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3rd Ave-14th St (L)
Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
Mon-Wed. 4:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Thu-Sat. 4:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
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Hey so came here last night with a friend. Had so much fun. Wine flowed up to the rim of the glasses, good vibe, good peops, laughs to be had. Especially in this neighborhood where chill dive bars are so few and far between.
They do have an upstairs lounge i didn't even mess with.
Awesome outdoor area that makes life easy for when one may want to get a breath of fresh air.
Needless to say, 3 bad boy glasses of vino, I was pretty tipsy and making friends with everyone and just had a blast. Bravo revival, on reviving my love of the good ole dive bar.
Other than the music being WAY to loud downstairs, I loved this place.
Good vibe, low key, awesome…
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Until recently I went there most Thursdays with countless CouchSurfers but, alas, our group has moved on.
This bar, however, has stayed put and I would still recommend it for those in the Union Square area who want comfy surroundings, both inside on the couches as well as outside ( till about 10:45PM ) on the back wooden " smoker's den " patio.
When there say hi to mostly-always-there bartenders Sara and John and ask for an " Adios MotherFucker " to drink - you won't need a second. ( Though if you're more of a beer drinker, they have 8-10 on tap every night. )
It's a pretty spacious bar I have to say. From outside it looks like a standard bar, you walk in and it extends all the way into the backyard. Smoker friendly zone.. then you can go upstairs where they have couches.
Drinks were pretty affordable but the place doesn't look very clean to me. some chairs were broken. more like a dive bar to me.
Just another bar to me!
Whist this spot long ago became my regular, favorite after school spot because of the friendly staff and open smoking outdoor area, last night i experienced a rude awakening. My girlfriend had booked the upstairs area for my birthday party a month and a half ago. Yesterday morning she called to confirm we still had the room and indeed they confirmed it. My whole group showed up around 9/10 and we began to have fun. At about 1030, mind you this is a birthday party so everyone's drinking, the manager on duty bears the bad news that the space my girlfriend had so long ago reserved was being taken away because the owner wanted the space for someone more important.
So sure, i get it, on my birthday i'm not too special, but i didn't think my 30 odd guests deserved to kicked from their space, but what could i do? I didn't own the bar, i guess that was my mistake.
Thanks for a crap night revival.
There are three distinct parts of Revival: the classic pub bar downstairs, the lounge area upstairs, and the rustic patio out back. Each is so distinct it deserves its own review.
The bar is a gorgeous dark wood bar with terrific bartenders who will greet you walking in, but the bar area is narrow and easily crowded (3.5-star).
The lounge will remind you of the dirtiest fraternity house you've even been in, full of couches with rips, beer stains and the faint smell of puke and urine (2-star).
The patio is the best part of this bar and reminds me of back patios in Colorado bars--a great mix of chill wooden seating arrangements that seems perfectly set up for spontaneous conversation and a community backyard feel (4-stars).
Revival is a great bar when it's nice and you can snag a spot outside. Otherwise, I'd likely pass.
I've been here many times - each time, I've drank too much, stayed too late and spent more money that I wanted to despite the drink specials on Thursdays at the Couchsurfing(.com) gatherings.
However, I've had a ton of fun each time. Meet old friends and make new ones. Try to get here on a Thursday evening.
Divebar checklist:
Standard beers on tap? check
Sticky rickety wood floors? check
Bar snacks only? check
Random murals of Alexander Hamilton? Martin Van Buren? to add kitschy character? check
Deliberate dark lighting to masquerade any DOH crimes? check
Bathrooms so crackden that people avoid eye contact when exiting? triple check
The garden patio is a low key charmer but I am a big time sucker for Christmas lights so please keep expectations low.
I liked this bar alot. I got together with a bunch of people, I was meeting for the first time. The seating upstairs is very nice, and very comfortable. Although it was raining, I did look at the patio in the back, and it was very nice. The bartenders are friendly and the prices are normal for Manhattan dive bars. The music is good and it isn't too loud, so you can have a conversation without screaming.
