The not so big Big Bar is one of my favorite spots to go with friends in the East Village when out for a drink. The vibe is respectfully chill with a retro-feel and not touristy. Always enjoy the music, consistently played at a level that doesn't fight your conversation. The booths are comfortable for a couple or group of four to talk. Plus, importantly... if you're going for a cocktail, the bartenders mix a good one. (Once had an extremely memorable one the bartended concocted with Cynar, but since it was later in the evening did not mark down what else was in it.) FYI - Big Bar is cash only. Although it's posted several prominent places including on the mirror behind the bar, the bartender will inform you when you order the first time if they don't recognize you. read more

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It's a very okaaay bar with an okaaay beer selection. I'm banking on their happy hour being better than their normal hours. Which we came for a nightcap here. But happy hour it's I think $5 drafts as opposed to $8 drafts (may be more now) Tues-Friday till 8pm. We were here on a Saturday night so it didn't apply. BUT they do have red stripe in bottle for $6 and I'm willing to settle for that. Totally unsure on fancy cocktails or if there is a cocktail list because it's not that kind of bar. Very divey. Not as divey as Blue and Gold or Tile bar. Has kind of a retro diner vibe to it with the booths along the wall that I like. Weird dim red lighting. I'm into it just not sure if I'm into it enough to come back. It's cash only. It's a-okay. read more

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Much like the jellyfish itself, Jellyfish haircuts don't lie. The beach is great, the water draws you in... but you have to share the seas. Big bar is a small amazing bar. But when you see one or 10, maybe avoid at that time. I used to come here and have always loved the vibe. It's been maybe 5 years since I visited when I lived nearby. I'm keeping in mind it was a Friday night so the crowd was unique to that. People that work there and bouncer especially remain awesome, otherwise it was a bunch of mean girls with jellyfish haircuts glaring out of their short bangs. Very "dark taylor swift" vibe. Which I could be amused by on another night. This time, it was a little too high school. I just turned and walked out because the Friday night "patrons" were so territorial over "their" bar. Lol I support you emo jellyfish!!! We can, I believe, co-exist. Alas, not this night. Go to big bar. But before you wade in check the water. read more

Big Bar is hard to miss with its bright red interior lights shining onto the sidewalk, but when you walk inside you'll have wished you did miss it. I recently had the displeasure of stopping by this 'dive bar' and it was an experience I won't soon forget--unfortunately. This bar harbors a particularly rancid vibe. Everything from the bar tender's hall monitor attitude, to the Gen X clientele sitting at bar top, to the bald man in a bright blue sweater standing outside holding the door looking to start arguments. It all meshed into a miserable, spoilt experience. This self touted 'dive bar' is a total disaster from start to finish. The atmosphere is dreadful. The space is cramped and awkward. The decor is tacky and lacking grace. It is all too evident that they tried too hard to come off as trendy, relaxed, dingy dive bar but you can feel how incredibly gauche and trite the bar really is. The supposed "dive bar" charm was nowhere to be found. Instead, it felt more like a sterile, sanitized version where an older crowd can live out their dreams cosplaying being a patron at a dive bar. Without actually having to be at one. The raw authenticity of a dive bar is nowhere to be found. Instead what you will encounter is a travesty of such magnitude that it defies the very essence of what it seeks to embody. Stripped of any genuine character, it is a desolate void. Big Bar's ambiance is a facade. A cheap costume masking a soul devoid of grit or character. Stepping inside, the sterility of the place struck me immediately. But it was the customer service that truly revealed the rot at the core. At the helm of this charade was a bartender whose demeanor is a chilling specter of authoritarianism. Her presence fills the room and adds to the festering of a putrid environment. We did not get her name, but she is a heavy set brunette woman with glasses and nose piercing. She made comments that were teetering on discriminatory and seemed to convey a covert racism. She was abrasive with a patron over a seemingly arbitrary qualm. I wouldn't be surprised to hear other patrons share a similar experience. The libations, one might hope, would salvage some semblance of a good experience, but they were as soulless as the decor. The drinks are underwhelming and bereft of any skill or care in their making. They didn't seem to have any thing of substance worth drinking. All the bartender had was well liquor and flat beer. And in a location filled with other options that have better drinks and a more refined atmosphere, we did not stay long. In sum, this Gen X haven is truly a pit of despair and disappointment. This establishment is a blight upon the landscape of nightlife. A soulless simulacrum devoid of the grit, grime, and charm that define a dive bar. It feels more of a sterile tomb read more

