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23rd Street (PATH)
28th St-7th Ave (1)
23rd St-6th Ave (F, V)
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Black Door is perfect if it's what you're looking for. What are you looking for? Do you want a drink or two with 1-2 other people (tops) and just want to chat? Do you like a cool selection of bottled beer? Do you like various types of music at a high volume? Do you like drinking in a small, dimly-lit room? Hopefully you like all of the above, because if you don't, you probably won't get along with Black Door too well.
It's a very different bar because there is no TV. There is no light besides candles. The room is spacey minus several high-top tables and stools and the bar. The music is loud but at least not annoying.
I strongly recommend coming here with a friend or significant other. You can grab a drink or two and stand closely to each other in order to hear each other. Don't bring someone you just met or aren't close with; you will end up yelling at each other when you're talking, keeping a reasonable distance between you. Don't bring more than two people here; you will no be able to keep a group conversation going.
The beer selection is nice but it is all in bottles, which is strange to me. $6 a bottle. I'll be back, especially since it's a minute away from my apartment, but I guess you really have to be okay with this different kind of setting to have a good time.
Great selection of bottled beer- good thing there was nothing on tap because this was a textbook nuts to butts setting, and I didn't feel like getting spilled on. Surprisingly, I was still splashed with beer that a very drunk girl couldn't manage to keep in her bottle of Bud Light.
People were very pushy and the crowd was entirely Murray Hill spillover. Still, it was a low key place and not too obnoxious in general. No bouncer or line... the bartenders did their best to keep up, and $6 beers were not overkill price-wise compared to many bars in this city. I will gladly pay $6 at a decent bar for a bottle of Rogue Dead Guy Ale.
I just wish they'd opened up the back room of this place, which is not only huge but has it's own sizable bar. All in all, not a bad spot for a birthday party, despite the odd/random location. I'd go back for the decent selection of beer but I'd also cross my fingers that it doesn't get too packed.
My neighborhood go to that's not in my neighborhood. Spacious, pub style with a great crowd and service to match. It's not always easy to get a seat, but a great place for a small group or larger party. Perfect as a neighborhood bar or a place to go if you're looking for something not too crazy.
I can't think of anywhere else in this big ol' city of ours where I have managed to have after work drinks, kill some time, (first, second or third) dates, huge fights and parties in one spot. There really is nothing spectacular about Black Door, but the bartenders are friendly, they have a decent beer selection, a great party space in the back and an incredibly convenient location.
Also, when the weathers nice they open up the huge front windows, although you'll pretty much always find me in the back where it's nice and dark.
Nothing special.. and probably wouldn't go here if I didn't work literally across the street. But the bartenders make a great dirty martini, it's close, and basically that's all I need for an after work drink with my co workers.
A totally solid bar in every way. Great selection of bottled beers, full bar, great music, and a chill vibe that is dimly lit and mellow. Like I said, solid.
I've been to Black Door a decent amount. It's dark, minimalistic space devoted to drinking and talking. This isn't a dancing spot, nor is it a kick-back-and-watch-the-game spot (one of the few bars that isn't illuminated by a flatscreen beaming down on you).
It's a great little bar though, the prices are average for this part of the city (think 6 bucks a beer), and there's a back room with another bar (although it's usually closed or saved for private parties). And the bathrooms aren't completely disgusting, which is a nice change up.
The bartenders are cool and usually are playing some great music (last time I was there, there was a heavy dose of Interpol going on which is right up my alley). It really depends on who's working though, as I remember one night I got a heavy dose of Britney Spears's Blackout album.
It's usually a good crowd, but seldom, if ever, overcrowded. That's only happened once or twice I've been*.
*One of the times being my birthday. Obviously it was crowded because people love me.
Simple and laid back bar offering moderately priced drinks for the area. Nothing spectactular about the place, but it seems to be a popular happy hour and after work spot. There is a larger room in back with an additional bar and seating that is more inviting and comfortable than the main bar in front. Black Door allows dogs in the bar so you will often see owner and dog wandering around, which can be fun. Fine place to have a few drinks with friends before heading out. I was with a larger group that rented out the room in back and it was a great place to host a party with friends if you can reserve the back room. You essentially have your own space with a private bar to yourself.
The back room is the shit. You will have many a drunken co-worker dance party here. You must go.
