(212) 260-5045

288 Elizabeth St (Between Houston Street and Bleecker Street)
New York, NY 10012 40.7245 -73.9932

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Neighborhoods: NoLita, Downtown

Hours:

Daily 12pm-4am

Last updated 8.28.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Bars & Clubs

Payment Methods:

Cash

What People Are Saying About Bar 288

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Newcomers wonder about the function of the extensive collection of vintage bar crockery serving as focal point of the bar's decor. The Tom & Jerry, from which 288 derives its nickname, is a warm brown liquor and egg-based Damon Runyon-era cocktail, served but one day around the Yuletide, in bowls and cups such as the ones displayed with obvious pride. Now that you're in the know, walk in and act like you own the place. – – The Draw – Rizzo, the resident feline, is undoubtedly the master of the joint. You'll have to deal with her dipping a curious nose in…

ambiance
50.0% positive
  1. “usually not crowded, location is good.”
  2. “The artwork is cool and its worth stopping by to what's its changed to, but that's about the whole decor unless you like punch bowls used for "Tom & Jerry's" aka egg nog from what I have heard.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “good place to start night on bar crawls.”
  2. “variety of interesting installations that rotate regularly (one of my favorites included multitudes of hanging birdcages enveloping the entire bar).”
  3. “bar is long and they have NBA hoops on the TV which is cool.”
  4. “good juke box, long bar, never wait in line, easy to get bar stool, bar tenders have no attitude, another +.”
  5. “Great bartenders, great place to have a beer”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “breath of fresh air in manhattan.”
  2. “The artwork is cool and its worth stopping by to what's its changed to, but that's about the whole decor unless you like punch bowls used for "Tom & Jerry's" aka egg nog from what I have heard.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “variety of interesting installations that rotate regularly (one of my favorites included multitudes of hanging birdcages enveloping the entire bar).”
overall
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “good place to start night on bar crawls.”
  2. “this place is cool, crowd can be kinda lame but good place to get a pint and chill.”
  3. “As you can see I have spent a lot of time there and its a great place to tie one on early.”
  4. “Great bartenders, great place to have a beer”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “Great bartenders, great place to have a beer”
  2. “The bartenders here are awesome, the best I've met anywhere.”
  3. “Nicest bartenders around, guinness tap, PBR cans, snack mix, cats running around, films on the big screen.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “The artwork is cool and its worth stopping by to what's its changed to, but that's about the whole decor unless you like punch bowls used for "Tom & Jerry's" aka egg nog from what I have heard.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “bar is long and they have NBA hoops on the TV which is cool.”
  2. “good juke box, long bar, never wait in line, easy to get bar stool, bar tenders have no attitude, another +.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/04/08

Unfortunate/Strange Experience

by judydemarco at Citysearch

My boyfriend and I have been coming here for years. Last night, we came here for a friend's birthday with a group of people. One of my girlfriends ordered a drink from the bartender and he berated her for checking her cell phone. She was just checking to see if someone had called her, and explained this to him, but he still went off on her. I still can't comprehend it...it was out of nowhere and the rudest thing I'd ever seen from a bartender. Like he just felt he could because he'd worked there for so long. It was so uncomfortable, and so unnecessary. This wasn't an old-school NYC attitude from a genuine New Yorker. This was just flat out arrogance from someone who, for years, had served us. It was really disheartening and unfortunately we won't be back.

  • Pros: Great bar, great crowd, good location.
  • Cons: Service.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/24/06

Great bartenders, great place to have a beer

by asparagusschwartz at Citysearch

Nicest bartenders around, guinness tap, PBR cans, snack mix, cats running around, films on the big screen...a breath of fresh air in manhattan. Sometimes can fill up with knuckleheads, but have some beers and take off when it gets crowded.

  • Pros: good vibe, beers, service, snack mix
  • Cons: fills up sometimes
4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/26/04

Good local scene

by bargoer212 at Citysearch

I think this place is also called Tom and Jerry's. The artwork is cool and its worth stopping by to what's its changed to, but that's about the whole decor unless you like punch bowls used for "Tom & Jerry's" aka egg nog from what I have heard. As you can see I have spent a lot of time there and its a great place to tie one on early...

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/29/04

Not Bad

by sallyann278 at Citysearch

The bartenders here are awesome, the best I've met anywhere. The jukebox is a decent mix of favorites and variety. The crowd, although still better than most, has become more trendy than it used to be. It's certainly the kind of place to become a regular.

  • Pros: Bartenders, Jukebox
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/10/03

Best Bartenders

by emb1365 at Citysearch

Bartenders here are great - the nicest I've seen in NYC... the first time I was there, I was treated like a regular - it was great....

  • Pros: Great Bartenders

The Details on Bar 288

Place Categories:

  • good place
  • good juke box
  • cool funky art displays
  • good local scene
  • interesting installations
  • cool tv
  • cool artwork
  • good long bar
  • big screen
  • great jukebox
  • fresh air
  • great bartenders
  • not good location