05/27/08

Chill out with the whole crew at this hip, supersized dive.

by Contributor

Neither edgy enough for the Lower East Side nor cheesy enough for Bleecker Street, Botanica offers a happy medium. A DJ blasts a fittingly eclectic mix of rock and hip-hop from a small booth in the front window for a crowd of low-key and low-budget hipsters. Through its overriding darkness, the semi-basement bar's multitude of mismatched furniture is barely illuminated by a couple of candle-bearing Virgin Mary statues and funky sconces. Well-loved, threadbare armchairs line the worn brick walls, and a separate back room offers enough couches and chairs to seat a small army--or a big birthday party.

Hits: Bartenders dole out stiff well drinks and cheap draft beers with speed, efficiency and minimal attitude.

Misses: Despite its considerable size, during prime-time hours crowds tend to slam the bar area, clogging the main room even when the back room is virtually empty.

04/10/08

Please Don't Go Here.

by cwhitcas

This bar is one of the only bars in the area that I can stand. The music is excellent. The bartenders are cool. The drinks are cheeeeeeeeap. Happy hour is the best around. I don't need this getting ruined by a bunch of yuppie a$$holes, frat boys, and general gangsta types. Stay out if you fit any of the above catagories, if not come by and have a drink at the best bar around.

• Pros: happy hour, hot hipster chicks, and cool bartenders
• Cons: Starting to see more and more blue blazers and khakis.

02/24/08

Always reliable and always cheap!

by alicemcg

I have never posted on citysearch, but looking at the small number of reviews for Botanica I thought that I should tell you about this little gem. Botanica is one of those bars that feels like home. The bouncers are friendly. The dj plays what you want and the bartenders are very liberal with the drinks that they make. No matter who I come with to Botanica, it never disappoints. I recommend this bar to anyone who is looking for good times with good people.

• Pros: cheap strong drinks, good music, open late, friendly staff

06/02/06

Old Favorite

by suebee610

Been going here for years. Nice people, fun music and a great place to meet friends after work. Keep it a secret.

11/12/05

HOSTILE CROWD, MUSIC TOO-LOUD, FAGGEDDAOUDIT!

by Drink_Club

Sartre said hell is other people. He must not have visited this bar. THIS is hell. Bad music at ear-splitting volume. A crowd of college students slightly less friendly than Al-Qaeida at a Bar Mitzvah, and slightly less cliquey than the Bush family circle. An off-bar couch-filled alcove could be comfortable.All they'd have to do is keep the volume up for the boneheads in front, and down for the drinkers/talkers/shmoozers/lovers in the back. But they spoiled it! If anything, the back room is LOUDER than the front. There's just no getting away from it. Thinking of coming here? Have a prostate exam instead. It'll be more fun. --Drink Club is a roving group of Manhattan drinkers

• Pros: Close to other bars
• Cons: unfriendly crowd, WAY too loud, no table service

09/25/05

Favorite New York Bar

by meechie

Haven't been here for a couple of years and discovered it's gone through a management change ... and boy it needed it!! New bosses seem to have kept the things that made the place great, while getting rid of the bad elements. It's a lot cleaner and the crowd's got younger but Happy Hour is one of the best around (and they do late night Happy Hour from 1 till 4). Great for a quick drink or for spending the whole night listening to the fantastic D.J.'s. Hot bartenders too!!!!!

• Pros: Cheap, Fun, Unpretentious

05/16/04

botanical garden of fun

by 97trojan

I discovered Botanica several years ago, and have found it to be consistently one of the best bars around. The drinks are reasonably priced, music is great, and most importantly, the crowd is contains zero princess attittude.

I would avoid on weekends.. it can get too crowded and the hipsters can take over. But after four years, its still the perfect place to have drinks and a chat with good friends.

03/04/04

first a gem. then an old friend.

by particle24

Like that golden-dive walk down that you stumble upon at 3am on a saturday, botanica will spring from the nyc earth; your first time there is a vertiable dive-deflowering. After that: this place continues to be consistently amazing whether u use it to start your night or to chill there for hours. Great value! Great crowd! great background noise. Beware, however, of the occassional chad qua hipster.

• Pros: great value., fun as hell.

02/13/03

don't go here.

by alienate

this is by far my absolute favorite bar for after work. they've got brooklyn brown on tap. yum. can't stand it on weekends. waay too crowded with hipsters.

• Pros: great happy hour
• Cons: too crowded weekends

01/24/03

botanica rocks

by saphire911

I used to come here every week for happy hour on Thursdays. They let us playcard games and order pizza. If you want cheap beer and a chill dive bar, this is the place.