This my usual after work place. In fact, I just came from there now.
The atmosphere is good, nice…
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I would always pass this bar on my way home from work and it was always full. (I get off work at 11pm or so.) People were always sitting in the window with a drink and a cigarette. Yes, IN the window. The windows are large and low and kept open on warm nights.
This is a bar for talking. Very sleek, dark vibe, background music, no dancing. Perfect.
Prices are akin to other bars in the area, if not a little cheaper. And it's a lot classier than, say, Mustang Sally's. Though there's no food.
I like to take my friends here after a show. Impressive.
3.5
it's a cool spot...note their beers are all $6 even bud light; they do have a decent bottle selection. the room in the back is a nice touch. overall a decent place.
A tall, blond, ponytailed bartender (Rebecca...?) -- who looked like she MIGHT be a volleyball ace -- made all the difference to my Wednesday after-work experience of Black Door. This friendly but LOUD ("acoustics by Lucifer") and not-the budget-choice bar would rank as fairly forgettable except for the 1st-class treatment delivered by "Rebecca"...who really must be fresh from Sunnybrook Farm. Rarely does a group consisting mainly of female patrons receive such good attitude, damn-glad-you-came-in service from a fellow chick service professional (too many of whom make the fatal mistake of thinking most male customers will tip them better - and treat women accordingly). You go, Girl...& I'll come here with a posse again.
One big beef: When other Yelpers say "no food here", they mean NO FOOD...no menu and not even a bowl of salted nuts, Chex Mix, pretzels, wasabi peas, Kibbles & Bits, Meow Mix in sight. So it's really easy to come in hungry and to leave not only famished, but with your liver floundering in Lake Booze without so much as a potato chip life preserver. Does not bode well for work the next day.
Nice! We needed to find a spot to chill before heading to a show at Upright Citizens Brigade and this place was the perfect find. I'd describe it as classy, but laid back. It's the type of place where you trust that the bartenders are going to make a really decent mixed drink. They don't have beer on tap, but they have a large bottle selection. Really nice find in an otherwise drab area.
Decent crowd, good wine selection and they have delicious homemade sour mix. Great place to stop by for a drink or two when you are in the neighborhood.
Cool place. It's like your favorite dive bar minus the weird dive bar clientele, and with a nice atmosphere. Great vibe, cute pre war interior. Lots of room, and they have a big private room in the back. Great place to start out your evening, or go grab a drink on a weeknight if you are in the area and want to do something a little more laid back. Also a great option if you want to catch up with friends.
Nice bar very casual.
Bathroom tile floors, woodsy old school bar, the type of place where I could see a few casual monacles or 3 piece cheap suits with heavy mustaches and nobody smiling in the picture.
Here's what I heard on the stereo: Bush's "Come Down," Cake's "The Distance", etc. etc.
It was like a mid-90s revival. I was half expecting Better Than Ezra or Tripping Daisies (GOD that song is so good).
Anywho, the bottles of beer were at least 6, so don't expect to save money here, but the bartender was friendly, and the crowd was actually very nice, a few afterwork people that were a little older, a little more casual, a little more Chelsea. Its well lit, the bathrooms are nice, good place for a beer and conversation. And Bush's Sixteen Stone.
The Black Door is an after work spot, both times I have been there it's been a "fratty" type of crowd. I walked in a few days ago and liked it, was having a quiet conversation, until a huge crowd descended on the bar. It's candlelit, dark, tiles on the floor - no couches so not at all lounge-like, rather they have bar stools and a few tables lining the walls.
It's def not quiet - they were playing loud music so the great lighting is incongruent with the bar. They have a large liquor selection, no food.
Weekends they do open up a door in the back (pass the bathrooms) it's a whole other bar, cute with more wine then beer.
I would rather go to Tillman's any day - which is on the same blk.
This bar would get five stars if it wasn't for the loud Nickelback/hair metal that was blasting. I guess music sucks nowadays but there's really no excuse for that sort of thing. That having been said, it's everything a NYC bar should be. It's dark, the crowd is reasonably friendly, and the bartender whips up free shots from time to time. A couple shots of Fernet (hey it was on the house, don't taze me) really kicked my evening into high gear.
I had a hard time figuring out how to work the light in the restroom. I am such a backwoods hick that I assumed that the complete darkness factor was part of the "Black Door" theme, so I took care of business under low-light conditions. Subsequent experimentation proved me wrong. What a maroon...
