An Alphabet City dive equal parts grit and old-school charm.

by Melanie Berliet

It always feels like happy hour at this neighborhood dive, where a half-pint served in a glass beer mug costs just two bucks and a whole pint costs four. The original oak bar is still in place from the venue’s opening decades ago, but the evident wear and tear of time seems fitting. Though Sophie’s has its fair share of well-past-their prime regulars, good deals on booze lure plenty of younger, hipper kids, too, who pound brews, shoot pool and take advantage of a roaring jukebox that rotates between indie, punk and soul tunes.

03/10/09

Bars like Sophie's keep me from leaving NYC

by catsanddogs

Although not for everyone - thank god - Sophie's is indeed an old fashioned, unapologetic, dirty, grouchy, poetic, genuine NY dive with its own subtle code of conduct and cast of characters. There is room for everyone here, but no one is going to go out of their way to make you feel welcome - or unwelcome for that matter - when you walk in the door. But if you give it some time, you're likely to feel the warm and comfortable vibe that quietly floats around this place.

06/09/08

The real thing

by pophops

Sophie's looked like it was on the chopping block for awhile there but it seems to have been saved from the plight of becoming a Wine Bar. That's real good news for a city that seems ever homegenized and less and less interesting. Sophies is really one of the very few remaining East Village (hell, city-wide) bars that is the real thing. Yeah, it's a little raw at the edges but it's authentic. Perhaps there aren't enough people left in NYC who appreciate what a bar should be, and that's a crying shame but for those who don't want to smoke a hookah, or play Rockstar, or god forbid sing Karaoke, Sophie's is a living breathing reminder of what the East Village, New York, and all great places should be.

• Pros: Just about everything
• Cons: The spillover from the Ace Bar can be annoying on a Saturday night.

07/14/05

Everyone loves a good dive bar

by yankeesandbeer

Sophie's is the place to grab some cheap pitchers and hang out with friends. If you're young and looking to meet people I recommend Fridays or Saturdays, otherwise the crowd can be a bit sketchy but you gotta love it anyway. The jukebox is in pretty high demand and the bathrooms aren't so hot but it's what makes us love the place.

• Cons: No Bob Seger!!

10/08/04

One of the few East Village watering holes that's kept its gritty rock-and-roll flavor.

by Karen Hudes

The Scene
Once located around the corner on Sixth Street and Avenue A, this long-standing neighborhood favorite still has its original oak bar, now worn down past the polish to a fine grain. Weeknights, the space gradually fills up with a young, hip crowd, and weekends, it becomes a roaring spot for local habitues to kick off the evening or hang out all night.

The Draw
The jukebox is renowned for its brilliant homemade mix CDs and knowledgeable selection of indie, punk and soul. Additional entertainment includes the in-demand pool table and the popular, rifle-equipped Buck Hunter video game. Drinks are refreshingly cheap, if not quite refreshing--the canned juice in the mixed drinks has an aluminum tinge, and the McSorley's ale is lightweight--but options such as the nutty Newcastle provide a solid alternative.

06/24/04

One of the best

by tonita999

this place is awesome... I am a regular now and love it. The music is great, the people are great, the bartenders are great and make great drinks. It can get crowded but thats when it is the best. I always have a good time at this bar no matter the day of the week. i

09/27/03

My home away from home!

by mitsy4400

No idea what that last reviewer was talking about. I have been going to Sophie's for about a year and I love it. The bartenders are some of the best in the city. And the regulars are some of the most welcoming people i've met. When I first started going there I never felt like I was in "their" bar (which now I guess is "my" bar). All we want is people who leave their attitudes at the door. Yay Sophies :)

• Pros: cool people, cheap drinks, awesome bartenders
• Cons: too crowded weekends

06/30/03

Punk Bar?

by rcgoodhue

The people in the bar might have been punkish but the music playing was typical Z100 crap. And I only saw one pool table, so this is hardly a billards bar. It was definitely a locals hangout but the kind that made you feel like an outcast for even looking twice at "their bar." The bartender was really crabby. Had a look on his face like he had just caught his girlfriend cheating him. Not a happy man. Also, I expect a dive bar to have some cheap drinks or specials. Nothing here. Skip it.

• Pros: Nothing
• Cons: People, Service

08/21/02

punk rock juke box

by vabe

besides the pac man, there is the best damn juke box in the city. try the chocolate cake shots

06/23/02

My type of Dive

by djfchuck

Great Bar. Came in there sometime in the wee hours, because there was a line at 7A. At some point I saw Ms. Pac Man, and well any bar with Ms. Pac Man rules. Plus you can't beat the grungy americana decor. Good place to get wasted, play pool, and chase the pretzels around Ms. Pac Man.

• Pros: Ms. Pac Man, Pool, Not Pretentious-Comfy