Super tiny and cozy little bar on 5th street near 2nd avenue. I was drawn here by a throng of post-funfair at carnival Yelpers, so I knew it would be a fun spot. Unfortunately I had an entourage of 10 in tow, and we couldn't find space to hangout, so we left shortly after. But I'll definitely be back to this spot. It was fun, and might prove a good alternative to the old Pink Pony Ludlow street hangout... Thx Elliott & Craig for the tip! read more

This is a late review...like months late. PBR + Bourbon...I would think that I wouldn't have to explain anything else after this. A nice small dive bar with quick service. Clean overall place. By the 4 PBR +Bourbon, it didn't matter...a great time was on us. This place started a nice LOOOOOONG night out. The bartender was awesome. She kept the shots going and we kept the tips flowing. read more

Nice, relaxing, unassuming dive bar. You can actually (sort of) hear your companions and has a fun vibe to the place. I've never had so many patrons ask me if I needed assistance (in a nice, helpful, real gentlemanly way). Who says chivalry is dead? I think we must have ordered 20+ buckets of beer or something. When you get a bucket on the house somewhere along the way, you know they are enjoying your presence there. My friends are very proud of the fact we drank them out of 2 brands of beer and were running down the 3rd by the time we left... There isn't a lot of space, but it isn't a dungeonhole either. For a nice evening with friends just to chill and hang out, this place is awesome. read more

What a cozy little place. Very small and intimate and a bit grungy so at first it's not very appealing, but they make great drinks and the bartenders are nice. Recommended! read more

Nice Owner, Free cheese, and A legit dive? Was it all a dream? Long live the Fish Bar! read more

This is a review for the halloween pub crawl for 10-31-19. So we arrived at the bar and walked in as there was no one to card us. The bar is small. We ordered vodka seven and vodka with cranberry and oj. The bartender asked for ids which we showed. Then made our drinks. She then said 14dollars which we replied no its 10 dollars. We are in the pub crawl. She then said my boss did not tell me that . We said well that is why we are here. She wanted to see the pub crawl leaflet which we gladly showed her. She then said "have at it"with an attitude. We were slightly amused then she said " you better tip me". What the hell...so rude and upprofessional she was. We always tip but to be told "you better"...Oh no read more

Dion is the friendliest and most welcoming host/bartender. His DJing is on point and the service is excellent considering the price. -Hugh read more

Okay so, I was going to give a one star review where I hid a glowing review inside a litany of complaints to keep this place a secret. For one, that just wouldn't do Fish Bar justice and for two, the positive reviews just keep rolling in but the place is still usually almost empty. So, really, that would just be pissing against the flood, wouldn't it? This is the bar that I go to when I want to have a drink and conversation with friends and not much else. It's quiet, it's cozy, it's easy to miss unless you're absolutely certain where you're going. Fish bar is super divey, but not in a stereotypical or contrived way; the tables and chairs shake, the men's and women's bathrooms are interchangeable, there's only one tap, it's nice and dark, and it's frequented by an older crowd. It's quiet enough to have a conversation in and cool enough that nobody cares what you're saying. If you don't have any friends to go out with, have a seat at the bar and the bartenders or the regulars will chat you up. People who are creeped out by reality, by actual people and human interactions, will want to avoid this place because there is a feeling of anti-anonymity. Yet it's not a "Cheers" style brass rail watering hole with neighborhood goodguys showboating, it's a being-for-itself haunt of poets and intellectuals drinking the voices in their heads down to a whisper. I love the drink special. It's not as cheap as other places, but it feels more right here than anywhere else. It's not there to lure you to the boat, it's to keep you underwater. No credit cards, so get cash beforehand and be prepared to drink yourself sick. And they have a movie night on Wednesdays, if I'm not mistaken. read more

Great dive bar with great bartenders. I am here every Monday and Tuesday and both days are totally different which I love. I was surprised to walk into an excellent comedy show on a Monday and Tuesdays are more relaxed which I also like. The bartenders are lovely and fair and I love that about this bar. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

i lost another hour my bar stool fell from me started red, ended white forgot to take off my pants and jacket woke up with the lights on, boots on mummy in my bed sleep it off sleep it off sleep it off read more

I didn't like it. Ended up here for my final final, but wish I hadn't. I felt inexplicably and overwhelmingly sad from the moment I walked in. Lots of people smoking openly, some sleeping at tables, maybe the sadness wasn't so inexplicable afterall. They seem to sell quite a few PBRs... Not my place. read more

