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151
- Nearest Transit:
-
Essex St (J, M, Z)
Delancey St (F)
2 Av (F)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6 pm - 4 am
Fri-Sun 7 pm - 4 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
70 reviews for 151
Review Highlights
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"Good music, a fun and friendly crowd, 2 for one happy hour..." In 7 reviews -
"And that's what's great about this LES dive." In 12 reviews -
"sweet holy crap kickin' happy hour." In 7 reviews
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70 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley M.
West Hollywood, CA
2/21/2012
This is my favorite bar........blood.
When I start my night off here I have the perfect New York City night. My night ends by starting again at 7am with a Bottle of vodka and some redbull
This is my perfect gringy (not grungy) bar. No Windows and Dark. Just the way I like it.
Sometimes you can meet some real characters here.
Sometimes on a weekday theres a hot bartender you can take body shots off.
Stiff cheap drinks.
When you don't feel like talking to anyone you can go hide here and drink your sorrows away.
I always stop at this bar and say "well its on the way home"........ Hah. Then I end up next door at St. Jerome's.....then I wake up with a shit load of random pictures, numbers, and "where did we go last night?" rolls out of my mouth... usually chasing the words down with some tequila.
This is almost always my first bar I go to when I arrive in NYC. -
Review from Meghan M.
11/27/2011
What's up with this place? It smells funny and the people are rude. The only reason it's getting a two-star-er from me is because post-St Jerome's, it felt incredibly chill.
I approached the bar with four friends and ordered 3 Smithwicks and 2 IPAs. The bartender said "You just ordered five beers" with a bit of judgement in his tone. Well yes, thank you for the heads up but I'm aware of that...strange exchange overall.
We sat in a corner and drank the beer. Then we left. On the way out someone made fun of my kickass yellow coat. Loser.
Come here if you want...Uhhhhh....Never mind...Don't come here. -
Review from Lynette B.
New York, NY
3/19/2012
When you start the night off by trying out a bar you've never been to before, it could go two ways: completely awesome or completely not. This place is kind of hidden, and if it weren't for the sign outside stating their awesome happy hour til 10, we probably would have walked right by. I'm glad we took those steps downstairs. The place was chill, dark and the cocktails were $5. Yes, the cups were tiny, but a good deal nonetheless. You can also opt for well drinks which I think are $3 during happy hour. $3! I think the black vinyl couch in the back made me want to desperately come back with a bunch of friends and sit there. The dim lighting just makes everything look sexy. It's a nice meet up spot with a good happy hour deal.
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Review from Jeremy D.
Brooklyn, NY
4/16/2012
Great bartenders
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Review from Patricia S.
New York, NY
9/5/2011
Dive Bar Criteria:
-no windows: check.
-basement level: check.
-sweet holy crap kickin' happy hour!: check. ($3 well drinks/budweisers til 10 pm)
-not giving a shit if you bring in a smorgasbord and eat it with your friend like disgusting pigs while drinking well whiskeys: check.
rock solid. -
Review from Freya C.
3/8/2011
Oh one-five-one
Is where I will come
To see a chum
Or maybe no one...
Entrance concealed to look like a slum
Inside is DARK- who needs the sun?
Music is LOUD- ears are numb
Drinks are STRONG- mouth is dumb
Space is TIGHT- stick like gum
Bathrooms are GRITTY- don't look so glum
Bar guys are COOL- they'll show you some fun
The night is done
My heart is won
You'll never shun
One-five-one -
Review from Tommy K.
4/17/2011
Very nice bartender. Great happy hour. Dark and cozy.
But it smells like farts. Bad ones that lead to a disaster in the toilet. -
Review from Patrick C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/9/2011
I'd probably still like this bar even if it had a name.
Usually this is where the night ended, domestic bottles aren't too bad (I'm usually tapped out by this point), the DJ was spinning Joy Division, and it was just nice to chill to the music for a while. I can't recall ever having an issue with the bartenders. It can get a bit crowded and the space is small so bear that in mind. -
Review from Maya F.
8/10/2011
Beer is cheap, it's nice and dark and divey, the Sunday bartender is awesome. We came here after passing through a few other places; this was the perfect way to end the post-brunch pubcrawl that raged out of control. And the night we were there, they were playing Def Leppard's Hysteria. Like, the whole album, in order. Yes. Do it.
