Those 75 bars in 2026
- 21
- still there
- 41
- replaced
- 13
- gone
Most common features
Food Served · 19Lounge · 16Neighborhood · 12Restaurant and Bar · 12
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'inotecaPick
98 Rivington St.
Closed; now Cactus Wren
A corner location that opens wide to the summer air, a relaxed atmosphere, and reasonable priced bottles make this LES wine bar a popular destination every night of the week.
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105 Rivington
Closed; now Tigre
Jet black leather couches, lava red carpets, an illuminated bar, and a stripper pole set the vibe at this ultra-trendy DJ lounge in the Hotel Rivington. Head to the right from the lobby or failing that the steel grey doors outside.
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151Pick
151 Rivington St.
Closed; now Lullaby
Behind a forbidding unmarked door helps keep the weekend hordes away from this candlelit DJ dive. A 2-1 happy hour til 10pm keeps the locals happy and anxious to keep their secret.
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156 Rivington St.
No license found in 2026
Artist collective, community support space, and Punk and Hardcore venue.
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The AnnexPick
152 Orchard St.
Closed; now Karaoke Boho
Live music venue boasts mahogony paneling, chanderliers, huge circular banquettes, but best of all great sound.
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95 Stanton St.
Still pouring
The oldest and also the number one music venue on the Lower East Side. Covers tend to be cheap, the acts tend to be well above par, and people are there to have fun. There's even live band karaoke on Monday nights.
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The Back RoomPick
102 Norfolk St.
Still pouring
Celebrity owned speakeasy themed bar hidden behind a Toy Store façade.
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BarramundiPick
67 Clinton St.
Closed; now RokuNana
Ecclectic décor, relaxed atmosphere, and friendly bar staff, make Barramundi a very comfortable option on the LES.
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157 Ludlow St.
Closed; now Apartment 5
Attractive upscale LES sports bar with 62 plasma TVs and private room. Sounds great? Wait til you get the bill. There's a minimum bill of $50/pp per hour for the cheap seats, and $150/pp per hour for a private room. Leaves you to wonder where exactly those blue seats are…
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235 Eldridge St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Moneygoround
Kickin DJs pack the joint with a hip-hop craving, primarily asian crowd. There's usually a cover on weekends.
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115 Essex St.
Closed; now Wabi Nori Hand Roll Bar
All the right ingrediants for a lasting student hangout: Flip cup, beer pong, pool, darts, and cheap beer. On Fridays they serve free wings from 5-7pm.
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Bowery BallroomPick
6 Delancey St.
Still pouring
The best music venue in the city - hands down, and the likely locale of your favorite band's best set ever.
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189 Chrystie St.
Still pouring
There is no door more exclusive and no shows more outrageous than the ones at this intimate vintage theatre.
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Cafe CharbonPick
168 Orchard St.
Closed; now Hair of the Dog
A relaxed and attractive crowd occupy this seductive bar/lounge. They're drawn here by the excellent DJs, comfortable leather couches, tall ceilings, and low key ambience.
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21 Clinton St
A different business is licensed at this address
The idea behind this Park Slope export is superb - coffee, truffles, and cakes by day, and wine and dessert by night. Unfortunately the execution leaves much to be desired.
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Dark RoomPick
165 Ludlow St.
Closed
Giant leather banquettes, a downtown clientele, and $5 beers create an atmosphere which is simultaneously relaxed and upscale.
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168 Delancey St.
Still pouring
$7 bottle beers, velvet rope roof access, overrun by UES and BT posers. Whatever appeal this place once had has evaporated.
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188 Allen Street
A different business is licensed at this address: Dialogue NYC / Subtext NYC
Sure, this wine bar from the owner of the VIP strip club runs a little short on atmosphere, but it makes up for it with short skirted, long legged waitresses. And it's hard not to love a wine bar with a forty foot long homage to Diego Maradona on its facade.
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247 Eldridge St.
Closed; now San Antonios
A shoebox sized douchebag sink carefully designed to absorb the star-fuckers, B-listers, and iBankers from the good bars in the neighborhood and relieve them of their money and dignity. Find the only book store with a bouncer and you're there.
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225 E. Houston St.
Closed; now NMP Stages
Originally constructed as a bank in the 1900s the space has been repurposed as variety of clubs over the years. The scene varies wildly by night and by party. Overall the DJs tend to be good and the crowd comes to dance not to pose.
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82 Stanton St.
Closed; now 82 Stanton
The patio here is one of the best people watching spots in the city. Go with a friend on a Sunday from 4-11pm and get two seriously tasty burgers for $5.
