The "gentlemen" behind the burger grill must have had a really bad day - week - month LIFE! I know Julius is the oldest gay bar in the damn world or whatever, but I've never ordered a burger there. So, I respectfully asked the man in braids behind the grill if I order from him or the waitstaff. He looked up slowly from the stench of bad karma and what I imagine might be grade D but edible beef and responded with the look of someone actually possessed, with... "what kind of question is that, why do you think I'm standing here"? Oh, I see how this works - you hate your life, and your burger flippin' job, so why not unleash your greezy burger flippin' misery on the unsuspecting well intentioned dude to ask you one simple question. Sorry for any carnivores lured in by the scent of dime a'dozen patties, but the meats gone bad and the attitudes even worse. read more

Really the only old time gay bar left in NY. The crowd is super mixed. And everyone is there to have a few drinks and a good time. The pour is heavy and cheap. So most patrons are a bit intoxicated. All the more reason to pay a visit. Also check out the historic memorabilia throughout the place. You are not a gay New Yorker until you have visited this place. read more

it was my last night out in new york/ west village area & we made our way to this nice neighborhood bar! the vibe was chill & friendly & the bartender was so nice & very informative with the bar, neighborhood & history of the bar! it was so cool! sorry i forgot his name but he was a nice guy with glasses! :) they also have a mini kitchen open all night as well! read more

It's a bummer, lots of freak older guys interspersed with an occasional straight couple and here and there some loud mouthed chick asking random guys if they "suck cock" (a rudeness for both straight and gay guys). Not to be revisited. read more

Saw this bar in the movie Can You Ever Forgive Me, so went with my friend and we were stunned at how needlessly rude the doorman was. Also, the bartender had an attitude as well. Not my favorite experience and will just go to Monster and Stonewall where they at least do not treat you horribly for wanting to patronize their business. read more

Gay dive bar with servers that are not that friendly. I gave it 3 star because of the drink prices, but friendliness doesn't cost a thing.

I LOVE this place. It's a cozy, cheap bar with great food and great bartenders (Justin rocks!) As a straight girl, it's still the first bar I head to whenever I'm in town. Love it's history, love it's vibe. Highly recommend it. read more

Well, this place isn't for me per se, but it's nice for what is is / who it's aspiring to serve. i.e. most the patrons at a Butt mag party I went to some time ago. I remember mysteriously getting into character and arm wrestling someone in the bath room, which triggered a flurry of other arm wrestling matches the whole room over. It was so funny! Suffice to say I won my match, hah. read more

Apparently yes they are the oldest gay bar...with the oldest beer lines and soda guns as the tap beer tasted like crap...clean that stuff guys. I've been here a few times and it's always pretty chill, older crowd of drinkers. The old guys are nice although some probably should be opting for an AA meeting instead. Depending on the cook the food can be good or terrible. I'd just stick to the burger. It is definitely not the cleanest place in town. On my most recent and probably last visit I came in for a quick beer and burger for lunch and there was no one there. The bartender and cook were complaining how this day was the least busy they have ever had. Well maybe it's because the bartender and cook were completely unfriendly, and the cook was the worst I encountered, giving me the shittiestly cooked burger and undercooked greasy fries that I ever have been served anywhere. Maybe that's why your guy's shift doesn't pack in the crowds. A smile and a greeting does wonders for making people come to your bar shift instead of the 100 other bars around the area. Good luck. read more

Cool spot, but the guy making the food has a major attitude problem. Wasn't particularly busy and yet it took 20 minutes for him to take my wife's order and then when she gave her order, he didn't even acknowledge her. He was too busy "cleaning" to take our order. Otherwise, fun environment and bartender & security staff super friendly and accommodating. Eat before coming! read more

Good drinks, chill, nice people, and I met one of my favorite new people here, which garners Julius the fourth star. A great cast of characters works here, and they make burgers and the like in the super open kitchen corner of the bar until late at night. Not big, but big enough to go with a sizable group and take over without it bursting at the seams. Me likey. read more

if phoenix is your idea of a dive, julius would probably be a plunge. that holds true for the bathroom also. not to mention the putrid waft of the grill. the upside being that there are no pretensions here and the crowd, at least when i went, was fairly eclectic. p.s. - i can not stress enough the smell of the grill. your clothes will wreak of it. remember to bring only machine-washables. read more

The place has a lot of history and atmosphere, But the bartender for Saturday night is a putz. Spilled a drink over my cell phone (and moi) while at the bar (phone was at the closest point to me at the bar). Never apologized, but was quick to whine, "we are not responsible" - had to ask for a napkin to clean it up. He ignored me from that point on. A simple, "I am sorry" would have been the classy thing, but NOT! read more

I liiiiiiiike this place! Well, we've been in a few times and had a different experience every time. The first time I couldn't stop laughing--we had the best time. The bartender was hysterical! The bouncer...hysterical! They were very chill and welcoming, The drinks were also reasonably priced. Do note! They only take cash , but lucky for you (and smart on their part) they have an ATM machine towards the back. They also have food! HellOOO! Great "after" spot to chill out, meet interesting people, and have an experience you will definitely be talking about the next day... read more

This place has become less and less friendly over time. Don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.

