(212) 228-8580

126 First Ave (nr. St. Marks Pl.)
New York, NY 10009 40.7273 -73.9854

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

LUNASABAR.COM

Hours:

Mon-Fri 2pm-4am

Sat-Sun 11:30am-4am

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants , Bars & Pubs , Neighborhood Bars

Payment Methods:

American Express , Visa , Discover , MasterCard

Bar & Club Special Features:

Outdoor Seating

Smoking Permitted:

In back patio

What People Are Saying About Lunasa

Featured Review

Kara Zuaro

Contributor

In Short – It's a pub of a different color: That is, muted Pottery Barn hues inform the decor, evading the typical dark mahogany and shamrock green. Large street-side windows shed light on cozy tables as laid-back patrons snack on modern bar fare--spring rolls, grilled pizza and paninis. A backyard patio beckons those who enjoy the time-honored practice of smoking cigarettes with their Guinness, and an Irish compression system imported from the old country ensures perfect pints. – +

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Happy hour runs from 4pm to 7pm on weekdays, with two-for-one drink specials and half-price appetizers.
ambiance
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. The crowd is also good: chilled, but lots of fun.
  2. From the friendly staff to the tasty food, its my favourite bar in the East Village, good for games during the day (where the best Irish breakfast is found this side of Mayo) even better at night when the fun really begins.
  3. The music was decent, atmosphere great, and the service was fantastic.
  4. Lunasa's cool, unaffected atmosphere is possibly a direct result of its great bar staff.
  5. As james said this is a place where young meets old hot meets cold and where the staff are having as much fun as the customers.
  6. The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is great.
  7. the selection of beers is excellent, the staff is always friendly, the happy hour is awesome (2-for-1 drinks on wkdays from 4-7pm), the garden is perfect for the summer, the food is always good (i recommend the calamari and the quesadillas), atmosphere is
  8. The atmosphere was very laid back, but the facility itself was extremely clean and polished.
  9. The music is always fun, lots of classics and european bands that have yet to come to the US.
  10. This place has great atmosphere, & the staff are very friendly, but I was really disappointed in the quality of the service.
  11. Great bar, good people, friendly staff, excellent atmosphere, good music--just what you're looking for in the East Village to relax and have a good time.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Great spot for a few drinks and a bite to eat
  2. Now, that's a good bar!
  3. As a matter of fact, I would say that it is some of the best bar food around.
  4. The food is delicious and far beyond your typical bar fare.
  5. If ever you find yourself down the East Village, I highly recommend Lunasa whether for food, drinks, or preferably both!
  6. This bar is undoubtedly a gem in a city of Irish pubs.
  7. Great bar, good people, friendly staff, excellent atmosphere, good music--just what you're looking for in the East Village to relax and have a good time.
  8. Lunasa's cool, unaffected atmosphere is possibly a direct result of its great bar staff.
  9. No real scene but a decent spot to grab a beer with some buddies when you just want to chill.
  10. can go to the bar for dinner after work, a night out with friends, to watch my favorite team play, and I love stopping by for one more drink before the end of the night!
  11. the tunes were great, the drinks were great, and to top it all off it wasn't too stressful on my wallet.
  12. Lunasa is the perfect local bar!
  13. it was a great bar with what must be the friendliest staff i've ever encountered in the city, and no doubt the best guinness i've ever had in the states (not to mention most of the places i visited when i was in ireland).
  14. Being a beer drinker, the fact that draft beers (all 11 of them) are $3 between 4 and 7 pm makes for a great after work bar to meet up with friends (who can partake in the cheap beer, wine or well drinks).
  15. 3$ beers (good quality beer approx.
  16. Natalie was so attentive- she made sure everyone in our group was never without a drink.
  17. The drinks are very reasonable and the food is delish.
  18. Just enjoyed one of the best birthdays I've ever had at this bar.
  19. Lunasa is especially good for their happy hour: half price drinks and appetizers.
  20. .. with exposed brick, candles on the nice long wood bar, tables in the front and back, and a nice patio out back.
  21. .. the perfect bar for happy hour.
  22. Lunasa is my favorite local bar.
  23. Best Irish bar in Manhattan!
  24. the selection of beers is excellent, the staff is always friendly, the happy hour is awesome (2-for-1 drinks on wkdays from 4-7pm), the garden is perfect for the summer, the food is always good (i recommend the calamari and the quesadillas), atmosphere is
