(212) 727-0244
52 8th Ave
(Between Jane Street and Horatio Street)
New York,
NY
10014
40.7385
-74.0037
Neighborhoods: West Village, Downtown
Hours:
Daily 4pm-4am
Last updated 8.16.11
Category:
Bars & Clubs, Neighborhood Bars, Restaurants, Singles Bars, Lounges, Bars & Pubs
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Bar & Pub Special Features:
Dress Code:
Casual
Bar & Club Special Features:
What People Are Saying About Art Bar
Featured Review
Kara Zuaro
Contributor
Thrift-store sofas arranged in get-to-know-you clusters, a wood-burning fireplace and muted crystal chandeliers factor into the warm, homespun vibe. Expect to find reasonably priced drinks, a trendy selection of martinis and good old-fashioned comfort food. Ambient lounge music and sinister-looking paintings boost the bar's appeal. As does the fact that voices can be heard over the music, making it a rare find as a conversation-friendly bar. Although it draws a mixed crowd, you won't find to many patrons who can't recollect the '80s.
Editor's Tips
- Happy Hour:
- Happy hour is from 4pm to 7pm daily, with two-for-one specials on draft beer, house wine and well drinks.
| ambiance | 92.8600025177002% positive |
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|---|---|---|
| drinks | 72.98999786376953% positive |
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| food quality | 90.90999603271484% positive |
|
| menu variety | 100.0% positive |
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| overall | 100.0% positive |
|
| return potential | 100.0% positive |
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| service | 58.33000183105469% positive |
|
| value | 100.0% positive |
|
| wait time | 25.0% positive |
|
Cozy back room great for groups
by paperbackgirl
This is one of my go-to bars for happy hour or a low key early evening drink on the weekends. This place is conducive for settling back into the well-worn couch cushions and having a long conversation with a friend. The bartenders are friendly but table service in the back room can drag on busy nights. A good mix of West Village types.
Art Bar has an extensive food menu and yummy seasonal drinks. My favorite for winter is their gingerbread martini.
- Pros: A working fireplace and broken in couches? Yes, please.
- Cons: Table service can be slow.
An East Village 80's dive bar in the West Village
by mattshaw0
I am not sure how to explain some of the negative reviews. The Bartender is wonderful and creative (try the Jolly Rancher), the service is fast and friendly. The food is a couple of steps above average bar food (try the popcorn shrimp and nachos grande). It is noisy and hard to talk but not impossible. The people are a very mixed lot from working class to students to ?. The music can be almost anything and usually is - but always excellent. The front is narrow and has tattered seat booths, while the back is larger. I have been going there for 10 years (work nearby) and enjoyed every visit. I have never noticed employee or patron to be snobbish or rude and I have lived in NYC since 1980. The bartender makes excellent cocktails (her own concoctions). It is usually decked out for holidays, very creative eye, esp. Halloween. I think the place is great and I always go back (like tonight). Enjoy.
- Pros: Good Drinks, Atmosphere, Food, Service, People
- Cons: I usually eat and drink too much - wait - is that a Con?
Moronic Manager - Can't plan an event to save their lives!
by emilys4588
Manager (Robyn) - couldn't understand the concept of asking for a minimum quote to rent the back room for a la cart drinks. Some of my friends drink soda, some drink scotch...I didn't want to do open bar per person. This girl could not understand typical event planning basics! She kept talking me in circles about how a la cart with minimum is not any different than doing open bar per person. Then after I told her a dozen times that it would all be under one tab in the back (a la cart) she asked me if it would be under one tab. This girl seriously is a bar manager?! She also didn't understand how having my guarenteed reservation is different than having regular customers. Duh, I would have guarenteed them $XXXX.00 dollars for three hours of boozing under one credit card in advance. Would not want her working for me - she can't do simple math. The owner just lost business b/c of her idiocracy.
Hey! Are you pleasant, out going, polite, and tough. Do you like cheap drinks, tasty food, and oh so SASSY bartenders?
by TimmyPennywhistle
I'll tell you what! I always have a fun night at Art Bar... You cant be too sensitive, a cry baby, or snobby, If you are any of these things this bar just wont do...
I get a kick out of the people who work there!!! The bartender girls are fast, lovely, mix a mean cocktail, and are VERY SASSY!!!! So you better be able to take it ,and you better know how to tip right too, or watch out! Yowsa!!!! The Juke Box is good, the grub is above average for a bar! The atmosphere is warm and cozy...
Give this place a shot! If you're like me you will love it!
- Pros: Great atmosphere, tasty food, fun Bartenders....
- Cons: Dont be a wimp!
Rudest & Most Idiotic Staff Around
by LauraMarieNYC
Art Bar is terrible. It's a shame, because it has potential, but the people who work there totally ruin it. I've never encountered a ruder bunch of servers and bartenders in my life, and this is New York. I'm surprised that the staff doesn't connect with the fact that they're working for tips, and that the management lets them get away with this. My friends and I left after our server made several rude comments about our group of 6 taking up too man chairs in her section (1 per person). WTF? Bottom line... don't waste your time. There are plenty of other better places in the area.
The Details on Art Bar
Place Categories:
- great place
- great rude service
- great tasty food
- horrible customer service
- great cheap drinks
- nice back room
- terrible art bar
- friendly sassy bartenders
- great people
- rude waitresses
- great atmosphere
- favorite neighborhood bar
- great cool staff
- snotty servers
- nice experience
- bad service experience
- like nachos
- great appetizers
- decent prices
- romantic backroom
- comfortable velvet seating
- very warm time spot
- strong drinks
- incredibly friendly everyone
- invariably bad art