There isn't too much to be said about Revival that hasn't been said before. It's a decent dive-ish bar a hop skip and a jump from Union Square. It's convenient and they have a nice (but small) patio in the back. They also have an upstairs which I did not check out. There's a decent number of beers on tap and they even have bottles of PBR. During happy hour (4 to 7) draft beers (in sometimes less than pint glasses) are $5. Is that a deal? I didn't think so. I also found it pretty annoying that the bartenders were spending chunks of time text messaging on their cell phones when the bar was packed and people were waiting to be served. It actually became laughable at a certain point and we joked about it with other patrons. All and all, I'd come back if I was looking for a dive bar with outdoor space in this neighborhood but I definitely wouldn't go out of my way.
I keep ending up here and then forgetting I have been before... not a good sign. I think there is a back patio (although I haven't been out there) so I am sure that as the weather warms so too will my rating.
My biggest problem is this: The upstairs feels a little weird and disconnected and it gets tight hanging out at the the bar area, which is too small.
Nice people in front of and behind the bar every time I have come but the tenders have to work on their Guiness pours...
Ok. I love Revival
I once wandered over on a break at school one day... because I'm such a responsibe student.
It was during the after work crowd and the bartender, along with everyone at the bar were super friendly and engaged in a bar wide conversation. It was nice. Since then I went back fairly often and had a good time any time of day or night.
When you first walk in, the bar looks fairly compact. However, there is more seating in the back, and through there, there is a lovely outdoor garden area. Furthermore, if you head upstairs there's some comfy seating.
There's always good beer on tap, I've always enjoyed the crowd there, and the bartenders as well.
Oh and I love the paintings on the walls.... love em.
Bad music, then good music, then... Weezer? Wtf Revival. No consistency, and what bar plays whole albums end to end, and on one occasion 1 1/2 times?
The upstairs is so quiet that you can be quiet too. Shadows and dirty old couches and a general feeling of gentle neglect with the occasional violent beating. One couch is perfect, but some others can actually suck you through the floor and into the downstairs seating area. The outdoor seating is a good loud on an overwhelming night. Someone said the shadows on the walls looked like Florida birds. I remember that.
I've seen so many bars labeled as dives on Yelp that in actuality were not. This is not one of those bars. THIS is a dive. Faded walls, faded bar, wobbly stools and chairs etc. And there were one or two dogs roaming around. Yes, dogs. Punk and metal were blasting until some Radiohead interrupted the playlist, quite fortunately.
The outside area looked great, but it was a tad chilly for that. Standard prices. Good bartenders. Lots of spaces for groups - either upstairs, outside or at tables in the back.
Went there on a Monday night - absolutely dead. But I had no complaints. The place was really cozy, and I am definitely going to go back at some point.
Beer prices were standard, bartender was very friendly.
The ceilings are really low. There's two tiny, smelly bathrooms in the middle. There's a garden out back that is ok. Location is ok. I got a pineapple/selter and it was like $4! I think it's a bit pricey. This place is funny, they have PBR in a bottle. There's a few air conditioners, so as long as you're sitting in front of it, it's going to get hot in there. Wear little clothes and you won't suffer. I doubt I'll ever go here again...Just not crazy about it. The crowd was meh.
i really enjoy revival. it seems a little out of place in manhattan, more like it would be in my hood in brooklyn. nonetheless, the patio is lovely, the drinks are awesome (i think my whiskey sours had honey in it!) and the bartenders are so nice. revival is a nice little oasis in the chaos mindfuck that is union square. a+, i love it here.
i've been here a handful of times. nothing too special- but it's a good place in Union Square where the vibe is low-key. there's been a few DYL's held here on hot summer nights, meet-ups with friends from out of town, random drop in's and what have you.
now, i don't know much about beer... but one night i decided to ask why some beers need extra care/attention... like Guiness, for example. i was educated on the process and why they use those metal thingamaboppers. the bartenders are quite nice and approachable. i spent a good deal chatting with them and watched Futurama on the tiny t.v. set in the corner of the bar.
it gets a little crammed sometimes... and as nice as "outdoor seating" sounds- that is NOT the case. the seating is horrible and the old rusty folding metal and wooden chairs are very annoying to sit on. the stairs that lead up are simply scary. bathrooms are treacherous.
the second floor is actually cozy and comfortable. the warm breeze comes in through the open windows and it's a great space to host a small group of friends.
