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1st Ave-14th St (L)
Astor Place (6)
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Mon-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
"Best Jukebox I've found in all of NYC (or the world), and great drink specials. This place is really rad on the weeknights! Check out my…" read more »
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why i still love this bar.
the bartenders are great....i revisited Roger one night while leaving Cheap Shots (also a great spot) after a friend's birthday. He was off, but it just so happens that all the other BTs that work there were enjoying drinks together. In one hour i met all the BT's International had to offer, got some drinks (perhaps one too many), had some laughs, and called it a night (morning) at 4:30a.
You just can't deny how much personality everyone has that works here.....and they will remember you. The drink prices can't be argued with and their bathrooms are always reliable. It is seriously my "cheers" equivalent. I'm not a heavy drinker but if I drank nearly as often as some of my friends I would frequent here more often. It's not that I don't love you IB......i just lead a very square life.
:(
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i love this place. i spent my b day here with some friends. It was an awesome night. This place… Read more »
Great bar. Best in East Village.
Remodled and cozy. Great happy hour. Miller Lite tap. Whiskey and a beer specials. Nice bartenders. New bathroom. Nice patrons.
Let's keep the 9-to-5 worker bees going to other places, and everything will be A-OK.
People thought this was:
My friend who lives in the area brought me into this bar while I was visiting New York last week. The main attraction was the Schaefer and whiskey special, which is cheap beer in a can and a shot of well whiskey for $4. I don't usually drink beer from a can when I'm in a bar, but that's a totally sweet deal (and I didn't realize my friend had grown into a whiskey man).
I was happy with the draft selection and the prices (especially for New York). My friends and I had a great conversation with the bartender as well, he was an extremely friendly guy. Overall chill dive-bar scene without being seedy at all.
Nice East Village bar... cheap drinks, and good crowd.
I like it!
This is a good, solid little East Village bar. However, one could pretty much have a time very similar to this elsewhere.
The main attractions are the cheap drinks and attentive bartenders. Order a rail drink, it's $4. Order a call brand (Johnny Walker Black), it's more like $10, which is extreme BS. Stick with the draft beers and well drinks, and stop here on the way to somewhere else.
Hard to call it a dive bar when the dude behind you is talking about "iterative tweaking." But this is a great, unpretentious place. Juke box is excellent for classic rock and blues-type stuff. I'm not big into rating the quality of humans but the staff are a-ok in my book.
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Nice dark bar, decent selection, good jukebox, cool crowd, and a really nice back patio. What else do you want?
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Oh International Bar, thank god you're back!
When you closed down about a year and a half ago I was utterly disconsolate. Bars like the International are a rapidly dieing breed in rich-cunt Manhattan nowadays and the International was one of the finest. For almost two lonely years I walked by the vacant storefront that once housed the International and mourned the loss of one of my favorite dive bars.
Then one day, seemingly out of nowhere, the International Bar reopened. Not only did the International reopen, but it had been totally renovated. Just about everything about the old bar, with the exception of their wonderful jukebox, had been totally redone. Of course I was skeptical- I loved the cheapness and shittiness of the old International.
While the shittiness is gone, the International is still dirt cheap. $3.00 cocktails during happy hour, $4.00 any other time is a-ok with me. As far as the shittiness, I could really get used to the new International. I know I usually like bars that smell like old piss, but the International is wonderful. It's warm and cozy on a cold evening and I'd even go so far to say the International is romantic.
Yeah, I know...
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If only more bars in the East Village followed International Bar's lead, the neighborhood might be fun to hang out in again. The dark lighting, complimented by good music that doesn't throb against your ear drums, a pleasant patio out back, and reasonably priced drinks, makes the International Bar a perfect escape from the NYU-dominated East Village scene.
Now, if only they got rid of Bud Light on draught, expanded the beer offerings, and controlled the faint odor wafting from the bathrooms, this might just be the perfect bar.
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This has officially become one of my favorite bars. I'd walked past it many a time thinking what kind of name is "International Bar??", wondering if it was some sort of weird euro dive bar scene. Thank goodness I finally made it inside and found I was totally off base.
I've had some of the most fun drunken nights here. it cant be pure coincidence. I think it might have something to do with their ridiculously cheep well drinks (seriously, i am amazed every time they tell me how much my drink costs) and their chill, comfy vibe. it's conducive to talking to random strangers and apparently, making out (there's always some couple making out in the dark corner). it gets crowded some nights, but i almost always can scrounge together some seats. that's worth 5 stars right there, baby.