If you go here with no previous experience, be forewarned: This is by far the worst bar I have ever been to in my life. First, we walk in. Cash only. Fine. I'm from out of state where this is less common than new York and I have no cash but I'm with a new Yorker so I think nothing of it. The moment we step to the bar and begin to order a beer, the red headed (dyed) bartender(ess) puts a beer on us for some random guy who says "and one for me too" which I didn't realize till after but (unbelievable)...me and my friend order and then she says "so what's your girlfriend drinking?". Clearly no one else but we're in a good mood so whatever, order a 4th beer with the intention to give it away... Then she starts talking about when we're going to pay her... Neither of us have cash it turns out so we ask her where the ATM is. She just goes on and on for literally 2 minutes about how we are ordering beers and not going to pay; we're from Boston and think it's cool not to pay in new York. Clearly insanity at the bar. So then another guy comes to the rescue at the bar and says " hey guys, no worries, go one block up the street and take a right and BAM: ATM" I think cool, this guy is just trying to defuse an awkward moment, it's just the bartender that is crazy. But then he's like "then you can come back and apologize for the shit you started". I looked at him in disbelief and then again the bartender insulted us and Boston by saying" maybe in Boston this doesn't pass as shit but you guys are not okay here. I'm going to hold one of you as collateral while the other goes to the ATM". Unbelievable bull at a level I have never have experienced. We told her there is no way we would ever pay her for the experience we just got and left. Some people actually clapped when she announced our departure with "here go some people from Boston that don't want to pay for their beers". Disgraceful. This can all be chalked up to one terrible bartender but honestly I've never experienced anything like this in my life. F this place. BLACKLISTED FOREVER. Zero stars. I know New York is better than this. read more

Fish bar is one of my favorite bars in the area. It is a tiny dive with a friendly atmosphere. There are no beers on tap and sometimes the bartenders drink all of the bourbon. Still, it's a great place to have a few drinks with friends before going out or to finish off a late night. It's almost never crowded which means that even on a Friday night there's a pretty good chance you can sit down and actually talk to people. I like it, you might not. read more

This has to be my favorite dive bar in all of NYC. Somehow it manages to stay pretty free of the typical DB east village/NYU crowd and attracts more of the actual local crowd. I also love how it's in the middle of the block on a fairly quiet street. CASH ONLY (which I think is awesome) and it's pretty hard to find cheaper prices. Especially in Manhattan. PBR & a shot of bourbon for 7 bucks. Check it out... Just don't tell the NYU kids about it.. Shhhhhhhhh..... read more

I bet that this bar has famous patrons such as SpongeBob SquarePants. It totally looks like the type of place he'd go to relax after a long hard day of work at the Krusty Krab. With a good selection of beer and a friendly bartender who laughed at my joke... I, too, like it here. read more

A great dive bar. Cheap beer, cool bartender. It's not too loud, so it's good for catching up.

i like fish bar! it's divey, downbeat, and FISH themed!!! i love the decor. it's murky and tacky and fun. cheap happy hour (2 for 1's) and very cool people to mingle with. the playlist is awesome, lots of great indie and alt rock. the bathrooms are a little stinky, but what is a dive without a stinky bathroom. also, i've decided the bartender looks like clark kent. read more

this is great find for me. like the other fish bar (max fish) this bar has a great vibe to it. its very friendly and drinks are strong. this is a small place but it's definitely on the east village dive bar radar. recommended. for small groups of friends read more

Small. Okay selection of beer (mostly bottled). Small. The decor is kitchy (in a good way). Nice staff though.

Went last week with a friend to attend a "Beatles singalong." Nice cool, mellow vibe, reasonable prices, friendly bartender. What could be bad? Nice spot for a damp, raw afternoon. read more

Wednesday Night is the best night here. Movies, popcorn, and the drink special. I go here when I can. Pros Movie Night with free popcorn Cheap Drinks Its never filled with NYU kids but plenty of hipsters Some bartenders are friendly Cons Some bartenders not so friendly Not a lot of variety in beers (it is a dive though!) Its the size of a garage (and used to be one) The furniture in there is falling apart I enjoy drinking here, but I've limited myself to only Wednesdays here. I've had an issue with a few of the bar tenders being jerk offs which doesn't make sense when you work for tip. My other problem plays into that as well. That plays into the furniture. I'm a big guy. I'm not a fat guy but I'm tall and weigh 220lbs. I have had two chairs collapse on me. While it was funny the first time (it was my birthday) it gets old. I'm sure my friends still enjoy it when it happens. The tables are just as cheap and shitty as the chairs. Bump into one and it'll go flying. They're made out of match sticks and wire hangers, I swear! It becomes a chore when the place is packed and your trying not to spill everyone's drinks when getting up for a smoke. The last time I was there, some guy came out of the bathroom, bumped into our table, and spilled all of our drinks (two gin and tonics, vodka tonic, and my PBR bourbon) apologized, and went outside. I went to the bartender and explained what happened, and she wanted to charge me for the drinks. Considering I was covered in cheap booze, it was apparent that I drink all of it in the 3 minutes since I ordered it. She also goes "oh that must've been so and so" and proceeds to charge me for the new drinks. Jump off a bridge Sunday Bartender! read more