Listed in: hot stuff behind the stick, T.G.I.F.&B.
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Review from Susan s.
2/16/2011
I really hate this place. I don't know why people even continue to come here. It smells like crap even before you walk in. They have absolutely no air circulating in there. The drinks are not mixed well, and the crowd is just a bunch of in and out douche bags that don't even stay more than ten minutes. The music is loud and obnoxious with no continuity.
Last time I was in here, my friends, the group of people behind me, got some sort of pepper spray crap on us by some jokester. Our eyes started watering and everyone sneezed a ton.
EW bad experience never again -
Review from Sarah T.
Manhattan, NY
1/12/2011 1 photo
This place is a dive because it's in a basement, the seating is roughed up, and the atmosphere is Rock n' Roll.
I recommend getting their early so you can still get a seat & taking advantage of their amazing drink specials that go till 10. I was drinking $3 wells like they were going out of style last Friday.
Oh, just FYI- it's loud and drafty, but once it fills with people the energy is AWESOME! -
Review from Jonathan L.
Manhattan, NY
11/12/2011
But nice and chill early on.
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Review from B H.
New York, NY
5/18/2009
You would assume that a place advertising 2 for 1 from 6:00 till 10:00 would at least mention to me after my 5th or 6th beer that at least one! was on the house. But no. Apparently this happened with a few people in Molly's party and when she called him out he turned into an ass saying that we need "to ask" for the 2 for 1.
Why would you not assume that I wanted one? I just love paying $6 bucks for beer over and over again to a bartender who talks to the DJ spinning his phat iTunes collection and ignoring a practically dead bar.
Plus one star because it's not their fault that I put up with it. I just wasn't going to put up with the rude replies once I witnessed another friend actually ask for his 2-for-1 and get evil looks anyway. I was caught in a hipster scumbag Catch 22.
I won't be back.Listed in: My blacklist
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Review from Lisa A.
5/16/2009
Hrmm.
I thought it was 2 for 1 until 10? Apparently mr. sly (Clark Kent w/his glasses) cute bartender didn't get the memo. Oh well. Maybe I should have given him a cookie.
I really like Rivington Street. And I'd give 151 2.75 stars.
But, I think this bar is more suited to after dark, sorta last call drinky time. It kinda, slightly reminds me of Mars bar.
Except Mars has more character.
*Also, I apologize to anyone who I hugged too long, who's head I touched or inappropriately touched, or spit on while I was talking to. I was drunk. Hee. -
Review from Michael F.
New York, NY
10/25/2007
It's hard to find. Yes. It's dark. Oh yeah. The bouncer looks like a cross between a nerd, a Neanderthal, a hipster and yer basic white boy wants to think he's ghetto. What is the dilio with the brown Yankees hat? The colors are blue and white, yo.
The drinks are cheap. The drinks are STRONG. The music and ambiance are good. The bartender was wearing a belt with a buckle that said "1978".
Bonus:
There were two females practically hooking up in front of us. What could be bad? -
Review from rajeev k.
New York, NY
10/24/2010
I live pretty close by, and have been here at least 3 times over the past month, including a large group 2 weeks ago that spent over $300 on drinks and shots, but i wont be going back any more. I was there last night (a sat night) with my buddy, the place was pretty packed, but it took a really long time to get the bartender's attention to order. That's good for the bar no? Unfortunately it was the bartenders just giving free beers and shots to their friends ( i am not kidding!!)
And then, when we did place our order for 2 beers, the male bartender told me it was $12 bucks, and since i didn't have enough cash, I gave him my credit card to open a tab, and was told that it was a $20 minimum. Fast forward about 30 mins later and we decide to go somewhere else, I go to the tall female bartender to close my tab by paying cash, but she tells me my 2 beers cost $14, and that it was a $25 minimum!! Are you kidding me? Btw she tells me this after making me wait about 10 mins while she poured her guy friend a nice vodka shot (for free of course) She called the other bartender and asked him "what is the price of 2 beers here" , and the guy was scared to answer, and she finished it by saying "14 dollars" before he could say anything. If it wasn't so sad, it would actually be funny.