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This may just be the darkest dive bar I've ever been in. We came in on a bright sunny day into a sudden dank chamber of alcoholism. The hot dykey bartender was 7 levels of awesome; the patrons were grating (including some dude with a thick Scouser accent who touched me). MREs are $25 because they need to serve food in order to keep their license but they don't want for anyone to actually order any vittles--but you can if you want to "Live Like GI Joe," as the sign proclaims. And the bathroom was actually clean (shockingly).
I am unconvinced that International Bar is really my speed. I love the divey-ness, but something was off with the hootin' & hollerin' regulars at the far end of the bar. This may require further research.
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It was 10pm on Saturday night and I
just
wanted
a
beer.
Unfortunately, the East Village was jam-packed with assholes flown in special from Jersey, LA, and the Upper East Side. Or so it felt as I hopped from bar to bar with my friend, cursing and glaring, my eyes darting all over the crowds.
So we stopped in a hole in the wall on First Ave. I bought a beer. We sat at the one open table and got a little drunk. Because that's what I wanted to do. And it was perfect. Low-key, easy, and completely vacant of any recently airlifted poseurs.
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My honey and co practically live here. It's easy to see why. Cheap potent drinks, smart friendly staff, old school rock music on rotation... It's like their own Cheers bar. Lots of musicians with a dash of yups at times so crowd is pretty mellow. Just hold the bathroom door shut while you're in there coz the lock can be faulty, oops!
-Conveniently located
-patio in the back for smoking
-$4 well drinks; $3 well drinks during happy hour
What more can you ask for?
(Well, I kinda wish my friend hadn't spilled an entire Miller High Life all over my coat, but, you know...that's not the bar's fault)
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Cheap! and strong drinks. Definitely can recommend it. Had a relaxed feel to it, and wasn't too crowded on the Friday I went. Really a great place to hang out with friends. I will be going back.
Love this bar. I moved to NY recently, and happened upon International Bar. Everyone in there was super friendly, they pour stiff drinks and played good music. The bartenders even offered me food...what could be better? This place is definitely a perfect spot for a low key no frills drinking.
This review is a little unfair because International bar used to be a shit hole. I mean it was the sort of place you went for $3 Canadian beer and even cheaper people. IB closed some three years ago, leaving a gaping void in the fabric cheap NYC bars. It was for the best really. Someone was going to get hurt.
But International Bar is back and with a ... well, not a vengance per se. In fact, its gotten beautified. Where the bar and tables were once the cheap formica you'd find in unmarried aunt Sally's kitchen are now deep mahogany fixtures, new (clean!) mirrors, a tap where once you had your choice of bottle, bottle or bottle and an outdoor area that has absolutely no used condoms lying around. Talk about a make over.
I went on a Friday afternoon with Mel F. and put down a few Blue Moons. The staff, as always, was cool. Say hi to Molly if she's behind the bar. Other than the general respectability, International Bar is really standard fare. But I'm glad to see it back, in its new, more grown up, incarnation.
People thought this was:
International Bar used to be one of the best dive bars in the East Village. It had a jukebox to rival (and beat, in my opinion) Lakeside. It had cheap drinks. It was where musicians and other drunks hung out at all hours. The only people who got any attitude were those who acted obnoxious and those who ordered inappropriate drinks, whether stupid (woo-woo's, sex on the beach, fuzzy navels, etc.) or pretentious (cosmos or mojitos).
When I heard it had reopened I was concerned. If they'd changed a thing it wouldn't live up to my memories of the place. I'd partied there with friends, rock stars and film stars, and I'd finished mourning the death of it years ago.
My heart raced as I walked through the door...
...into what was a perfectly serviceable dark small bar with a smaller backyard seating area. They still had some divey options, such as $2 cans of Schaefer Beer. The jukebox was blasting late 90's rock, instead of the mix of jazz, punk, blues and reggae I used to dig here.
Still, it was an unpretentious place to drink a beer in the East Village. That counts for something. But this wasn't my "I-Bar." If it's yours, enjoy!
Not much separates it these days from any unpretentious joint to grab a drink after work, and that seems to be the crowd they're going for. That's fine; times change. They ought to change the name of it, though, because this joint bears no resemblance to the glory that was International Bar in, say, 2003.
People thought this was:
Love this bar. Even better when it is late and I think I want to go home. Great place to go for just 1 more drink. Super affordable and low key. Cool people work there.