REVIVAL could be a rather ordinary bar. The $5 beers are normal New York prices. The two levels, no food, are grungy enough to ALMOST make
a dive bar. The prices keep it from being one.
But on Thursday nights, REVIVAL is something special. It's host to COUCH SURFERS. For those who don't know, Couch Surfers are people
who travel and don't stay in hotels... they stay on people's couches. So on Thursdays, chances are you'll meet people from dozens of countries and as many states. We hung out with Mexicans, Frenchmen, and Ukrainians... as well as our own Japanese and Korean folks. You'll also meet New Yorkers who HOST couch surfers.
While the people vary in gender and national origin, they don't vary nearly as much in age. The crew seems pretty solidly packed in the 25-35 year old range.
You'll have to be bold to meet people. It's pretty cliquish. People will be friendly enough if you introduce yourself, but don't expect them to go up to you and start a conversation. This is, after all, New York. --Drink Club NYC is a roving group of NYC drinkers
Good, low-key place to get your drink on, a place you don't have to get cleaned up for. Downstairs looks like the kind of bar someone would build in their basement rec room, plus another small room past the bathrooms with maybe four high tables. Upstairs there is another room with more lounge-type seating. The secret weapon here is the nice wooden deck out back, which is a great place to chill out on a weekend afternoon. Friendly service and they were playing some Dylan and Neil Young last time I was in.
Revival is a bar for one and all, for any occasion. Nothing at Revival strikes you as being particularly distinctive, but it has elements that appeal to a diverse crowd of bar goers--
o College crowd--reasonably-priced, even if small, selection of drinks
o Chatty, single drinkers--laid-back setting with amiable bartenders
o Pairs/couples--quiet upstairs lounge, conducive to conversation
o Working folks--patio area with nice benches and surrounding trees
To add to the charm and character of this multi-level space, there is even a trapdoor on the first floor that opens to a flight of stairs leading you to the basement area, presumably only for staff access.
___________________________
Upstairs
___________________________
| | _
Bar | Downstairs | _ Patio
| | _
_______________|___,____,__________|_____________
_ |
Basement _ |
_ |
_________________|__________
Last time I was here, several Yelpers had gathered on a late Friday evening. I met many of them for the first time, having myself not been too active on Yelp lately. I observed that the persona of Yelpers is quite understated in relation to what their participation in talk threads might suggest. Are we simply paper tigers? I digress.
In the final tally, the friendly bartenders, interesting mural, divey-yet-quaint setting, and convenient location, make Revival a great bar to frequent when you are not sure where else to go.
This was a great place to chill with a large group of people. The drinks were ok, and the bartender even gave me a discount because I waited until he was done flirting with a couple girls down the bar.
The upstairs is perfect to chill. The music was eclectic, ranging from the Beatles "I am the Eggman" to Radiohead's "Electioneering." There was enough space for a dozen of us to sit and chat and not take up anybody else's personal space.
The bathrooms, while rundown and a bit shabby, were clean. One does not have a mirror you can see into, so beware of the left hand bathroom if looking to preen.
I'm diggin this place. Good beer, especially during 2-for-1!, friendly staff, good clientele and several nice places to sit - at the bar, out back, or upstairs. It would be nice if you could order beer upstairs!
I came here for a Couchsurfing event, so your mileage may vary.
Revival is a bar in search of a reason.
Street lamps paned with colored glass contrast against worn murals of 18th Century figures. Worn couches rest on well trodden and dusty wooden floors. That's just the top floor.
The bottom floor has the bar, a bar that's seen a lot of drinks sliding across and taking a bit of the varnish with it on each pass. Adds character. The back patio has garden chairs and is much much cooler to sit. After finding the second floor too hot, we migrated to this breezy back section.
Hereupon, a secret underground lair was soon discovered. An escape hatch to an undisclosed speakeasy? Perhaps but a dream..
review 6/10/2008
I.M.Y.
I worked on Irving Place and so this place is literally right around the corner. The bartenders were very nice, and after months of going there on Fridays they remembered all of us!! And I mean all of us.. there were usually at least 10 of us going there together. The outside patio is great for when it starts to get busy. The bar area tends to get a bit crowded so we also sat in the comfy couches upstairs.
It helps that they serve cider and other delicious mixed drinks if you don't drink beer!
