Swift

11/19/08

Irish Session welcoming, friendly, a good pint as well.

by sessionhound at Citysearch

After many years of visiting Irish music "sessions" around the city, I find that Swift is a welcoming session with good musicians(Eamon O'Leary and Chris Layer usually host) and a good pint to quench your thurst: be it for good Irish Music or good Irish stout! The Swift session on Tuesdays, like fiddler, Tony DeMarco's Thursday session at Paddy Reilly's has a few microphones and some sound, but generally all the musicians can be heard, and the session is piped to the front bar, so you are sure not to miss a note of the fine trad music. Take it from this "local", Swift is an excellent place to pass a Tuesday night or any night over an excellent pint of fresh stout!

• Pros: Good Music Good Beer
• Cons: music is only once or twice a week...

03/21/08

Tuesday session - what session? Go to Dempsey's

by fiddlerchick at Citysearch

Having been told about the 'session' on a Tuesday night by a New York Friend, I went along with him to the Swift with my fiddle to join in. That's what I think a session is.

I was wrong. I arrived - the sound engineer was really nice and welcoming. The guitarist was friendly, and the banjo player was too. The fiddler wasn't. But the general vibe was absolutely of a gig. One where outsiders were not welcome. The fiddle player would not even speak to me! She just carried on regardless.

This is fine - I have no problem at all with people doing a gig if that's what it is advertised as. I like going to them. I respect other musicians enough not to tread on toes and offend by trying to join in. But it's supposed to be a session. It's not - so please stop advertising it as one.

At one point a guy asked if his band who were over from Ireland for St Patrick's night could do a couple of numbers. The response was awesome in it's rudeness. He was basically told 'No' straight off. If he had been honestly and nicely told by the band that it wasn't a session it would have been OK. Instead he got non-responsive dismissal. Again - NOT what a session would have been like.

All in all - I finished my pint and went round the corner to Dempsey's where I was welcomed with open arms by a group of 15 or so real musicians who wanted to hear what I played, where I come from, told me what tunes they were going to play, were happy to join in with me, and welcomed my playing along with theirs. Now that's a REAL SESSION. I left at 2, had pints bought for me, bought pints back for new friends, and with several phone numbers for people who wanted me to come back again.

So thanks to Dempsey's for a GREAT night. Boo to Swift's. I left Swift's with barely a soul in the bar and people politely clapping at the end of each tune.

If you want a great session, leave Swift's immediately, go 5 minutes round the corner on to 2nd and have a good night.

• Pros: OK bar staff
• Cons: Pathetic session

02/07/08

Not the same anymore...

by Dan28 at Citysearch

This place has completely lost its luster. Before, when Sean and Bernadette were bartending, this place really rocked and they gave lots of buybacks because they appreciated big tippers. They also gave an effort to know everyone and to make sure that everyone had a good time.

Now, they have the same snobby bartender-types that work in upscale bars with the "I'm too good for you" attitude. Recently, my friend and I were tipping the bartender well (for about 2.5 hours) and we didn't even get 1 buyback!!! This has happened on more than one occasion. Also, the bartenders are closed and don't seek conversation with anyone.

Forget this place and head over to Puck Fair. The atmosphere there is more of what Swift's was about 5 years ago - friendly bartenders, cool crowd, and lots of giant-screen tv's.

Right now, Swift's is just a shell of its former self. Don't bother.

• Pros: great beer selection
• Cons: it's just a regular bar. Nothing special

08/03/07

Nasty staff, watch your credit card, BYOC (Bring your own charm)...

by viola67 at Citysearch

Looks like a nice place, but you MUST give a credit card before you order. Then they forget to give it back to you whien they bring the check. My friend and I paid cash, then left, fleeing the drunken buffoons who were screaming and throwing food in the very loud back room. The next day when I called to see if they had my card, they were nasty, and surlier still when I went to pick it up: When I said who I was and politely said I was there to pick up my card, Miss Bitter "I'm really an actress" snorted, rattled bottles for a good minute before she could be bothered to reach behind her to pick up my card... "Here you go" she deadpans with a fake smile.. A hour in the heat to get her smarm from behind the nice looking bar- I am guessing this is an absentee owner not knowing what is going on at his bar. Enjoy...

