Identity Bar & Lounge

(212) 995-8889

511 East 6th St (nr. Ave. A)
New York, NY 10009 40.725361 -73.983701

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Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown

Hours:

Mon-Fri, 3pm-4am

Sat-Sun, 6pm-4am

Last updated 4.14.11

Category:

Bars & Clubs, Singles Bars, Lounges

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Martinis, Private Rooms, Darts, Dance Floor, Happy Hour, Mojitos, Bar Menu

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, Romantic Nightlife, 21 & Over, Specialty Cocktails, After Work, Date Spot, Private Parties

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Identity Bar & Lounge

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Velvet curtains in the window of this club foreshadow a swanky scene, but the lack of a line outside and the spread-out crowd within hint that this East Village establishment flies under the radar. The long upstairs bar and walls lined with Dali-esque hip-hop artwork provide a festive setting for drinking up before getting down. Couples grind to the DJ's rap tunes on the downstairs dance floor or observe from reserved sideline tables.

Editor's Tips

On the Menu:
A bar menu and specialty cocktail list are served up all day and all night.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Small but cozy and nice atmosphere.”
  2. “This is a fun bar with a unique environment.”
  3. “couple of Saturdays ago my friends and I came early and ate a good meal at a couple of the upstairs tables, then went downstairs and danced in a fun mob of people until two.”
  4. “The upstairs is small enough that my crowd of 25 could be comfortable and intimate with each other without feeling like we were on top of each other.”
  5. “The atmosphere makes it both a great place to talk and hang out as well as get down on the dance floor.”
  6. “Great music, fun crowd, and a great hip-hop dj.”
  7. “During the week I sometimes come to this place for a relaxed drink, with good music (the genre varies depending on the night) played at a volume that allows conversation and fun stuff on the televisions ("Reservoir Dogs", a boxing match, etc.).”
drinks
93.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Met a lot of great people that night, and there were no sketchy guys (a rarity in the usual bar scene.”
  2. “The manager was incredibly friendly and made killer drinks all night long!”
  3. “Identity is by far my favorite bar in NYC.”
  4. “Great bar in lower east side.”
  5. “The drinks are good, the people are always friendly there.”
  6. “The drinks were terrible: how hard can it be to make Martinis?”
  7. “Great food, drinks and service.”
  8. “During the week I sometimes come to this place for a relaxed drink, with good music (the genre varies depending on the night) played at a volume that allows conversation and fun stuff on the televisions ("Reservoir Dogs", a boxing match, etc.).”
  9. “The downstairs was a perfect space for everyone to dance and scatter, whilst the upstairs bar provided even more room for all the mayhem!”
  10. “Great drinks, good looking people, killer music!”
  11. “best bar in East Village”
  12. “This is a fun bar with a unique environment.”
  13. “love this bar and all that it offers.”
  14. “drinks reasonably priced and good looking crowd, went again on Halloween, hot looking costumes, heard they have a pool table downstairs, they must roll it away on the weekends, will definitely try again.”
  15. “Cool bar, very welcoming.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “It could be a decent spot to watch games on Sunday but the food needs work.”
  2. “couple of Saturdays ago my friends and I came early and ate a good meal at a couple of the upstairs tables, then went downstairs and danced in a fun mob of people until two.”
  3. “Great food, drinks and service.”
menu variety
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “If you love music, hip hop old and new, wicked mixing, ridiculous diverse crowds and super chill fast bartenders - then you might want to throw your next get together here!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The atmosphere makes it both a great place to talk and hang out as well as get down on the dance floor.”
  2. “It is also a great place to meet new people.”
service
93.33000183105469% positive
  1. “The owners are really cool and the people looked good.”
  2. “It is also a great place to meet new people.”
  3. “It is inviting and the bartenders and owners are very friendly.”
  4. “couple of Saturdays ago my friends and I came early and ate a good meal at a couple of the upstairs tables, then went downstairs and danced in a fun mob of people until two.”
  5. “The staff there are awesome--Lawrence and Laurie will always make sure that you're having a good time.”
  6. “If you love music, hip hop old and new, wicked mixing, ridiculous diverse crowds and super chill fast bartenders - then you might want to throw your next get together here!”
  7. “Great drinks, good looking people, killer music!”
  8. “The drinks are good, the people are always friendly there.”
  9. “The staff is friendly.”
  10. “Great food, drinks and service.”
  11. “Met a lot of great people that night, and there were no sketchy guys (a rarity in the usual bar scene.”
  12. “had reserved a table in advances and the service was very good.”
  13. “Lori - one of the best bartenders in NYC - hands down.”
  14. “The bartender was this awesome quirky pierced chick (who's name I forgot so please forgive me if you're reading this) with a great and welcoming personality.”
  15. “The nasty bartender hastily grabbed the bottle of grey goose and started pouring it in, from about 2 feet away (what was she reenacting a scene from Cocktail?)”
  16. “NEED great music and personable bartenders and I got that at Identity!”
  17. “some girlfriends and i came here on a saturday night, the music was great and we ended up having a great time talking to the hot blond bartender.”
  18. “The manager was incredibly friendly and made killer drinks all night long!”
  19. “The artwork changes, which always leads to interesting conversations, and with the new TVs and sports PPV, people of all interests seem to go there.”
  20. “Many people enjoy this hot spot for its crowd and music.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “The manager was incredibly friendly and made killer drinks all night long!”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/26/11

