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Valhalla
- Nearest Transit:
-
50 St (A, C, E)
59 St - Columbus Circle (1, 2, A, B, C, D)
50 St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 4 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jeremy W. said: "Great looking space, tasty food, and great selection of beer, whiskey, and tequila (though not cheap). Good specials great relaxed vibe during the week. Have heard the weekends are packed; would have thought the prices might have…" read more »
168 reviews for Valhalla
Review Highlights
"The beer selection is OUTSTANDING."
(in 48 reviews)
"So, indoor space with picnic tables."
(in 10 reviews)
"One of the very, very best tap selections in NYC."
(in 44 reviews)
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168 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer L.
Santa Monica, CA
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was cool. We ended up here a little after midnight after wandering around NYC for a bit. The door says no outside food, but ice cream is ok! (We had stopped at Holey Cream right before)
Great beer selection.
Friendly service.
If I'm back in NY I could definitely see myself coming here again. It's not touristy - total every day people hanging out at the neighborhood bar type of scene. -
Review from Alison C.
Weehawken, NJ
1/23/2012
Lots of GREAT beers (although I was upset to not see my fave, Delirium Tremens, on the list that day.
I went here with a friend for a beer while we were waiting for a dinner table around the corner.
Had a nice atmosphere... warm. Friendly.
The beer selection was great. The staff was nice. The crowd seemed good.
Would definitely go back. -
Review from Kirsten S.
New York, NY
1/22/2012
This is a great casual bar with a superb beer list (draft and bottle) and lots of local options. Prices are standard and the crowd is slightly more business-casual than I expected for the ambiance of the bar itself.
Even though beer is the specialty here, they have wine and a full bar. They also have beer cocktails, which caught my attention but I did not order (seems like I'd be asking for trouble with that sort of concoction)
I didn't notice any table service, but there is a food menu too that includes some yummy looking snacks. Not enough to justify eating a meal there.
Unpretentious, good energy, and although it gets a bit loud you can still have a good conversation. The bartenders were nice and fast also. -
Review from Josh A.
Goose Creek, SC
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cool little establishment near the hotel I stayed at. I was kind of confused as to why it was called Valhalla. I was hoping for it to have some sort of Viking vibe or something. Yeah, they had some cool Viking decorations, but that's where it stopped. Other than those, it was just a normal bar with a good beer selection. Lady Gaga in a Viking named bar? That's blasphemous! My ancestors wouldn't be happy at all.
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Review from Anne K.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
As a resident of the area, this is absolutely my go-to beer bar. With 20 some beers on tap from the U.S., Germany, and Belgium, there's always something delicious to drink and usually a sports game. Valhalla is definitely a great place to drink a couple beers with friends or with a date post-dinner (I recommend Kashkaval, just up the street). Even beer snobs love this place for the variety and reasonable beer prices. AND what I enjoy the most is the layout of the bar - lots of big wooden tables mixed in with a couple higher tables w/ bar stools and the classic long bar, all meaning 1) lots of room to sit and 2) space to accommodate a bigger group without feeling squished.
The short and sweet -
Beer: delicious and reasonably priced
Bar food: marginal and not that many options. Though, try the fried pickles if you're up for something different
Crowd: totally depends on the night. I've been here on weeknights and it's been mobbed with the post-work crowd, yet, on Saturday afternoons, my friends and I were the only ones there, save a few random loners working on the tables. -
Review from Kelly S.
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's a beer bar that gets sorta crowded with Midtown West douchey-bag-dudes, and it gets kinda beer bar smelly. Guys like these types of places. Girls tend to be a bit "meh".
In other words, not my kind of place. I prefer to sit with a glass of wine and a snack. Or just go to a dive bar and drink to oblivion. -
Review from Jonny M.
Thousand Oaks, CA
1/25/2012
Great beer options - period. Knowledgable and friendly bar tenders - if you are looking for an old favorite or to experience a new taste, this is clearly your place. I wasn't interested in the fare as the menu options were very pub oriented.
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Review from Clara L.
1/19/2012
i seem to come across the new-girl phenomenon with bars pretty often. everyone goes to these places, checks them out... gives them a shot and sooner or later, a decision has to be made. thumbs up or thumbs down.
on the other hand, there are time tested places like valhalla that have managed to stick around for a while. in the end, the truth of the matter really is that the new girl won't be new forever, but once an ace, always an ace.
good beers, good people, good deals. lets go. -
Review from Andreas H.
New York, NY
OK! Things have settled down a bit and I am raising this back up a star. They have clearly put in a lot of effort here and it's good to see. Alex is still an amazing bartender, and their selection of beers (although featuring less imports) is impressive. Their expanded menu is nice, and the pretzels are awesome.
Glad to have you back in the game, Valhalla!
**removing 2-star review**2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/1/2009
I have officially bumped this up to 5 stars. Why?
#1) They are always updating their beer… Read more »
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Review from Cole O.
12/4/2011 9 Check-ins Here
Multiple domestic and foreign craft beers. Check.
Cool bartenders who are easy on the eyes. Check.
Hip clientele from professionals to law students. Check.
"Mad Hour" from 1am to 4am every night where craft beers are on special. Check.
