Lilly Coogan's, East Village

Overview

This dark and quiet Irish bar remains oddly unmolested by the drinking crowds of 1st Avenue and therein lies its charm.

History

Quiet to the last

Our old review called Lilly Coogan's a dark, quiet Irish bar, oddly unmolested by the drinking crowds of First Avenue. It stayed quiet to the end: when it closed in 2010, it had been shut for more than a week by the time EV Grieve reported it¹. The space, on First Avenue near Sixth Street, had once been the Homestead, one of his favorites¹.

That July a transfer for the former Lilly Coogan's space went on the docket at Community Board 3, and the phone number on the notice outside matched the International Bar's². By October, Molly and Shawn from the International, the next block north, had taken over and opened the Coal Yard, which EV Grieve called by far the best new bar to open in the East Village of late³. It got the job done with $4 well drinks and $1 Michelob half-pints⁴.

In November 2017 the International's landlord at 120 1/2 First Avenue wasn't going to renew its lease, and on Thanksgiving Day the bar moved a block down, into 102 First Avenue^{5, 6}. The International is still there^{7, 8}.

Sources

Researched October 2026.

What's nearby

Solex under 0.1 mi A different business is licensed at this address: Hearty & Healthy

WCOU Radio under 0.1 mi Still pouring

The International Bar under 0.1 mi Moved to 102 First Avenue

Lunasa under 0.1 mi Same bar, now The Grafton

Death & Co under 0.1 mi Still pouring

Revitali under 0.1 mi A different business is licensed at this address: Nudibranch

Velvet Cigar Lounge under 0.1 mi Closed; now East Village Hats

Klimat 0.1 mi Same bar, now B Lounge NYC

Tribe 0.1 mi Closed; now The Lions Bar & Grill

Bua 0.1 mi Still pouring

Lilly Coogan's

In 2026

Overview

History

Sources

What's nearby