  25. Great drinks, friendly staff, and they have Connect Four!
  26. You need a place that has a good vibe, a quaint feel, not too highbrow, but not where you are walking in puddles of beer.
  27. LOVE this bar!
  28. GREAT SERVICE, AMAZING PRICES, and me sitting at the bar half the time :)
  29. The bar tender was great, made us some delicious shots.
  30. Fantastic happy hour and great all round bar!
  31. (I especially like the exposed brick wall behind the bar).
  32. The bartender was attentive and knew how to pour a beer.
  33. about a week ago some buddies of mine and i decided to get together for drinks after work on a friday, and i remembered that a couple of friends had recommended this place so we checked it out.
  34. From the friendly staff to the tasty food, its my favourite bar in the East Village, good for games during the day (where the best Irish breakfast is found this side of Mayo) even better at night when the fun really begins.
  35. great bar - cheap drinks, lovely staff, fab garden
  36. It has that neighbourhood feel, very friendly staff and excellent bar cuisine!
food quality
86.96000099182129% positive
  1. The food is delicious and far beyond your typical bar fare.
  2. Great food and service always and the best happy hour in the area.
  3. The owners and staff are just great, the food is good, and TV's always have something good on.
  4. the selection of beers is excellent, the staff is always friendly, the happy hour is awesome (2-for-1 drinks on wkdays from 4-7pm), the garden is perfect for the summer, the food is always good (i recommend the calamari and the quesadillas), atmosphere is
  5. The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is great.
  6. The bar tender was great, made us some delicious shots.
  7. Portions are very generous (almost a meal in themselves) and the quality is great.
  8. perfect pub, great food and great happy hour
  9. The drinks are very reasonable and the food is delish.
  10. I've tried some really weird food - beetles, larva, intestine, bees, chicken feet, scorpian - there is nothing I won't eat.
  11. It has that neighbourhood feel, very friendly staff and excellent bar cuisine!
  12. If ever you find yourself down the East Village, I highly recommend Lunasa whether for food, drinks, or preferably both!
  13. When in need of a good burger, look no further than Lunasa: one of the best cheeseburgers in NYC (a true opinion amongst my friends and I).
  14. The food is delicious, consistent and a steal.
  15. The happy hour is unbelievable, the food is great (try the burger), and the rest of staff make it always worth coming in.
  16. The outdoor garden was very relaxing and the food was very good.
  17. My friend's eggs were cold and tasted like they had been reheated in the microwave, the "hash brown" potatos were frozen on the inside.
  18. The quality of food is unbeatable: expect traditional pub favorites with a chic twist at great prices.
  19. which equates to about $3.50 for amazing quesadillas, calamari, hummus/pita, buffalo wings, spring rolls, etc.
  20. It was the most disgusting meal I've ever experienced.
  21. From the friendly staff to the tasty food, its my favourite bar in the East Village, good for games during the day (where the best Irish breakfast is found this side of Mayo) even better at night when the fun really begins.
  22. As a matter of fact, I would say that it is some of the best bar food around.
  23. The burgers are AMAZING (I say better than the famous burgers at Paul's down the road - an EV institution), the pannini's are gourmet in style and taste and the apps!
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. For the soccer games (or indeed any sport you care to watch) the menu is varied and the staff are always friendly and attentive.
  2. the selection of beers is excellent, the staff is always friendly, the happy hour is awesome (2-for-1 drinks on wkdays from 4-7pm), the garden is perfect for the summer, the food is always good (i recommend the calamari and the quesadillas), atmosphere is
  3. They play a wide selection of music, at a good level (nice to be able to talk!)
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Even in NYC where there are a load of places to get a good Irish breakfast, this place stands out - top notch!
  2. What a great place!
service
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. Scott, the bartender, is the best around.
  2. it was a great bar with what must be the friendliest staff i've ever encountered in the city, and no doubt the best guinness i've ever had in the states (not to mention most of the places i visited when i was in ireland).
  3. Great drinks, friendly staff, and they have Connect Four!
  4. For the soccer games (or indeed any sport you care to watch) the menu is varied and the staff are always friendly and attentive.