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120 Essex St.
Moved to 124 Rivington Street
Home of the 3 cocktail brunch. Thanks to a heavy pour 3 screwdrivers should leave you vested. Either you keep drinking or you go home for a nap, but getting much of anything done is safely out of the question.
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179 Essex St.
No license found in 2026
The former 12 inch Bar has a brand new name and a new beer selection ranging from PBR to Belgian Ales. *Note re-opened in 2008
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Fat BabyPick
112 Rivington St.
Closed; now Restocked
Heroin chic multi-level temple to hipsterdom packs nightly for indie music shows.
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FreemansRestaurant
191 Chrystie St.
Still pouring
This restaurant and bar at the end of Freeman's alley serves expertly crafted cocktails under the watchful gaze of countless wall-mounted animals. Like the mise-en-scène from a Wes Anderson movie, it's so self-conciously unhip that it's the hottest thing going.
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GalleryBarPick
120 Orchard St.
Closed; now Cowboy Tom's
What looks from the outside to be exclusively a gallery space is actually a bi-level bar within a gallery and not a bad bar at all at that.
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132 Ludlow St.
Still pouring
An anachronism in the newly self-conciously hip LES, Iggy's is a bar where people go to get trashed and have fun.
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JadisPick
42 Rivington St.
Still pouring
A beautiful rustic wine bar frequently all but ruined by obscenely loud music that's so bad, and ill-befitting that it succesfully kills the ambience. Sadly this alone is probably responsible for an older post-frat crowd sharing a common disdain for sophistication.
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217 Bowery
A different business is licensed at this address: Maison Nur
Small, dimly lit Morrocan themed bar packs on weekend. Watch the 20% gratuity on your tab and additional tip line.
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191 Chrystie St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Outer Heaven
$15 cocktails on the Lower East Side. We'll pass thanks.
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122 Rivington St.
Still pouring
The reasonable Italian fare at this bat cave, is overshadowed by an enormously popular late night dancing scene where the sonic stylings of Justin Timberlake seem to be always on heavy rotation.
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LabelPick
174 Rivington St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Joey Roses
A music focused DJ bar hidden behind the façade of a take-out empanadas joint. The space is far from ideal (too long and narrow) but the top notch sound system does well with it.
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Laugh LoungePick
151 Essex St.
Closed; now Jazz Genius
Everything a downtown comedy club should be. Good service, great comedy and a slick loungey venue.
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137 Ludlow St.
No license found in 2026
Almost indistinguishable from any number of bars that have come to the LES with velvet rope ambitions and an uptown formula. But, who knows with the wealth of new doorman condos sprouting up, and the clientele that comes with them, perhaps this will be the one that sticks.
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154 Ludlow St.
Closed; now BAXTER ST at the Camera Club of New York
Bi-level folk rock venue with great sound and an intimate performance space.
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Local 138Pick
138 Ludlow St.
Moved to 181 Orchard Street
No-frills neighborhood bar brings in a crowd free of the pretensions (be they hipster or UES) that plague many other bars in this area.
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LoreleyPick
7 Rivington St.
Still pouring
Not an American adaptation of a beer garden, but a genuine biergarten - efficient service, humorless waiters, crisp beer, and lots and lots of Germans.
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129 Orchard St.
Still pouring
Lucky Jack's is big enough to have entrances on both Orchard and Allen street and the copper topped bar inside runs over 50ft long. Bars of this ilk tend to attract frat crowds, but this place is much better than most. Thank the indie rock sound track for that.
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157 E Houston St.
No license found in 2026
A festive atmosphere and Latin street food perfect for following up a night of drinking. Order a literal fishbowl of sangria to share with your friends, or pick up a cocktail in a thimble sized ice filled glass.
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The MagicianPick
118 Rivington St.
Still pouring
Despite a brief trip to trendyland and back, the Magician remains a solid choice on the LES.
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9 Stanton St.
Closed; now Forsythia
Popular Italian restaurant and wine bar. The bottles are quite reasonably priced.
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66 Rivington St
Still pouring
A clean, attractive, and sophisticated hard rock den makes about as much sense as an overmastered punk song, and a night out here will serve as an object lesson in why the LES can't keep continue its current trajectory to UES land without imploding.
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133 Essex St.
Closed
A country and western bar from the owners of Spitzer's and Fat Baby. The draw here is the mechanical bull (only the 2nd in the city).
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178 Ludlow St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Sweet Chick LES
A pool table, booths and a crowd that likes to drink. This place mantains the vibe of an LES which was swallowed up by skyrocketing rents years ago.