Place is cash only, but I really can't complain given everything is under $10. I wonder how this places makes money. Or maybe they don't, seeing the latest review. Love the dingy mirrors on the wall and diner chairs alongside the leather booths. Place isn't "Instagram genic" but that same reason is why this place is preferable - less people, and no yelling to converse with your peers across the table. Clean bathrooms. Decent bar tenderess. At least during my visit anyway. Sorry to the last guy that lost his phone. So for that, 7/10. read more

iPhone thieves work here. Someone stole my iphone when there was nothing but employees there. It was 2am only employees and my colleague. Not a good sign. Couldn't call my family on their birthday because my phone was stolen. read more

Small (I can only figure the name must have been selected for its irony), cheap (**cash only**) and solid drinks, good volume for conversation but also good music. (I recall "Vitamin C" // CAN playing at one point, which became another talking point for me and the new friend who brought me here.) Our trio got to the bar around 11pm on a Friday. All of the seats were taken, but we soon snagged a cozy booth from a group that was leaving and settled down for a few hours. The bartender was super friendly, and the vibe among the other patrons was rather chill. Nice spot to unwind. read more

I've never gotten better service anywhere else. I'd recommend this bar to anyone and their mom

Walk in here thinking it was a gay bar because that's what yelp told me. It deeeeeeefinitely is not but people are having fun so good for them. Drink is okay tbh read more

Wonderful neighborhood bar without pretension or attitude. Just good clean fun...errr....good fun (scratch clean)! Big Bar is pretty small space-wise, but it's big on friendliness and good service. I went here a couple of weeks ago with yelpers and nonyelpers. And we all agreed it was a true gem. The owner was hanging around the bar and we were able to chat him up a bit. Super nice and chatty. I love how New Yorkers can do that. The bartender is excellent. A good bartender is not just eye candy, but someone that knows how to mix a drink. And actually, if a bartender knows how to mix a drink well, I don't care what he or she looks like. I will worship them forever. Our guy just happen to be cute AND able. Now that's a bonus. He was able to mix a good Manhattan (strong) and also made a very decent Margarita. I am now curious if he can make a good dirty Martini...I guess I'll have to come back to find out. The other patrons in the bar were also friendly and giving off good vibes. There is a joke book floating around the bar and I was able to share a few laughs with other bar patrons. I also learned a new dance called the Jumbo made up by a very unique and quirky customer. A great place to hang out and meet interesting characters. Truly memorable for all the right reasons. read more

Yay! I've been to this place quite a few times but went on an unintentional hiatus from the place for about 2 and a half years. I finally went some time last week (from the time this is being written/typed) and things are still as cool as ever. Despite its name, its actually not big and its quite small, dimly lit, divey and at the same time intimate. You come here if you want to be able to drink and have conversations with your friends and/or the always friendly bartenders. There's always interesting characters and interesting people to encounter and like an another yelper has mentioned, some of the most intriguing, thought provoking and entertaining conversations I ever had have occurred here. The music is always groovy, "alternative/not mainstream" (for lack of a better word)--and not to sound pretentious or like a music snob--but the bartenders here play some good fucking music. Its totally NOT your typical top 40 bullshit you'll hear blasting at a deafening level at many other typical NYC bars. The drinks for happy hour are standard NYC happy hour (4-5 dollars for beer) and after happy hour are pretty much standard NYC prices (I believe). The beer and alcohol selection is good for its size. All-in-All, if you're looking for a bar where you can meet interesting personas, be able to actually hear yourself talk with your friends and/or new friends you may meet and bartender, not have to scream at the bartender for a drink, not have to squeeze your way through a legion of drunk ugly fucks, than this is the spot to go to. If you want your mindless, spineless, soulless, ugly top 40 blaring music type of bar and crowd: go else where. This is where the COOL people play. Big Bar is a small bar with a big personality. BY THE WAY: Shout out to one of the coolest bartenders in town, Brian Richgruber. If you have the honor of meeting him and having him as your bartender, tip him real good. HEY, tip him monetary wise, I mean of course, unless there's a mutual agreement than you can do the other tipping if you know what I mean *wink wink*. ANYWAY, Big Bar is not that type of environment or maybe it is! See for yourself. Yay! I'm a fan. read more