  5. The space is beautiful, the bartender, Pat, is a saint and the bouncer was tough but as sweet as cotton candy.
  6. Our waitress was super nice and accommodating, but obviously overworked.
  7. Having said that, I think everyone had a good time & the staff were very friendly - just seemed a bit disorganized with slow & not-very-attentive service.
  8. threw a surprise party for a friend here, the music was great and the service was amazing.
  9. The other bartenders are great too, but Scott is there most afternoons.
  10. great bar - cheap drinks, lovely staff, fab garden
  11. This place has great atmosphere, & the staff are very friendly, but I was really disappointed in the quality of the service.
  12. Natalie was so attentive- she made sure everyone in our group was never without a drink.
  13. The waitresses were so helpful and accommodating.
  14. The music was decent, atmosphere great, and the service was fantastic.
  15. The staff and other patrons are casually friendly.
  16. Great food and service always and the best happy hour in the area.
  17. The happy hour is unbelievable, the food is great (try the burger), and the rest of staff make it always worth coming in.
  18. Not great service.
  19. From the friendly staff to the tasty food, its my favourite bar in the East Village, good for games during the day (where the best Irish breakfast is found this side of Mayo) even better at night when the fun really begins.
  20. The bartender, Scott, is honestly the best bartender I have met
  21. It can get pretty packed on weekends, but the crowd is always friendly and relaxed.
  22. Our waitress, Michelle, was fabulous!
  23. Nice service, friendly crowd, overworked staff
  24. the selection of beers is excellent, the staff is always friendly, the happy hour is awesome (2-for-1 drinks on wkdays from 4-7pm), the garden is perfect for the summer, the food is always good (i recommend the calamari and the quesadillas), atmosphere is
  25. As james said this is a place where young meets old hot meets cold and where the staff are having as much fun as the customers.
  26. It has that neighbourhood feel, very friendly staff and excellent bar cuisine!
  27. The owners and staff are just great, the food is good, and TV's always have something good on.
  28. Went to this place on a crowded hot friday night amazing atmospher and the hottest bartender i have ever seen in my life (james).
  29. The bartender was attentive and knew how to pour a beer.
  30. Good bartender who looks out for you and takes care of you.
  31. From the minute I called (which was only a few days before) Scott (a bartender) was so helpful and friendly.
  32. Great music and cool staff.
  33. was going to say he was one of the nicest bartenders that i've encountered in the city, but that would be a disservice to him -- he is actually just a truly nice person who provided great service.
  34. . . . 3 hrs later, we were still sitting there, enjoying perfect pints of guinness, martinis and good conversation w/a most courteous, pleasant bartender named gavin.
  35. Great bar, good people, friendly staff, excellent atmosphere, good music--just what you're looking for in the East Village to relax and have a good time.
  36. Lunasa's cool, unaffected atmosphere is possibly a direct result of its great bar staff.
value
100.0% positive
  1. Portions are very generous (almost a meal in themselves) and the quality is great.
  2. Being a beer drinker, the fact that draft beers (all 11 of them) are $3 between 4 and 7 pm makes for a great after work bar to meet up with friends (who can partake in the cheap beer, wine or well drinks).
  3. The happy hour is unbelievable, the food is great (try the burger), and the rest of staff make it always worth coming in.
  4. Last summer I had a farewell party for my sister and it was a huge success!
  5. Lunasa is especially good for their happy hour: half price drinks and appetizers.
  6. The quality of food is unbeatable: expect traditional pub favorites with a chic twist at great prices.
  7. Three huge TV screens (basketball, when I was there).
  8. great bar - cheap drinks, lovely staff, fab garden
  9. At $9 normally, I still consider them good value (the number of times at other places I have paid more than this for a small bowl of what seems like 15 pieces of chewy calamari...)
wait time
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. From the minute I called (which was only a few days before) Scott (a bartender) was so helpful and friendly.
  2. .. with exposed brick, candles on the nice long wood bar, tables in the front and back, and a nice patio out back.
  3. Having said that, I think everyone had a good time & the staff were very friendly - just seemed a bit disorganized with slow & not-very-attentive service.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/20/09