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MehanataPick
113 Ludlow St.
Still pouring
The legendary Bulgarian bar with dancing has reopened on Ludlow street. There's nowhere else quite like it.
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217 E. Houston St.
Still pouring
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.
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127 Ludlow St.
Closed; now Dulce
A Bar as ode to the automobile. The Detroit natives who own this bar have created a remarkably comfortable bar despite the fact its bedecked in auto paraphernalia.
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159 E. Houston St.
Closed; now Two Doors Down
A rock and blues bar in the former Martignetti Liquors space owned by singer, songwriter, and TV cameo expert Gavin DeGraw.
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106 Norfolk St.
Still pouring
This shoebox sized pinup themed bar hosts frequent burlesque shows which you can enjoy with steak frittes thanks to delivery from nearby Schillers.
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161 E. Houston St.
No license found in 2026
Corner restaurant and wine bar has a lively scene and frequent live music.
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161 Ludlow St.
Closed; now Bar Revival
Depending on the night you might find yourself in a hipster heaven or a latin lair. Whichever way the wind blows the frozen margaritas will be just as potent.
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317 E. Houston St.
Still pouring
One of the few bars left where the spirit of the old LES endures. Famous for its weekend liquor brunch, extended 2-8pm happy hour, and "Parksize" (24oz) pints.
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People LoungePick
163 Allen St.
Closed; now Ms. Yoo
When this bar opened in 2003 on still edgy Allen street it was edgy and diverse, nowadays it blast 90's music and fills to capactity, and diversity amounts to people from Long Island mingling with people from New Jersey. Warning. Parking can be hard to find in this area.
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PianosPick
158 Ludlow St.
Still pouring
Pianos opened at the end of 2002 and instantly became a centerpiece of LES nightilife.
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176 Ludlow St.
Closed; now Ludlow Coffee Supply
A low key local café bistro in a neighborhood besieged and overrun on weekend nights. The secret passage between Max Fish next door has been sealed up and the back room is now a restaurant space.
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137 Essex St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Mazaar Bar And Lounge
College kids flock in droves to this Asian fusion restaurant turned late night no cover dance club.
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249 Eldridge St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Rumpus Room
A low attitude, zero pretense bar where people come to dance, and where the DJs do everything humanly possible to help them do it. Sapphire Lounge is a true {cringe} gem.
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SatskoPick
245 Eldridge St
Closed; now Bar Goto
This Japanese restaurant and bar is your go to place for sake bombs. Except on Mondays when it's closed that is.
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131 Rivington St.
Closed; now Shake Shack
An extremely attractive crowd to match an extremely attractive space perfectly balanced out by an expensive bar with cramped standing room.
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191 Orchard St.
Closed
A 1,500 SF year round Irish beer garden from the owners of 200 Orchard across the street. To ensure the perfect pint they flew in an expert from Ireland to calibrate the taps and achieve the perfect nitrogen levels in the Guinness. To ensure a Jersey crowd they blast G & R.
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174 Orchard St.
Still pouring
This long thin dimly lit bar draws neighborhood regulars with cheap drinks and a relaxed vibe.
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The Slipper RoomPick
167 Orchard St.
Still pouring
A friendly and unpretentious cabaret bar leading the Burlesque revival in the LES.
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101 Rivington St.
Closed; now Pretty Ricky's
A corner location with garage door windows and interior lined on every surface with natural wood creates the perfect ambience for pork fat popcorn eating, oyster swallowing, and Belgian ale swilling.
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St. Jerome'sPick
155 Rivington St.
Closed
It's hard to find much bad to say about a downtown New York bar with decent DJs, $2 pints of Budweiser, and a stipper pole. Well, at least not much that hasn't been said already.
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17 Stanton St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Bonnie Vee
Formerly the Villedge Publick House, this pallatable sports bar has a decent beer selection, reasonable prices and a useful without being overbearing three plasma TVs.
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99 Stanton St.
Closed
A great place for people with more money than time to investigate better places. The crowd is attractive. The cocktails are competent. The tapas are tasty. The prices are absurd. The scene is overblown.
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106 Norfolk St.
A different business is licensed at this address
This quiet and comfortable owner operated bar features a sophisticated cocktail menu prepared to exacting standards.
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Tapeo 29Pick
29 Clinton St.
Closed; now Rebel
Behind a huge, almost medieval door lies a relaxed and attractive candlelit wine and tapas bar.
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196 Orchard St.