The drinks are not expensive, just normal prices not New York prices :)
This was my happy hour spot for three years, so I'm biased.
One of it's awesome features is that you can sit: 1. by the bar, 2. at a table 3. outside on a bench/by space heaters 4. upstairs in dark, dimly lit romantic area on a couch. Something for everyone.
The prices are good, there are well drinks, there's beer and the bartenders are really cool. I used to go every Friday at like 4 to open the place up, so I didn't have to deal with the crowds really until later and by then... I certainly didn't notice.
I did go last week on a Tuesday and the fun guys behind the bar were hosting a madlibs night. Someone in the bar would get customers to list nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. and when the madlib was finished, the bartender would read it over a bullhorn.
One regular, Kenny, seemed to be a favorite. He brought his lovely dog, who sauntered around like she owned the place. Points.
I've been to Revival in the rain
I've been to Revival on my way to a plane
I've been to Revival in the snow
I've been to Revival on blow.
I've been to Revival for a smoke
I've been to Revival as a joke
I've touched something sticky in the lounge
I've smoked a butt on its ample grounds
I've hooked up with a skank
I've broken the bank
I've peed on the floor (not really)
I've begged 'em for more
Yes
I've been to Revival before!
Came here for happy hour the first real spring day. By 6;30 outdoor space was packed with no seating. Bummer. They can totally do a better job creating better seating back there. Inside is extremely dark. At least give me a little light so I make sure I don't knock my teeth out trying to get down the stairs. My heels got caught every time I walked over the random trap door in the back room...
By the time we went back to the bar to grab round two, a few of the kegs were kicks. The bartender was frazzled being the only one working.
We headed upstairs where couch seating was available. Much more relaxed up here. Good cute crowd, more guys then ladies.
I'll come back here but only on a whim. Nice to know its in the hood.
i just got back from revival. drunk and content. im a bit dissapointed that they shut the patio down after.. i think abt 10:30 and i had to leave my drinks in and smoke outside. i really dont understand why would they close the patio when the bar itself is pretty darn small. wraaa!!
anyhoo, i met interesting characters today and made some new friends. i wish they have bigger space and a faster service. the bartenders were really really really really really really slow. they seems like they dont care. there were lotsa of people who got frustrated and went somewhere to wait til the bar got less and less crowded. to compare with bar on A, they were really efficient and you can see the bartenders jumping up and down to try their best to serve as fast as they can - not here. i think its perfect to hang here when its not crowded.
While everybody goes to Galaxy to hang and chill before the gig starts next door at Irving Plaza, all the cool kids such as myself head on over to Revival.
I can see how people think its a dive bar, because it does have that vibe. But to me, its much cooler than a dive bar. Its a place where I would actually take a "lady friend" for an after dinner drink and discuss, oh i don't know, taxation without representation.
there's a cool garden in the back, where people go and smoke their cigs and whatnot. There are two floors, with the lounge area upstairs, and the bar area downstairs. We tend to hit the lounge so we can just relax and talk about all the hipsters lined up in front of Irving Plaza. Yeah, we're that cool.
Revival is a good nightlife option for those who enjoy a chill atmosphere with good music, nice bartenders, and strong drinks at decent prices. It may seem like a dive bar from the outside, but its more of a two story lounge with an outside patio and has a good vibe. Crowds are decent and mixed with all ages and races.
This is really one of my backup spots for nights in which I'm not sure where to go, but feel like mingling with the masses. It is easy to miss, but getting (a little too) popular quick.
Every positive thing applies. I went here for a (now ex, sob sob) friend's birthday a couple of years ago, and I was amazed by the different vibes on the first and second floors. We had no problem fitting 10-12 of us on a Friday night. The backyard is a HUGE plus (I may be a smoker, but I hated stinking like one, so this is happifying).
And one time, I left a beautiful drawing a friend had brought back for me from Egypt, two nights before I was leaving on a road trip. I called the bar, I spoke with Ben the bartender, and he not only put the drawing aside for me, but was willing to meet me the next day to give it to me. That didn't work, so he met me at 11am on the day I was leaving, opened the bar, and gave me my drawing. Ben the bartender, Rebecca the librarian is eternally grateful.
