. (between First & Second Ave.) | 6.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 |
Comments - Well,
I like this place. If there were a Jukebox rating, I'd give that
a high score. The jukebox is solid, not just in quality picks,
but DIVERSITY, which is key.
Not a huge selection of drinks, but they're all cheap (I only
drink beer here, anyway). Decent mixed crowd of old regulars who
stick to themselves, and young folks. Sometimes it can be
overpopulated by NYU kids leaking over from Blue & Gold next
door. The bathroom is "dealable" if we're talking #1 for men.
Otherwise, jeez... you're outta luck. It's filthy. But the
simple atmosphere and quick service, good prices and pretty
damned good music make this a good place to just have some drinks
with some friends. I've never been disappointed. - V.M.
I was there at about 7pm on a Friday evening. It had a mixed
crowd at that time. Dimly lit, it features a TV, a jukebox, a
pool table, diner-style booths, and a/c (surprisingly). The beer
selection is somewhat limited. The prices at happy hour are
reasonable and the service is good. The bathrooms are
one-at-a-time. - T.K.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Veruka (Avg. of 4 reviews) |
525 Broome St. (bet. Thompson & Sixth Ave.) | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 8.5 |
Comments -They
only let you in if your beautiful. Good Luck. - A.S.G.
This bar is a rich kids haven. The bouncers are there for show,
and if you have money, you know the manager and get the privilege
of sitting by the door. The service is OK, if you hold out a
fifty dollar bill. The best thing about the place is the
bathroom. The bathroom attendant is the most courteous person in
the place. Save your money. - E.F.
I had a a great time at this place. I don't think I was supposed
to be let in 'cause it was a private party, but oh well. The
crowd varies, but if you talk to enough people you can find your
type. Don't think the drinks were too outrageous compared to
other NYC lounges. This place is a good compromise between a club
and a bar- if you wanna dance, there's a small dance floor, if you
wanna sit and chill they have nice comfortable couches in the
middle and chairs and tables in the back. bathroom is better than
most. - E.M.
Cool place. Went on a Saturday night, and didn't even have to wait to get in..
Upstairs was hip hop, downstairs had a big room and played rock music. OK crowd, but there were a lot of
wanna-be's. Wearing shades inside should be made illegal. best bathrooms I've ever seen in an
NYC bar/club. - M.C.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Victorian
Lounge (Avg. of 7 reviews) |
47-39 Bell Blvd. & 48th Ave., Bayside, Queens | 7.7 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.9 |
Comments - This
may be the prettiest room in the city...except that it's in
Queens. I did notice that you have Uncle Jacks' in Queens, so it
would only make sense to include this beautiful and busy place as
well. I believe the owner owns two places in the City...The
Musical Box and the Auction House, I believe. And I know they
have the absolute best chocolate martinis ever. - J.B.
I went there this past weekend, has a cool antique decor that
feels like a SoHo New York lounge. The chocolate martinis
were awesome! - K.M.
The decor is different for
this area. It includes exposed brick walls, mirrors, candles, and
a red velvet ceiling. It's Middle Eastern looking (I expected to
see Barbara Eden come out of a bottle). There is a side room
which looks to be somewhat exotic (or erotic). I don't know if
people from this area will patronize a place like this. The
prices are reasonable and the
service is good. The bathrooms are adequate. - T.K.
No place is ever perfect but this one is close! They even have
antiques in the bathroom. Candles everywhere (lots of kissin')
and cool colored martini's on almost every table! - D.Z.
I recently went on a blind date to this great looking lounge. I
felt like I was in NYC. Living on L.I., I never expected this
place to look like it belonged in SoHo. Great place for a first
date or just to get together with friends. Nice thing is that
there are no teenie boppers around. The coconut shrimp &
nachos were delicious. Awesome martini selection! I will return
and recommend. - D.Z.
This place is the best kept secret in Bayside Queens, decked out in red velvet from ceiling to floor and "private" areas for whatever, this is just what I was looking for but its even cooler that its in Queens!
Bring your date or come with your wingman or girl. You'll love all the martinis too! - G.H.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Vig Bar (Avg. of 2 reviews) |
12 Spring St. (Elizabeth St.) | 9.5 | 9.0 | 9.5 | 9.5 |
Comments - They play great 80's music, have a fun crowd that sings
aloud together, a good bar staff pouring excellent drinks, and a
big back room that is fab for throwing a party. What more could
you want? - S.A.
