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The Cabin Down Below
- Nearest Transit:
-
1 Av (L)
2 Av (F)
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 pm - 4 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
38 reviews for The Cabin Down Below
Review Highlights
"Its a nice speakeasy with a great staff."
(in 9 reviews)
"or chill out to some good music in the next room."
(in 3 reviews)
"Very low key and chill."
(in 2 reviews)
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Jill F.
12/6/2011
This place doesn't care what you think and that's sometimes exactly what you want in Manhattan. A little "here's your cocktail, count me as invisible" can be the perfect place to relax, cozy up with a friend and drink a no-nonsense drink.
It's a breeze to get into, there are no special liquors, no fancy cocktail lists, and some decent wines...what more do you want?
I came here with a friend of mine after there was some long wait at some fancy schmantzy cocktail club a few blocks up we were happy to drink, chat...and do it in a chill place. There were groups of friends doing exactly the same thing as us. No frills attached evening, no silly lines and waits. Don't expect much and you'll get more in return.Listed in: East Village Escapes
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Review from Joey P K.
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome!
I'm a local, but I didn't know about this place until now, so... Take your out of town friends here to impress them.
You might see a celebrity. I didn't but you might. Either way, you'll feel like a celebrity. Maybe "Y" List celebrity. -
Review from Sara K.
New York, NY
2/4/2012
I had a great experience here! the drink was so tasty and fresh ingredients. the place was a little crowded, but we didn't have to wait long to get a seat. it's very cozy and casual speak easy. i would definitely return here over other speakeasy's in the area (coughPDTcough)
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Review from Katherine B.
New York, NY
1/12/2012
Intelligence is sexy, and subsequently so is whoever it was at The Cabin Down Below that determined making money is good for a business. Let me call it a "holding pen" - the bar where you can chill if you're waiting to get into the actual bar. Like, right? Don't make people stand in the freezing cold. This city is a wind tunnel, albeit a free one, and so this sidebar that can serve you a sidecar (see what I did there) is brilliant. I'll gladly take a load off while my friend figures out what name to say at the door, and order something, which will cost me $13. And one night I did just end up staying in the holding pen because it's cozy and enjoyable, and The Cabin Down Below made money. Wow! It's like a think tank or something!
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Review from Megan H.
Manhattan, NY
1/13/2012
My boyfriend and I come here all the time for Jameson on the rocks. It suits the place, somehow. Cabin's pretentious, but whatever. My friend and I came once, and the door guy asked us who we were here to see. We said no one, and the place was fucking empty. We just laughed and got drunk. That was a one-off though, Cabin is usually hoppin' so it's a great spot to take your out-of-town friends; they will think you're super cool. And if the Cabin door people are being dicks, just go to Lovers of Today!
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Review from Chantalle D.
New York, NY
1/28/2012
i think i was at the side bar not the main bar because there was no line and list people are talking about. just walked in. nice vibe, bartender spent part of the time texting so not amazing service, drinks were good and interesting, interesting crowd. it was a-ok but i wasn't bedazzled. may try main place sometime
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Review from Anastacia S.
New York, NY
12/19/2011
I like this place, IF you can get in. Very cool vibe, not a scene just relaxed, easy with a fantastic wine selection. It gets very busy and more times than not there is a list at the door so either get here early (they open the doors between 10PM-10:30PM and sometimes later), or make some new B-list celebrity friends.
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Review from Nicole C.
3/13/2011
The "Pizza Shop" that other reviewers have written about is now closed. The new entrance is through a small gated alley/patio, down half a flight of stairs, somewhere near 3rd & Ave A.
The door-woman tried to be all hardcore, and stopped us while we were walking in to ask us if we were on "the list," but she let us in anyway when we told her we weren't.
This bar tries real hard to have a speakeasy vibe... but with no decor* and no creative drink menu**, it's really just a bar in a basement.
---------------------------------------
*Unless you count an unlit fireplace, a bookshelf, and a few tables.
