A band-friendly Chinatown lounge with cheap drinks.

by Joshua M Bernstein

Though Chinatown is largely bereft of bars, this dingy dive serves as a scuzzy sanctuary for downtowners hunkering in the area tenements. 169 is more festive than the average bottom-feeding bar, with lush foliage, deep red-and-black booths and swimming fish keeping watchful eyes on the leopard-print pool table. Come early weekdays, and 169 is pin-drop quiet; however, the scene grows feverish late-night, when bands plug into amps and DJs crank speakers ‘til last call.

08/05/09

There are well over 169 resons to avoid this place...

by zeffer555

I could gladly list over 169 reasons not to go into the 169 bar...but I don't have to. I will simply mention the only 1 thing that matters...it's bogus.

Skinhead criminals run the joint and the cops let them get away with it.

And the women who work there gag on you know what 24/7...but not yours.

Give this place not one single dime.

• Pros: None.
• Cons: Evertying about the place is bogus...

06/24/09

Biggest scammer of musicians & fans in NYC

by NJrocker1

I'm completely blown away by how many positive reviews there are for this bar. Most of them must be from the owners and their friends. Do yourself a favor and search "169 bar scam" on your favorite search engine. You will read the real horror stories about this place.

Here's their scam in a nutshell: they overbook bands (we're talking about a dozen bands in one evening). Then your band will never get to play that evening unless you bring enough people. So if 9 of your friends showed up to see you play at 8pm, chances are they won't let you go on until midnight at the earliest, if at all. Even your most loyal friends will leave frustrated after shelling out $10 at the door and sitting in a dirty bar for 3 hours. The place has multiple booking agents too.

Avoid this place like the plague!

• Pros: Your band can definitely book a gig here
• Cons: You won't get to play and your friends will lose $10

11/19/08

Awesome Live Music Bar

by scatone

Went to 169 with some friends on Saturday, had a great time. The drinks were fairly priced, and the musicians performing were really good! My friends and I had a great time and look forward to coming back. I liked that I can see their schedule of musicians on their website. The atmoshpere is really nice here too. Very comfertable and relaxed. Good crowd as well. Great times at 169!

• Pros: Music, Bar Scene, Atmosphere
• Cons: None really, my experience was great

07/14/08

Real good vibe, great DJ, and live music, creative drinks, friendly staff

by Wildfire9Rumor

This place has come a long way , for the better, from the kind of lower east sid bar it used to be years ago.

The decor is warm and inviting with a New Orleans charm, the music is always perfect for the occasion, with a DJ that is awesome. There is a great sounding piano that accompanies the live performers.

And most importantly, you can have conversations with people and hear them, good music levels !

It's a good place for after work and way after work, at any hour it's a real good time.

• Pros: Warm vibe, awesome DJ,creative drinks, friendly staff
• Cons: None

03/14/08

Great Place to Perform

by TheSharpeJames

I've performed here twice, once with my hip hop group (Eff Radio), and then a few days ago with my rock band (The Sharpe James) and had a blast both times. The staff was real professional and cool, the promoters were both great, and the crowd was real receptive. I definitely recommend taking the stage here if you love playing live music. Oh, and the Absinthe ain't bad either.

02/11/08

grate music

by offcorse

the live venue was grate (i was there for my friends show), the get acts that you can't find everywhere.

It's so hard to find a place that plays good old funk these days.

Average white band, James brown , Johnny guitar ...

bartender was HOT!

can't ask 4 more than that.

• Pros: music, service, absinthe.
• Cons: no food, but can have it delivered

08/29/07

great peanuts! great vibe! great banana rum infusion! sangria and funk!!

by bubbathadude

really cool "continental" joint, feels kinda like a neighborhood Italian or southern France local bar without trying...huge help-yourself ceramic water tanks on the bar along side sangria glass jars, I counted 10 different infusions, banana rum was my favorite last night but the orange, strawberry and pear vodkas also rocked., the bartender let us try all of them in little shot glasses for free....the music performers were also awesome, i dont think there is a bar in the city that has so many unknown yet really freaking great performers, they must really spend a lot of time going through demo kits picking out the best, one after the other, and it only cost $8...cool DJ after the bands also...they crank up the mirror ball....

• Pros: their doing everything right, great of the way place pre-explosion get it while its hot!
• Cons: not a thing!

08/29/07

169 Bar is the most honest and awesome bar I know of, they are very cool to everyone, great vibe!!

by dontforgettoshakeit

I was at the 169 Bar the other night (one of my favorite hangouts) they usually have awesome talent, but there was this horrible supposed "jazz" band playing god knows what...I think the trumpet player was shane endsley, supposedly some big shot jazz muso...man did he s**k!!! there was only like 3 people in the room that looked like they cared but they were like 18 or something...it was more crowded earlier but he drove everyone out...

I talked to the bartender and he said it was some kind of mistake, that the music shane had on his website was way different than what he was palying and that they would never book him or anyone like him again, he was really releived that shane decided not to play another set and i think I can speak for everyone in the room (at least the ones left) we were also VERY HAPPY not to have to listen to the train wreck he apparently thought was music...shane get a real job PLEASE!!! LEAVE THE REST OF US ALONE!!!...cut your loses now, i know you probably spent a fortune on music college but it just is not going to happen...try ITT ...and 169 Bar ...PLEASE do not book him or anyone like again!!!PLEASE?!? ( I know you wont!) peace out!!!

• Pros: great music, great vibe, happy people
• Cons: shane endsley

08/21/07

Editorial Review

by Karen Hudes

One of the oldest bars in New York draws a chic downtown crowd thanks to a friendly door policy, dope DJs, specialty cocktails, daily happy hour and a dance floor.