Fontana's Bar

(212) 334-6740

105 Eldridge St
New York, NY 10002 40.7179 -73.9922

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Neighborhoods: Chinatown, Downtown, Bowery

fontanasnyc.com/

Hours:

Monday To Sunday From 02:00 PM To 04:00 AM

Last updated 8.28.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Bars & Clubs, Singles Bars, Community Organizations, Billiards Bars, College Bars

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Alternative Rock, Rock & Pop

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, 21 & Over, Live Music

Minimum Age:

21

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Fontana's Bar

Featured Review

Kara Zuaro

Contributor

In Short – Tall red booths set in storefront windows seem to cater to the see-and-be-seen crowd, but this oddly mixed, three-tier bar on a less-traveled stretch of Eldridge Street feels relatively removed from hipster hoopla. The rockabilly front room fades into a dolled-up rear with zebra-print furniture and a purply pool table. Just to keep weekend crowds guessing, the subterranean performance space, brightened up with tropical palm tree wallpaper and a third drink station, books local bands.

Editor's Tips

Save Money:
Happy hour specials vary, but the house wine, well drinks, and some beers are priced at $3 from 6pm to 8pm.
The Extras:
Local bands can book shows in the basement, and the space is also available for private parties.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “would DEFINITELY recommend it - it's a perfect medium no matter what kinda atmosphere you're into -”
  2. “Terrific atmosphere, awesome staff, good music, CHEAP drinks.”
  3. “Bring a big group of people who want to get drunk in an atmosphere that's heavy on the beer and light on the pretense, sink into a booth by the bar or gather 'round one of the flip cup tables in back.”
  4. “I've been to a lot of different places, but the one thing about Fontana's is that it's hip and trendy, not too crowded, a great social scene (w/ great music and awesome artwork), and just plain out fun.”
  5. “It's a huge place with 3 levels yet somehow still has a cozy, warm atmosphere.”
  6. “thought it was a good experience, fun place to hang.”
  7. “love this bar and have always had a lot of fun there.”
  8. “Amazing artwork, great jukebox, cool atmosphere.”
drinks
78.94999980926514% positive
  1. “Pool table, great drink makers.”
  2. “Cool new bar!”
  3. “Tne bands were terrific, the sound good, and the bar tender was friendly and with it”
  4. “guess it's standard knowledge to avoid the crowds on weekends in the city, but I was expecting a chill rock and roll bar, but instead I got the lame crowd whom probably didn't even realize the Ramones were playing they were so busy running into people w”
  5. “had a huge mix of different types of people on my guest list and all of them kept going on and on about how they loved this bar.”
  6. “Bring a big group of people who want to get drunk in an atmosphere that's heavy on the beer and light on the pretense, sink into a booth by the bar or gather 'round one of the flip cup tables in back.”
  7. “More then the bar which was fine, Im recommending the band I saw there that was great.”
  8. “This bar was laughably lame.”
  9. “Normally I would say a huge bar ain't my cup of tea, but this place is actually a collection of reasonable spaces I can feel safe in.”
  10. “love this bar and have always had a lot of fun there.”
  11. “Terrific atmosphere, awesome staff, good music, CHEAP drinks.”
  12. “Really sweet bartenders, (which is so unusual in this part of town), great dj, reasonably price drinks.”
  13. “The vibe is cool, the wait staff are great and the drinks just keep on flowing.”
  14. “The staff is rude, the bar is dark, there's ONE bathroom, the drinks are miserable.”
  15. “Most of the crowd were guys in button down shirts and carbon copy party girls, but the biggest turn off was the incredibly rude bartender (he moaned and whined, audibly, when he had to get a beer for me after he got one for my friend- actually he had the ”
  16. “Other than that the prices of drinks are a bit steep but I guess the good music out weighs that.”
  17. “The bar is beautiful and there's cool artwork everywhere.”
  18. “This is a great bar, cool space, friendly bartenders.”
  19. “cool, huge bar”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “thought it was a good experience, fun place to hang.”
  2. “There is nothing good about this place.”
service
72.7299976348877% positive
  1. “Terrific atmosphere, awesome staff, good music, CHEAP drinks.”
  2. “guess it's standard knowledge to avoid the crowds on weekends in the city, but I was expecting a chill rock and roll bar, but instead I got the lame crowd whom probably didn't even realize the Ramones were playing they were so busy running into people w”
  3. “The bartenders are cool and friendly and the manager will sit down and chat with you too.”
  4. “Really sweet bartenders, (which is so unusual in this part of town), great dj, reasonably price drinks.”
  5. “Tne bands were terrific, the sound good, and the bar tender was friendly and with it”
  6. “This is a great bar, cool space, friendly bartenders.”
  7. “had a huge mix of different types of people on my guest list and all of them kept going on and on about how they loved this bar.”
  8. “Bring a big group of people who want to get drunk in an atmosphere that's heavy on the beer and light on the pretense, sink into a booth by the bar or gather 'round one of the flip cup tables in back.”
  9. “The vibe is cool, the wait staff are great and the drinks just keep on flowing.”
  10. “The staff is rude, the bar is dark, there's ONE bathroom, the drinks are miserable.”
  11. “Most of the crowd were guys in button down shirts and carbon copy party girls, but the biggest turn off was the incredibly rude bartender (he moaned and whined, audibly, when he had to get a beer for me after he got one for my friend- actually he had the ”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Really sweet bartenders, (which is so unusual in this part of town), great dj, reasonably price drinks.”
  2. “So far I've seen Carnivore and Early Man at this huge place”
  3. “It's a huge place with 3 levels yet somehow still has a cozy, warm atmosphere.”
  4. “had a huge mix of different types of people on my guest list and all of them kept going on and on about how they loved this bar.”
  5. “Other than that the prices of drinks are a bit steep but I guess the good music out weighs that.”
  6. “Normally I would say a huge bar ain't my cup of tea, but this place is actually a collection of reasonable spaces I can feel safe in.”
  7. “cool, huge bar”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/02/10