**Unless you count their 1 drink called "The CDB" which tastes like a Pineapple Cranberry Vodka. -
Review from Margaret T.
New York, NY
4/9/2011
I came here last night with a largish group (9) at the suggestion of one of one of the guys in our group who comes here regularly. Apparently, there are 2 halves to this bar and because our party was too big, we were told we had to "go to the left".
Whatever.
We go to the left. It's PACKED. Not a single person was speaking easily and it smelled like Bikram studio and fear.
We peaced-out before anyone got a drink. -
Review from Tony G.
Financial District, NY
2/21/2011
We had a bit of a hard time finding the place, but once we tracked it down it was a GREAT time!
It's actually not located beneath any pizzeria. It's on 3rd Street just past Avenue A, down some stairs past a gate with a red light.
Homemade ingredients (jalapeno marmalade gin, tamarind tequila, etc) were original and delicious. Don't expect a lot of drink for the $12 price tag, you pay for quality here.
Gets crowded extremely quickly. There may have only been 20 people there but it was definitely packed.
Definitely will be back! -
Review from Alex S.
Union City, NJ
9/12/2010
Its a nice speakeasy with a great staff. The place is small though and I can see it fill up quickly. Candlelit and dark but not too much. Owners iPod is playing through the speakers and he has good taste.
Good place for a conversation and above average drinks. $12 to be exact. -
Review from Kelly B.
Culver City, CA
10/19/2009 1 Check-in Here
After getting the bird from Death&Co we wondered down the block looking for a place to drink and a place to pee (7A won the latter). While waiting outside for my friend to finish her business, the door of the pizza shop across the street flung open and a hand waved me over. Escorted past the pizza counter we were carded and whisked downstairs to the empty themeless finished basement, a refreshing refuse from the bustle of the EV. Contrary to the other "secret" bars in the city, the liquor selection here is commonplace, but there was a lovely bottle of Prosecco which we drank with a splash of Chambord. But soon the crowd grew thick and the music transitioned from chill to dancey and annoying, so I bid farewell. I got up to leave only to realize I was missing my phone... which I found in the (clean) bathroom... exactly where I left it... because no one had stolen it... how nice!
FYI - The Pizza Shop has gone to, um... live on a farm upstate, but the Cabin is still open! -
Review from Allison R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/23/2010
If you're looking for a sports bar, this is DEFINITELY not the place for you. Low ceilings, vintage inspired decorations, nooky cozy rooms and an interesting crowd makes it the perfect late night spot for chilling with a small group of friends. It's suppper small so the experience is definitely dependent on who's there that night.
What's good is that unlike most bars in the city, it feels like you could be at someone's house... .meaning better conversation and making meeting new people a lot more personal.
It's a little tricky to find, but that makes it better in my opinion. I've heard that it can be a little tough to get into, I think they might look at you funny if you're wearing a sports coat and a button up... or not wearing some sort of leather... haha.
Overall though, GREAT music, great crowd, great find.... looking forward to a second round in the cabin down below....
that's what she said. -
Review from M. C. M.
New York, NY
12/6/2010
If you like divey-speakeasy, this is your place.
Tiny room down sketchy stairs around the corner beneath Niagara Lovers.
Fantastic seasonal cocktails at reasonable prices ($12/piece).
Go early if you wanna get a seat - they have a couple booths and stools.
Would have liked to give it a 5 but they let it get way too crowded (and therefore too loud). -
Review from Jordan C.
Brooklyn, NY
4/5/2011
chill spot for a beer and a chat with good friends on a week night...
gorgeous bartender, wow... too bad she was texting all night and had no positive interactions or vibes.
some cool eclectic people around and many beautiful women. -
Review from JP B.
1/14/2010
This space was formerly the VIP room of Niagra, a place not unknown to musicians. While this current incarnation is open to the public, the Cabin still a hang for musos, and a good one at that.
