I had been wondering about this bar for some time. I had kept passing it and it looks super cute and teeny weenie and brick interior just nestled on a side street of lower Chelsea. I'm going to quickly get to the downside because there are a lot of minuses with this bar. The beer is grossly over-priced. Ridiculously over-priced and most of everything on tap or in can is nothing special. Other Half IPAs aren't made of liquid gold. They honestly taste like plastic bags. There is no reason that they should be price marked at $12-14 a pop. But then on the other hand you have an interesting sounding cocktail menu with most drinks no more than $14-15. How are the cocktails the same price as the beer?! Where did I wake up today? They also charge you for charging your phone on a little dinky machine that was plopped next to me on the bar and they apparently charge $5 for playing trivia? None of these things make sense to me in my brain. I can do all of the above for free at any other place. Moving on to the pluses, I intended to only stay for 1 drink (I went the cocktail route obviously because I'm not about to pay double the price for a beer) but we surprisingly were caught up in a feel good moment and stayed for 3 rounds. The ambiance is nice. It feels homey. Like in the sense that I'm in an ultra expensive little nook in Brooklyn that perhaps used to be a little bookshop vibe but then you're paying Manhattan prices. We ordered for the most part Old Fashioneds and the last drink I switched things up and tried their RoseBud: Vodka and house-made rosewater lemonade. The mix was unique. It was sweet and salty and a little floral but not too overwhelming. Delightful cocktails. Happy hour I think is $2 off of drinks but it ends early at 6pm. I didn't explore the food menu but it seems medium priced of burgers, sandwiches, fries, etc. Worth a spot checking out but I wouldn't be a regular. Key word is laid back and cozy. read more

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We were looking for a quiet bar in Chelsea, and decided to try the gadfly. What a great find! The cocktails were delicious and creative, and the ambience was perfect. We ordered at the bar and were served quickly and although it was a little bit busy, it was still quite enough for a conversation, which is what we were looking for. Great place and if we lived here, we would be here frequently. read more

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I ordered the IPA and the pretzel. The bartender was friendly and the service was good. It took me a while to figure out how to place the order ( the QR code does not work for me for some reason). Highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Chelsea area in NYC. Cheers! read more

Such a fun place to go with friends, especially for their Trivia Tuesdays which is $5 pp. The trivia host definitely brings the energy. The bites were surprisingly good too. The fries were some of the best I've had. read more

Chill ambience, very nice and professional bartender, not too crowded on a Sunday evening. Decent drink selection, they have a happy hour that's $2 off up to 6pm. read more

Gadfly Bar - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I came here for happy hour after work. It's a perfectly fine bar with all the drinks and food items you'd expect at the prices you'd expect. If you're in the area, it's a solid option. read more

Bartender was so rude. The comments he made and the way he snapped at us was just uncalled for. We will not go back or recommend this place to anyone because of his behavior read more

fun time, good drinks good service . went for a friend's birthday and enjoyed every minute of it. would come again if in the area

Oh man, this bar??? The vibes were immaculate. What a cozy hidden place that felt so warm and welcoming. The bartender was incredible and he made some of the best whiskey sours I've ever had. Just know the bathrooms are so tiny!!! But that doesn't deter me from a good time. I can't wait to come back. read more

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Fun and charming little bar that just feels cozy and homey. If I lived in this neighborhood, I could easily see it comfortably becoming my local. Food menu is small but packs a punch--their smashburger was exceptional, more upscale than pub burger, with excellent fries. I'd seriously come out of my way to a boring spot for this burger, much less to a cool bar! My friend had a hot dog ,which was a bargain--inexpensive and huge. Cocktails were strong, I had an excellent old fashioned as well as a house Sazerac, which came with a chaser of absinthe on the side which I absolutely didn't need but absolutely enjoyed nonetheless. I have to ding them a tiny bit for the beer options though--very small tap list which is fine but not particularly interesting; they do supplement with a relatively strong and extensive can list, but the markup ($12-$14 a can for like a Three's or Other Half?) feels too extensive. But overall a fun place to hang and drink and eat. read more

Great little getaway spot to chill - popped in to stay dry from the rain. Excellent ambiance- would absolutely come again!

Great spot. Came in on a Tuesday night for a quick drink with some friends. Cocktails were good - we got the Gin Mint and the Fawlty Sour. Gin Mint was basic - wish there was a stronger absinthe flavor. Fawlty sour was great. Cocktail prices sat around $15. Staff is super kind and generous. They played good rock music, if you're into that thing. Glad we came by! read more

Gadfly Bar - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Wonderful neighborhood bar I frequent with live music. Such a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Great drinks!

With lots of options in the area, this popped up and I'm glad we stopped in. Ambiance is elevated dive bar? Lots of board games in the back. High tops in front and a large bench with stools in the back. College age kids and young adults. We only had drinks so can't comment on food. Drinks were very affordable and cocktails were standard. Nothing special. And definitely not speakeasy level. Service was a bit confusing and it looked like they were short staffed. There looked like only one person managing the tables so we weren't served and had to go to the bar. So in that sense service could be improved but we didn't mind going to the bar and getting our own drinks. Overall, good place to grab a drink with friends in a laid back environment. read more

Highly recommend this bar! Cozy vibes and very friendly and attentive staff which is always appreciated. The food was decent and there's a large selection of drinks (and non-alcoholic drinks) on the menu. I really liked the atmosphere of the bar and I'd like to return here if I am in the area! read more