Big Bar - Mens bathroom - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My wife and I met up with friends here before going out to dinner in the city. First of all, it is a quite small place that has about 7-8 small booths. While the size of the property is understandable because it is NYC, the lack of chairs in this establishment had some of us sitting in the booth, while the rest of the party was awkwardly sitting on stools crouching down trying to join the conversation. That could almost be forgiven since we were only there for about 20 minutes, if the staff knew about their promotions, especially ones that they put on Yelp. My wife noticed they had Heinekens for 5 dollars if you checked in on Yelp. I went to the bar to ask about it, and not only did they have no idea what I was talking about despite me showing the promotion on my phone, they didn't even serve Heineken anymore! As if the bartender was doing me a favor, she said she could give the whole group one free Stella, but couldn't do anything else to help us out. The only reason why we didn't leave is because we had already established that place as a meeting place and didn't want to change last minute, and the birthday boy had picked the place. Definitely won't be going back there, and I hope no one goes there in the hopes of getting a 5 dollar Heineken, because they'll be sorely disappointed. read more

No frills. One beer on tap. Nonetheless, I love the feel - the somewhat eerie red lights in an otherwise very comfortable space. It feels like you're drinking in someone's living room! (No, not in a creepy way.) As my friend put it, it's never crowded, but everyone is pretty chill here. Everyone seems like regulars even if you don't end up seeing the same people here from night to night. It's a special type of dive bar. read more

Lost it when I read the top review for this place and the guy said: "this place is cozy...it's probably a good place to write." ...To do what now? How hipster would you have to be to want to pretend-write in a bar??? Anyway, the wonky clientele is part of the charm in this place. It's a closet-sized space that has a few booths where people can nurse their drinks. Selection is limited but prices are reasonable. Decent place. read more

I love this place so much. Groovy music. Good drinks. Liquor heavy when the male bartenders serva ya. Friendly dudes. read more

Big Bar - Chill lighting - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

A friend of a friend showed me this place 2 years ago. I instantly fell in love. When we stopped talking, I used the opportunity to steal Big Bar as my own. It's a very small bar-- about 4 booths. A couple of bar seats and limited standing room. But even while packed it's not claustrophobic. (Despite the fogged windows!) Before I go on, I must add IT IS CASH ONLY! But if you can run to an ATM or have a cash oriented mate, it's totally worth it! The lights are super soothing and I think they play music? I've never noticed, which is great because I love bars you don't have to shout at. The bartenders are cool and have a heavy pour. The drinks are very cheap. I think we paid three dollars for a good sized Jameson shot. We were shocked it was three dollars and shocked it was real Jameson. BB is def one of my regular haunts when I remember to take out cash. (Which is more often now.) read more

Great spot for a drink. Friendly atmosphere along with great music including dj's playing actual vinyl records. I would definitely recommend this spot 2 enjoy a drink or 5 with some friends. read more

I accidentally happened upon this bar one night and I'm SO glad I did. We were walking by and attracted to the vibe and atmosphere of the place. Small and divey with eclectic decor and a punk vibe. Drinks were incredibly reasonably priced. Bartender was attentive and awesome and we really enjoyed ourselves. Will 100% be back! xo read more