I don't write many reviews for dive bars, since they are essentially places where anything sort of goes, but i don't think i ll be spending any more money at this place. I just wonder if the owners know what goes on here? I am guessing this place will sort of go the route of all the other many LES places that open and do really well, but eventually close after burning a big hole in the promoter's pockets due to shoddy staff. -
Review from Chris H.
12/14/2008
151 puts the 'dive' back into dive bar. As others have noted, this place is pretty hard to locate unless you actually know where it is. But have no fear, just follow the crowd of skinny jeans and chuck taylors to 151's basement level door.
Once inside, you'll find an extremely relaxed and un-pretentious atmosphere. Relaxed to the point where i'd feel comfortable wearing my pajamas while cozying up with an insanely cheap $7 mix drink, or a $4 beer. Even at $7, my drink came as an unexpected bargain - the thing had enough booze in it to give a bull elephant a nice buzz.
On the other hand, the atmosphere is somewhat claustrophobia inducing. Suffering through the low ceilings, ultra dark lighting, and stuffy air quality, we bounced after a single drink. Good thing that drink was a strong one.Listed in: LES is more
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Review from Kelly S.
Brooklyn, NY
7/18/2009
151 purports is itself as a dive bar. It is in a basement and my friend's drink tasted like sh*t. Those were the only divey things about this place.
This bar needs a personality. -
Review from Lucy L.
7/24/2009 1 Check-in Here
what a secret/chill lounge/bar!!! i love LES!!
Came here the other night.. it was completely hidden.. love the place although I could kind of tell it will probably look completely different during the day but who cares.. I enjoyed the vibe here
20$ minimum charge for cards.. ( that explains I probably ordered more than 20$ drinks )
it was too crowded on weekdays.. I think i'll be back very soon -
Review from Cat R.
Brooklyn, NY
7/8/2008
Mondays and Wednesdays... see Danny.
Good music, a fun and friendly crowd, 2 for one happy hour until 10pm. What more can you ask for?!Listed in: The city...
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Review from Ki G.
Updated - 4/12/2010
I've been here too many times to not bump up my review - I mean, I've never had a bad time here.
From late night unexpected (and unwanted) voyeurism to birthday celebrations to dance-offs and everything in between- I've had a good time.
They play metal on select days. Good metal. Metal that only people who like metal know about. I mean, if that's not a good time* I don't know what is.
Also, the bouncer is a mensch.
I'm a fan.
*theme of this review - good times.Listed in: This is where I find myself…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/24/2008
I like dive bars, I really do. And I like Rivington St. because it's my one-stop-shop for boozin'… Read more »
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Review from Marc A.
NY
4/7/2008
When did unlabeled bars stop being cool? 1928? Yeah, I think so.
151 is a basement bar located in the heart of the LES. The bar is narrow, seating is rather limited when it gets crowded, its extremely dark so the odds of talking to a wilderbeast rather than a real human being is quite high. The drinks are average price which is too much for a basement dive bar. The ceiling is kinda low so it made a short person like me feel tall.
The toilets are actually half decent and the music is very hipsteresque and very good. Late night, a DJ usually comes in and starts a set. The music is good but extremely loud. For some reason, 151 feels that having to yell your conversation to your friend is a good way to keep the place hopping. Or maybe 151 keeps the music loud on purpose. This way, if you want to ditch the guy who came onto you, you can just claim that you can't hear what they're saying. But if you're really into them, you can say "lets go someplace quieter". But would a successful business actually want to encourage their customers to go somewhere else? Maybe 151 is owned by kind and caring souls who want you to hookup with someone great. Or maybe they went to too many metal shows and stood next to the speaker a few too many times as a child.
All in all, it's not interesting enough to be a fun dive and the layout and overall noise makes it worthless to actually want to hang out here. Oh, and the drinks are on par with everyone else. I'm not sure why people go here but they do so I guess they do something right though nothing illuminating comes from the other yelp reviews. -
Review from Jonathan S.
New York, NY
4/27/2008
Distinguished by its exceptionally undistinguished space, there's really not much to say about this anonymous bar in the Lower East. With no sign and no effort at decor, it's as if someone rented out an empty basement, turned the lights down real low, threw in some chairs and tables, and started slinging drinks.
