Mercury Lounge

217 E. Houston St. · btwn Ludlow & Essex St.
Lower East Side, Manhattan

In 2026

Still pouring

Checked October 16, 2026.

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Overview

Music venue with cheap covers, reasonable drinks, good sound and a mixed bag of acts. There is great music here, but you may have to work to find it.

History

Sixty years of tombstones, then the bands

The Mercury Lounge's storefront on East Houston Street sold tombstones from 1933 to 1993^{1, 2}. In 1993 Michael Swier, Michael Winsch and Brian Swier founded the Mercury Lounge there¹, in a room that holds 250 people¹.

When we listed it, we said there was great music here, but that you might have to work to find it. In 2000 the Strokes got their start after playing the room¹, so somebody did the work.

It's still booking: the calendar had shows at 217 East Houston Street on Friday, October 16, 2026². Thirty-three years in, it's more than halfway to the tombstone seller's run^{1, 2}.

Sources

Researched October 2026.

What's nearby

Element / The Vault under 0.1 mi Closed; now NMP Stages
Max Fish under 0.1 mi A different business is licensed at this address: Sweet Chick LES
Nice Guy Eddie's under 0.1 mi Closed; now Bar Bianchi
Essex Ale House under 0.1 mi No license found in 2026
The Library under 0.1 mi Still pouring
Ella under 0.1 mi Closed; now Wiggle Room
Stay under 0.1 mi A different business is licensed at this address: Jewel Box
Double Down 0.1 mi Still pouring
Kelly's Sports Bar 0.1 mi Still pouring
Paladar 0.1 mi Closed; now Bar Revival