I'm guessing by now you've learned that Big Bar is anything but palatial as far as space is concerned, but it's big in many other facets that give true meaning to its name: + It's big in personality. Their staff are all very friendly and project nothing but warm and fuzzies. + It's been in frigid circulating air. In these summer months, the smal space = less surface area to cool, and that results in a pleasant respite from the fmuggy conditions (F word + muggy). + It's big approachable locals. I've had a few great conversations with people of all walks of life... never awkward, forced, or creepy (yet). In all, these small virtues are a large part of why this tiny rathskeller has the depth of that canyon in Arizona, despite what the cover of the book may imply. As your grand mammy always said, "never judge a Bieber by its side swoop." She probably never said that, but you get it... read more

After all these years, this has remained the little big bar that could for me. Kind of like Richie Rich (http://techland.com/2009/01/04/a-letter-from-richie-rich/) is the poor little rich kid. Um, what? Anyhoo, while I suspect not more than 30 people could comfortably fit in here, I rarely have seen more than 10-15. Perhaps because of its smallness, people not-in-the-know just walk on by, but if you do find yourself drifting in, expect an close-knit vibe with just the right amount of hipster pretense to make you feel like you're in on something special. Forget the speakeasy trend, people; the real deal has been here all along, with bartenders who know how to pour big. read more

Straight up Big Bar, you're a liar. Big, eh? That's a small word with some large indications... Maybe it was Opposite Day when the owners decided to name you. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and leave it at that. This place is far from big. No kidding. I walked in here and for a second I felt a bit claustrophobic. DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU HATE THE PERSON YOU ARE WITH. Really, don't. The place is so intimate, the music so chill, and the atmosphere so conducive to a quiet night out with someone you enjoy being with that it would probably cause you to kill yourself if you actually had to have a conversation with someone you did not want to be out with. One beer on tap. Blue Point. I like that, so no complaints. The bartender made me a mean margarita with a lot of love, so more of the whole no complaints thing. Solid happy hour specials, plenty of seating (for such a "big" place), and a crowd that was far from pretentious. I had a really good time here and was lucky enough to be with someone so cool that would have been impossible to enjoy an intimate place like Big Bar. read more

Big? Not quite. It was actually almost the size of my studio apartment...pretty sad, actually now that I think about it. The bathroom was even smaller. I had to sit sideways on the toilet (don't judge me for sitting on public bathroom toilets!) cause my legs wouldn't fit. Also, there was like verrryyyyy low lighting in there. A little bit creepy. I normally feel uncomfortable in places that are tiny, but for some reason, the bar felt very homey...and I felt comfortable as if I were actually in my own studio apartment. Or maybe it was the fact that I was there with a totally chill friend. (here's looking at you, Sean S!) The bartender (Roxy) seemed down to earth as well. Supposedly, she makes the best "Manhattan's", which she kept offering to Sean throughout the night. And from what I could gather, he seemed to enjoy her Manhattan's. I only had a rum & coke which was like any other rum & cokes I've ever consumed. I got the vibe that this bar attracts a lot of locals/regulars. Jazz music was playing in the background. They had strange lighting, too...red to be exact. Kinda reminded me of how a dungeon would look like: dark with colored lights. read more

Look, this place is amazing. I've been going here for about 5 years now and it never has gotten old. Here's how I know you'll like it: not a single person I have ever taken there has said anything but "I really dig this bar. Nice choice" or something to that effect. That's basically science right there. Is it small? Of course. In real estate parlance you could even say it's "cute." Some say that's a good thing. If you want to bro out this ain't your place. But if you want to chill, have a great drink in under a minute, meet some random new people and feel like you are an extra in a David Lynch movie. This is very very much your place. What are you still doing here? Go get your drink on already! (I am.) read more

I don't give five stars that often... Maybe it's cause I'm in a great mood today, or maybe cause this place is kinda awesome... Stopped in here last night on a lark, or maybe a last minute text message invite from some friends... I really like the vibe in this place, quiet, cozy, friendly... perfect date spot I'll say that much. One wall is lined with booths that seem to all be full of cute girls. How can this be? I ask for no explanation from the East Village gods, just an observation... Drinks, they're potent. Seems that they can make just about anything too... I think I wanna go back there tonight! read more

