Otto's Shrunken Head

(212) 228-2240

538 E 14th St (nr. Ave. B)
New York, NY 10009 40.73 -73.9795

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Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown

ottosshrunkenhead.com/index.h…

Hours:

Mon-Fri, 2pm-4am

Sat-Sun, 4pm-4am

Last updated 9.01.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Nightclubs, Bars & Clubs

Payment Methods:

Cash

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Hard Rock & Heavy Metal

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, Specialty Cocktails, Live Music

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Otto's Shrunken Head

Featured Review

Erin Behan

Contributor

The Scene – Every inch of the long narrow space screams kitschy tiki bar. Light-up blowfish lanterns, leopard-print bar stools, Hawaiian-inspired wallpaper, shiny red leather banquettes, faux grass edging, a "Simpsons" pinball machine--newcomers will need a strong mai tai to help soak it all in. The laid-back punk and rockabilly crowds who frequent the place most often have a beer in hand, but that shouldn't intimidate you from exploring the fun and tasty drink menu. – – The Draw – This lone bar on a quiet stretch of 14th Street is a chameleon. One moment, punk bands…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Don't forget to pose for shots in the rare vintage black-and-white photo booth--it's four pictures for $4.
Know Before You Go:
Hand over a $5 deposit and you'll enjoy your tiki drink in a tiki, pirate, trashy hula girl or shrunken head mug.
What to Drink:
Otto's does hot drinks, too. The Mexican coffee, spiked with tequila and Kahlua, should wake you up.
ambiance
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “great bar with a dirty atmosphere that spins perfect tunes.”
  2. “love this place, the atmosphere is so kitchy.”
  3. “The place is always fun but especially if you are lucky enough to be there when Ms. Meow is tending bar.”
  4. “The crowd is fun and the bartender Mishelle Meow is the best!”
  5. “The music greatly depends on the DJ but the bartenders are good and the crowd is fun.”
  6. “And of course the everyday average Joe seems just as comfortable hanging out.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “friendly and unique spot amongst all the boring cookie-cutter bars that have taken over the area.”
drinks
89.0999984741211% positive
  1. “You should check out this bar not only because its cute and very new york, but also because they have some great Hawaiian music.”
  2. “Otto's is one of those places you can go to at 4 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning and still run into interesting people, hear good music, and count on getting a good drink.”
  3. “Other than that, the drinks are creative and the place is a nice unknown spot in ABC city.”
  4. “The best thing about Otto's besides the cold beer, sweet drinks and awesome bartenders, is the fact that it's one of the last cool places to hang out in the East Village or all of NYC for that matter.”
  5. “Otto's is a lovely little tiki bar in the East Village where you can go to enjoy the music, whether it be from a dj or a live band in the back, play some games, make a record of your night in the photo booth, or just get completely and ridiculously drunk.”
  6. “few after work Thursdays have left an indellible tiki god scar on my heart and my hands busily filling out applications to become a regular at this above par dive bar.”
  7. “The place is always fun but especially if you are lucky enough to be there when Ms. Meow is tending bar.”
  8. “Friendly, always kept my glass full and pours a mean drink.”
  9. “who does like to look at beautiful women, drink, and (fake) shoot things.”
  10. “Otto's is definitely my favorite place to drink and watch great bands!”
  11. “The last of a dying breed of great rock bars with a take no $&*t bartenders that serve up mean drinks with meaner attitudes.”
  12. “Bands, poetry nights, drinks, friends, cool photo booth.”
  13. “Every city needs a good tiki bar and this is NYC's!”
  14. “The bartenders were friendly and made beautiful drinks with fancy straws and umbrellas all night!”
  15. “Best tiki bar and music club!”
  16. “This is the perfect spot to drink too much and convince yourself you're in a really good place in your life.”
  17. “Lots of bands and awesome drinks.”
  18. “awesome bar & greatest bartender”
  19. “Be nice and you will find her one of the most charming ladies to ever serve you a drink.”
  20. “great bar with a dirty atmosphere that spins perfect tunes.”
  21. “Otto's is the place to go if you want killer creative drinks, rockabilly and punk attitude, awesome retro dj's, and way out acts in the back.”
  22. “She is the greatest - kept my drink filled all night, was witty, charming, se xy, and sh even introduced me to some single ladies who were there.”
  23. “Tiki vibe is great for parties and I was there for a birthday party where big flaming drinks knocked me on my butt!”
  24. “The drinks are pretty cheap, unless they are the insane TIKI DRINKS and frozen stuff, those get a bit pricey but, taste awesome.”
  25. “The drinks are top-notch, I even was tempted by my bartender to try one of the weird tiki cocktails.”
  26. “Great music, great drinks, and thankfully the meat heads and yuppie-hipsters that troll the East Village on weekends are too scared to venture in.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “Great music, great drinks, and thankfully the meat heads and yuppie-hipsters that troll the East Village on weekends are too scared to venture in.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It is a great place for people of all kinds to sit down, hear some swingin' tunes, and get good old-fashioned drunk.”
  2. “Thanks for a great place - we will definitely be back!”
  3. “This is the perfect spot to drink too much and convince yourself you're in a really good place in your life.”
  4. “great place to start your hangover”
  5. “Totally a great place and they have PBR”
  6. “Booking lacks something to be desired, but great place for unknown talent to be heard.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “Thanks for a great place - we will definitely be back!”
service
85.41999816894531% positive
  1. “Otto's is one of those places you can go to at 4 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning and still run into interesting people, hear good music, and count on getting a good drink.”
  2. “Helps that Mishelle Meow (the hot, fiery red-haired bartender) makes the best margarita ever!”
  3. “Cool vibe, good music, great staff!”
  4. “The drinks are top-notch, I even was tempted by my bartender to try one of the weird tiki cocktails.”
  5. “All of them are great people.”
  6. “awesome bar & greatest bartender”
  7. “First off, I only went to Otto's because my ex-boyfriend's band was playing there, but we ended up getting mistreated by the staff in addition to terrible service.”
  8. “The bartenders were friendly and made beautiful drinks with fancy straws and umbrellas all night!”
  9. “We got wasted, had a blast, met some cool people - couldn't ask for a better time.”
  10. “The music greatly depends on the DJ but the bartenders are good and the crowd is fun.”
  11. “friendly and unique spot amongst all the boring cookie-cutter bars that have taken over the area.”
  12. “The crowd is fun and the bartender Mishelle Meow is the best!”
  13. “Staff was very friendly - we happend to catch the Ruffian Arms show - AWESOME!”
  14. “It is a great place for people of all kinds to sit down, hear some swingin' tunes, and get good old-fashioned drunk.”
  15. “The best thing about Otto's besides the cold beer, sweet drinks and awesome bartenders, is the fact that it's one of the last cool places to hang out in the East Village or all of NYC for that matter.”
  16. “The last of a dying breed of great rock bars with a take no $&*t bartenders that serve up mean drinks with meaner attitudes.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “The drinks are pretty cheap, unless they are the insane TIKI DRINKS and frozen stuff, those get a bit pricey but, taste awesome.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/26/09

