(212) 595-5670

450 Amsterdam Ave (nr. 82nd St.)
New York, NY 10024 40.7848 -73.9773

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Neighborhoods: Upper West Side, Midtown

THEDEADPOET.COM

Hours:

Mon-Sat, 10am-4am

Sun, noon-4am

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Billiards Bars

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour

Restaurant Special Features:

Happy Hour

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Dead Poet

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Owner Drew Dvorkin was a bartender for 12 years, and then an English Lit. teacher for several more. He decided to merge the two occupations, and in August 2000, the Dead Poet came to life. Its cozy front room houses a 20-foot wooden bar, and the decor stays true to the bar's name: Framed verses, like Oscar Wilde's "Work is the curse of the drinking classes," hang on the walls alongside black-and-white photos of James Joyce, Hilda Doolittle and T.S. Eliot. Partially lit with a streetlamp, the petite backroom holds small tables and chairs, a pool table and bookshelves lined…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Find more study-hall decor at the Library.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “But, if you want a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service, quality pub food, and interesting drinks, give the Dead Poet a shot.”
  2. “The Poet is a great place to relax and just kick it and chat with friends, not exactly the most rowdy or treny bar, but just plain fun.”
drinks
84.61999893188477% positive
  1. “This bar has been my favorite local spot for over five years.”
  2. “But, if you want a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service, quality pub food, and interesting drinks, give the Dead Poet a shot.”
  3. “More of a closet than a bar, this place is the worst on the Amsterdam stretch.”
  4. “good service makes for a great bar experience.”
  5. “little small but you can't beat the amazing drink specials every night and music.”
  6. “The staff is fantastic, the bar is clean, and they have very reasonable prices.”
  7. “The Poet is a great place to relax and just kick it and chat with friends, not exactly the most rowdy or treny bar, but just plain fun.”
  8. “love this bar.”
  9. “It's a great place to grab a drink with some friends and sit whil.”
  10. “The bartenders are super friendly, and the drinks are reasonably priced.”
  11. “But they have some great beers on tap and some grea.”
  12. “love this place, I come here with friends all the time, the staff are so warm and friendly and the drinks are great.”
  13. “ANother good NY bar”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “But, if you want a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service, quality pub food, and interesting drinks, give the Dead Poet a shot.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The Poet is a great place to relax and just kick it and chat with friends, not exactly the most rowdy or treny bar, but just plain fun.”
  2. “It's a great place to grab a drink with some friends and sit whil.”
service
81.82000160217285% positive
  1. “good service makes for a great bar experience.”
  2. “The owners are great people and their staff is wonderful as well.”
  3. “So, when I just read that the staff is great I have to ask, "Who was working that night?”
  4. “Rude service, and too expensive for its own good.”
  5. “The bartenders are nice so that's a plus.”
  6. “love this place, I come here with friends all the time, the staff are so warm and friendly and the drinks are great.”
  7. “The bartenders are super friendly, and the drinks are reasonably priced.”
  8. “the bartenders are so friendly and the happy hour is excellent.”
  9. “The staff is fantastic, the bar is clean, and they have very reasonable prices.”
  10. “But, if you want a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service, quality pub food, and interesting drinks, give the Dead Poet a shot.”
  11. “Bad service”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “The staff is fantastic, the bar is clean, and they have very reasonable prices.”
  2. “Rude service, and too expensive for its own good.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/06/11

Great Bartenders and Guinness

by pepelapeu at Citysearch

The bartenders (especially during the afternoon) are some of the best around town. And if you are a fan of Guinness then this is the best pint you'll find in NYC. It's true that it's a skinny bar but that lends character to the place. If you want to run with scissors then go elsewhere.

1 Star Rating: Poor

08/03/07

Bad service

by colour212 at Citysearch

So, I walked in here a while ago with a smile on my face and a song in my heart from the great day I had. Saddled up to the bar, smiled at the redheaded bartender to acknowledge I was there, and about 5 minutes passed before she decided to take my order. It seemed the conversation was more important than doing her job. No apologies. No service with a smile. So, when I just read that the staff is great I have to ask, "Who was working that night?"

  • Pros: Decor
  • Cons: Staff
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/14/07

Best Guinness in Town

by christa79 at Citysearch

This bar has been my favorite local spot for over five years. The staff is fantastic, the bar is clean, and they have very reasonable prices.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/13/07

Gotta Love the Dead Poet

by likuid144 at Citysearch

I love this place, I come here with friends all the time, the staff are so warm and friendly and the drinks are great. They have a bunch of "top shelf" beers from around the world that are amazing, try the Monty Python Holy GrALE. The Poet is a great place to relax and just kick it and chat with friends, not exactly the most rowdy or treny bar, but just plain fun.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/21/06

The Skinny

by edex at Citysearch

The Dead Poet is a skinny bar, literally. It's as if it was built in an alley. Don't let that discourage you and your friends. We stopped in before a movie and never left. I highly encourage you to order "The Dead Poet" signature drink, you'll want four more before realizing you're three sheets to the wind. The owners are great people and their staff is wonderful as well... good service makes for a great bar experience... ENJOY!

  • Pros: The staff and service... the drinks are good too

The Details on Dead Poet

Place Categories:

  • fantastic staff
  • great place
  • rude service
  • clean ny bar
  • warm mirrors
  • warm wood
  • great drinks
  • great beers
  • not amazing drink specials
  • excellent happy hour
  • friendly quality pub food
  • great low key spot
  • favorite local spot
  • great people
  • great bar experience
  • very reasonable prices
  • super friendly bartenders
  • clean bathroom