A wonderful neighborhood bar, very unpretentious and laid back atmosphere. And the best part? I can take my dog!
This is where I spent my last birthday, in Dec 2007. Surrounded by familiar and friendly faces of my friends, I didn't pay much attention to what was going on. The place was pretty packed on a cold December Friday night. I stayed mostly in the front bar area - that's where we managed to find some sitting/standing space. Service was fairly fast. Not one person from my party complained. Their bathrooms were surprisingly clean, which is always a plus in my book.
It seemed that they didn't have a bouncer, but I might be wrong, since I didn't really pay much attention.
Overall it was a very good experience for me.
Upon moving to NYC I lived on the same block and spent many a night as a bar stool with a buddy until they told us to leave. Gets going a little later, but always a great crowd. Front bar is darker, has an older feel and good music. You can stop in for a drink or make a night of it. On the weekends the back bar opens which is bright and modern and also fun. The staff are great and always welcoming. Just an all around waterhole for drinks and conversation. Oh, and they let me bring my dog in on quieter nights. Great neighborhood bar even if it isn't your neighborhood.
I wish I had visited this bar under different circumstances. The night had turned out pretty awkward for me but let's not get into that. A coworker and her boyfriend decided to host one of their bday parties here. I arrived pretty late, when most of my friends were pissed out of their minds. A great social scene overall. The first room has a classy pub feel, dark walls, minimal lighting, but high ceilings. Lots of space to move freely and socialize even when slammed. The back room kind of reminded me of a wedding reception. White walls and curtains stretched high, champagne flowing. Drinks ok- $6-$7 beers, $9 cocktails- seemed about NYC average to me. I liked that you had options to move around. When I got tired of one scene, I could switch rooms and sit on the stools with some of my buddies. Change of scenery is nice.
I met a few friends here last night after work. I thought it was a really nice laid back and chill place for a couple of drinks. The decor was really nice. I did take away a point for the bathrooms. The front hanicap bathroom the light was out. How do you have a hanicap bathroom but it doesn't have a light. The bartender was pretty friendly and the music wasn't that loud (of course it was a Monday). I'll have to check it out on another night and report back.
Had this not been the last stop on the end of a LOOOOONG night, I probably would have enjoyed it more - seems like a fun, chill place to come in the Flatiron district either after work or late night, but I was tired, and the crowd was not doing it for me. Beers were cheap, and the staff was nice, so points there. Would love to check it out again when I have more energy.
I live in the area and I must say that Chelsea is not the neighborhood that boasts many low-key establishments. You basically have your choice of mind-numbing, over-the-top, how many girls do you have with you, cocaine induced trance holes, or gay bars. If neither fit your bill, then you tend to venture out. But when i just want to grab a drink and catch up on ole times, I come here. It is also quite dark inside...which, is where I look most beautiful...
NO draft beer! Besides that OK bar, like everyone else said very laid back. The crowd seems to be a mix of "hipsters" and late 20s working professionals. Its a decent place to take a girl for a couple drinks if you live in the neighborhood. Not bad, but been to better, it is what it is.
Nothing special here... I don't understand why I keep coming back though. I guess my friends are bigger fans of this place than I am. But why?? I don't get it... there's not much of appeal here. But then again, there's nothing to really bitch about either beyond the fact that the front/main portion of the bar is overly dark and usually makes me tired. I don't sense alot of energy to this place. The music is random and there's not much character nor anything unique I can point out about the Black Door. The back room, with its own bar, is not always open but is a good spot for private parties. Beyond that, not sure what other positives I can say about the Black Door....
I met some friends there on a Wednesday after work around 6:30 or so. The bar had plenty of seating and hooks on the walls so you can hang up your bag. Our server was friendly and quick with beers and such. Prices are good. My beer was 6 bucks. They don't serve food here, but have bowls of mixed nuts around. The bathrooms are kinda clean. Other than that, there is nothing really special about the place. The seating is nothing but stools, stools, stools (I prefer at least 1 comfy couch), and aside from the darkness of the place, which some argue lends to the ambiance, a pretty barren atmosphere.