Went for happy hour and was able to not only enjoy the awesome backyard but had my pick of where I'd like to sit out there...on a Friday evening! Fantastic! Draft beers were $5 because of happy hour which doesn't seem all that happy to me but it was still worth it. They have Magic Hat #9 on tap which is just stellar. That combined with the backyard makes it a guarantee that I will be returning to this cozy little dive for more early evening beers.
Revival has the slight edge and comfort of an East Village bar, without being so far from the frickin' subway. Woohoo.
I went to Revival during happy hour and happily curled up on one of the big comfy velvet couches in the long and narrow upstairs lounge with my cheap Magic Hat # 9, while my coworker oohed and ahhed over her cheap and lemony Tom Collins. Located so close to Union Square, midway between the office and home, Revival seems like the perfect place to relax and wash away the stress of the work week, or a good compromise for friends who live in far-flung nabes around the city.
A great and convenient spot--I'm sure I'l be back!
I love this bar for a couple of different reasons.
First off, it is right by my work so this is usually where I go for after work drinks. Second, it has a really nice patio that is perfect to hangout at during the summer. Third, I like the staff, they are always friendly and play good music. And fourth, they usually have decent beers on tap.
Oh and I can't forget, they have a delivery food book that has lots of choices. The fact that you can have food delivered to a bar still amazes me. Maybe because I am from Cali.
I like this place quite a bit. Nice comfortable upstairs seating, and a good liquor bar. Rather weak beer selection. The bar is pretty hoppin' even on a week night. The bartenders are very sociable and attentive. Solid drinks, that don't skimp on the liquor.
Revival is more than your standard dive bar only because they have an incredible back garden.. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall it's one of my fave places to be on a saturday afternoon or after work. They let you bring your own food, so you can pick up some snacks at Whole Foods and have a little alcoholic picnic in the back :) The upstairs is also a decent place to hang out with friends, the music usually isn't too too loud, so you can actually hold a conversation.
This is my new favorite bar. C. and I went Friday night to meet a friend visiting from Amsterdam. The downstairs is your usual bar area -- seating at the bar and some small table along the side and in back. There's a wonderful cartoony mural on the wall opposite the bar (When I asked the bartended who painted it, he said he didn't know but that it had been there a long time. Do any Yelpers have any information?)
Upstairs, there's a wonderful lounge area that has more comfortable seating, including a space in back that's perfect for larger groups. That's where we were, and arriving later than others, C. and I pulled up a couple of low stools to join the group.
People seemed appreciative of the bartender's Guinness pours, and C. and I got seltzers with cranberry and lime juice, respectively. This is the drink deal of the century. Two seltzers and juice will cost you $4 total, and the lime drink is particularly tasty.
Now, if only I knew who did the mural!
Update: Mystery solved! The artist saw this review and emailed me to clear things up. Check out http://www.mediadiet.n... for the rest of the story.
First impressions of this place isn't great due to the super low ceilings and oversized TV at the end of the bar. Get past that and you'll find reasonably priced drinks, a descent backyard and a much more relaxing lounge area up on the 2nd floor.
Worthy of stopping in if you happen to be in the area and feel like quenching your thirst.
For my one and only experience (so far) 5 stars. The likely hood of it actually happening again knocks it down a peg.
So a friend of mine had a less than positive experience at Cibar around the corner, and decided to give Revival a shot. The only condition was that it serve food. We walked in and saw the bartender cutting fruit. I asked him if they had food, and he gestured to the bar and said "Just a moment." We ordered drinks, took a few sips, and suddenly had a bowl of fresh-cut fruit on the bar in front of us!! I'm talking 2 different apples, orange segments, fresh cherries, grapes - it was like heaven! Apparently the bartender decided to share his snack with us and the rest of the bar! It was such a sweet moment, and the fruit was so fresh and fantastic and just what the doctor ordered!
Now I don't think they actually have food here, since the bartender ordered from delivery menus with someone else at the other end of the bar, but it really didn't matter anymore. I asked him if this was a special day at Revival. His reply? Everyday is special at Revival. We shall see. We shall see.
I chalk it up to a sign of growing older that my go-to Union Square Bar is no longer 119, but rather Revival.
It could be the outdoor space, it could be the better beer selection, it could even be the better aroma.
Viewed in that light, growing old is not so bad after all.
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