No license found in 2026
Egyptian themed hookah bar destined to be even more short lived than its namesake.
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110 Rivington St.
Still pouring
A carefully crafted vibe supported by good music, dim lighting, and unusual French-Vietnamese cocktails elevates Verlaine above its many loungey counterparts in this area.
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WD-50PickRestaurant
50 Clinton St.
Closed
The result of the culinary experiments of an enormously talented chef. A meal here will shatter your preconceptions, and leave you wanting more.
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123 Rivington St.
Still pouring
It's tempting to dismiss this 70's themed bar simply out of hand, but spend an evening there and you'll soon quite suprisingly discover it's warm, comfortable and populated by some of the tastiest hipsters this side of Greenpoint.
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121 Essex St.
Closed; now Sadie's Ward
A drinking bar usually full, but rarely overcrowded. Not a bad place for picking up what with the enormous bar, friendly pool table, and a long shared sex line for the bathroom.
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145 E. Houston St.
Closed; now Fools Gold NYC
Minimal white on white décor attracts a crowd every bit as interesting.
Already closed by 2009
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1-1-3Closed by 2009
113 Ludlow St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Mehanata Bulgarian Bar
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13 Little DevilsClosed by 2009
120 Orchard St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Cowboy Tom's
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17 HomePickClosed by 2009
17 Stanton St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Bonnie Vee
Minimalist duplex R&B lounge lures fairer sex with more than fair drink specials.
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200 OrchardClosed by 2009
200 Orchard St.
No license found in 2026
The former Orchard Bar may have lost some of its character with the recent renovations, but it's gained a fog machine. When you're one of the top in the know DJ destinations in the LES that can be a valuable asset.
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205 BarClosed by 2009
205 Chrystie St
A different business is licensed at this address: Bar Louis
Closed April 2008 when it's liquor license was revoked. Seemingly overnight this retro 60's lounge space has become the destination for LES hipsters and the vice cops who love to hate them.
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Bar BClosed by 2009
188 Allen St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Dialogue NYC / Subtext NYC
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Core One Nine OneClosed by 2009
191 Orchard St.
No license found in 2026
Like its sister bar Wine Bar on 2nd Avenue Core One Nine manages to be simultaneously sophisticated and comfortable.
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CrudoClosed by 2009
54 Clinton St.
Closed
This cozy former restaurant is a fine place for a quiet cocktail and tapas with a date, but in the summer the back garden can be a bustling scene.
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Deanna'sClosed by 2009
107 Rivington St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Hotel On Rivington; S'zen
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GueroClosed by 2009
210 Rivington St.
No license found in 2026
Far enough East to become a kind of LES time warp. Guero is the type of bar that drew people to the neighborhood before it became a scene. Comfortable, neighborhoody, and cheap as dirt before 10pm thanks to an extended 2-for-1 happy hour.
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Lotus LoungeClosed by 2009
35 Clinton St.
No license found in 2026
A great corner location with plenty of windows and a big square bar means that its not hard to find a good seat at this comfortable, convivial locals hangout. During the day it does double duty as a coffee shop.
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Luv 24/7PickClosed by 2009
247 Eldridge St.
Closed; now San Antonios
Exposed brick, warm lighting, and an arched wood beam ceiling create a welcome respite from the scene to be seen ambience so many neighboring LES bars are so busy cultivating.
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Punch and JudyClosed by 2009
26 Clinton St.
Closed
Chocolate fondue, red hues, and an excellent selection of wines make for a truly great after dinner date place.
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RevolverClosed by 2009
210 Rivington St.
No license found in 2026
The latest LES rock bar is handsome enough, but despite or more likely because of it's off the beaten track location the crowd tends to be more trend following investment bankers, than trendsetting rock kids. Depending on your own demographic propensities this can be a plus or minus.
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Rivington BarClosed by 2009
174 Rivington St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Joey Roses
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Sixes and Eights LoungeClosed by 2009
205 Chrystie St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Bar Louis
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SX 137Closed by 2009
137 Essex St.
A different business is licensed at this address: Mazaar Bar And Lounge
Now the restaurant Rewind.
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Tonic (Lower East Side)Closed by 2009
107 Norfolk St.
Closed
Great accoustics, all ages, and no drink minimum have secured Tonic a place among the cities top music venues since its opening in 1998.
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Vasmay LoungeClosed by 2009
269 E. Houston St.
Closed; now The Mayfly
In the corner space of the former notorious lesbian bar Meow Mix this diviest of dives is fast earning a reputation of its own with something seldom seen in these parts recently - a bit of an edge.