We visited Manhattan twice in the past year
and a half. Both times we hung at the Vig Bar. The music was
great, the service friendly and the drinks were perfect each
time. It's a great place to chill any time of the day. The
British bartender is cute too. - S.B.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| The View Lounge | 1535 Broadway
(between 45th & 46th) Marriot Marquis Hotel, 48th fl. |
7 | 9 | 6 | 8 |
Comments
-
Rotating bar and restaurant gives great views of midtown
Manhattan. Zoom up the middle of the building in a high speed
elevator to the top . Live music & dancing on certain nights.
On the pricey side, you pay for the view, not the service or the
drinks. A perfect spot for a date, tourists, and a pre- or
post-theater cocktail. - S.M.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Village Idiot (Avg. of 21 reviews) |
355 W. 14th St. (between 8th & 9th Ave.) | 7.2 | 4.5 | 7.9 | 2.7 |
Comments
- Rocks
hard core. Great for cheap beers and fun. -T.H.
Great music, a great crowd, cheap beer, and great bartenders make
this a place you don't want to miss out on. -D.C.
Awesome. Lots of hurtin',
rockin' country music and despite being packed the service was
fantastic. Hey, the bartender even bought me a beer! I think she
loves me! - R.H.
Spent a great night here with
some friends drinking PBR in a can just because we could. This
place smells a little funny (like a locker room), but the
great-looking barmaids were quick and friendly with the service.
Would definitely hit this place again. - J.C.
White trash atmosphere, cheap
Pabst Blue Ribbon, Willie, Waylon, Johnny, David Allen Coe,
Patsy, and Hank Williams on the juke, and last but not least, the
beautiful and fun bartenders. Damned if I don't wanna be buried
there! - D.R.
Only true country spot in the city. Hot bartenders that love to
serve you. Great music-nothing but country on the box. And did I
forget to mention the best part- $1.75 PBR's!!! Take a 20 dollar
bill in there and you're guaranteed to stumble out. Can't do that
anywhere else in the city. - S.E.
Welcome home Texans! This bar gives you that Lone Star State
feel, with cheap-ass beer, hardcore country, and a set of mock
Coyote Ugly bartenders. They really know how to get men going. It
is a must see. Hook 'em. - H.H.
What a dump!!! But that's the best part about the Idiot. Nothing
like a dive bar to keep the yuppies at bay. The bar maids at the
Idiot are without a doubt the most beautiful and charismatic
ladies I've encountered. Not only gorgeous, they really know how
to run the joint. It's the best service you'll find in any bar,
anywhere. - J.B.D.
This is one of my favorite bars in the city. If you're looking to
go out and have a drunken good time, the Idiot is the place to
go. Cheap beer, fun bartenders, and an eclectic crowd. The
bathroom can be dangerous, but aside from that it's a great time.
- T.M.
Possibly the best bar in the city! Always a good time at the
Idiot. If you like to taunt, and want to get down and dirty with
the rest of the drunks, this place kicks ass. Always great
service from the hot bartenders wearing just about nothing. You
can never go wrong with a $5 pitcher. - C.M.
The Idiot continues to be New York's premiere dive bar. The
bartenders are amazing; they can throw back shots (I recommend
Jaegermeister!) like there's no tomorrow. And they're a group of
beautiful women, too! The place does occasionally attract a
slumming celeb crowd: Vince Vaughn was drinking in the Idiot on a
recent Thursday night. Say 'Hi' to the bar's owner, Tom, if you
have the pleasure of meeting him. - C.R.
This place is out of this world! As soon as you walk in you
stumble back in amazement. This place has everything you could
want out of a bar. Friendly staff, a great bunch of punters. The
beer is rather expensive but you do get as much monkey nuts as
you can eat! If you want a quite, relaxing bar, don't come here,
but if you want fun, to get drunk and eat nuts then the Village
Idiot is the No. 1 place for that. - R.H.
The place is cool if your an 18 year old college student that has
to chalk his i.d. and your money consists of $12.35 in nickels and
dimes. Otherwise, it's a complete dump. The first time I went
there it reeked of puke. Therefore, I figured someone let loose
right in the bar. However, it wasn't the case. The stink of
rancid vomit is a constant aroma one is graced with when visiting
this establishment! Bartenders are ok, if you can get to them on
a Saturday night. Due to the cheap prices for beers, the
"Idiot" cannot afford a/c in the summer which makes it
truly feel like a southwest Texas cattle field in the month of
July. - C.J.