Thankfully this is not one of those "secret" bars a certain stripe of people flock to drink pretentious cocktails served by "mixologists". (Man, am I glad that trend is over!) The Cabin is a little getaway, like the name suggests: a place where you can chill out with a few friends while the rest of the East Village is busy doing its thing above you.
Since many of my friends are musicians (including some of the owners) I end up here once in a while, and always have a good time. It's a great last stop for a night out. -
Review from alan l.
10/6/2010
i don't know about calling this (or any other place) a speakeasy, because by definition they aren't.
let's call this for what it is - a semi-secret, chill bar which definitely caters to specific demographic. yes, you will be somewhat judged by the doorman, and they do turn people away who don't "fit."
if your jeans are tight enough to get in, you should enjoy the space. not big, but not too small, there is a simple but cool feel to the place. there's a main room with the bar, and then a side room with some tables. i've almost always been able to get a table, making this is a nice low-key place to have a drink or two.
drinks aren't outrageously $ but are pricier than a dive.Listed in: East Village
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Review from Raven L.
Las Vegas, NV
5/18/2010
When It first opened the whole secret door in a pizza shop really thrilled me, the night I went through that entrance it was a weekday and pretty dead- but that wasn't a Bad Thing- I sat in a secluded corner near a fire place with a friend of mine and we were able to hear ourselves speak. It has this carefree artist homey vibe to it- the drinks are okay-
BUT NOW- you have to use a different (not as fun) entrance- and it's a big fat middle aged party with some proffessional tyopes mixed in here and there which was Odd considering the doorman is supposed to be a bit more picky-... My advice: Go on a Slow Night and Early. -
Review from Tobin T.
3/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a speakeasy who love dive bars and love to pay classy lounge prices for drinks. It's where hipsters go to feel important (it's such a huge accomplishment to get in without being on the so-called "list"). Fun, but wouldn't go back again.
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Review from Bobby P.
Manhattan, NY
4/10/2011
Accidentally ran into this place with a friend while bar hopping and glad we found it. The cozy cabin feel of the bar makes you feel like you snuck into someones vacation home and threw a party. The music was loud but didn't bury conversation. The front part holds the bar and several little seating areas including a setup in an unused fireplace. The back is a bit more open with several tables. Great vibe, great music and affordable drinks, don't know what else you could ask for.
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Review from Mark S.
New York, NY
2/23/2010
I've been meaning to get to Cabin Down below for quite some time now and finally got around to doing so on a recent Friday evening. Alas, most of the allure was lost on me when I ambled up to the closed pizza shop and see a sign that directs you towards the side where a street entrance for CDB is. I don't really like my speak easy to be that easy to get into; you need to have at least a little bit of trouble, to make finding it and getting in that much sweeter of a victory. But I was willing to overlook this; perhaps the pizza shop ran out of dough and had to close up early.
I'm going to recycle something I've read before in that upon entering CDB, it really does feel like you're going to that kid down the street's basement to hang out (or in my case, I was "that" kid). Dimly lit with a few alcoves here and there. The bar was small, but the place wasn't too packed (around 2AM). Quite the hipster hang out though. Don't think I've seen so many fedoras concentrated in one area since the "Yuppie vs. Hipster" birthday party I went to.
To be honest, the place was okay. Nothing spectacular or too memorable about it though. Now, had I entered through a secret door in a pizza shop... -
Review from Jennifer R.
New York, NY
11/25/2009
Shimmy on into an unobtrusive pizza place for a secret world behind the magical door...If you can find it...
I love the fact that nobody can find this place; it's a secret hiding place just for us locals. I think the space is uber cool and I love coming here with a small group of friends for that intimate feel. You could, conceivably come with a big group, but I wouldn't recommend more than 4/5 at the max (it can get busy).
The only reason I am not giving this place four stars is because I am not particularly fond of the drinks and service, however. This isn't really a place to come for NY's finest alcoholic beverages, but you can get past that to enjoy the space and company of those around you. I think the cool thing about this place is that because of its size it is easy to have a quick chat with those around you!
Pros: very cool space and nice intimate feel that keeps you coming back!
