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

11/08/2006 Posted by ambertimbre

This place requires a certain personality to appreciate it. You can't be uppity or a primadonna. You must enjoy dark, musty holes to hide in, and just the basics in drinks. If you can appreciate the twist and turns and your whiskey straight, then you will love the fabulous hidden art, the super nice bartender (she made great drinks, talked with my group for hours, entertained us, and returned my cell phone to me when I left it there), and the overall spastic setting that the bar provides. It's a neighborhood joint without the frills and corporate bulls#h@t that you find in a lot of times square joints. Kudos Siberia for remaining unique.

Pros: bartender, art, famous icons who sneak in the door

Cons: bathroom, bathroom, bathroom

10/28/2006 Posted by apt2110

it's called your typical "dive bar", which is true. it has that type of grungey, punk-like athmosphere. if you're in the mood for a night out where you dont' want to go to a loungey bar or an expensive club, then your typical dive bar with that grungey feel where you can listen to bands play and rock out is your place! just don't pick this one. the bartender was not very good. she was horrid and i think she charged us more than we were suppose to pay. they only had one bartender serving EVERYONE upstairs. there's also a downstairs but it cost more. the bathrooms are only located downstairs...and there's only one. really annoying and way disgusting than you average dive bar bathroom. everyone who worked here was not friendly at all. this place...is horrible.

Pros: good athmosphere

Cons: slow bartender, worse than average dive bar bathrooms, not very friendly workers.

06/15/2006 Posted by mekit8

This is not a bad place to come for a performance or event. It's somewhat overrun with hipsters but they don't detract from the punk grunge atmosphere. At least one of the patrons will be able to tell you that this bar was one of the spots Jason Blair frequented to write his infamous ficticious NYTimes stories. The chopper in the main room is a nice touch and the art on the walls compliments the overall decor of the bar. Of the 4 times I've been to this bar I've never been downstairs so I can't comment on it.

Pros: Atmosphere, space

Cons: Limited bar selection

05/28/2006 Posted by nicky_scarfo

The sign inside the door reads "No cursing or hitting on women". I thought it was a joke until I got booted ten minutes later. Despite its communist theme and grungy "dive bar" appearance, the place is pretentious and pretty hostile to working-class guys looking for fun. Dive bar? I got news for ya mouseketeers, no such thing below 110th street anymore. The closest you get is a couple of places on the L.E.S., but even Alphabet City's gentrified now. West village got blown out a long time ago and Times Square (near Siberia) got cleaned up by Guiliani in the mid-90s. Those here miscategorizing Siberia as a "dive bar" are most likely newcomers to the city longing for an edgy, rough Manhattan they saw in the movies. Well, it doesn't exist anymore. And Siberia is not a genuine dive bar, just a very, very poor, pretentious imitation of one.

Pros: near port authority

Cons: pretentious

04/17/2006 Posted by tejanojoe

Siberia rocks and rolls. The straight, gay, and transgendered alike are all welcome here to cruise, patrol, or just sit and be fit. The drinks are cheap, and Tracy is generous in giving away rounds to those who entertain him. Both David Bowie and David Allen Coe grace the jukebox in the non-judgmental space that houses this hidden gem of a bar. Become a part of the spectacle-- get your drink and flirt on and be served by some of the most chill bartenders in the city. Just watch out for the restrooms- they do actually bite.

Pros: cheap everything, live music & theater, live comedy & art

Cons: bathrooms, floor dimples

12/12/2005 Posted by metsox

I love hanging out at this bar because the next day I don't feel like I've spent my life savings. They also have a great theater company that comes in every second Monday of the month and the do this eclectic, fun evening of music, stand-up, hip-hop, spoken word and sketch comedy. Checking them out is worth the visit to this cool and inexpensive bar.

Pros: Drove Theatre Company, Prices, Atmosphere

Cons: Bathrooms

10/07/2005 Posted by deftharp

Siberia is like a really good private joke that only your old friends get. New Yorkers have watched in dismay as our favorite clubs and bars have been replaced with Gap and Starbuck-like alternatives. This is one of the few places that stayed alive even AFTER it was evicted by corporate poachers. Siberia resists the temptation to put up Dadaist furniture or Miro inspired light mobiles. It is what New York always was: cheap,grimy, cynical, dark and edgy without being pretentious. One day you will all look around and see that the original New York City has been replaced with the empty promises of some synthetic corporate materialistic Carrie-Bradshaw empire. You will then long for a bar like Siberia where you can be yourself, make friends and enjoy drinks that cost less than a movie ticket.

Pros: Old-School Bar, Good meeting spot, Cult-following

Cons: Bathroom

06/15/2005 Posted by sbfpink

when you just want the bare bones, this is it. my favorite bartenders in town.

Pros: jukebox, bartenders, no yuppies

Cons: smells