I had a good time at the Fish Bar - randomly walked in. Nicely decorated, very small dive bar - but it has character. Took advantage of the $6 Pabst + shot of bourbon special. They also had 2 for 1 everything. Very friendly bartender, and an ecclectic crew at the bar. I was starving, and the bartender broke out a list of menus, so i ordered the BLT from Frank's nearby. Good stuff. This is a good place to get your drink on before heading out for the night. read more

What a classic little unmarked EV gem. Went on a Saturday night and was able to get a table with 3 friends and enjoy conversation over a mild din. Great place to catch up with folks. Friendly service (did not give me any lip over sending back a skunkish Brooklyn pour). Cash only. read more

The friendliest East Village dive. Sit at the bar and someone is bound to strike up a conversation with you. There is no cocktail list and the beers are all bottled, so go straight for the booze. You can usually find a seat, even on weekends. Nice bonus: clean bathrooms. read more

Best dive bar in the east village. Chill non pretentious crowd.

I love a good dive bar. And Fish Bar is a rather good dive bar. Dim lights, cheap beer, friendly-enough staff, and other patrons who generally keep to themselves. This is not a pick-up bar. After a certain point, it seems like smoking inside is just kind of ignored. The staff was doing it, so everyone else started. And the music was all kinds of awesome. read more

It's a small bar with a big personality. More quirky than divey to me, with a friendly crowd. Me and my roommate came in and made friends with a group of people very quickly. The bartender (petite brunette with glasses) was very sweet. They also don't blast the music so you can actually hear people talk. More of a place to go with friends than to drink in alone. The place is tiny, and getting to the bathroom will have you weaving and excusing your way through, but it's dim and colorful and all around a fun spot to drink in. read more

Ended up here one night last week. Bartender was cool- room to sit. Small place, but nice and cozy- will have to check it out, um, earlier? Or soberer. read more

Nestled on a (relatively) quiet East Village street, Fish Bar is a tiny and well-maintained oasis from the clangorous Village bar scene. The seating is very limited, and those who arrive after 10p.m. on a weekend will likely find standing room only. During the week, however, Fish Bar is primarily filled with neighborhood regulars and wonderful, cultured conversation from patrons and bartender alike. Gently kitschy decor, an utter lack of pretense, and a $5 PBR + house bourbon deal make this unassuming watering hole a welcome sight. read more

A dive classic. A bit small but a unique layout sets it apart. Stuck with beer but I hear the drinks are good. I'll be back.

A pocket-size bar nestled in between 3rd and 2nd Ave that shouldn't be left off of an East Village bar crawl list. I remember the staff being awfully nice and chatty, but something needs to be done about the volume level of music inside Fish Bar. An early evening venture with no one in the bar made hearing friends across the table difficult. A A-OK spot. read more

Was here Saturday night for a friend's birthday and had an excellent time. The place is really chill and bright, which made conversation easy. Music was lots of fun, and the night definitely evolved (devolved?) into the prom one bar patron had never had around 2 am. Drinks were strong and cheap. Bartenders was friendly and extremely relaxed. I will absolutely be back. read more

If you like dive bars you'll love this place. Happy hour cheese plate is great with real cheeses and numerous choices for free. Beer and drinks are cheap and a friendly engaging staff! read more

The epitome of a dive bar - eclectic crowd, it is what you make of it. You have to appreciate two for one beers, especially when they serve your favorite. I went with a small group of friends and we thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

Love it! Good, classic dive with very friendly, smiley staff (in comparison to uber pretensious staff at places like Pink Pony) and good drinks $6 pbr + bourbon deal and good mixed drinks. EVIL bar at its best. read more

If you can't stand the wait at Upstate then come to this place. The menu is almost the same and one dollar Oysters during happy hour is defnitely a reason to come. I recommend the fried clam and oysters. The octopus was disappointing but the mussels made up for it! Definitely check this place out! read more

Lovely tiny place with fishes on the walls and a mermaid doll in a nook above the bar. Has a cozy, talk-to-anyone atmosphere that is lacking in far too many (read: almost all) NY watering holes, and a Wednesday movie night with excellent films (currently the Kill Bill sequence). Also, they have a warm cider and rum drink that I must go back to try, since it sounds absolutely delicious, but they've been out all three times I've been there (maybe this drink doesn't exist and they just advertise it to make people keep coming back...)! read more

This is not a "dive" because it's not gross. It is a quaint neighborhood bar, filled with regulars and locals, and great staff. Drinks are cheap guys!!! I love this place. Best night? Sunday. Friendly crowd, never too crowded, and a great place to chow down on local grub while throwing back a few bevvies. read more

Love this place, one of the cool things about this bar is this great chick, Bianca, its like being served by Lauren Bacall, so I make believe Im Bogart. read more

The best place ever! Big happy family! Bartenders really know how to make a drink! Not so loud so you can chat. Always good music too!