Cons: you won't always get in, so have a backup plan haha. Drinks aren't the best. I do believe, if I am not mistaken, there is a cc minimum. -
Review from Kelly R.
New York, NY
2/22/2010
Super secret, super awesome. Best music ever.
Would be 5 stars if it wasn't for the fact that it gets super crowded super fast ,and they wouldn't let my 3 friends in after they came all the way there from across town. -
Review from Lizzie S.
11/29/2010
Love thus tiny speakeasy. Entrance now around the corner instead of through the pizza place. Tiny and quaint, got a seat on a bust Saturday. Good music...
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Review from pat b.
New York, NY
Updated - 4/9/2009
::: steps in time machine to high school :::
whoa, Craig's basement is so cool! The recessed lighting, the fireplace, the wooden beams running overhead! This party is awesome*! They have Stoli and Knob Creek! Shots are sooo junior year. Whats a good mixed drink? Hey, I know! A screwdriver! Fine, fine, fine. Shots it is. Only whiskey though, I got into a fight with Jose last week. Dude, you've never heard of Maker's Mark**? Its this great whiskey that has wax on the top! Yeah, cool, I know right?!?
:: steps out of time machine :::
yeah, so I grew up in suburbia where we walked downstairs quietly to avoid friend's parents who I'm sure knew what was going on. Except in this case, the parents have morphed into a sketchy looking bouncer in the middle of a pizza shop who always tells you to come back in 30 minutes (Cabin is only open 10 til 4 W-Sat).
Then there is the time you first tried your hand at mixed drinks. Cabin is no different, except the "Coke for Color" mantra doesn't apply here. I asked for a drink, avec bourbon.
"Bourbon? Thats a tough one. A Manhattan? Jack & Ginger?"
(twitchy Pat B comes out, index finger & thumb grasp bridge of nose)
"Double Knob on a few rocks."
$9. Good enough. Then I witnessed something I have not seen since High School: gin & tonics with rail gin from an unpronounceable Russian*** label. Except I remember having a heavier hand back then, and we never used fruit in our cocktails. Whats that? The lime is "garnish"? Yeah, call it what you want sweetheart.
(/off soapbox)
I actually like the space. Its great for a night cap, so long as you dont want anything complicated, and your favorite beer is Budweiser, Bud Light, Heineken, Corona, or Amstel Light. Sorry, but those cucumber infused specialties are completely foreign in this here Cabin. Its cozy and the country music isnt playing too loud (it IS called The Cabin Below). Despite the current 3 star rating, give it some time, and this place might actually grow on me if drinks stay under ten bucks.
* sorry, no beer pong
** Cabin hasn't heard of it either
*** I can only guess. But I dont think there was a vowel in the name, unless y's count.Listed in: Not quite over exposed. Yet
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2009 First to Review
nothing is worse than a meathead skater bouncer who cant get his facts straight.
830 PM :: "Im not… Read more »
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Review from Sascha M.
8/4/2010
Dive speakeasy?? Oxymoron? This place is pretty chill and if you like scrawny hipster esque guys this is a good spot to get at one. Also they play pretty good music and the drinks are strong!
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Review from Tom T.
New York, NY
6/9/2010
Cool place. Good for a date.
Drinks are a bit expensive at $12 each for all the speciality cocktails. Bartender was very friendly and knew what he was talking about.
It doesn't open until 9PM on weekdays. I would go back. -
Review from Allie C.
5/28/2009
Read about it in the New Yorker and checked it out right away. Stopped in for drinks early around 10:30pm on a Saturday night. We were the first ones there but within 30mins the place was filled. It does look like you're walking down to the basement of someone's home. This is not like other cocktail speakeasys. Just a very regular bar catering to a young down to earth crowd (for now..) Very low key and chill. Would stop by here again before a night out or any random weekday.
Listed in: Nightlife of a 24yr old East…
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Review from Nancy D.