My new favorite bar! Conveniently located by the train and right off the corner of 15th st. Classy cocktail experience at reasonable prices for the city. Creative drinks (recently had a banana daiquiri) and all the classics plus summer necessities like frose. My favorite bar snack are the pulled pork sliders, you get two with some chips. Also of note, the Cuban which my friends always go for. It's not intimidating and very friendly bartenders if you are alone. When with friends you have a couple of options of high tops or tables along the wall. Now they offer Tuesday Trivia and sometimes live music. Music is always rockin', often 90's and fun stuff on the screens (not sports-phew) like Portlandia or Big Lebowski. read more

Gadfly Bar - Chicken tacos! - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

3/5 old fashioned Bitter, not enough sweetness At least bartender was kind and I got to sit alone feeling comfortable read more

Nice atmosphere, not a sports bar for sure. Good drinks & good food. Friendly bartenders and timely service ! read more

Wanted to get drinks in the area after brunch on a Saturday and came across Gadfly - it opened at 3pm, so we arrived shortly after and it was already starting to fill up. I got the Old Fashioned Old Fashioned, which was just as the name states - hit the spot. My friend got the Sazerac Big Teasy, which was almost like two drinks in one - a whiskey cocktail with a shot of absinthe. The decor was interesting - we sat next to posters of Bob Dylan and Prince. The crowd was low key and the music was a fun 80s/90s mix. I enjoyed Gadfly Bar, would come back! read more

Great find! The drinks were really good and unique and affordable for the quality ($16 for a cocktail) - the bartender we had was also super nice and gave good drink advice. Only complaint is it was a bit warm in there but it was also really full and winter so I imagine everyone else enjoyed it. read more

Perfect neighborhood bar! Tuesday trivia night was so fun. $5 a person to enter and entertaining as heck! The cocktails were great average price point and the selection of beers was enough. The menu had so much more than nuts and cheese plates which is atypical of bars. The cauliflower tacos came double tortilla and filling enough and the HUGE soft pretzel was the star of the table to share with friends. Like it took up such a big part fo the high top table. Staff were so friendly and it's just enough noise level not to overwhelm conversations. The stand out was the decor. Beautiful art! Location was great cause the subway was literally across the street. Overall a comeback go to spot for after work! read more

One of the best bars in the city. Trivia night here is a delight in itself, but whether you're stopping in for a beer or a bite, I think gadfly will have what you're looking for. They don't give Michelin stars for bars out yet, but if the committee ever looks, they should start at 15th and 8th. Kudos Joe for materializing the platonic ideal of a bar. read more

Very nice chill bar with great music and delicious cocktails. Bartender Rick super cool. Will be back! read more

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One of the few spots in nyc I've been to where the vibe and the people make it feel like a small town atmosphere, super friendly. Great place to grab a drink after work by yourself or with friends. I look forward to watching them grow as they expand their food offerings and entertainment. read more

First time here but blown away by the service and the ambiance - games, good food (pretzel is terrific), and a superb beer list. Our bartender was super pleasant and efficient and our entire party (mostly Manhattan residents) found the whole experience terrific. Will definitely be back ! read more

Great spot. Fantastic trivia on Tuesday nights. The staff are all beautiful on the inside and outside. If you go there, you'll probably be like "damn I'm glad I read that review and listened to that guy on Yelp, he was sooo right". read more

I love this bar and the owner and people who work here are all individually and collectively really incredible. Great vibes, awesome service, delicious food and drinks at a fair price in a cozy space. What more could you ask for? read more

I was just there and had a great time! Bartender was cool and the drinks were great. Kinda have to love anyplace that has a David Bowie portrait on the wall! read more

Gadfly Bar - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great deals on drinks, ambiance is everything, and they have fun games! The food was also very good for bar food.

Great local joint, all the bartenders and staff are super nice and honestly the vibes are immaculate. Just a solid chill time. I'm not a big pretzel gal, BUT I must say I keep coming back for the pretz, beer cheese sauce & moostarda. read more

Really great neighborhood spot with amazing cocktails and a lowkey vibe. Rick made me a boulevadier that made me believe in God. Will be back to try the pretzel. read more

Amazing vibes. We were looking for bar vibes and this place was absolutely perfect. Perfect number of people, perfect array of drink choices and overall amazing vibes, I just wish they would have been able to stay open later! read more

Gadfly Bar - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Great small cocktail bar for after work drinks or a low key night! Delicious tapas and cocktails. Must have the pretzel!

I've lived in NYC for 8+ years and this is the best pizza I've ever had! Thank you Gadfly!

Simply put, Gadfly is a bar you want to keep going back to. More elaborately, the space is well lit and well appointed, the colors and decorations on the walls are aesthetically pleasing, and the mural is not to be missed! The drinks taste great and are consistent. I've had the Bikini Martini, which was fruity and had just the right amount of coconut flavor. I have also had a cosmopolitan in a beautiful lowball glass (because I'm a spiller), and my very first (and then second) vodka Red Bull. The bartenders Hugo and Paul are friendly and know what they are talking about when it comes to making or recommending a drink. The current menu makes me look forward to whenever it is expanded. The meat and cheese plate tastes fresh, the bar nuts are the perfect salty and crunch to accompany the drinks, and the salted soft pretzel is my favorite. It's not dense or rubbery like most soft pretzels. The crust provides a good, substantive exterior to the soft and warm interior. It is accompanied by beer cheese, a revelation since I've never had it before, and the best honey mustard, which won me over as I'm normally not a fan. One minor thing that really stood out, the bathroom soap isn't pungent smelling and I really appreciate it. Nothing ruins an experience more than lifting a drink or food to your mouth and being able to smell the stench of berries or vanilla. Simone, the hostess, and Kara and Joe, the owners, are kind and welcoming. I'm looking forward to making Gadfly a regular spot! read more

Lovely place and great old fashioned plus the ultraviolet gin looks very nice. Good for events, and small eats!