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- Downtown, Lower East Side
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- Nightclubs, Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars
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At a Glance
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83% ambiance
“really cozy, great lighting and laid-back, no more loud, crappy rock bands.”
84% drinks
“169 Bar is the most honest and awesome bar I know of, they are very cool to everyone, great vibe!”
100% food quality
“Got some good chinese food right on the corner too.”
100% overall
“It's a good place for after work and way after work, at any hour it's a real good time.”
73% service
“Friendly staff.”
100% value
“huge help-yourself ceramic water tanks on the bar along side sangria glass jars, I counted 10 different infusions, banana rum was my favorite last night but the orange, strawberry and pear vodkas also rocked., the bartender let us try all of them in littl”
100% wait time
“I've been coming to this bar for years, the new owner has really changed everything, apparently he's a life long muscian from New Orleans and and has really brought that aesthetic and his understanding of music to what was once a dark hole of a bar voted ”
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From The Owner of 169 Bar
Tips for 169 Bar
May 10, 2010
best bar in nyc. dont listen to these bands...this bar is a jewal in nyc...these musicians are stupid losers
0
Heart
March 30, 2010
Absolute A-Holes, Horrible to Bands-DONT GO HERE. Upon entering this club, there is a nice feel, but BANDS BEWARE! On a rainy night, if you don't bring the minimum, doesn't matter what you say....they will send you home, no play, not even pay to play. You get a firm..."sorry that's our policy-not my fault" from the sound guy. These people are not about the music, they're not even interested in the people you did bring and the drinks you bought yourself. Even if there are NO other bands on that night, you will not even get to set up if you don't bring the minimum. It says on their website that your show may be delayed or canceled....but REALLY? No one else in NY does this...It's one thing to not bring enough people and then never to be asked to play there again....BUT to not even be allowed to set up and play? There were plenty of people in the audience that might enjoy live music, but because of their "POLICY" which serves no real purpose in my opinion, we hauled our stuff there and hauled it right back home again even though their bar was 1)promoted on our sites and 2)never verified in email communications when we booked the gig about the policy. Now mind you, we are actually a very good band...schooled, tight, fun and appropriate, but I hesitate to ask if they even listened to the music at all. This BAR REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH MUSIC TODAY. BE WARNED....STAY FAR FAR AWAY.
0
Heart
February 02, 2010
not a band friendly bar. This is another one of those clubs that can't draw a crowd. So there solution is to solicit bands to play in the bar as long as they bring at least 10 of their friends that pay the cover.
0
Heart
August 28, 2009
A band-friendly Chinatown lounge with cheap drinks.. Though Chinatown is largely bereft of bars, this dingy dive serves as a scuzzy sanctuary for downtowners hunkering in the area tenements. 169 is more festive than the average bottom-feeding bar, with lush foliage, deep red-and-black booths and swimming fish keeping watchful eyes on the leopard-print pool table. Come early weekdays, and 169 is pin-drop quiet; however, the scene grows feverish late-night, when bands plug into amps and DJs crank speakers ‘til last call.
0
Heart
August 05, 2009
There are well over 169 resons to avoid this place....
I could gladly list over 169 reasons not to go into the 169 bar...but I don't have to. I will simply mention the only 1 thing that matters...it's bogus.
Skinhead criminals run the joint and the cops let them get away with it.
And the women who work there gag on you know what 24/7...but not yours.
Give this place not one single dime.
0
Heart
June 24, 2009
Biggest scammer of musicians & fans in NYC.
I'm completely blown away by how many positive reviews there are for this bar. Most of them must be from the owners and their friends. Do yourself a favor and search "169 bar scam" on your favorite search engine. You will read the real horror stories about this place.
Here's their scam in a nutshell: they overbook bands (we're talking about a dozen bands in one evening). Then your band will never get to play that evening unless you bring enough people. So if 9 of your friends showed up to see you play at 8pm, chances are they won't let you go on until midnight at the earliest, if at all. Even your most loyal friends will leave frustrated after shelling out $10 at the door and sitting in a dirty bar for 3 hours. The place has multiple booking agents too.
Avoid this place like the plague!
0
Heart
November 19, 2008
Awesome Live Music Bar. Went to 169 with some friends on Saturday, had a great time. The drinks were fairly priced, and the musicians performing were really good! My friends and I had a great time and look forward to coming back. I liked that I can see their schedule of musicians on their website. The atmoshpere is really nice here too. Very comfertable and relaxed. Good crowd as well. Great times at 169!
0
Heart
July 14, 2008
Real good vibe, great DJ, and live music, creative drinks, friendly staff.
This place has come a long way , for the better, from the kind of lower east sid bar it used to be years ago.
The decor is warm and inviting with a New Orleans charm, the music is always perfect for the occasion, with a DJ that is awesome. There is a great sounding piano that accompanies the live performers.
And most importantly, you can have conversations with people and hear them, good music levels !
It's a good place for after work and way after work, at any hour it's a real good time.
0
Heart
March 14, 2008
Great Place to Perform. I've performed here twice, once with my hip hop group (Eff Radio), and then a few days ago with my rock band (The Sharpe James) and had a blast both times. The staff was real professional and cool, the promoters were both great, and the crowd was real receptive. I definitely recommend taking the stage here if you love playing live music. Oh, and the Absinthe ain't bad either.
0
Heart
February 11, 2008
grate music.
the live venue was grate (i was there for my friends show), the get acts that you can't find everywhere.
It's so hard to find a place that plays good old funk these days.
Average white band, James brown , Johnny guitar ...
bartender was HOT!
can't ask 4 more than that.
0
Heart
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