Siberia Bar--CLOSED
New York, NY 10018-1435
Phone: (212) 333-4141
- Cross Street:
- Between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue
- Directions:
- A, C, E at 42nd St
- Hours:
- Daily 3pm-4am
Editorial Review for Siberia Bar--CLOSED – by Angela Gaimari
The Scene
A seedy block lined with parking garages leads to a set of four doors, three of which read "Do Not Open." Choose the last, left unmarked and lit with a red light bulb. The discreet space, an unrefined large brick box of a room, is spruced up with 25-cent nut and candy gumball machines, Playboy pinball and a classic jukebox.
The Draw
Owner Tracy Westmoreland is quite a character, and has the mixed loyal following and photo-splashed walls to prove it. The purposefully no-frills bar, sans keg or soda guns, serves up drinks mixed house party-style with two-liter bottles of soda. The downstairs is deja vu of teenage basement rec room, and a couch and panther statue are the only decorations breaking up the dance floor. There, happen upon anything from live rock 'n' roll to Saturdays' "Cruisin'," a gay night that encourages debauchery with shirtless bartenders.
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Insider Tips
The ExtrasLive rock bands are a common occurrence: the lesser known they are, the more likely they are to make their New York debut here.
User Reviews for Siberia Bar--CLOSED
02/25/2007 Posted by outta
It's a shame. Being such a dive, you'd expect good people to work here. Karma will get them eventually. Unknown bands struggle to get people out to there shows. If you happen to get enough people, you get paid. Not alot, maybe enough to cover your parking, tip to the soundguy and bartenders (not even looking to cover drinks). These guys shorted us on our guest count and wouldn't pay us our measly $45. Lame.
Pros: it's a dive. anything goes.
Cons: it's a dive. anything goes.
12/28/2006 Posted by narcisse07
I have been a fan of the dive bar for many a year - deciding early on that I prefer to sit and speak to the locals, drink beer and listen to a kick a$$ jukebox over the high priced bars that are the norm now...and that is exactly what I found at Siberia last week...not a native NY'er, I had read about it in a book and have wanted to see it for some time... The cab driver actually said to me "Ma'am, are you sure you want me to drop you off here?" in disbelief and I said yes...upon entering the bar...it took a second for my eyes to become adjusted to this low lit, mecca for unwanted furniture/piano/beer crates and a motorcycle in the middle of the bar. The bartender kindly suggested that he had made an attempt to sweep up a bit, but what was funny, is that I actually found a 2002 Zagats guide with 1/4 inch of dust on it, close to my feet... My friend and I had quite a night in this great little place...bartender told me about all the gigs that were played downstairs and if I were to go down there to be careful not to "feed the mold people"...it was Christmas Eve, so there were only a handful of people - however one gentleman played $5 or $10 of some of the greatest, most eclectic music that I have EVER heard on one jukebox...it was truly a wonderment - found myself tapping my feet and moving my head a lot. The bartender actually said - what are ya drinking and I wasn't quite sure, as I was full from my meal - he said "how bout vodka...? that's about all we got and no mixers..." I stuck to a nice cold beer. One of the customers actually went out and grabbed a christmas tree, and came back about 20 minutes later...5 of us spent the next hour or so, decorating the tree with broken CD's, tin foil stars, a Mexican marionette and lights that were found downstairs that had not been consumed by the mold people or trashed by the hundreds of dancing fools downstairs on any given night... Great bartender, great stories and an extremely MEMORABLE night...
Pros: Best Dive Bar, Great people watching, excellent juke box
Cons: bathroom leaves much to be desired