Best 30th birthday

by Ryan Huban at Citysearch

I was looking for a venue that could accommodate a big group for a 30th birthday. Fontana's was PERFECT! Their event planner was extremely helpful and very friendly in setting up the party and reserving our tables. Everything was great, from the service to the music. And the space was way bigger than I expected, making it very comfortable for our large guest list. Definitely consider throwing your parties here -you won't be disappointed!

  • Pros: Big space, accommodating staff
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/04/09

Amazing

by frednwilma at Citysearch

I went to a friend's birthday party here and am so glad I did. Really sweet bartenders, (which is so unusual in this part of town), great dj, reasonably price drinks. I'll definitely return.

  • Pros: Bartender, music, atmosphere
  • Cons: absolutely none!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/12/09

Cool Bar, Excellent Staff, Live Karaoke?!!!

by BKaiser at Citysearch

Karaoke with a kick-ass live band. Need I say more?

Yes. I owe this bar my life. These guys totally saved me from uncertain doom and showed me a great time in the process.

I was in NY for a business trip, out on a date, the girl split, I went after her, leaving my laptop behind. Lost, running down the streets in china town, I somehow made it back. Figuring that the New York Rock-n-Rollers that frequent the joint would gladly take my new MacBook Pro off of my hands, I was freaking out.

The bouncer at the door graciously calmed me down, assuring me that it would all be cool, the bartender had already stowed my laptop in the office for safe keeping. I had to do something to thank the staff, especially those that wouldn't let me buy them drinks, and the bartender asked that I write a review.

These guys freaking rock. I will definitely go back next time I'm in town.

  • Pros: Excellent Service, Friendly Staff
  • Cons: None.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/29/08

This is a great bar, cool space, friendly bartenders.

by tim30 at Citysearch

I love this bar and have always had a lot of fun there. Perhaps the last reviewer is new to New York, because $7 for a vodka tonic is NOT expensive, and there will always be a line for the bathroom on a Friday or Sat night no matter where you go. Fontanas is a great time.

  • Pros: Great place to party and hang out
  • Cons: None
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/20/08

Great music, always a good time but the bathroom situation...

by liverpoollover at Citysearch

I've been going there for a few years now and have a great time all the time but they just need to have some more bathrooms on the upper floors. There are 3 upstairs and when there are a few hundred people there on a Saturday night... that's not a good time! As there is 1 women's and 1 men's bathroom downstairs, you usually have to pay to get down there, so those aren't an option too often. Other than that the prices of drinks are a bit steep but I guess the good music out weighs that. $7 for Vodka and club soda is a lot of money!

  • Pros: Music!!!!! Atmosphere! Friendly bartenders!
  • Cons: Lack of bathrooms and price of drinks

The Details on Fontana's Bar

Place Categories:

  • huge new bar
  • friendly bartenders
  • great music
  • cool amazing artwork
  • terrific warm atmosphere
  • cool space
  • great wait staff
  • rude staff
  • great spot
  • terrific tne bands
  • great downstairs music room
  • great upstairs balcony
  • great social scene
  • cool vibe
  • good nothing
  • recommending im
  • impressed very
  • terrible bouncers
  • great dj
  • lame crowd
  • laughably lame bar
  • perfect medium
  • great jukebox
  • good sound
  • huge place