• Pros: Beer selection, clean taps
• Cons: Service, Attitude of staff

07/08/07

BORING, OVER PRICED BOTTLES, below average SERVICE

by sjc2528 at Citysearch

The waitress seemed friendly, however she was soo slow and it was a friday night! Because her service took her so long, we only tipped her 10% after the first round, and she refused to come back after that. Needless to say, we didnt stay long. There is a huge beer selection, but no bottles under 6 dollars (Even a Coors Light, so choose wisely). Pretty good music, but it is so loud that it was hard to hear. For that area, I would have expected better, so if youre ever around Coopers Square, just go to the bar across the street to Coopers on 5th

05/30/07

its the best

by smoov33 at Citysearch

Its more fun than kicking our prez between the legs!!!! The bartenders are straight from hell and aim to bring you back with them. It's the best ride though!!!

• Pros: the beer
• Cons: the beer

05/08/07

L'Chaim

by dylanhwy61 at Citysearch

I live in PA and was in NY alone and decided to visit three Irish pubs, with a pint planned at each one. I started out at Fiddlestick's and stuck with the plan: one pint and out. I actually was trying to go to Lunasa second but somehow walking around I ended up closer to Swift and so chose that second. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon so very quiet but relaxed. When I heard Dylan playing when I came in I took that as a good sign as well. The bartender was very friendly and there was also an off duty bartender there who was very nice as well (won't use their names to protect their privacy). So I blew my plan and ended up having more than my allotted three or four pints just at Swift alone. I really found the bar very comfortable and nice, with awesome beer selections. As I understand it gets very busy during peak periods, I cannot comment on how it would be then. I did learn how to say cheers or "to life" in Hebrew which I didnt expect to learn in an Irish pub, and also got advice on other Irish bars worth trying (for my part I had them looking at some of these reviews online, as the bartenders had not seen them). I am not sure I am cut out for these pub crawls, but I gave it a try! Highly recommended.

• Pros: great beer selection and friendly staff
• Cons: none.

03/12/07

One Of The Best Chill Bars In The Area With Amazing Beer List

by cobraman332 at Citysearch

Swift is a bar that you can go with your friends to chill at. It isn't as upscale and trendy as so many other spots are, but it's great for bringing a group of friends. The beer selection is vast and offers options from all over the world. Prices on some beers can be steep, though, so be sure to ask before ordering (example: Delerium Tremens bottle (12 oz.) goes for $10). Tables can be hard to come by but the back area offers plenty of standing room. The area near the bar gets quite crowded and makes ordering difficult but it's worth a wait for such an amazing beer selection. The music on Friday/Saturday nights makes you remember your college years, with 80s and other party music dominating the rotation. Good looking guys and girls add to the atmosphere here and make this bar a tried and true destination that my friends and I are constantly revisiting.

• Pros: Vast Beer List, Chill Atmosphere
• Cons: Crowded Bar Area, Expensive Beer $$$, Overplayed Music

02/14/07

Great Bar!!

by sjones07 at Citysearch

Swifts is one of my favorite bars to go to in New York almost any day of the week. Great Beer Selection and the Guiness is especially tasty! The weekends are a blast, and the crowd is a lot of fun. Awesome bartenders who like to be more than friendly to the females. Beware ladies! They are experts!

01/31/07

Atmospheric Irish bar turns out quality tunes and pints.

by Contributor at Citysearch

Swift stands out in the East Village as an old-time pub. The church-pew booths, wall mural and antiqued tables and bars all pay homage to Irish literary great Jonathan Swift. Live music (on a sophisticated sound system) is an occasional feature, but there's no stage, so when musicians appear, they're part of the crowd--literally. Swift is swank, extremely friendly and pours an excellent pint of Guinness.Though crowds and love-vibes are in abundance on the weekends, Swift offers an otherwise relaxed night out on the town.