10/9/2009
I give this place major props for being so well hidden. I remember rolling up in here thinking, "Why are we in a pizza place? We just ate..." . Whatever, I've learned not to question things. Somehow we ended up getting carded and going down down down the stairs into a bar. Awesome. Except that it was empty - so back up we went. Well hidden, but maybe a bit too well hidden.
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Review from Carson E.
Brooklyn, NY
11/7/2009
Wow!
So surprised, given all the press in Time Out and other NYC periodicals about this place over the last year that there's so few reviews of it!
This was my lucky number third attempt to get a glimpse of the Cabin.
I stopped by once on a Tuesday night and asked the guy behind the pizza counter if this is where the Cabin was. He said that it was, but it wasn't open on Tuesdays. Fair enough. Stopped back in on a weekend around 8 and was told, "They don't open until 10." Again...fair enough.
Last night, it was a Friday night at 11 when we arrived. Sure enough, in the back of the pizza joint was a tattooed and pierced door lady who, afte a cursory inquiry, opened the door to a staircase headed down...below.
The Cabin Down Below is pretty delightful I have to say. The vibe reminds me of the basement of your rich friend's house from Chatham, Mass. The brick walls are white washed, there are exposed wood beams, and the low hanging pipes are wrapped in rope like in a fishing lodge. The lighting is dim and romantic. The space itself is intimate and cozy. There's a human sized fireplace in the main room and it was occupied by two humans when we arrived. I was not-so-secretly jealous of their spot. I want to sit in the fireplace next time! (fun.)
There's a smattering of tables, booths, and even a little private booth if you're lucky enough to snag it.
The bar itself is decent. Healthy selection of beers and spirits. Wines too. I'd say it's more of a "regular bar" than anything special in it's approach to drinks. When I ordered a Manhattan the bartender broke out the bar book to remind herself of the recipe. (Which came out with way too much sweet vermouth.) But that's ok...I know better next time. Just keep it simple at this place. And there's no reason not too....it's great.
We were there for a few hours with a moderate crowd and we were happy to have a nice piece of banquette to call our own. The music was good, the lighting was better, the vibe is that of a genuinely hidden gem, and life was good. Then....I realized something as the night went on...this was one of those NYC places that gets going harder and crazier the later it gets. All of a sudden it went from being 11 and moderately populated to it being 4 a.m. and COMPLETELY PACKED.
So....I would say, make this a first stop, not a last. While every other place is closing down, this place seems to be getting going. So get there early and park your ass someplace.
I'm happy to have finally hit The Cabin Down Below. I think it's a real find. I'm looking forward to returning. -
Review from Carl d.
New York, NY
7/16/2009
Is this place meant to be a hidden gem (I walked into a pizza joint and found a bar) or a gimmick (I walked into a pizza joint and found a bar). Uber-young not-so-Manhattan crowd. I think I answered my own question.
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Review from Andrew K.
New York, NY
4/19/2009
this clandestine speakeasy caters to rockers and their friends they want to impress by taking them to a bar located underneath a pizzeria.
the drinks are about $9 each, and the bar goes from empty to packed rather quickly, so get there early to secure the two booths in the back.
bonus: after a few drinks when you're getting ready to head home you can stop at the pizza shop and grab a pesto slice. -
Review from Danielle B.
New York, NY
4/13/2009
Ugh looks like I waited too long to review this place, and lost my first to review status, oh well, I'm a lazy yelper, serves me right, but better late than never. This place is fun, definitely a great crowd, generally very attractive. When we went up to the door girl to check out the scene, while a couple of my friends finished their cigs, he told her there were 5 of us, to which she responded, ok should be fine, just let me take a look at them hahaha. Anyway, drinks are strong, the ligthing is great, and the back "patio" area for smokers is a nice addtion. Will definitely be going back.
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Review from Geoff P.
Cambridge, MA
3/10/2010
Great space, even better if you manage to get a seat. Good drinks and they excellent tunes.
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Review from Jessica W.