beware of the promoter

by jaylene2133 at Citysearch

If you are a band playing there, watch out for the crazy promoter. He's really mean and he tried to beat up our band.

  • Pros: none
  • Cons: bad place to play.
3 Star Rating: Average

05/19/09

Otto's

by CSMobileUser2 at Citysearch

Killer vibe! Booking lacks something to be desired, but great place for unknown talent to be heard. I would go back!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/04/08

Kick A** Place!

by shotzjc at Citysearch

We were looking for a cool place & a Scorpion Bowl. Although they didn't have the Scorpion Bowl - the Volcano was an excellent substitute! Staff was very friendly - we happend to catch the Ruffian Arms show - AWESOME!! We got wasted, had a blast, met some cool people - couldn't ask for a better time. Reminds me of places that used to be all over the village that no longer exist. Thanks for a great place - we will definitely be back!!

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/07/08

The Worst Service in NYC

by frey47 at Citysearch

First off, I only went to Otto's because my ex-boyfriend's band was playing there, but we ended up getting mistreated by the staff in addition to terrible service. In fact, the bartenders scolded us "for not tipping enough," though we were tipping the standard 20 percent. The girls behind the bar were rude and just plain mean, but not in a cute way, in a mean way. I will never go back.

  • Pros: Nothing.
  • Cons: Everything.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/04/08

Par Excellence

by szaman08 at Citysearch

I wrote a whole long review but it was blocked because I used the word 'la -id" to in the sentence la -i.d back. Just go here. it was an amazing time.

The Details on Otto's Shrunken Head

Place Categories:

  • great place
  • beautiful flaming drinks
  • great hawaiian music
  • cool unknown spot
  • great bands
  • fun crowd
  • great people
  • great otto
  • especially awesome ms meow
  • creative awesome retro dj
  • cool poetry nights
  • great tiki vibe
  • good bartenders
  • big buck hunter
  • amazing parties
  • cool scorpion bowl
  • awesome taste
  • beautiful hot rock
  • cold beer
  • terrible service
  • full bourbon
  • full glass
  • favorite tiki bar
  • great staff
  • dirty atmosphere
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