(212) 777-6158

119 E 15th St (at Irving Pl.)
New York, NY 10003 40.7349 -73.9885

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Neighborhoods: Gramercy Park, Midtown

119BAR.COM

Hours:

Mon-Fri, 4pm-4am

Sat-Sun, 6pm-4am

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants, Bars & Pubs, Bars & Clubs, Dive Bars, Billiards Bars

Payment Methods:

Cash

Smoking Permitted:

No

What People Are Saying About 119 Bar

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – A film of dust covers the wood-paneled walls at 119 Bar, a downtown dive with an I-won't-bother-you-if-you-don't-bother-me vibe. Lamps cast a red hue on the mellow proceedings, and cooler-than-thou types take a load off amid the well-loved, worn-down interior. A number of old leather couches with torn upholstery line the grimy gray-and-white tile floor in the roomy front area, and in the back sit a bevy of booths. – – The Draw – Alternative rock rings out loud and proud from speakers located throughout the spacious saloon, but not so loud as to drown out…

Editor's Tips

Save Time:
Bring a dollar's worth of quarters for the pool table and beat out the lines of people begging for change at the bar.
What to Drink:
The beer here is cheap--just $4 for a Yuengling and a dollar more for a Guinness.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. drinks aren't too expensive, the decor is based around wood paneling, and there is space to dance if the mood (or booze) strikes you.
drinks
65.0% positive
  1. At first you might not think you will like the bar but within minutes you will love this bar.
  2. The beers are cheap, the Rockl music is pumping and the people are just there to catch a cold beer.
  3. they play great music, drinks are cheap, they have a pool table, and a good divesity if patrons.
  4. upon entering the bar, which mind you, was completely DEAD - the rude bartender, glanced over at us, lit himself a cigarette (wasnt that banned 10 years ago?)
  5. Its usually a good crap hole to pre drink at before going to a reputable establishment.
  6. loved the pooltable and drinks.
  7. 119 is an incredible bar.
  8. Great neighborhood bar.
  9. drinks aren't too expensive, the decor is based around wood paneling, and there is space to dance if the mood (or booze) strikes you.
  10. Not a bad place to hang out after work, nice feel of a dive bar.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. 119 Bar is a good place to go with friends.
service
40.0% positive
  1. upon entering the bar, which mind you, was completely DEAD - the rude bartender, glanced over at us, lit himself a cigarette (wasnt that banned 10 years ago?)
  2. there's no jukebox but the bartenders have pretty good taste in music.
  3. The beers are cheap, the Rockl music is pumping and the people are just there to catch a cold beer.
  4. the bartenders are great as well.
  5. be that as it may, this bartender ANDREW was rude and disrespectful calling my friends and i "high maintenance" and "who do we think we are taking a chaser with whiskey
value
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. they play great music, drinks are cheap, they have a pool table, and a good divesity if patrons.
  2. drinks aren't too expensive, the decor is based around wood paneling, and there is space to dance if the mood (or booze) strikes you.
  3. The beers are cheap, the Rockl music is pumping and the people are just there to catch a cold beer.
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. and after several minutes we were given the time to order 4 shots of Jameson, which my friends and i frequent w/a cherry as a chaser; weird?
  2. At first you might not think you will like the bar but within minutes you will love this bar.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/02/11

CLOSED February 2011

by anniecakes at Citysearch

Sad news.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/01/10

Simple Rules

by oldTimer at Citysearch

1. Buy drinks, it is a bar. If you want to make a spectacle of yourself to put on facebook, go somewhere else, preferably your parents' basement in Iowa or wherever it is you came from. Or at least buy everyone else a drink too.

2. Tip the bartender. Tip = 20%, because that is how bartenders survive. The cheapest beer I believe is $5. Do the math kids, that is $1 per beer. Every time. When you get a buy back, tip at least double. The bartender doesn't have to talk to you to do his/her job. If s/he does do you the honor, tip more.

3. Use the list to play pool. No one knows or cares whose quarters are on the table. No one knows or cares where you are when your name comes up, so be at the table.

4. Expect competition at pool. You don't get to "just play your friend," you must play the person who last won, given they are still interested. It is the winner's choice to play doubles or not. And their prerogative to beat you badly. More detailed rules are on the wall, but it really doesn't matter, you are very likely going to lose.

5. The bathroom is for urinating, or perhaps defecating if you really must. Not drugs. Not sex. Not fun time with the plumbing. Not venting your frustrations, however warranted. If you feel like vomiting, go outside and stay there.

6. Use your iPhone for customized media content. You don't have any say about what is on tv, so don't even ask. The bartender is supplying you with free music, so tip more.

When everyone follows these simple rules, 119 is a fine example of a diverse and generally friendly dive bar. But do recall that you are not in Kansas (or was it Iowa?) anymore, and be glad.

  • Pros: cheap drinks, pool table, central location
  • Cons: ignorant clientele
1 Star Rating: Poor

04/24/10

Rude thief of a bartender

by AAANYC at Citysearch

I guess people go here because the drinks a slightly cheaper than other places but you end up paying more. The drinks are watered down and the thieving ahole of a bartender short changes you.

Won't ever go here again.

  • Pros: None
  • Cons: Crap Staff
1 Star Rating: Poor

04/21/10

STAFF SUCKS!!!

by Beth Helix at Citysearch

Discovered this place a months weeks ago. Its usually a good crap hole to pre drink at before going to a reputable establishment. Last month I went and this time....IT SUCKED. The looser bartender called me a BITCH while a cig hung out of his mouth. All because I asked him what he was doing SMOKING!!!!. . He just insulted me by saying"FUCK YOU BITCH" and went back to his perch sitting behind the bar doing NOTHING. People all around needed drinks and this hipster looking ass sniffer was not helping anyone!! After a few minutes of staring at him thinking this was some kinda joke....Me and my 4 friends LEFT.........I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS BAR AGAIN!!!! THE STAFF HERE SUCKS! I think its the same idiot someone else wrote about I think his name is Andrew. This is a recession. Everyone needs their job!!! Never thought an employee hated his job/boss so much he wanted to hurt the business and loose his own job in the process. What a jerk!! This place deserves to close. DO NOT GO TO THIS BAR!!!!!!!

  • Pros: Not Many
  • Cons: Bartender
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/06/10

RUDE !

by kayfire at Citysearch

came here randomly, after a night on the town for my biffs bday - stopped in to do a shot and be on our merry way...

upon entering the bar, which mind you, was completely DEAD - the rude bartender, glanced over at us, lit himself a cigarette (wasnt that banned 10 years ago?) and after several minutes we were given the time to order 4 shots of Jameson, which my friends and i frequent w/a cherry as a chaser; weird? be that as it may, this bartender ANDREW was rude and disrespectful calling my friends and i "high maintenance" and "who do we think we are taking a chaser with whiskey"

oh im sorry ANDREW, but your a dbag and if i want to chase my whiskey with a cherry, i damn well will do so - i too, am a bartender; and i dont judge people upon what they order, im friendly and sociable. this dude needs a reality check.

The Details on 119 Bar

Place Categories:

  • bad place
  • incredible bar
  • rude bartender
  • here sucks staff
  • order shots
  • good crap hole
  • cold beer
  • hated employee
  • not too expensive drinks
  • weird chaser
  • best bet
  • pretty good taste
  • great music
  • great neighborhood
  • rude bartender andrew
  • cool divey bars
  • loved pooltable
  • good divesity
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