I headed here to have a drink with friends to celebrate a birthday- it wasn't too crowded for a Thirsty Thursday and the people all seemed to be low key and friendly. We easily got some seats at the bar and all shared a delicious chocolate cake shot. The beer prices were reasonable and the music a fun 90's mix. However, the music was a bit too loud so it knocks them down a couple of stars- I also didn't drink too much while there (recovering from a cold)- but I would head back and see if they deserve another star or two...
Great dark wood interior. I went after work with some colleagues and we pretty much had the bar to ourselves. It took a second for the bartender to realize I wanted to order which I thought was weird. He kept waiting for me to flag him over when I had just sat down. Believe it or not I do not just sit at bars to not drink. He was nice though once he came over. They had a decent selection of bottles, but I don't think they had any drafts. More of a martini/wine place.
This dark lit, mellow bar is an absolute hidden treasure buried in the Flatiron district. Its getting more popular, as people crowd the place on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The drinks are reasonably priced but often times there isn't enough manpower to get your drinks in a timely fashion. Hence, if you're alone, sit at the bar if you don't want to wait too long for your drinks. If you are in a group, be prepared to stand if you can't snag a few extra stools to sit on. Highly recommended you get there between 5:30-6:30PM before it gets a little crowded. The bathrooms are nice, the drinks aren't too bad in price and the service has always been excellent, just understaffed.
I wandered into the Black Door after quite a stint down the block at Tillman's (check it out!) so needless to say my review is a tad tainted. We walked in and skipped the front room (which was mostly empty by the time we got there after 3) and went straight to the back room. I vaguely remember ordering a drink and realizing my wallet was missing so my friend covered me. The stage (was it a stage or an elevated area?) was fun and some people were grooving to some tunes... which I recall immenseley enjoying, but I couldn't tell you what they were. I think I'm going to have to revisit this review later, after another (much more sober) visit.... Best that I quite while I'm ahead...
I went on Sunday night about 9:30 pm and the place was almost empty except for me and my friends. I loved the decor with the dark wood and candle light. Very cool and laid back. Sat and chatted for about 3 hours before heading out to find food late. I like it but am not sure I will be making a trip down that way just for some wine. If I am in the neighborhood I wouldn't mind stopping by a drink.
It's not a bad joint and it's right by my job, so it's the usual after work drink/ going away party place. It also has Magic hat #9, but like the others said, no drink specials and $6 beers, and as for music they played "Girls just want to have fun"...what's up with that?
Meh. I was a bit surprised, after reading the reviews on here that this place wasn't 'laid back' or 'chill' at all. Rather I found it quite loud, crowded and in your face - which is fine at times, but I was hoping for a more relaxed atmosphere at the time as per the reviews. Also the drinks were expensive and not that strong for the price. I should give it another shot on a different night perhaps (which is why I'm giving it three stars because it could have been a fluke and/or my mood), but I'm also not that bothered to come back anytime soon.
Maybe I'm getting old but this place seemed a bit too loud and a bit too filled with frat boys. I'll take Park Bar over this location anytime, despite the Union Square crowds.
A good after-work bar that plays more U-2 than Three Six Mafia and doesn't require you to slap on your Jimmy Choos or Manolos. Can seem barren on Friday nights compared to other bars in the neighborhood, but as a starter bar or "meeting point" where you can actually engage in conversation and get a drink that doesn't break the bank, Black Door can be optimal.
I went here with my friend Eric, who lives and works in Manhattan, so i figured he would have a good idea of what bars to go to. He did. I liked how dark and relatively small black door is. With the menu scrawled on the mirror behind the bar and shiny rich wood grain beneath my elbows, I dug the vibe and especially the music. The first song I noticed as we ordered our initial brew was a little diddy by Nirvana called "Lithium", and since this was the jam Eric and I used to rock out to as young pre-teens in Charlotte, I felt it was apropo that it was playing for this random meet up in New York City. The next track was Silverchair keeping with the early 90's grunge rock theme. Black Door is a pretty chill place, with a laid back vibe...but still clean and classy. It seemed to attract a pretty cool crowd, too, cute girls and rich dudes buying lines of Patrone shots. If you're ever in the area, pop in and grab a cold brew they're not cheap, but nothing in New York is.
my office is a block away, and this is the best bar within a short walk. not pretentious, reasonable prices, and decent crowd. i wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but one of the better options in the hood. they pour a good martini, which absolutely devastated me one evening when i had three too many.
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