Millbrae, CA
1/6/2011
Really dug this place. Grab a (strong) drink in an intimate little fireside setting...or chill out to some good music in the next room...what's not to love? I was recently here twice -- once on a weekend night (which still wasn't too crowded -- in the best of senses), and then the day after New Years when there weren't that many people at all. I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance in both visits - with some good people around, I could easily stay here all night!
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Review from Paul H.
Arlington, VA
9/30/2009
At first I thought, ah, pretty cool, a hidden bar. Then I got there. Not the worst bar I've been to, but not the best. It works well enough for a hangout, but I wouldn't make it the highlight of my evening. The decor is a cross between a frat house basement and masterpiece theater. I'll go back, but first I'd need to be 10 (non-light) beers in.
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Review from THE JEDI FOODI E.
New York, NY
4/11/2009 4 photos
The Cabin Down Below ("CDB") is the newest addition to the Lower East Side/Alphabet City speakeasy/subterranean lounge scene and, in my opinion, probably the best in the neighborhood. CDB is owned by Johnny T (Niagara, Bowery Electric), Jesse Malin (Heart Attack, D Generation) and Matt Romano (The Strokes). Just walk inside and to the rear of THE PIZZA SHOP near the corner of East 7th Street and Avenue A. There you will find Tiffany, the affable host at the door. Depending on the guests currently downstairs, you may or may not be admitted right away. But if she recommends to come back a bit later, she is sincere. It's not a brush off. Upon descending the stairs, you enter what very much resembles a finished basement. But a real cool one. This is the hangout that I would design..err..if I owned a house and had a budget to redo my basement into a relaxing bar/lounge. This lair is suburbanly cozy and has a disarming effect. It's what the doomed Beatrice Inn might have been if it "cleaned up its act" and what Chloe 81 could be if they do away with their schizophrenic door policy. Formerly Niagara's VIP room, Cabin Down Below is modestly decked with ash brown wood panelling, exposed brick and it's illuminated with recessed lighting and candles. For decor there is the standard eclecticly stocked book shelves. The small half moon shaped bar seats about five and when "the joint" is full it can be quite a chore to get to it. But once you do, you'll find Dave the bartender. He is quick and very courteous. Now remember, this is not another Sasha Petraske venture. You are not going to get rumbles, brambles, fizzes, or sazeracs here. The basics are served; mixed drinks, beers and shots. But it's done in a classier setting and with style and Dave did recommend a Frangelico and Stoli Vanil on the rocks which I thought was "Aces" yummy. It may be my new favorite after dinner drink. The patrons are a fantastic crew of downtown hipsters, bohemia locals, and musicians just in from playing at Mercury Lounge or Bowery Ballroom. The soundtrack is mostly classic rock from the 60s to early 80s. There are a few cozy booths near the bar and one larger, more private VIP style banquette alcove near the entrance. There is also a rear room with a few tables. It looks as though they haven't quite decided yet what to do with that spare room. Smoking is available in the rear alley/patio. All in attendance were very friendly, engaging and the vibe was refreshingly "real"; positive and unpretentious. Agyness Deyn and Kirsten Dunst are regulars here now. I ran into Keith Austin Murray from the band We Are Scientists last time I stopped in. CDB will be a good reliable spot for a late drink and I like that it's across the street from Pyramid Club, home of my favorite Thursday night "Metro" party.
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Review from Kei F.
New York, NY
12/19/2009
This place is pretty cool in that it's somewhat unknown and therefore still hip. You have to go through the pizza shop on ave A and to the black door next to the bathroom. The first time i went, the pizza shop was open and the bouncer said we couldn't go in right away because it was crowded so we sat and had a beer. By the time we finished our beers, we were allowed in. Once you enter the staircase, you have no idea what to expect... as soon as you go through the door at the bottom, it's a cool kind of hipster hangout with a relaxed atmosphere and chill music. You won't find anyone dancing. Depending on what time it is, the pizza shop might be closed and you have to walk around the corner onto 7th into a really unnoticable space between two buildings where the bouncer is sort of hiding. Good luck finding it.