A loser's bar, for sure. Waitresses/Barchicks are usually hot but
[not] the last time I went. The bartenders are notoriously
flirty, making the Star-Trek nerds and dirt-bag-geeks feel like
attractive men for a night. If you're already drunk, go to the
Idiot, otherwise its hard to stomach the place. Guaranteed wait
for the unisex bathroom. There's also these creepy bouncer-guys
eyeing you all night and its hard to decide whether to feel safe
or afraid of them. Also, the owner circulates through the bar all
night, as out of place as a one-legged man in an ass kicking
contest. That said, if you're the type who doesn't like to get
dressed up when you go out, and can't get into any place which
discriminates based on looks, this is surely the place for you.
Maybe the only place. - W.W.
Nothing but cheap fun. C&W Juke - Cash, CCR, Elvis, etc., plus cheap pitchers of Coors and
cans of Pabst. As good as you want it to be. Bartenders are pretty hot & wild, great butts, too.
Beware, Thursday night is NYU frat night. The place also smells like vomit when you walk in, but once you get past that, you're in for a good time. -
W.M.
Let's Party. - R.P.
I guess it is a fun place if you like country music and unknown rock music. It was very laid
back but unfortunately there were a lot of druggies and weird old men in there.
The friendly service is the best thing about the place. - J.R.
The poster child for dive bars. Bartenders are usually drunk an hour into their shift, and that's a good thing, especially when they begin the night falling out of their clothes. Bathrooms were condemned by rats who fled during the Truman administration. -
R.F.
Filthy Dump with drunk bar maids! The attempt to copy Coyote ugly is rather sad! -
P.F.
Ugh. But the bartender chicks were hot and liked to flash everyone. Great service, too, even though I was a girl surrounded by
ogling men. But otherwise, UGH. - E.C.
The Village Idiot will always have really cheap beers and kick ass C&W but it's all about the barmaids. More than any other bar, the barmaids can make or break the place. Barmaids are encouraged to be themselves and can be really wild as opposed to pretending to be wild. The old VI was on 1st
Avenue (where's legendary Natasha now?) and moved west and came before Hogs & Heifers and Coyote
Ugly and less "trendy". On a good night this place can be FUN!! - J.P.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Village Tavern (Avg. of 4 reviews) |
46 Bedford St. (7 Avenue South & Leroy St.) | 8.0 | 7.2 | 8.3 | 7.5 |
Comments -
This is a great addition to the West Village. A
great place to play pool, meet people or enjoy friends'
company. The bartenders were excellent... I'll be
back. - G.M.
Good neighborhood bar by the 'drinking
consultants' from Phoenix Park. Long wood bar and pool table make
it look like a classic New York saloon, even though it just
opened in 2001. - S.M.
Given its position in the heart of the Village, this bar makes a
quiet and, some would say, welcome change from the more popular
establishments not a million miles away on the Bleecker Street
strip. Maybe it was quiet due to the apparent lack of
air-conditioning; at least it didn't seem to be working on the
night of my visit (late June 2001). Ceiling fans are all very
well but I prefer hurricane-force air-con in the height of
Summer. The clientele were mostly well-behaved thirty-somethings
and the bar service was attentive if not particularly
over-enthusiastic. - P.D.
This was the only bar that doesn't advertise itself as a sports bar that actually had the sound up for a Jets game and all the other games were muted. Usually you have to share airspace with Packer, Dolphin, etc. fans, but not here. Extremely refreshing. - M.D.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Vintage (Avg. of 4 reviews) |
753 Ninth Ave. (between 50th & 51st St.) | 5.0 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
Comments -
Vintage is the perfect spot for an impromptu gathering. Going to
the theatre? After-work cocktails? The staff will accommodate. A no
fuss/no attitude gathering place. Also good to start off a first
date -- it's not expensive, but the martinis will rev anyone's
engine! - K.C.
A nice quiet, comfortable, reasonably-priced place. Includes a front room with restaurant tables and bar, very comfortable Starbucks-style lounge with sofas and coffee tables in back, and an outdoor patio behind. I liked it! -
R.K.
This is a trendy
bar/restaurant (more restaurant than bar) in Hell's Kitchen. It
has a metallic bar-top, dining tables, and a lounge with couches
and coffee tables. It has a limited beer selection but an
extensive martini menu. Mellow music is piped in. It features a
high ceiling with fans, good-looking bar lamps, a TV, red
curtains, a nice-looking wall clock, and a large mirror behind
the bar. The lighting is somewhat dim. It draws mainly tourists
and theatergoers. The prices are reasonable and the service is good. The bathrooms are
adequate. -T.K.