Hypothetical situation. It's 2 a.m. on a Thursday. You're out and about with a friend from out of town. Of course, it's obviously not difficult to find a bar in the East Village to take them that happens to be open and has more than a few like-minded drinkers. But finding a spot at this point in the evening that has an honest-to-goodness chill but fun clientele whose goal isn't to get so obliterated they don't fully remember their middle names, however, might prove to be a tad more difficult. But not if you know about the cozy, warm, lovely, near-perfect vision of cuteness that is Big Bar (which also happens to conveniently double as possibly the perfect solution for agoraphobes). The cocoon-like atmosphere, constant stream of gentle gin-soaked '50s tunes and the presence of a decidedly non-frat crowd all handily make up for the fact that there's only one beer on tap here (Brooklyn Pilsner). And, bonus -- you're likely to impress out-of-towners just by knowing about this place. (Yes, maybe even more so than taking them to the now-cliche of a "secret" speakeasy. Make them do a secret handshake before they enter and you'll pretty much achieve the same effect.) read more

I just wanted to confirm that the magic was still present in this dope establishment, last night. Hmmm....I blacked the fuck out, woke up in an unfamiliar place, called out sick and have $2 left in my wallet. Magic confirmed. read more

Big bar is as big as Greenland is green. Stephan the Ukrainian bartender makes a mean Manhattan. A few of those and you'll be floored. All in all, a cool place to hang out. read more

Big Bar is too small for a first date... It's so small that you can't get one of the fifteen seats and you have no where to stand but literally in the middle of the floor. The weirdish neon lights are not conducive to a cool, comfortable vibe and this coupled with the awkwardness of no TV, no where to stand and no where to sit, just made us rush out of Big Bar and find something.... ENORMOUS. read more

This is my favorite spot in the East Village, and perhaps my favorite bar in Manhattan. I've had truly great conversations with some of my best friends at this intimate spot. It's also where I first got it on with Johnny Walker. I'm usually surprised that this place isn't busier. I think there are 4-5 booths, 6 or so bar stools, a few other leaning places, and that's it. You would think it would feel crowded more often. Anyway. I like this place these days to meet up with a girl friend for a powwow about the stuff women powwow about. I also like it as a spot to get a quick drink and use the bathroom before heading back to Brooklyn after a night in the E.Vil. My brother is starting at Cooper, so I'm guessing that we will spend a lot of time here in the future, as it is one of the few bars close to his school that doesn't shout COLLEGE, and is therefore an appropriate compromise. Everything they are saying about the size and the fabulous red lighting and the good bartenders is right on. There might be a slight gay tinge here. I am pretty sure I kissed a girl one night at the Big Bar. But hey. That could happen in any number of places. It could be a good place for groups if you got there and took over the entire place. I also think you can call ahead and arrange such a thing. I think the bottom line with this place is that it is cozy, comfortable, and you can actually have a conversation with your companions without resorting to shouting. That's kind of an indulgence. read more

Oh I get it - they call it Big Bar but its small... good one.... Anyway, an OK little dive bar with a cocktail menu and decent liquor selection for its size. Prices are not dive level for as not nice as the place is, but it was friendly and inviting so overall OK - would go again if I happened to be walking by but wouldn't go out of my way. read more

I love Big Bar. It's like time travel back to the East Village of old. Go on a weeknight and pretend it's 1982 (it's probably not *that* old). Imagine you're ducking in off the eerily quiet streets, having found a safe, friendly little refuge to dodge the muggers and derelicts outside for a short while. Go by yourself or with a friend or two, any more than that and you'll kill the vibe. read more

