The Monster

80 Grove St. · at Sheridan Sq.
West Village, Manhattan

In 2026

Still pouring

Checked October 16, 2026.

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Overview

This Quintessential West Village gay bar has a piano room upstairs and dance floor below attracting people of all ages, races, and walks of life. Whatever your taste you can find it here.

History

It nearly threw in the bar towel

We once called The Monster the quintessential West Village gay bar: a piano room upstairs, a dance floor below and, whatever your taste, something to suit it. Joe Scialo opened it at 80 Grove Street in 1982, and it has been a popular destination for the LGBTQ community ever since¹.

In 2020 the owner, Charlie Rice, announced that maybe it was time to throw in the bar towel¹. The towel stayed on the bar: in June 2023 The Monster received the 2023 Village Award from Village Preservation, with its longtime piano player, Martin St. Lawrence, on hand¹.

Sources

gaycitynews.com

Researched October 2026.

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