Gyms Sports Bar

(212) 337-2439

167 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011 40.7425 -74.0006

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

GYMSPORTSBAR.COM

Last updated 11.15.09

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Sports Bars, Gay & Lesbian Bars, Bars & Clubs, Singles Bars, Taverns

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour

Bar & Club Special Features:

After Work, 21 & Over

What People Are Saying About Gyms Sports Bar

Featured Review

Katie Heffernan

Contributor

In Short – Like any other sports bar, this lofty, brick-walled spot on 8th Avenue reels in regulars and passersby with a friendly staff, laid-back vibe and drink deals every day on the mixed drinks, bottled domestics and few drafts offered. While some eyes are genuinely glued to the game on multiple flat screens, other pairs are probably wandering. If you make contact, the pool table or the few leather chairs in the back are for perfect commercial interludes.

Editor's Tips

Save Money:
After-work groups score two-for-one drinks every weekday between 4pm and 9pm. On Monday through Thursday, daily specials continue until close. Saturday and Sunday, there's an extended 1pm to 9pm happy hour.
When to Go:
Call ahead to find out when their next special event is, like the cowboy-loving Rodeo night.
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. The very tall, rather obese, nasal-voiced bartender at this place will not honor the 2-for-1 on the top shelf items, however, he honors it for _some_ of his customers, whether a regular at the bar or not.
  2. Went here with a friend who happened to order a top shelf drink.
  3. The bartenders are cool and so are the drink specials.
  4. They do seem to have good drink specials though, I'll give them that.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Too many other great gay bars to hang out at with a lot less attitude and shady business practices than this place.
service
50.0% positive
  1. The very tall, rather obese, nasal-voiced bartender at this place will not honor the 2-for-1 on the top shelf items, however, he honors it for _some_ of his customers, whether a regular at the bar or not.
  2. The bartenders are cool and so are the drink specials.
3 Star Rating: Average

01/05/10

Nice environment for a gay sportsbar!

by RicanOneLove

The very tall, rather obese, nasal-voiced bartender at this place will not honor the 2-for-1 on the top shelf items, however, he honors it for _some_ of his customers, whether a regular at the bar or not. What I find bothersome is that he is the ONLY bartender that does this! He doesn't realize that his 'select' crowd of customers who he honors the 2-for-1 on top shelf has been passing this info down to the regulars there. As for the rest of the customers there, he tells them that same line, adding in his usual, "that's the way it's been for three years." Whenever I go to Gym Sportsbar, I zoom by him and go to another bartender. I notice that many of this establishment's regulars go past him as well, and it sucks because he was one of the first bartenders working there, and he acts as though he's a major investor in the bar, when visibly, he's not.

  • Pros: Atmosphere, music, conveniently-located in Chelsea
  • Cons: One shady bartender, and the occasional G-Lounge queen...
2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/18/09

Friendly but still "Chelsea" gay

by NYCJ

The bartenders are cool and so are the drink specials. But the times I've gone there, the crowds are very clicky. Sure a random gay drunkard staggers in and wants to strike up a conversation, but I find many of the guys Chelsea-ized and won't communicate with others unless you're a part of their 'group.' I also think the decor could be improved as well. Nonetheless, I like the concept and wish there were more places like this that go outside the stereotypical gay culture.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/31/07

Always A Good Time

by hinnyc

I am at GYM pretty often to meet up with friends and find the staff to be very friendly, accommodating and good looking too. The atmosphere is very laid-back, no attitude whatsoever - a pleasant alternative to other gay bars in NYC where the "trendy scenesters" tend to dominate. It's probably the only bar in the city where you can always find people no matter what time you stop in - whether early evening happy hour or late at night. And chances are you can find someone who fits your type - no matter what it is. The drinks are strong and the prices are right, with specials every night. A lot of the guys are watching the games, but you don't have to be a sports fan to have a great time.

  • Pros: People, Prices, Staff
  • Cons: Can be difficult to navigate when crowded
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/15/07

2 For 1 is only for cheap drinks

by nydave75

Went here with a friend who happened to order a top shelf drink. Got a 2 for 1 for mine, but my friend did not. When we asked the bartender why, he came back with typical Chelsea queen attitude and said "that's the way it's been for 3 years." Apparently you only get their 2 for 1 specials on cheap drinks - so even though you are paying for the first "top shelf" drink, this place screws you out of their special - of which of course now where is it posted that it excludes top shelf... Guess I'm supposed to know that. I've been here for 3 years too and this guy just reminded me why I stay out of Chelsea - attitude, attitude, attitude.... Too many other great gay bars to hang out at with a lot less attitude and shady business practices than this place...

  • Pros: None
  • Cons: Service, False Advertising
3 Star Rating: Average

10/13/07

Sports bar?

by trip23

For a place that calls itself a sports bar it's pretty clueless. I went there to watch an NCAA tournament game during the peak of March Madness and they had tennis on the TV. It took me a while to convince the bartender to put the game on that I wanted to see and then it was only some corner TV. The vibe I get from the crowd is that is older guys probably married closet cases. They do seem to have good drink specials though, I'll give them that.

  • Pros: drink specials
  • Cons: lame bathroom

The Details on Gyms Sports Bar

Place Categories:

  • good drink specials
  • cool bartenders
  • not honor nasalvoiced bartender
  • nice environment
  • great gay
  • order top shelf drink
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