Very chill. The door man recognised the lonely looking guy and made sure to be extra friendly, sat down and made some small talk. Ice was broken. read more

It's not located on a popular street, it's kinda hidden, but it's a very divey bar. Drinks were okay, the crowd was mostly mixed with lesbians, bears, twinks and otters or all ethnicities and races. Music is mostly by the music box, in which you pay to have your song on. Oh, and it's cash only! read more

We enjoyed Julius for an early evening weeknight visit. The bartenders and patrons were friendly, but what we most enjoyed were the walls which provided information about the Mattachine Society, which met in the back part of the bar at a time when the remainder of the bar had a straight clientele. read more

Bartender was awesome. Wasn't annoyed when we asked for a recommendation, made us great cocktails. Had a very open, chill vibe while also feeling full and happening! Loved hearing about the history of the bar and seeing that they are still using the old cash machine from like the 1890s/1900s...awesome spot. It's nice they have late night bar food as well! read more

My hubby and I go to Julius nearly every Sunday afternoon (and I miss it when we can't). As Stephon says: "It has everything!" Danny is the best bartender - charming and erudite. He knew our names and drinks after one visit and always is glad to see us. The regulars are nice and very interesting - always willing to chat if you like, or leave you to your drink if you want. Music selection (usually curated by the same gentleman on Sunday afternoons) is excellent and not so loud you can't converse. It has exactly the atmosphere you'd expect from one of, if not the, oldest gay bar (or just plain bar) in NYC. It shows it's considerable age - but don't we all? It's just part of Julius' considerable charm. The drinks are delicious, we love the food on Sunday afternoon and both food and drink are ridiculously cheap. It's not for everyone (thank God), but if you are looking a neighborhood bar that's laid back, friendly, and always welcoming, Julius is for you. Looks for us on Sunday afternoon! read more

Before we came, this place was described to me as an "old man gay bar." But we were actually going to celebrate a friend's friend's boyfriend who was turning like early 30 something. So they said they were trying to reclaim it and make it a hot spot again. Hahaha. I hope they succeed. Anyways about 15 of his friends showed up and we took over the tables and stools right by the door. The bartender was very nice older gentleman. Since I just came from drinking mimosas and I was still in that mood, I asked if he could make me one and he obliged. Since he used one of those small individual sized champagne bottles, my drink included whatever was left in the bottle and set me back $10. So it was like having almost 2 drinks for one. My friends had the bloody marys for $6 and according to them, the bartender was quite heavy handed. Also they have burgers and stuff for food. There's a guy at the grill right in the bar itself cooking up a storm. This place is very dive-y but we had a good time just sitting here all afternoon and chilling. For a little bit in the early afternoon, they had a live jazz band. And later in the afternoon, it got more packed as the back room was reserved for a party. read more

I find the service here to be absolutely one of the worst I've ever experienced. They have one bartender that should be fired for always b omg so mean and nasty. read more

Oh yeah this is a dive bar but its an historic dive bar. It certainly looks it. The bartender was nice. We were brought there by a friend who claimed this was his favorite bar. We went for a beer and burger at lunch it was delish and uber cheap. I reccomend using the men's room it decorated with old record albums. too funny! read more

I have been a patron of Julius for a long time. I am one of the few transgender regulars at this bar. Among girlfriends there is an ongoing debate, (which incidentally began before that Pose episode) about whether Julius was actually hostile trans women or only seemed to be. After holding out for as long as I reasonably can, I reluctantly agree that the place is not a friendly place for us. I say reluctantly because I have had many great times there and many of the bartenders and staff are super nice to me. The problem is, every time I bring one of my trans girlfriends there, she is disrespected or mistreated. Once it was a man working the door who got chesty with one of my friends (Getting in the face of a trans woman who is wearing heels? Does that really make anybody feel like a tough guy?), another time it was a menacing short-order cook who simply wasn't going to serve us no matter how long we waited. In both instances, when the behavior of the staff was brought to the attention of the managers on duty, they were unhelpful and rude. The final straw was NYC Pride this year. They decorated Julius from top to bottom with rainbow flags and that's cool, they have a lot to celebrate. But seriously, not a single transgender flag to be seen in the entire place? It was as if none of us had ever walked in the door, as if we didn't exist. It's a shame because many of the regulars are wonderful people, the bar has a historical importance for LGBT people and, of course, the food is affordable and good. But some of the staff and the managers just don't like my kind and that's disappointing. read more