I always find it interesting when I deem an establishment a certain star quality and then hop on Yelp only to discover most everyone disagrees with me. I then question why... Why is it that I'm planting just 2 stars here, while everyone else seems to go 4 and up? My drink of choice. That's why. Let's start from the beginning, yes? My girlfriend's Swiss friends had just arrived in town, and we were all meeting up for dinner. Since I was off work an hour after everyone else, they decided to wait for me at a bar near our restaurant choice. When I arrived, I first noticed the discrepancy, or the irony, of this bar's name. The place is TINY. I can't imagine what it looks like crowded. It being Tuesday, I was naturally jonsing for a beer. While I waited on the bartender to return from the great unknown, I studied the beer menu. I use "menu" loosely. I *guess* there were options. I mean, you can order a canned beer (Guinness), bottled beer (Corona, Stella, 3 other similar), and draught beer (their specialty whose name escapes me). Just ONE beer on tap? Really? Fine. I ask for a taste. I suppose it tastes ok. I'll take that. Eh. My girlfriend ended up finishing it for me. It definitely lacked any sort of flavor, though I may just be spoiled by the current wealth of Octoberfest brews out there! It being happy hour, my beer was $5; normally $6. The atmosphere of the place was kind of cool; moody red lighting, cozy booths, etc. The bathroom, however, was smaller than an airplane's lavatory. Look, this place is clearly a cocktail joint. I get this now. So, for those of you looking for that sort of place, by all means give this place a go. If you're like me and looking for a wide selection of delicious beer, keep on going!! read more

I discovered Red Stripe here. How many other people can say that...? Love the place, but haven't been back since... walk past it all the time on my way to McSorley's. From what i remember in my drunken haze, the staff is super friendly - well i guess it'd suck if they weren't considering the size of the place... read more

Normal town drink prices in the East Village? Crap! Get your drunk on. Tiny Space, not too full the two times I tried it, kind bar staff, scuffed Mod decor. I heartily approve. Good bathroom graffiti. Seriously that guy does need to learn to draw a star... read more

Super cool place that we just happened to walk past - has this 50s-60s sort of vibe! Small but cozy. Beers are $4-$7 - cool little gem! read more

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Came here 2 AM on a Saturday after Wechsler's closed. Very cozy. A bunch of dudes were here, shooting the shit. Bartender Stephan was awesome (and I think he owns the place). This is a great place to unwind after an epic night. read more

Big Bar reminds me of the bars in the area that I went to in this area when I first began exploring them - kinda dark, kinda nondescript, and you might not even remember it exists. it's a tiny joint, with an okay beer selection, low music, fairly friendly service, and goes from "this is nifty because it's small" to "holy crap, it got packed" when some random person decides to invite 20 of their friends. even the side booths were not that much of a respite from such a horde, alas! that's the long - or rather, the very short - of it! read more

Randomly dropped in here while trying to find anything in Alphabet City / East Village as the area was rather dead on a Friday (shockingly). Walked by Big Bar and it looked pretty popping given its intimate size. Ordered a Grey Goose dirty martini and honestly, was rather unimpressed. Cash only and $14 bucks to boot. I've had my share of dirty martinis (read: it's one of my go-to drinks) and this one was extremely watery. There was no kick in this dirty martini. Left a bit disgruntled. I probably could have complained, but didn't really bother. With that said, I did find the bar to be really cool and a good place to hang out with friends. I'd give it another shot, but would be hesitant to order a dirty martini. read more

I wanted to like this place... a lot, especially for their happy hour till 8pm sign posted outside ---- but, a friend and I walked in to what felt like an awkward conversation with two other people. The bartender was nice, but she gave me my drink in a shot glass and then charged me $4 for it, which I thought sucked. I gave it 2 stars because I liked the way it looked, very cute decor. The people sitting at the bar (two women) gave us attitude and then proceeded to spill their drink on the bar and roll their eyes at us when we said "awww, that sucks" Guess you have to know the secret code to be cool at this place. read more

My favorite bar in the entire world. Best bartenders, great vibe, good people, a lot of locals, amazing music and most of all no tv ! People actually talk to people !! I've met so many cool people at this place ! You'll probably see me there if you come one night! read more