Blue & Gold Tavern

(212) 777-1006

79 E 7th St (nr. First Ave.)
New York, NY 10003 40.7274 -73.9863

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

Hours:

Daily, 4pm-3am

Last updated 5.13.12

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Bars & Clubs, Neighborhood Bars, Restaurants, Singles Bars, Taverns, Dive Bars, Billiards Bars

Payment Methods:

Cash

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Jukebox, Drink Specials

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Blue & Gold Tavern

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – This Ukrainian family-owned bar has been an East Village fixture since the early '60s. As you step into the tiny joint, you'll find a dark wooden bar, nine well-worn booths, a pool table and a jukebox. In the early evening hours neighborhood regulars drink and play pool; later on, the under-25 set takes over, upping the decibel level with loud talk and laughter. – – The Draw – The Blue & Gold is a popular college bar for one simple reason: Cheap booze. Draft beers, including McSorley's and Bass Ale, and bottled beers can be had for between $3 and $4. A…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Bang for your buck is the name of the game here: Even cocktails made with top shelf liquor cost less than $5.
Know Before You Go:
The bathroom here is notoriously grimy, so do your business elsewhere.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The crowd can get rowdy and you might have to run away from some guy that's hitting on you every now and then, but the prices are right, the jukebox plays good tunes, and the overall atmosphere is very chill.”
  2. “You may save some money, you might have fun on the pool table, hell the jukebox is even pretty interesting, but doesn't getting poor service time after time and feeling as if your money means nothing to the ONE SINGLE bartender who works get old after awh”
  3. “great booze, awesome atmosphere and chill people.”
  4. “The atmosphere is not bad, it attracts a fairly young crowd and the jukebox is okay.”
drinks
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “This bar is what a good dive bar should strive to be.”
  2. “Overall, good bar, very cheap, good music, and a laid-back vibe.”
  3. “love this bar.”
  4. “But that does mean I understand the business from a behind the scenes perspective and I'm telling you this: the cheap shots, the cute little "happy meal" drink combos, the 15 dollar pitchers all sound very enticing, and when you go in for the first time t”
  5. “This East Village hole-in-the-wall is famous for cheap liquor drinks, with shots across the board for about three dollars.”
  6. “remember this place from back in the day and although the setup has changed, it is still a friendly and totally unpretentious neighborhood bar.”
  7. “the drinks were cheap, the staff was friendly, and the crowd was laid-back.”
  8. “lot of reviews have mentioned how hard the weekend guy is to get a hold of, but I wouldn't recommend this place for weeknights if only for the horrible woman who tends the bar.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “But that does mean I understand the business from a behind the scenes perspective and I'm telling you this: the cheap shots, the cute little "happy meal" drink combos, the 15 dollar pitchers all sound very enticing, and when you go in for the first time t”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Not as cool, but certainly cheap and a great place to start the night.”
  2. “Regardless it's always a great vibe from the crowd, an awesom place to get messed up with your buddies.”
service
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “remember this place from back in the day and although the setup has changed, it is still a friendly and totally unpretentious neighborhood bar.”
  2. “So to people looking for a great time head here like everyone always has and will.”
  3. “You may save some money, you might have fun on the pool table, hell the jukebox is even pretty interesting, but doesn't getting poor service time after time and feeling as if your money means nothing to the ONE SINGLE bartender who works get old after awh”
  4. “the drinks were cheap, the staff was friendly, and the crowd was laid-back.”
  5. “when i went there the upstairs people were pissed about the noise outside and tossed water or some other liquid down on the people outside.”
  6. “for one love that the bartender doesn't bother talking to me -I'm there for the booze and my friends.”
  7. “great booze, awesome atmosphere and chill people.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Not as cool, but certainly cheap and a great place to start the night.”
  2. “Overall, good bar, very cheap, good music, and a laid-back vibe.”
  3. “So the prices and hopes of being treated like a "regular" lure you back in.”
  4. “You may save some money, you might have fun on the pool table, hell the jukebox is even pretty interesting, but doesn't getting poor service time after time and feeling as if your money means nothing to the ONE SINGLE bartender who works get old after awh”
  5. “the drinks were cheap, the staff was friendly, and the crowd was laid-back.”
  6. “This East Village hole-in-the-wall is famous for cheap liquor drinks, with shots across the board for about three dollars.”
  7. “But that does mean I understand the business from a behind the scenes perspective and I'm telling you this: the cheap shots, the cute little "happy meal" drink combos, the 15 dollar pitchers all sound very enticing, and when you go in for the first time t”
  8. “You can't beat 3 dollar shots of all the best booze.”
  9. “The crowd can get rowdy and you might have to run away from some guy that's hitting on you every now and then, but the prices are right, the jukebox plays good tunes, and the overall atmosphere is very chill.”
2 Star Rating: Below Average

