Those 56 bars in 2026
- 17
- still there
- 27
- replaced
- 12
- gone
Most common features
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420 Amsterdam Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Willet's Corner
An attractive if somewhat sterile bi-level lounge space offers a welcome reprieve from the frat and dive scene that dominates Amsterdam Avenue.
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344 Amsterdam Ave.
Closed; now Earthbar
Huge, upscale billiard hall gives each table plenty of room. Oddly seems to be packed on weeknights and empty on weekends.
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2020 Broadway
Closed; now Westside Restaurant
A two story Italian wine bar that has fast become a neighborhood favorite thanks to an excellent menu and wine list.
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212 W. 79th St.
Still pouring
Covered from wall to wall with plasma TVs this sports bar is always packed on game days. The name, shared with its crosstown twin comes from the hair color of the co-owners one of whom is a former playboy playmate.
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Blue Donkey BarPick
489 Amsterdam Ave
Closed; now King Food
An adult offshoot of Homer's Malt Shop next door, the Blue Donkey Bar attracts a neighborhood crowd with a décor a notch warmer than the many nearby beer and shots joints.
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Boat Basin CafePick
W. 79th St. and the Hudson
Closed
With grand vaulted stone ceilings and spectacular sunsets over the Hudson its no surprise this venue draws a huge after work crowd.
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428 Amsterdam Ave.
Closed; now Crave Fishbar
Comfort food and cheap beer remain a winning recipe at all the locations of Brother Jimmy's. The locations are so similar if you drink enough of their infamous Swamp Water you just might forget which one you're at.
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309 Amsterdam Ave.
Closed; now Xi'an Famous Foods
Friendly neighborhood gay bar named for it's candles only lighting policy. Frequented by a mature but attractive crowd.
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246A Columbus Ave.
Closed
There's only one cabaret license on the Upper West Side, and it's home is at this otherwise unremarkable nightclub.
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450 Amsterdam Ave
Still pouring
The small size and vague literary pretensions of this pub help keep the neighborhood's frattish hordes at bay offering a welcome respite for a somewhat brighter student crowd.
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Ding Dong LoungePick
929 Columbus Ave.
Closed; now Bob's Your Uncle
An uptown bar with a downtown vibe, a dimly lit punk bar, a beer and a shot type of place, and that rare Columbia bar where 30 year olds don't feel ancient.
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101 W. 75th St.
Still pouring
It's hard to come up with a better place to watch the game, when there's free wings during Monday night football and TV sets right at your table. And when the game's not on there's always Connect Four.
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225 W. 79th St.
Still pouring
Since the 1920's this Irish saloon has been serving perfect pints of Guinness to an after work crowd. On weekend nights this bar like the rest of those in the area succumbs to a heavy drinking frattish crowd.
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476 Amsterdam Avenue
Still pouring
This popular brunch spot has a corner patio and a full bar.
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485 Amsterdam Ave.
Still pouring
Huge Irish pub caters to college kids and beer connoisseurs. One of the few bars in NYC with a beer engine to serve cask conditioned ale.
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442 Amsterdam Ave.
Still pouring
This huge bar is the flagship of the Amsterdam Avenue college scene. To call it frattish isn't quite accurate, better perhaps to call Columbia and Fordham frat parties Gin Millish.
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477 Amsterdam Ave
Still pouring
This American bar and grill/sushi joint opened over 15 years ago. Good service, patio seating, late night eats, and a comfortable worn in bar have helped make it a neighborhood staple.
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Riverside Park
Closed; now Ellington in the Park
Enjoy burgers and frosty drinks at this bi-level Riverside Park café.
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430 Amsterdam Ave.
Still pouring
Loud and raucous, the student crowd here's the same as the other big frat bars on this block, but at least Jake's has a backroom that's free of TVs, so you can try and score digits without the sickly plasma palor.
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Makor CafePick
35 W. 67th St.
Closed
Hidden away in the basement of the Steinhardt MakorJewish Cultural Center is this relaxed live music venue. While it welcomes all religious and cultural affiliations bear in mind it's closed Friday nights.
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425 Amsterdam Ave.
Closed; now The Wolfe
An Upper West Side staple for over fifty years, this laid back Irish pub attracts a diverse neighborhood and student crowd from brunch to closing time.
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392 Columbus Ave.
Closed; now Wafels & Dinges
Sophisticated wine bar and lounge upstairs from this restaurant.
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44 W. 63rd St.
Still pouring
Take a dip in the heated rooftop pool, and then relax with a cocktail under the retro-cool neon glow of the Empire Hotel sign.
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ProhibitionPick
503 Columbus Ave.
Still pouring
Candle light, dark wood and crimson walls set the tone for this sexy spacious lounge. And with nightly live music, a consistent kitchen, and a full menu it's no surprise that Prohibition is one of the most popular lounges on the UWS.
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50 W. 72nd St.
A different business is licensed at this address
Branching out on the success of Riposo 46 in Hell's kitchen this large wine bar boasts over 100 bottles and serves over 50 of them by the glass.
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480 Amsterdam Ave.
Closed; now Florentin Bistro and Bar
Eight 50" plasma TVs, 20 beers on tap, and a standard bar food menu, make this large corner bar a slightly better place to watch the game than the other half dozen sports bars nearby.
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236 W. 78th
Moved to 221 W. 46th St., New York, NY 10036 (Times Square)
Skip the amateur hour and catch the pro-show at this classic comedy haunt.
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349 Amsterdam Ave.
Closed; now Tessa
4,000 square feet, 30 TVs, a beer pong table and the hottest bartenders in the city. WooHoo! Shots of Jager for my boys and those aging delta deltas over there.
Already closed by 2009
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CrossroadsClosed by 2009
480 Amsterdam Ave
A different business is licensed at this address: Avenue Bar And Kitchen
A loud and raucous crowd with a mean age somewhere just north of thirty fills this beer and shots joint. Thanks to an internet juke box you can expect to hear Bon Jovi at least a few times each night.
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Martell's Restaurant (Upper West)Closed by 2009
513 Columbus Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Bar Cotta
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VermouthClosed by 2009
355 Amsterdam Ave.
A different business is licensed at this address: Chirping Chicken