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9th Avenue Saloon
- Nearest Transit:
-
42 St - Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E)
50 St (A, C, E)
49 St (N, Q, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 4 am
Sun 12 pm - 4 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for 9th Avenue Saloon
16 reviews in English
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Review from P J.
Manhattan, NY
5/1/2012
This is my local standby, and the bar I go to when I'm sick of always being on point and being assessed by fashion hounds. It's the gay bar for guys who hate the New York gay bar scene. There's always a huge mix of people at this slightly run-down wooden space, from young and cute to older and whiskey-worn. It's the type of place where douchebags look in the door, say, "Let's not go here," and leave -- which is why it's fun to hang out here. It's so rare in Manhattan to find a gay bar where a guy will come up and talk to you because (gasp!) he's being friendly, and not because he's sizing you up to sleep with him. Cash only, and the pours are VERY strong. Popcorn is too salty, bathroom is too tiny -- and I love it. It even has hooks under the bar for your coat. Because it's not off-putting and I don't have to comb every hair in place when I go, I feel comfortable here. I pray it stays forever, flaws and all.
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Review from Erik A.
Manhattan, NY
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very non-pretentious dive bar.
Bartenders are extremely friendly and the pours are heavy. Be warned.
If you are looking for a great neighborhood bar in Hell's Kitchen, look no further.
They have an amazing jukebox, a photo booth and fun karaoke nights.
Don't let the leather and bear flags fool you - all are welcome here. -
Review from Evan G.
3/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Three visits here have uncovered an unusually comfortable place to have a cocktail. The bartenders are nice, and the patrons mildly sleazy, usually sloppy, and delightfully talkative.
It's a friendly neighborhood bar, really, and you can actually hold a conversation there. It's not fancy or frilly, and there was much discussion over whether the "boys of leather" flag was really legit, but this is a solid place to have a drink when you're tired of all the youth and flash in HK.
(Did I just say tired of youth? OY! I'm getting bitter.) -
Review from Steve L.
11/2/2010
11:45 AM Get off the Bus from DC - check
12:20 PM Indulge at Shake Shack - check
1:00 PM Get some drinks at a bar before a 2:00 PM musical- check...
...sort of!
The walk my Nicole, Jarrett B, and I took toward the theater down 9th ave provided us with very few drinking options of interest on our side of the street. We were nearing the theater and decided to hop into the next bar we saw.
The first thing I noticed was how clean this "dive bar" was. And then how well decorated it was. And then how friendly all the guys were. And then how interesting the clientele seemed - especially the guy with the awesome mustache wearing denim from head to toe, as well as the bartender in the cut-off tee.
But I came here with one objective: Get my drink on. And so we all did! Shots were ordered, extra rounds were requested, liquors were generously poured...And eventually I began to notice the flirtatious remarks between the all-male patrons and bartenders, the lack of a TV in the bar, and the rainbow colored flags...It was at this point I thought to myself, "There are a lot of people at a bar for 1:00 PM on a Saturday!"
But I can see why. Our lone bartender was very friendly and paid much attention to his regulars. However, that resulted in spotty service here and there, but when he comes to take care of you, he makes it up by sticking around to chat for a while.
The patrons are all very quirky. Couples and singles-but all parties co-mingling in conversations. The bartender also notified us that the jukebox was free as he handed us a basket of free popcorn while we hung out at the bar! The jukebox selections were made by Jarrett B and he proved that there was a good selection of songs on the jukebox. The audio was at a level that added to the ambiance without forcing any extra effort to hear and hold conversations.
When it was time to leave the bar, some patrons were making efforts to insure we reached the theater on time, and the bartender extended one last bit of generosity-drinks on the house should we return after the musical! -
Review from Catherine J.
New York, NY
10/14/2010 17 Check-ins Here
Oh, Saloon, you're one of those strange girls who takes some time to get used to, but the investment is worth it.
Classic divey gay bar (originally Cleo's, the first gay bar in the neighborhood) just west of Restaurant Row. Cheapish drinks. Smiling pot-bellied men standing around the stools on either side of you, trying to catch the bartender's eye, trying to cruise a little, trying not to eat too much popcorn.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Christine S.
Burlington, NJ
2/19/2012
Great neighborhood bar, especially friendly to out-of-towners. Awesome bartender, great drinks, and welcoming local crowd. Would highly recommend it.
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Review from Dave K.
New York, NY
5/26/2009
This is definitely not the place to end your night, but it's a good enough place to start it. It looks like your typical dive bar, but it isn't too grimy.
Most of the bartenders are very friendly (except for one, whose name I won't mention). As someone said, avoid the juke box... I don't think it actually plays the songs you select.
If you just want a casual drink in an uncrowded, friendly bar, then hit up 9th Ave. Saloon. If you want to meet someone, be "noticed," or dance, then stay away. -
Review from Suresh D.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 10/4/2010
I came here yesterday afternoon after brunch. Haven't been in a while. Place was not too crowded. I was quickly served my tequila shot with my beer.