Lunasa is my favorite local bar....hands down!

by ptrk at Citysearch

I live in the East Village and Lunasa is by far my favorite local spot. Scott, the bartender, is the best around. The happy hour is unbelievable, the food is great (try the burger), and the rest of staff make it always worth coming in.

Don't get me wrong....there are many, many great spots in this neighborhood of great spots but when I want to feel welcome and enjoy myself I choose Lunasa. You can also bring a large group of friends as there are many large tables and a garden out back.

Probably should have kept this to myself since I don't want it to be too crowded but this place is definitely worth a visit.

  • Pros: great staff, great customers, always fun
  • Cons: the amazing happy hour means it can get crowded
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/20/09

Lunasa is the perfect local bar!

by chicalnyc at Citysearch

Lunasa became my local bar the day it opened more than 5 years ago and has continued to exceed my expectations everyday since. The staff are my favorite part. The atmosphere is great any night of the week. I can go to the bar for dinner after work, a night out with friends, to watch my favorite team play, and I love stopping by for one more drink before the end of the night!

I bring all of my out of town guests to Lunasa too because they make everyone feel welcome whether you are a regular or in for your first time!

You can't go wrong in a place where everyone knows your name and feels like family!

  • Pros: The chilled draft beer and chicken caesar salad and Irish breakfast
  • Cons: none!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/19/08

great bar - cheap drinks, lovely staff, fab garden

by ash276 at Citysearch

i've been going to lunasa for years and have celebrated many a milestone here - birthdays, farewell parties, welcome-back parties, etc and always have a great time. the selection of beers is excellent, the staff is always friendly, the happy hour is awesome (2-for-1 drinks on wkdays from 4-7pm), the garden is perfect for the summer, the food is always good (i recommend the calamari and the quesadillas), atmosphere is relaxed. lunasa is one of my east village faves! i highly recommend it

  • Pros: garden, great happy hour, friendly atmosphere
4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/14/08

Nice service, friendly crowd, overworked staff

by drink_club1 at Citysearch

At first, it looks a bit out of place in the East Village. Three huge TV screens (basketball, when I was there). Some tables full of really loud jocks. High ceilings. Everything new. It seems like it should be on Third Avenue in the 30s. Actually, it's better than that. The staff and other patrons are casually friendly. We even merged tables as the night went on. The food was nothing special, but not bad either. The calamari was especially non-greasy. Our waitress was super nice and accommodating, but obviously overworked. It seemed as if she was the only one taking care of the place. If we wanted more beer, or something to eat, we had to get up, walk around until we found her, ask her to come to our table so we could order. Once there, she was really helpful, and friendly. I hope the place is successful enough for them to hire another server. They need it. --Drink Club NYC is a roving group of NYC drinkers, join us!

  • Pros: friendly patrons, friendly staff,
  • Cons: tough to find the waitress
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/31/08

A liitle bit of fun...all the ime...

by gingerhurler at Citysearch

When i was new to New York, I was directed here by a friend of a friend and absouletly loved it. From the friendly staff to the tasty food, its my favourite bar in the East Village, good for games during the day (where the best Irish breakfast is found this side of Mayo) even better at night when the fun really begins. Definitetly worth a visit, from anyone who is a New York lifer to a one time only weekender

The Details on Lunasa

Place Categories:

  • great bar food
  • friendly bar staff
  • great irish bar
  • great service
  • best happy hour
  • best bartender
  • love place
  • great local spot
  • especially good lunasa
  • great atmosphere
  • always fun music
  • famous burgers
  • fabulous waitress
  • always friendly crowd
  • helpful scott
  • great drinks
  • really good tunes
  • favorite local bar
  • polished facility
  • best cheeseburger
  • nice tables
  • great other bartenders
  • great please
  • great amazing prices
  • cold eggs

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