02/15/12

Not with her behind the bar....

by 1965Ranchero

I've never wanted to get someone fired. Ever. Until now. I'm actively trying to find the owners of Blue and Gold so they know that whatever harpy was working Tuesday, Feb. 14th 2012 is hurting their business. Myself and several other reviewers on Yelp and Citysearch have pledged NEVER to go back as long as that ....thing.... is working there.

Can anyone help?

1 Star Rating: Poor

06/04/11

Worst bartender ever

by Libwo777

The female bartender is the rudest person I've encountered in New York...and I've lived here for 11 years. Don't go here.

3 Star Rating: Average

01/13/11

Cheap, but the bartender....

by Whatev

I’ve lived in NYC for 8 years with 5 years as an NYU student and was not aware of this place until last weekend! The reviews about this place are totally accurate. It is small, smelly, and very cramped (at least it was on a Friday night). The drink prices are unbeatable though! The bartender situation is absolutely true. The female bartender, which I now see has complaints about her in reviews going back over 3 years, should not be tending bar. She was giving my friend a dirty look as he ordered, which I thought was strange. At that point, I had no idea just how bad she really was. Later, my friend’s drink order came to $8, so he gave her a 10. She didn’t even bother giving him change. There was a girl at a table who had an annoying, shrill voice. She wasn’t loud, just kind of annoying. The female bartender had the bouncer remove the girl. Needless to say, the girl and her friends proceeded to get into a loud argument with the ‘bulltender.’ I’ll be back at some point when I need a cheap drink in the East Village.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/12/10

RUDE, bottom line

by kristenemily

I felt strongly enough about this dump to take time to write a review, if that says anything. The chunky female bartender with tattooed arms does not deserve any type of employment with such a foul attitude. I was told to "get out of her face" because I'm "annoying her" after trying to order two drinks with items that they did not carry. It's unfortunate that this type of personality warrants a paying job.

This place is a disgusting dive, drinks are miniscule, and the quality of service makes me want to never, ever return. Awful.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/08/10

Truly a Gold mine for your wallet!

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

If you don't think paying premium price for a cocktail is justifiable, this place is going to be your best friend. Blue and Gold is not a fancy lounge and there is no door policy. Instead, what it has is $3 cocktails and beers and $5 high end whiskey on the rock. This is a place perfect for recession or simply for people who don't want to spend $10+ for the same things you can get here.

I am in love with their price and the low key bar atmosphere. Just be aware that people get drunk quite easily here!

The Details on Blue & Gold Tavern

Place Categories:

  • love neighborhood bar
  • not recommend place
  • great jukebox
  • great booze
  • great staff
  • good tunes
  • relatively clean bathroom
  • awesome chill people
  • like hopes
  • pissed upstairs people
  • good laidback
  • good music
  • good hangout
  • happy drink combos
  • great time head
  • good dive bar
  • famous east village holeinthewall
  • great vibe
  • uncomfortable flavor
  • bad attitude
  • like prices
  • not bad atmosphere
  • not bother bartender

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