55 Bar

Recommends

Harriet430

Joined 5 years ago

Good old Village jazz joint. The 55Bar on Christopher Street is a prime example of old Greenwich Village panache, dark brown atmosphere, friendly charming bartender and two music scenes a night at six and ten.The early show is particularly groovy, a two-drink minimum and no music charge. No wonder so many European tourists show up, especially on Thursday and Friday nights. Still a remnant of the old Village regulars adds charm.

Harriet

Recommends

Andrew432

Joined 5 years ago

A co-worker sugested that I try this place out. I met up with my girlfriend after work on a Friday for some jazz. We got there for a six pm show. The place had a reasonable sized crowd. It looked like there were a few followers of the particular band from the pre-set chit chat. The bartenders were friendly and the service was good. Drink prices averaged out to about six or seven bucks a drink, considering the three hours of music, it was a good deal. The negative that my girlfriend agreed with me on was that it was too loud. For the size of the place the volume could be lower. Maybe it was this particular act but it seemed unnecessary to individually mic the two horn players. They can acoustically produce enough sound unlike say an upright bass. I could me nitpicking but whatever.

Bottom line: The music was good, the staff was cool and it had that village vibe to it. Definitely worth a second shot.

Doesn't Recommend

Jaclyne

Joined 5 years ago

Bad Attitudes and Poor Service. After searching for a good jazz bar to show my visiting jazz-loving friends a good time in NYC, we decided to go to 55 Bar because it was rated really good online. After reading on their website that the cover was free with a 2 drink minimum, we arrived at the bar expecting to walk in for a good time. Well this is where the rudeness and condescending remarks began. The website was not correct, it was in fact $10 cover and a 2 drink minimum per set. None the less, we wanted to see the show, so we began to pay the doorman which is when he stopped us and said "If you guys wanted to be loud and party go to the bar down the street". This blew us back, because we aren't kids, we aren't disrespectful and as young professionals, we showed no signs of such behavior. We brushed it off, insisted we were there to hear the jazz, paid and went in. We found seats, and then we met the waitress... the most UNPLEASANT, rude, condescending waitress I have ever come across.. She spoke to us as if we "didn't belong", as if we were not worth her time despite being paying customers. Even though anyone and everyone should be allowed to enjoy music wherever they want in the city, it was clear this bar did not care for our patronage. We will never go back to 55 bar, and hope that people read this review and take it seriously. A bar that hires such people and condones such behavior should not be given business.

Doesn't Recommend

meni_m

Joined 5 years ago

VERY rude, condescending people. avoid if you want to stay in a good mood.. it all started with the doorman being really rude, when we were surprised to see the 10$ cover charge when the website said it's free entrance, but 2 drinks per set.

the guy told us (in a very condescending tone) this is a jazz bar, if you just wanna drink and be loud you can go next door.

we explained to him that we know its a jazz bar and that's why we are here and their website said there's no cover charge.

he responded with "what's a website". we knew this was a lost cause so we made sure there was no drink minimum (since we paying a cover charge) and went in.

we were 3, a friend visiting, my grilfriend and myself. a waitress approached us and asked what we would like to drink.

both my friendand i had a drink but my girlfriend could not drink since she was on medication....

the doorman was super nice compared to this woman.

talking down, being rude, saying we must drink 2 drink per set and she doesnt care and those are the rules, and if we want to be difficult then she can also play this game and just left.

really, really rude. ruined the entire evening.

and btw, there was no need for that stupid attitude since we were later joined by another 6 friends and drank about 4 drinks or more each so that really covered it.

needless to say she didnt get a tip.

do yourself a favor, and dont go there...

i would have had more fun eating glass.

there are plenty of other spots.

Meni.

Doesn't Recommend

Brooklyn81

Joined 5 years ago

So rude!. My friends and tried this place Sat night for the first time, and the "Door" guy was extremely rude. I definitely won't go back there- they were also charging a $10 cover and said they couldnt sell alcohol??? When I questioned the cover he said "We dont want you here" and kicked us out- what a strange, unpleasant place.

Doesn't Recommend

lindy11

Joined 6 years ago

lucy. I went to 55 Bar for the first time last night. It seems like a great place to hang out but the bartender was so rude, I won't go back. You know this type of bartender...chatty and nice to the regulars but if she doesn't know you, then you're ignored.

Recommends

softchewy

Joined 8 years ago

so so. Hit it on a Tuesday night with a friend. Went to see the 10pm act after we had dinner.

$5 cover (though the bartender told us if we didn't care for the music he would refund it), act was Leni Stern.. she was about 30 minutes late. I had heard a couple of songs on her website previously and thought they sounded pretty good. What she played was not very good, just wasn't feeling it. Guess I'll have to give it another try with a different act.

Recommends

JuiceHound_NYC_123

Joined 11 years ago

BEST JAZZ BAR IN THE CITY. I went to 55 Bar recently and had an unbelivable time! The live music is amazing and the atmosphere is perfect. If you like live music and fun bars, you've got to check this out!

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pgippi

Joined 11 years ago

tater head. nice atmosphere, good place to socialize, good bartending!!!! tater head, pinneon, babycat, cloe corn chip

Recommends

garbs

Joined 11 years ago

Where Jazz Is!. Small, loud, and full of good vibes! The 55 Bar on a Thursday night... Wayne Krantz...or whomever... these are not guys playing jazz standards in a mellow groove. These players are slammin! If there is a cover it can be like $15... but that comes with two DRINKS and popcorn! Nice! Great spot!