Go to physical therapy next day

by pypy89 at Citysearch

I went here for my mom's birthday and it was like the best. I had reserved a table in advances and the service was very good. The music was ok. My mom really love it, she had to go to physical therapy next day.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

02/21/11

Really quiet on a saturday night

by looni at Citysearch

Arrived there at 1am on a saturday night and it was stonedead.

One DJ playing with one table occupied and an empty bar.

The music wasnt awesome and the interior was nothing special.

Misleading average grade of the reviews.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/12/10

NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE BUT HOPIN ITS FUN

by BRITBRAT at Citysearch

I BEEN CHECKIN IDENTITY LOUNGE/ BAR OUT ONLINE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS NOW IM ACTUALLY HAVIN MY 21ST GET TOGETHER HERE ....I DONT KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE BUT FROM READIN SUM OF THESE REVIEW I THINK I WILL HAVE FUN N ENJOY MYSELF....THEY ONLY PROBLEM IM AFRAID OF IS THE MUSIC BECUZ IMMA PARTY GIRL N I LOVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC BUT IM AFRAID THAT THEY PROBABLY WONT HAVE MY TASTE IN CERTAIN MUSIC LIKE REGGAE...I LIKE OLD SKOOL REGGAE N NEW SKOOL REGGAE LIKE VYBZ KARTEL,MOVADO,BEENIE MAN,JAH VINCI,JAH CURE U KNOW THE BANGIN ARTIST...ALSO HIP HOP LIKE RICK ROSS ,JAY Z ,DRAKE U KNOW N SO ON ...BUT IM WORRIED ONLY BECUZ I KNOW THESE R THE TYPE OF MUSIC THAT WILL GET PEOPLE OUT THERE SITS N ON THE DANCE FLOOR N I WONT EVERYONE THAT I INVITE TO ENJOY THERE TIME THERE WIT ME N NOT BE BORED SITIN DOWN CUZ I ONLY TIRN 21 ONCE N I BEEN WAITIN FOR THIS DAY FOREVER BUT FROM WAT IM READIN EVERYTHING ELSE SEEM PREFECT N THE PICS R BEAUTIFUL THE PLACE LOOKS NICE JUS CANT WAIT TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING TURNS OUT BUT AFTER MY 21ST BDAY GET TOGETHER I WILL LET U GUYS KNOW HOW IT TURNED OUT SO STAY TUNED LOL

4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/08/10

cool cool place

by StCurtin at Citysearch

chill atmosphere. good prices. had a great time with my friends here!!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/14/09

best bar in East Village

by bdawgs at Citysearch

what a special place..this bar has it all.. I love this bar and all that it offers..

  • Pros: great crowd , great friends, a must see
  • Cons: should be a franchise

The Details on Identity Bar & Lounge

Place Categories:

  • great killer music
  • favorite bar
  • great drinks
  • good many people
  • great personable bartenders
  • comfortable fun crowd
  • like dance floor downstairs
  • perfect space
  • great personality
  • cool spot
  • awesome staff
  • nice atmosphere
  • sucked music
  • really cool owners
  • awesome quirky pierced chick
  • interesting conversations
  • incredibly friendly manager
  • great hiphop
  • best nyes
  • great dj
  • good meal
  • nasty bartender
  • great place
  • great service
  • best 25th bday