Which is not to say the place is bad or trashy. It's really low key, isn't crowded or much of a scene, and they've got Guiness.Listed in: Bars Underground
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Review from Ethan C.
New York, NY
5/24/2008
If you hate bass, then you probably want to check this place out. The treble was set to the max and I'm pretty sure I lost hearing in my left ear. I give it 2 stars based on that.
On the flip side, they pour their well drinks with Absolut = 4 stars.
But be forewarned, you can probably only spend max of 10 minutes here if you're not blacked out, cause of the stellar acoustical setting -
Review from Kate F.
ASTORIA, NY
3/19/2007
I had my birthday here, I'm thinking it was my 25th. it's a little dive bar, located in the basement of a tenement on Rivington. Plays very good music---early rock, some medal, new wave and some punk. The space is small but I've never been here when it's too crowded. There's a little nook in back, with a couch, which I staked out early when I had my party. The drinks are reasonably priced, the bartenders are super friendly, and I've always been poured amply alcoholic drinks.
It is very dark but everyone there, for some reason or another, is usually in a typically talkative mood. I've struck up plenty of convos with strangers in the mix. -
Review from Miles H.
Stamford, CT
7/19/2010
Very Very Dark, but Cheap Beer. So who cares!!!
Its a nice quiet dive bar with cheap beer & plenty of options! -
Review from Pam L.
Cerritos, CA
10/23/2007
This bar is fantastic, hidden, dim, but I love it.
When I first found the place I was a bit skeptical to step in, its hidden under a ton of graffiti and not so inviting door, but once you step in... it's like being in another part of rivington street. I love the vibe, the happy hour is fantastic, and the people are really lovely. would definitely recommend people check this place out on their way to a night out
one big negative - while the mood is set by the dim lighting, i dont think it was necessary to set that same mood in the bathroom. You could barely see where the toilet was! You'd step in and have to stand for a minute to let your eyes adjust before you could find the toilet. ugh. -
Review from Nydia C.
2/11/2010
Who orders wine at a dive bar? Me! I went to meet some friends here and lately I've been sticking to wine so I went ahead and ordered some. The bartender said they didn't have any but then looked around and then randomly found a small bottle of chardonnay so I bought it. I probably should've thought twice about it but I'd already had several glasses of wine prior to coming here so I just went with it. Turns out it wasn't very good but I drank it anyway.
The bar itself is small, dark, hidden and this is what makes it pretty cool. Next time I'll just order mixed drinks. ;) -
Review from Shane L.
New York, NY
11/13/2006
Tall people: STAY AWAY!!!
Seriously, the ceiling is like 6' 4" or some such... Crazy.
Drinks weren't too bad. Not anything to write home about. I was able to carry on a conversation with someone at a table though, with music playing. That says something I guess...
Definitely an end-of-the-night bar - don't really see myself doing much other than getting a last drink here if I am in the neighborhood. -
Review from Jon S.
New York, NY
10/29/2008
Named after the address, so original: -3 stars
Whomever's Ipod is hooked up to the sound system has a terrible playlist: -4 stars
You'd think the drinks would be cheaper: -2 stars
Totally inconspicuous, dark place to hangout, talk and get trashed: +8 stars -
Review from Sean S.
7/25/2009
Grungy LES divey bar... feels somehow like some of the fine establishments I end up in while traipsing around San Francisco.
One thing, you get *real* drinks here, probably a little stronger than you're used to at all the trendy spots that pour semi-rip-you-off-drinks. So in that department you won't be disappointed.
But somehow I'm not impressed by the place, does that mean I've reached an age where I like nicer decor and better lighting? Hmmm... -
Review from Christopher I.
New York, NY
9/12/2007
Dimly lit, soft seats, dark bar, candles, good music, cheap beer. This is a nice place to come before dinner. I haven't been here after dinner and I know some have complained of the loud music. I went around 630 for an aperitif and the cheery bargirl was playing some old country music and joking around with all seated at the bar.
151 is a refreshingly relaxed place that seems light years away from the yuppie hangouts nearby in the rest of the neighborhood.
