Fat Baby

Through heavy velvet curtains, a slanted ceiling dramatically reveals this multilevel rocker den. In the sexy low-light of two caged chandeliers and scattered candles, a teeming hipster scene flaunts itself from wide chaises in the wood-and-stone sunken lounge and overhead from the pipe-railed balcony of a floating mezzanine. DJs mix party anthems and video projections, but venture deeper downstairs via the almost-hidden stairway to a cavernous second bar with a stage for occasional indie shows.

Editor's Tips

When to Go:: Call ahead to see if there are any live shows scheduled.

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User Reviews (38)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“staff is nice and accommodating, music is awesome (good mix of different things, something for everyone), downstairs is fun for dancing, good looking crowd, drinks arent crazy expensive.” “The music was awesome and the ambiance is a blast.” “We had our own space on the second floor with reasonably-priced bottles, good music, and a fun crowd.” “Plus, the staff are fun and really nice.”
drinks	53.85000228881836% positive	“Needless to say, we were not impressed with the pushy staff and the air of desperation to sell as many drinks as possible.” “great djs, excellent crowd, good drinks, cool space, and no-attitude bartenders.” “this is not a hipster bar, in fact, this isn't even a cool bar.” “Lame bar gives bad vibes.” “this is the place for you if you like getting ripped off from a packed nasty bar.” “staff is nice and accommodating, music is awesome (good mix of different things, something for everyone), downstairs is fun for dancing, good looking crowd, drinks arent crazy expensive.” “The prices for any draft beer being only 6 dollars is really reasonable.” “to make room for the private party (poor partygoers had to put up with the smell of trash) then when asked about it, he says he doesn't care whatsoever because the bar isn't a live music venue.” “reasonably priced drinks, great music!” “Good music, cheap drinks.” “Seriously, look how Evanford goes around rating this bar (I bet they rated ther other bar Spitzers too), nice one.” “Bartender was intentionally as slow as possible and it took forever to get a drink, and the drinks he poured were super weak.” “Cheap drinks, hot staff and a cool juke box.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Friendly bartenders, diverse and attractive crowd, good mix of music (that stays away from recent Top 40 hits, thankfully) and an interesting layout make this a great spot to check out.”
overall	100.0% positive	“The music was also really good gave the place a great vibe.” “This is the best place I've been on the lower east side.” “If there's not a party going on, its a great place to chill during the week with awesomely intimate rockshows downstairs early on ( during the week the downstairs usually closes after the shows end ).” “best place for parties!”
return potential	100.0% positive	“not only did they not regulate the reserved spot (they allowed anyone and everyone in the area), but they didn't even return my full downpayment after my party exceeded the minimum spend by 3 times.”
service	76.91999912261963% positive	“Plus there was cocktail waitress and - for the LES - pretty good service the whole night.” “The real problem, though, aside from the incredibly dirty bathrooms (with severe plumbing and smell problems), the staff is just so rude and unnecessarily pretentious.” “Friendly bartenders, diverse and attractive crowd, good mix of music (that stays away from recent Top 40 hits, thankfully) and an interesting layout make this a great spot to check out.” “great djs, excellent crowd, good drinks, cool space, and no-attitude bartenders.” “Needless to say, we were not impressed with the pushy staff and the air of desperation to sell as many drinks as possible.” “Great sound, staff, soundguy, REAL soundsystem.” “The service wasn't very good- we had to hunt down the waitress to get our mixers and ran out of ice multiple times.” “Plus, the staff are fun and really nice.” “staff is nice and accommodating, music is awesome (good mix of different things, something for everyone), downstairs is fun for dancing, good looking crowd, drinks arent crazy expensive.” “The show at least was really good, but the second it ended, the staff started cleaning up and packing things up.” “awesome music, great service, cheap prices.” “hot bartenders and great music.” “Cheap drinks, hot staff and a cool juke box.”
value	83.33000183105469% positive	“Drinks aren't unbearably expensive, either.” “Good music, cheap drinks.” “staff is nice and accommodating, music is awesome (good mix of different things, something for everyone), downstairs is fun for dancing, good looking crowd, drinks arent crazy expensive.” “The prices for any draft beer being only 6 dollars is really reasonable.” “awesome music, great service, cheap prices.” “200/each.... not a bad price for the neighborhood.”
wait time	50.0% positive	“Bartender was intentionally as slow as possible and it took forever to get a drink, and the drinks he poured were super weak.” “Fat Baby might've been a decent rock club back in the day, but that day is long past.”

08/13/11

DON'T PLAY HERE!!

by CHAOSANDLACE

Shitty to play if you're in a band. You go there to perform for no pay.. and get treated like crap by the security people. Every time I'd go out for a cigarette, there's a different guy at the door.

Like seriously these guys can't stay at their post for more then half an hour to where someone may recognize me? I was getting ready to leave and go back in to get my equipment... and some jerk off in a backwards hat stops me holding his arm in front of me.. sayin' "let go of the door" and giving me an attitude. I said "i need to get my gear. My band just did a show" to which he responded "back away from the door"

Like I need to have some two bit schmuck telling me I can't get my gear where I JUST did a friggin' show.

The guy who let me in earlier wouldn't simply vouch for me having already been in there. There was no stamping or marking system to where I could have presented my wrist or whatever. If you go out the door... and wanna go back in.. better hope it's the same guy who let you in the first time, or you might not be able to get back in. And don't leave without all your possessions on you. I had to have my friends go get my gear..... friggin' ridiculous.

I'm never playing this place again. I've read other people talk about their overzealous bouncers... only to find out how absolutely right they were.

Very haphazard and disorganized just like the booking people.... and the set times wound up being much different then what I was told ahead of time. And the sound guy showed up an hour after the first band was supposed to start.

Bottom line... If you have a band... DON'T play here.

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06/01/11

Sweet Place

by Bmanwe

I showed up last Wendesday and my mind was blown. This place is dope... dim lights around all sexy setup...perfect to meet people. I was hearing some bad ass tunes coming for the underground so I went down to the basement and checked out a sweet band. Great times. Seriously recommend checking this place out.

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05/26/11

Great Music on Wednesday Nights!

by MusicBlogger

I stopped by FatBaby for the first time last Wednesday to check out the scene. I was told that a great band plays every Wednesday night, and as a music blogger, I just needed to check things out. I was extremely impressed. FatBaby has a great vibe, seemingly bringing the NYC lounge and indie music scene to one place. The lights were dim, booths were full, and the music was original, the only kind of music I wanna hear these days. I will be back here again.

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03/08/09

Good place, Used to have comedy

by DocEric

Used to have a comedy night on Tuesday hosted by David The Voice Stein. Real funny guy. Sadly that show is no longer happening but it is still a cool place to go.

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03/02/09

Everything Was Stolen

by nyc5

I went there on saturday and both me and my friends purses were stolen. Someone found my friends stuff around the area and returned it..my stuff is still gone. I looked around the area to see if they dumped my stuff by hers, and instead, I found someone else's purse! (I returned it to the precinct because it had no ID in it) Clearly, this happens a lot at this place. My friends wallet was stolen from there the night before. The management doesn't care so if you go there, don't put your stuff down!

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Katie Heffernan

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Editor's Tips

08/13/11

DON'T PLAY HERE!!

by CHAOSANDLACE

06/01/11

Sweet Place

by Bmanwe

05/26/11

Great Music on Wednesday Nights!

by MusicBlogger

03/08/09

Good place, Used to have comedy

by DocEric

03/02/09

Everything Was Stolen

by nyc5

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