124 Old Rabbit Club
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 254-0575
- Cross Street:
- Minetta Lane
- Directions:
- A, C, E; B, D; F, V at W 4th St
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-4am
Editorial Review for 124 Old Rabbit Club – by Joshua M. Bernstein
In Short
Don't be fooled by the Ethiopian restaurant, which also sports a 124 MacDougal Street address; search for an unmarked black door, slink downstairs and ring the buzzer to enter this shadowy, Euro-beer speakeasy. Barely larger than a subway car, the space--with its tin ceilings, rough brick walls and votives encased in broken bottles--creates a scene that's one part sultry, one part "Hostel" (the movie). But the mood is lightened by the shrine surrounding Brussels' famous peeing-boy statue, which adorns the bar's bathroom.
Hits: You'll finally be able to enjoy stupendous suds in a setting that's not overrun with meatheads singing along to ear-splitting Bon Jovi songs--even in the middle of NYU territory.
Misses: Without a single offering on tap and most bottles flirting with a $10 minimum price tag, you might wonder if Rabbit's just a well-executed gambit to drain your wallet.
(Photo by Randy Reddig, ydnar.com)
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Food ServedTo combat the high-strength Belgian ales, nab a pretzel-bread sandwich crammed with ham and camembert ($10), sided with chips and pickles.
What to DrinkEarly birds can nab a seat at the brass bar beside fellow suds lovers and sample well-curated wines and quaffs such as Belgium's monk-made Orval ale and Germany's crisp Pinkus pilsner.
Know Before You Go124 Old Rabbit Club is cash only, so hit one of MacDougal Street's many ATMs on the way.
Fun FactThis subterranean spot once housed the West Village annex to the Bourgeois Pig wine bar.
User Reviews for 124 Old Rabbit Club
04/29/2008 Posted by drewbushong
'Best beers' bar in the world...? "Best beer Bar"? either way we had a frging awesome time. The music's awesome (played new stuff 'long blondes' and 'MGMT' with some classic 'danzig' and even a biggie smalls freestyle thrown in. amazing!!? ). The bartender knows his beer and the beer is good. They carry a huge amount of European craft beers, some crazy beers (oerbier) and some amazing (hoppy Otterhead) all of which were recomended and really good. They also have some funny flavored potato chips (ketchup, buffalo wing). We had plenty of room at the bar but they have a pretty cool booth in the back thats pretty dark and shady. VIP style. The peeing belgian boy shrine in the bathroom is a little crazy but beautifully done. it feels like a real NY bar..rare these days. Really appreciate this place.
Pros: NY Beauty. Cool Music. Rare and Tasty Beers. Hidden.
Cons: The horrible street its on.
04/03/2008 Posted by dispoto2
The beer list is awesome, and the owner/bartender knows his product. The decor has a very cool, 1920s speakeasy vibe. You even have to ring the buzzer to enter. It is reeeally super dark inside, and the music playing is mostly post-punk type stuff. If you stick around at prime party hour (Fri & Sat nights), the place fills up with 20-something, wannabe hipsters who yell and say "like" every other word. And call ahead if you are counting on a pretzel bread sandwich, because some days the bread guy doesn't deliver and there is no food--and the owner refuses to buy any other bread than the German pretzel bread which is imported from Germany. Go early if you want to have a seat and a conversation. Highly recommend the chocolate stout and the banana bread beer! The sour red beer pairs beautifully with the pretzel bread sandwiches.
Pros: Amazing beer list and sandwiches; throwback, speakeasy vibe
Cons: Expensive, inconsistent service and crowds