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International Bar is a great place to duck into if you're feeling dive-barish. Not overly crowded even on post-work Fridays, cheap drinks, chill bartenders, and a cute little backyard garden area.
In the summer, they open the back door into the garden...I love the cosmos there, I love the juke box...it's super..
this place has everything you could ever want:
*cheap drinks: $4 strong martinis. so basically i can get belligerent here for $10. maybe $12 if i am feeling rich that day.
*a really great juke box. i scribble things on napkins all night for future illegal downloads.
*hot boys come here. dirty, dingy, tattooed boys who are easy to talk to, nice. no douche bags at all.
*great bartenders. everyone who works here is really nice and friendly.
*a long mahogany bar. sometimes i grab a table if one is free but i like sitting at the bar.
*dim lighting. i like dark bars. i think they're sexy. no further explanation available.
*a smokers patio. i no longer smoke. but i can still appreciate a patio that lets smokers smoke. this is rare in new york.
*homage to Schaefer in a can beer. my favorite dirt bag beer.
*opens at noon for happy hour. when i was unemployed, i lived here. makes for an early take over of the jukey, and drinks specials too.
*cool girls hang out here. girls girls, like myself. not stuck up bitches who cower in fear as a beer falls on their Manolos. i met one of my closest girl friends in new york here.
*a functional lock on the bathroom door. i hate hurrying to pee because some drunk dude could walk in on me and get a free glimpse of my who-ha.
international bar, i love you! may you never change.
People thought this was:
I can't believe I'd never made it here before! Sweet little spot I'd totally overlook if my friends hadn't led me in here. So much love to Molly, our fabulous bartendress who served us for hours and was great for some conversation, too! Music was good, the bathrooms are tiny, and the crowd was friendly, which is a must in a cozier (read: smaller bar) situation. Overall, a winner, I'll be back for sure.
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I stopped by here on an Anti-Valentine's Day bar crawl last night (we're not anti-love, just needed a distraction for the night) and loved the dark wood decor. I also spotted an outdoor patio in the back, which definitely makes me want to come back in the spring.
Very solid bar in located in the heart of shitty bar central, the East Village. Nice respite from fratty guys and wastoid girls. Good beer selection at palatable prices. I'd go back.
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It's shinier, prettier, and newer, but it's just not the same divey shithole that we knew and loved.
People thought this was:
Great little hole in the wall conveniently located in the East Village. Has a laid back vibe with good tunes and really cheap drinks! Don't worry about what it used to be, it's what it is now that matters, which is a really great find for those of us cheap bastards who still need to get out and have fun. They have nicer, cleaner bathrooms than any of the overpriced places I've been to here and, between the iPod and the jukebox, you're bound to hear some great tunes. Just don't plan on taking a group. This is a great place to take a good friend to chill and talk over drinks for a while.
3.5. good happy hour prices, backyard is a plus as well.
$4 for a can of Schaefer and a whiskey. Kind of an old man bar. Friendly bartender. Quiet.
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I'm a bit biased, but one of my very cool co-workers co-owns this spot. As such, this place automatically gets a 5 star ranking from me. There just really is no other option...
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Used to be an awesome awesome awesome bar. Then it shut down for several years. Now it's a cheesy wannabe rocker spot with cliche bartenders who poor too weak drinks with lots of attitude. Go across the street to tile bar. It's cheaper and nicer.
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i bought my friends a round of beers. it cost me 8 dollars. 10 with tip. five stars, easy.
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One time I was at the International, a German tourist asked me to draw a camel in his daybook-turned-travel-diary. My companion in alcohol consumption also drew a camel. His camel didn't have any humps. Mine had one. We left feeling like that was somehow incredibly significant, like it had something to do with love. This wasn't some sappy first date, just our first romance with the International. On another trip, I fell for a pulp romance novella collection called _To Have And to Hold_ from the fully-stocked bookshelf and that nights' companion smuggled it out in his trench for me (shh! don't tell!). Christmas lights somehow transcend their usual shabby chic, dimly illuminating the completely random bric-a-brac. The bathroom is even smaller than in most dives, so the sink sits just outside the door. The Wurlitzer juke has everything from Leonard Cohen to Debussy and you can get beer and well drinks for as cheap as $2.50. Hipsters rub elbows with professional drunks and the occasional East Village celebrity-type sitting at the bar that runs most of the length of the establishment. The whole place is scarcely as big as a rail car, but every square-inch is precious.
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2for1 happy hour and 3.50…
Neighborhood: East Village
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Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Pubs
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