Under The Volcano

(212) 213-0093

12 E 36th St
New York, NY 10016 40.7493 -73.9829

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Neighborhoods: Midtown South Central, Midtown

Last updated 3.02.10

Category:

Lounges, Bars & Pubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Bar Menu

Bar & Club Special Features:

After Work

Smoking Permitted:

No

What People Are Saying About Under The Volcano

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Located smack in the middle of a big business district that's dominated by power skirts and suits during the day, this bar begs for a pseudo Wall Street environment. Yet surprisingly, the vast majority of the 25- to 45-year-old crowd is tie-free and looking clean but casual. Styled after author Malcolm Lowry's novel of the same name, the bar is a blend of the rough-floored Mexican cantinas and posh hotel bars in which the author used to drink. With no TVs to zombify the customers, talk is boisterous. – – The Draw – Apropos to the writer's preferred poisons,…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Ginger Man, just across the street, shares the same owners.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. It has a really cool, lounge-like atmosphere, good cocktails and a decent menu.
  2. This after work/neighborhood watering hole is one of the most comfortable places in midtown to relax after a long day.
  3. Awesome atmosphere!
  4. The decor is great and the staff is super friendly.
  5. knowledgeable, bardendress , friendly atmosphere, and not over-crowded make this a nice mid-town visit.
  6. With a Mexican Day of the dead decor, cool unique music, and a selection of t.
drinks
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. It has a really cool, lounge-like atmosphere, good cocktails and a decent menu.
  2. The young ladies who tend bar are beautiful, personable and efficient.
  3. Fantastic place for an after work drink.
  4. Wait staff is friendly, drinks are nice and strong.
  5. Our drinks were full since we had replenished them about 15 minutes before.
  6. Classy, quality drinks, low key, great staff, reasonable prices and a hidden gem.
  7. Midtown area, plenty of space at the bar and floor area. Excellent service. Malcolm Lowry.
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. There are a few apps available, like chips and salsa or a fruit and cheese plate (good bang for your buck).
  2. They even have light food fare if you feel yourself craving tamales or a nice cheese platter.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. It has a really cool, lounge-like atmosphere, good cocktails and a decent menu.
  2. With a Mexican Day of the dead decor, cool unique music, and a selection of t.
  3. Excellent service is what keeps me coming back, along with their expansive tequila selection.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. It was a great place.
service
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. Classy, quality drinks, low key, great staff, reasonable prices and a hidden gem.
  2. The decor is great and the staff is super friendly.
  3. Excellent service is what keeps me coming back, along with their expansive tequila selection.
  4. knowledgeable, bardendress , friendly atmosphere, and not over-crowded make this a nice mid-town visit.
  5. Everyone's friendly, and the bartenders are great.
  6. Wait staff is friendly, drinks are nice and strong.
  7. To make matters worse, when we didn't jump up and leave immediately, the staff began making extremely rude comments and asking each other loudly, "Are they gone YET?
  8. Midtown area, plenty of space at the bar and floor area. Excellent service. Malcolm Lowry.
  9. The bartenders are all very nice.
value
100.0% positive
  1. Classy, quality drinks, low key, great staff, reasonable prices and a hidden gem.
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. Our drinks were full since we had replenished them about 15 minutes before.
  2. This after work/neighborhood watering hole is one of the most comfortable places in midtown to relax after a long day.
1 Star Rating: Poor

04/29/09

never going back...

by pianogirlny

I was here on a Friday night catching up with friends. Everything was fine until we were told we had 5 minutes to finish our drinks- and it was only 2:15! Our drinks were full since we had replenished them about 15 minutes before. No one had warned us about last call or asked if we needed anything else, and we were 1 of 2 tables in the bar. To make matters worse, when we didn't jump up and leave immediately, the staff began making extremely rude comments and asking each other loudly, "Are they gone YET??" They won't be seeing me ever again, that's for sure. If I could give no stars, I would.

  • Cons: extremely rude staff
4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/05/08

Awesome atmosphere!

by annejoey

This bar is right in my neighborhood and has become my regular spot! It has a really cool, lounge-like atmosphere, good cocktails and a decent menu. An ideal spot to relax over a few drinks with friends. The only downside is that they tend to close early during the week (i work in foreign markets and keep later hours), but Friday nights are a must here!

1 Star Rating: Poor

02/05/08

Under the Volcano? Care to explain further?!

by lafsabovejacobtree

Went to "Under the Volcano" last week after work. What a bust. I may not be a NYC native (from a boring state) but I expected more... What's in a name?

Pros: Midtown area, plenty of space at the bar and floor area. Excellent service. Malcolm Lowry.

Cons: NO eruptions, molten lava, convergent tectonic plates, or sulfuric gases that I was aware of.

3 Star Rating: Average

05/28/07

Excellent Bar

by MVandergrift

One of my favorite bars in NYC. An excellent selection of sipping Tequila combined with a very downtempo and sophisticated crowd.

  • Pros: Tequila selection, People, Service
  • Cons: Location, if you're not in Midtown already
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/05/06

A Place You Feel Welcome

by kcaj68

This after work/neighborhood watering hole is one of the most comfortable places in midtown to relax after a long day. The young ladies who tend bar are beautiful, personable and efficient. Their skill at building margaritas is nothing short of spectacular. Everyone is truly made to feel welcome and I have heard several references comparing the friendliness to "Cheers" on TV.

  • Pros: Melanie, Renee, Allison
  • Cons: Not open 24/7

The Details on Under The Volcano

Place Categories:

  • knowledgeable friendly atmosphere
  • fantastic place
  • super friendly wait staff
  • beautiful young ladies
  • nice drinks
  • all very nice bartenders
  • excellent service
  • favorite bar
  • quite impressive selection
  • great decor
  • comfy couch
  • friendly everyone
  • good cocktails
  • nice chill
  • not nice corner seat
  • favorite rare tequila
  • unique music
  • rude comments
  • really cool loungelike atmosphere
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