A bit difficult to find - if you're walking east on Rivington it's on the right hand side about half a block before you hit Clinton. Go downstairs and grab a relaxing drink. -
Review from Christopher S.
New York, NY
2/28/2008
Came here after a long day/night of drinking with some friends. I didn't have much of a choice in the matter as one of my buddies was already there so we hopped in a cab and went over.
Dirty, basement dive bar that would be awesome if all the meatheads and people who wanted to be "hip" hadn't invaded the Lower East Side lately. Still had some fringes of charm but you can definitely feel the energy being sucked out of the place by the day.
Drinks were overpriced (I felt) for what you got - although the bartenders were very friendly. I think it was like $8-9 for a Jameson and ginger and $6-7 for a beer. Yes, I know it's Manhattan, but come on. Are there any bars left on the island with reasonable prices?
We were able to find a seat pretty easily even though it was late and once we started talking to people the crowd didn't seem so bad. My buddy had chatted up a couple of blondes who were very hip (real hip, not fake hip) so we sat at the table drinking Blue Motorcycles (don't ask) and talking about random shit for a few hours.
I don't really remember what happened after that but I'll probably be back at some point since the LES has a death grip on the last bastion of coolness left on this freaking island. I know I should start going out to Williamsburg but I just... don't want to.
Anyway, not a bad place. If you're in the area, check it out. -
Review from Alyssa N.
New York, NY
8/11/2009 2 photos
It was raining cats and dogs and a friend and I needed a place to seek refuge from the deluge. 151 was the nearest doorway and the candlelight made it seem inviting.
The decor reminds me of a rec room circa 1973, but in a good way. The staff seemed friendly enough and the hipster population was quiet and friendlier than usual. -
Review from stephanie k.
Brooklyn, NY
10/17/2008
I love this space. The crowd can be really hit or miss. You can go in on a Wednesday night and have it be dead empty and then go in on a Monday night and have it be SLAMMED. Bartenders can be a bit flaky but are very friendly. Lots of seating, cheap drinks, sweet jams from the DJ (which, as a few have noted, it can be ungodly loud there at times).
Not really good for a place to take a date to get to know them, but is great for downing drinks with friends. :) -
Review from chase m.
New York, NY
9/29/2009
Total hole in the wall, you have to walk down into the bar, i have no clue how i found it, but it's a sweet place! Geat music &crowd
People: mix crowd, fun bunch
Food/Drinks: bartender rocks! dont' think they serve food there, but drinks were fantastic
Service: kick ass staff.
Ambiance: lively and great spirits.
Would I come back? Oh yeah!! -
Review from Melody H.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 11/8/2010
Living in the LES for 3 years has made me appreciate 151 all the more. I usually end up here after having been to several other bars, chat up the bartenders whose names I always forget, and then stumble home with only the fuzziest of memories. It's always a good time. You can actually grab a seat, have a conversation with friends, and chill out. The bartenders aren't going to kiss your ---, but they're fair - my friend once ordered two Crown and sodas but the bartender brought us two Coronas. When he pointed out her mistake, she just brought us two Crown and sodas and told us to keep the Coronas. You don't get the obnoxious weekend crowd here, and no one bothers you unless you want to be bothered. It is on my list of failsafe bars at which to grab a drink with friends.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2008
You can dirty my martini anytime, Mr. Bartender. I do like the mismatched walls (my favorite is the… Read more »
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Review from Miranda R.
KNICKERBOCKER, NY
2/17/2011
Awesome find! Mellow and comfortable - divey but not really gross. We will be back often for suuuuuure
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Review from Irene F.
5/21/2009
5 stars for the company, 2 for the actual locale. Molly's birthday shindig was a totes happening awesome time, but really, we woulda had fun anywhere. The bartender was lucky he was cute, it's the only reason he got as nice of a tip as he did, and if I had my way I would have asked for it back before I left for the shitty service. Yeah, apparently that nasty look on his face when you order a drink is his game face. I ain't playin this game no mo.
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Review from roderick A.
Jersey City, NY
5/16/2009
i went here once.
it was dark.
it was grimy.
it was heavy metal night, it seemed.
one guy kept walking around with his boxers around his knees.
the image of his tattooed ass is forever "tattooed" in my brain.
thanks 151...