$12.50 pint of Samuel Adams and Cuervo shot
$6 Cuervo Gold shot
Glad to be back!Listed in: New York gay and lesbian bars, The Places I GO TO HAVE SOME…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2010
I came here yesterday after going to the New York Historical Society. After walking all those… Read more »
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Review from Ryan D.
When my friend Rose suggested we meet here I had to say yes. She described it as "the saddest little gay in the world" or something along those lines. I was supposed to meet up with Scott (and I think Sam?) about two weeks ago to sort of pre-game there, then go out to a more suitable homosexual drinking establishment. The night I ended up going to the saloon, I was also seeing a play around the corner in times square. It ended up being the right place at the right time.
I don't know what to really say about this place. There were a lot of old men here on a Saturday afternoon. As we approached the evening, they pretty much all left. The bartender was friendly and even lesbian-friendly (which you don't find in many gay dive bars). Rose, Jen, and I had a blast here. But it was kind of the saddest bar in the world, playing '80s music over and over and refusing to decorate the place past that decade. I think it's a good place to go for an hour, meet up with some friends at, or possibly dip in for a quick drink. But don't spend your life here, kids. Then you'd be the saddest little boy or girl in the world, too.Listed in: Something to Put in You, The Places I Go Out
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Review from Sara G.
Denver, CO
2/18/2010
Obsessed doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel about this place. I first discovered it by accident, as the best things usually happen.
The place is a small, wonderful, divey gay bar with an older crowd. The draw for me was the photo booth - I like to seek them out. The next plus was the drinks. I am a lightweight, but these put even my heavily drinking friends to shame! The bartenders are certainly not stingy! The free popcorn doesn't even help block the buzz. It's a great place to meet friends, especially since mine span three boroughs, so it's an easy middle-ground meeting spot.
Since discovering the bar in 2008, I have been back consistently, and even had my birthday party there. We are usually the youngest ones at the bar by a good twenty years, and the only girls, but that makes it even better, I think.
And look out for karaoke on Wednesdays! -
Review from Paul F.
Allentown, PA
7/17/2011
We stopped into the Saloon for one drink and ended up staying for 4 hours! With a very friendly staff, even friendlier patrons and great drinks, this is the place to start, continue and end your NYC gay bar crawl. We intend to make this a regular stop every time we visit the city!
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Review from Anita D.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2011
Not bad for a gay bar but it doesn't compare to the bars in the Castro. Maybe Chelsea would have been a better choice. Cranberry vodka ran about $4 (might have been happy hour price). The bartender and his regulars were being very friendly with one another. ;)
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Review from Phillip L.
Brooklyn, NY
2/3/2008
This place feels like a very low-key neighborhood bar. There was a wide array of people (age, size, etc) and felt welcoming with some cheap drinks served in glass mugs.
It would be a good place to meet a friend or two for some cheap booze before heading elsewhere. If you end up having to wait for your friend, you can peruse one of the few travel guide books near the front in their "mini-library." -
Review from David B.
New York, NY
2/23/2010
I've past by this bar several times throughout the last few years, but only went in once last year on a late night in between bars. When I visited this first time I had fun but can't remember much of it as I was already tipsy. A week or so ago I was having dinner with friends at Pio Pio on 10th Ave between 43rd & 44th and after we were done a group of us went out searching for a bar. We ended up at 9th Ave Saloon & didn't leave until 3:30 AM. We had such a good time! It was packed but not overwhelming, the jukebox had a great selection (I spent at least $15 on it) and the drinks were good & strong!
The bartender (John?) noticed us looking for a spot to rest our coats on and instantly advised us of a group that was leaving. From there we ordered some cocktails and beers, the bartender joked around with us, offered us free shots of Patron and made the experience even more enjoyable. This Sunday when I had a friend in from Long Island we started at Tom & Jerry in the lower east side, and after a few drinks there ended up back at 9th Ave Saloon. We arrived at the bar at around 6:45 PM right before John started his shift and ended up staying there until 12:30 - 1 AM! Another great time. We could have gone around the corner to The Ritz for more drinks but preferred to stay at 9th Ave Saloon. I feel the patrons are more "down to earth" here... Great local gay dive bar. -
Review from Erick M.
New York, NY
1/15/2009
First of all, this is a dive bar, I'm a big fan of good dive bars. It is very low key and welcoming with no shady people. The regulars go back decades, the bartenders are all very friendly and keep a good rotation to make sure everyone is being taken care of. The drinks are inexpensive (in comparison to other local bars in the area), and the jukebox is a lot of fun. Its a great place to go by yourself or with friends. It can get crowded on Friday and Saturdays but not to the point that you can't tolerate. Overall, it's a fun neighborhood bar in the middle of madness that is midtown.
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Review from Austin A.
Brooklyn, NY
2/11/2009
finally, a proper big, gay, dive. eclectic (perhaps eccentric) crowd, very friendly staff, cheap drinks, and completely unconvenient to anyone living in brooklyn.
why, oh why must you be located in hell's kitchen?
i'm usually such a hater, but i can't find a reason to not like 9th avenue saloon.
