Swift
(212) 227-9438
34 E 4TH St
New York,
NY
10003
40.7274
-73.9925
Neighborhoods: Downtown, NoHo
What People Are Saying About Swift
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
Swift stands out in the East Village as an old-time pub. The church-pew booths, wall mural and antiqued tables and bars all pay homage to Irish literary great Jonathan Swift. Live music (on a sophisticated sound system) is an occasional feature, but there's no stage, so when musicians appear, they're part of the crowd--literally. Swift is swank, extremely friendly and pours an excellent pint of Guinness.Though crowds and love-vibes are in abundance on the weekends, Swift offers an otherwise relaxed night out on the town.
User Reviews
sessionhound
November 19, 2008
After many years of visiting Irish music "sessions" around the city, I find that Swift is a welcoming session with good musicians(Eamon O'Leary and Chris Layer usually host) and a good pint to quench your thurst: be it for good Irish Music or good Irish stout! The Swift session on Tuesdays, like fiddler, Tony DeMarco's Thursday session at Paddy Reilly's has a few microphones and some sound, but generally all the musicians can be heard, and the session is piped to the front bar, so you are sure not to miss a note of the fine trad music. Take it from this "local", Swift is an excellent place to pass a Tuesday night or any night over an excellent pint of fresh stout!
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Anonymous
November 08, 2008
If you are looking for a great neighborhood bar to hang out with your friends, this is a good stop. The drinks are good, there's plenty of room (for a bar) and it's in a great area.
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fiddlerchick
March 21, 2008
Having been told about the 'session' on a Tuesday night by a New York Friend, I went along with him to the Swift with my fiddle to join in. That's what I think a session is. I was wrong. I arrived - the sound engineer was really nice and welcoming. The guitarist was friendly, and the banjo player was too. The fiddler wasn't. But the general vibe was absolutely of a gig. One where outsiders were not welcome. The fiddle player would not even speak to me! She just carried on regardless. This is fine - I have no problem at all with people doing a gig if that's what it is advertised as. I like going to them. I respect other musicians enough not to tread on toes and offend by trying to join in. But it's supposed to be a session. It's not - so please stop advertising it as one. At one point a guy asked if his band who were over from Ireland for St Patrick's night could do a couple of numbers. The response was awesome in it's rudeness. He was basically told 'No' straight off. If he had been honestly and nicely told by the band that it wasn't a session it would have been OK. Instead he got non-responsive dismissal. Again - NOT what a session would have been like. All in all - I finished my pint and went round the corner to Dempsey's where I was welcomed with open arms by a group of 15 or so real musicians who wanted to hear what I played, where I come from, told me what tunes they were going to play, were happy to join in with me, and welcomed my playing along with theirs. Now that's a REAL SESSION. I left at 2, had pints bought for me, bought pints back for new friends, and with several phone numbers for people who wanted me to come back again. So thanks to Dempsey's for a GREAT night. Boo to Swift's. I left Swift's with barely a soul in the bar and people politely clapping at the end of each tune. If you want a great session, leave Swift's immediately, go 5 minutes round the corner on to 2nd and have a good night.
read full reviewThe Details on Swift
What to Drink:
Come winter, sample Irish coffee, spiked apple cider and other hot toddies.
What to Drink:
Come winter, sample Irish coffee and hot toddies.
Category:
Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Restaurants
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard
Bar & Club Special Features:
Smoking Permitted:
No