This bar was super old inside and the bartender was beyond sweet. The beer selection was pretty standard, but still really worth going to for atmosphere and service! read more

I've been here so many times with friends, that it's hard to count. For being perhaps the oldest gay bar in the city, it shows on the walls filled with awards, decorations and kitch from decades beyond and in its cozy and laid-back demeanor. Julius, which I feel could be the "Cheers" of gay bars in the city, continues to bring people in from all demographics on every night I come here. The staff really does know your name and is so friendly. They also serve some delicious greasy food should you have a craving. One of my favorite places. read more

We didn't stay long but liked the vibe; it was just too packed for our group of 25+. This review is really because the bouncer was the biggest sweetheart, who not only let one of us check the inside first but then recommended another place (which was perfect and saved the night) when we explained the size of our group. read more

I definitely recommend Julius' Bar if you'd like a laid back atmosphere with great drinks and great food. I love that you don't have to leave the bar to get a burger or several other quick snack foods and break up the fun of hanging out with your friends. Great mix of ages and different types of gay subcultures - all intermingled into a relaxed environment with great prices. Emilio and D'Andre were awesome as our bartenders. We will definitely go back soon! read more

Great barternder and crowd. It's an institution. Happy hour until 9pm! WOW!

You can never go wrong here, great drinks, friendly bartenders and patrons. The cheeseburgers are the best in the village, I have been coming here for thirty plus years and have never had a bad time! read more

A dive bar with a place in history. Smells like a bar if you're into that. I'm sober and the bouncer wouldn't let me bring my coffee in. Doesn't make any sense if they're not running an espresso bar... read more

Good place to go have a drink & its one of the most famous gay bars in Manhattan.

It's hard to find a bar with this much character. Happy hour: $3.00 well drinks from 4:00pm to 9:00pm on weekdays. Can't beat that. Very nostalgic. Older crowd, but as a younger guy, I still feel very comfortable. The sort of place that you can go to alone, and the bartender will make small talk with you and remember your name the next time you come back. Occasionally on Thursday, they have the Mattachine party, and inter-generational celebration hosted by John Cameron Mitchell. Great music on those nights, and a decent jukebox for other nights. One of my favorite places of all time. read more

This place is everything I want in a casual bar-great atmosphere, good service, and affordable! Julius's is an absolute gem, the trek from midtown is absolutely worth it! I love gay bars but it was great because there were straight and gay couples alike there, the kind of place that you can bring anyone.Their burgers are yummy too! read more

I love Julius! Prior to this I've never been to a gay bar, so I didn't know what to expect. The crowd was mixed and everybody was chill. Everybody made me feel welcome here. This is a great bar to unwind and have good conversation, all while enjoying low cost drinks. I will be coming back whenever I'm in town! read more

This is just a perfect gay bar. It has a nice neighborhood vibe and the drinks are strong! There is a small exhibit on the wall detailing the famous "sip-in" incident that occurred there too which is cool and a copy of the famous photo. Oh also the food is great. It is cash only but the drinks are reasonable especially for the area. read more

It's the end of the huge Julius burger. I paid $6 for what could only be described as a bacon cheddar slider. When asking the chef why it's so small, he answered, "It must have shrunk on the grill." I've been coming here for many, many years-what a disappointment. read more

Love the burgers, love the bartenders, love the crowd. Everytime I come here, I do get more drunk than I imagined. But hey, always have the best time. read more

As far as dive bars go... I try to avoid them. But sometimes u can't. As far as gay bars go- I really try to avoid them as a heterosexual male. But I walk past this place daily. One night my girlfriend and I were walking home from her place of work two blocks away from Julius'. There was this amazing aroma of burger coming from this place. Im sure it was all the beef in there I joked - but we were drawn in. SO HAPPY WE DID. Look - it's an ancient dinosaur gay dirty dive. So dont expect Ruth Chris. And if you're not gay, don't think ur gonna be entering some lion (or bear) cage and that you will be attacked. You won't. Everyone is doing their own thing and minding their business. The bartenders are curteous and happy to serve a very cheap well poured drink while you wait for your food. The burger and onion rings are soooooo damn greasy and juicy and perfect for a burger from a bar. Now my girlfriend and I have to make rules so we don't eat there like every weekend. read more

Great Juke Box. Play anything from Bessie Smith to Today. Cheap selections for $1.00. Friendly staff. Staff will talk to you.