Blah - J.D.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Virgil's Real
BBQ (Avg. of 3 reviews) |
152 W 44th St. (between 6th & 7th Ave.) | 7.0 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 6.7 |
Comments
- Great
beer selection, even better food. Good size bar area which gets
crowded on Saturday nights. NYC's best bartenders, they treat the
regulars (of which I am one) like royalty. - J.E.
This is a very popular restaurant. The prices are somewhat
expensive and the service is
so-so. It's usually very crowded in the bar area (mostly people
waiting to dine in the restaurant). The bathrooms (on the second
floor) are OK, but navigating your way (through the dining room)
is difficult.-T.K.
Hit Virgil's for the first time after a comedy show at Town Hall around 10:30pm [A Thursday night]. It was busy but not packed. We got two bar seats within 20 minutes and ordered
beer, whiskey and BBQ immediately. Food and Drink came very quick, impressive. However the bartender
wasn't in a great mood and it was obvious, no biggie. Food was amazing! Giant plates of BBQed meat! Biscuits slathered with gravy! Thumbs up! - F.F.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Viva
Tequila (Avg. of 2 reviews) |
43 W. 46th St. (between Fifth & Sixth Ave.) | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 6.5 |
Comments - This
Mexican bar/restaurant located on "Little Brazil" seems
to draw a young, after-work clientele. Well lit, it features
several TVs, (one large screen), a long, dark oak wood bar, a low
ceiling with fans, high-top bar tables and cocktail tables, a
painted cement floor, brick walls, Mexican music (not played too
loud), and miscellaneous Mexican decor. The dining area is on the
second floor. Watch for happy hour specials. The female
bartenders are friendly and efficient. The bathrooms, located upstairs are adequate. - T.K.
The food is authentically Mexican, but progressive with some Caribbean &
Latin American influences. The cocktail waitresses are prompt & eager to serve
more tequila just as you begin to wonder what you drink. - H.M.
Add your review
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Vudu Club | 1487 First Ave. (between 77th & 78th St.) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Comments - This place is good if your a college brat that has daddy's money to blow on expensive drinks served in small, picnic size plastic cups. Last I checked, I'm a responsible adult that you can trust with a glass. The music is decent but the dance floor is tiny. They should really think about changing their whole "Club" theme cause this place is no more than a bar for kids. - T.R.
| Bar | Address | Atmosphere | Decor | Service | Bathroom |
| Vue (Avg. of 3 reviews) |
151 E. 50th St. (between Lexington & Third Ave.) | 6.3 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Comments -
Very nice. I checked out Vue last week. What a great place. G.C.
If you are looking for a trendy place to spend $80 a person, snobby wait staff and an evangelist as the bathroom attendant, this is your place. After waiting for a table for an hour with a reservation and paying a $100 bar tab for 5 people we were seated in the dining room where our waiter came to tell us about the menu. The $50 prix fix was 3 courses but you could only get certain items to get all 3 courses...for instance, if you got the
crab cakes as an appetizer you didn't get a salad (2nd course), you just got a main course. After ordering my sashimi tartar and chicken with garlic mashed potatoes (because I wasn't allowed a salad without paying extra) I was very unimpressed. The chicken and potatoes were good, however they were not worth $50, or even $15. And the only thing I went home with was food poisoning from the sashimi tartar. I believe this place would be fine for a club...but they should not be allowed a license for serving food. And be sure not to ask
the bathroom attendant if she had a happy Halloween or she will bust out all of her
Christian brochures and preach for a few minutes. - A.R.
This place sucks!! I have been there twice and both times were awful. The last time my friend and I went, they kept us waiting
outside (in the rain) until the open bar ended so they could charge us ridiculous prices for bad drinks. The bartenders are
inattentive and not the brightest. I would highly recommend that you do NOT go here if you want to have fun. - V.L.
Add your review
A
- B - C - D
- E - F - G
- H - I - J
- K - L - M
- N - O - P
- Q - R - S
- T - U - V
- W - X - Y
- Z

Don't
just read them, send one in!
Click here to add your own
reviews...
| What goes on... |
| Features... |
| Special Bar Interests... |
©2003 Murphguide.com All Rights Reserved