Being two blocks from my new apartment. Done and done. -
Review from scott s.
Brooklyn, NY
12/14/2011
Finally made it to this place and absolutely loved it. Great beer selection with some I've never even heard of. Ordered some of the food and that was all good, too. Only complaint is the price of a five-beer flight: $23. Which seems insanely high, even if I'm ordering the most expensive beers available. Isn't the point of a flight to encourage me to try beers so I'll order one of them? That price does not make me want to order another beer.
That said, I'd go back to this place in a heartbeat. -
Review from Alyssa T.
Somerville, MA
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I almost want to be mad at my friend for not taking me here until my final night in town on my third visit to NYC in the past year, but it's okay Nicole - I forgive you.
The beer selection here is phenomenal, and between 1-2 AM all American craft beers are only $5.00! That is something that my home state of Massachusetts doesn't allow (damn puritans), which made it all the more exciting. Having tried other Ommegang varieties in Boston and Cambridge (Rare Vos and Belgian Ale), I saw that my new favorite New York brewery also made something called Adoration and figured it would be a solid choice.
Let me tell you, if you're in Hells Kitchen and in the mood for an amazing 10% Alc./vol beer get your ass over to Valhalla and order an Adoration before they run out (seriously, go.. NOW). The bartender was really friendly, put my beer in a fancy glass (if only I knew the name for it), and even came back over to ask what I thought of it. This is a beer that you sip, and when I finished I knew that my head would thank me the next day for not ordering another - so unfortunately I didn't get to try any of the other options that night. Note to self: make Valhalla your first stop rather than last stop next time!
I'll definitely be making a stop in here the next time I'm in NYC. There were plenty of seats and the crowd around 1:30 on a Saturday night was thinned out but not dead by any means. Definitely a great place to go with friends to grab a few tasty and discounted beers. -
Review from Michael B.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
11/13/2011
Visited this twice while I was in NYC, once after seeing a show on Saturday, and once after a show on Sunday. The location is fantastic. It was pretty packed on both occasions, and really loud, but I did not mind.
The beer selection is OUTSTANDING. As a west coast beer enthusiast I found both their tap and bottle selection to be incredibly competitive, if a bit spendy. I explored quite a few, including a room-temperature hand-drawn spiced pumpkin ale that was pretty amazing. They actually had 4 flavors of Lindeman's Lambic in the bottle, including peach, which is G's favorite.
Valhalla doesn't try to be anything it's not. It is a bar with an incredible selection of beer and adequate bar food. I'd give it 5 stars if it were just a little cheaper, but understand that the owners are pricing their beer exactly where it needs to be based on location and demand.
The huge white Valkyrie on the wall furthest from the front door inspired me. G suggested we get one for our bar.
Other yelpers have advised about the men's room configuration, and I would concur. Angle away from the door if you don't want to show off. -
Review from Anastacia S.
New York, NY
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great beer selection, the wine is awful...as in actually can't drink it that's how bad it is. So if you want anything other than beer, this is not your bar.
The service is okay, unless you're there at last call, then it becomes bad. They want to go home, I understand, but at 4:05AM you shouldn't be yelling at your patrons to put down their drinks, especially if you just poured it for them 15 minutes ago. -
Review from Picky E.
Manhattan, NY
1/4/2012
Delicious sliders, reasonable price, unpretentious crowd - it's a great neighborhood bar. However, I'm personally not a huge fan of the atmosphere, it's borderline dive bar.
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Review from Jacob C.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Definitely a cool little bar. I just so happened to be in the area meeting some friends from out of town and used my trusty little Yelp app to find a cool bar in the area because I wasn't too familiar with it.
Valhalla is not too big but then again it's not a small bar either. It has stools at the bar and tables along the wall. When I went it was pretty packed and there were people standing around but we just managed to catch some folks as they were leaving, so we snagged their table. They have a lot of beers on tap...and a bunch of them I hadn't heard of before. I told the bartender what kind of beer I like and he made a recommendation based on that, and his recommendation was right on par. If I'm ever in the area again I'll surely swing through Valhalla again for a brew or two. -
Review from Jon W.
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Valhalla is a great stop in the Hell's Kitchen area of New York. Friendly bartenders that provide great service and a lot of delicious beer to choose from that rotates in and out. The prices are decent for the area and they have $4 pint specials most of the time.
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Review from Mickey M.
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place must have 50 beers on tap. That alone is a fantastic reason to visit this place.
I have to admit, I wasn't seeking this place out for any reason other than it was located really close to a show that I was going to see. I'm happy that I found it, though, because it has everything a beer lover wants, minus the beer snob atmosphere.
For the area it's in, the prices aren't bad, and they have several $5 pints of beer that don't totally suck. For instance, when I was there I had $5 Coney Island Lager. Can't really beat that.
The only gripe I can think of is $8 for an uninspired hot dog and fries, but that kind of going with the turf.
I will absolutely visit this place again, because it's a fun atmosphere without being crammed with people, and there are so many beer options.
As noted below, the men's room is set up weird. I suggest angling yourself away from the door when using the urinal, otherwise those seated by the door will get an eye level show. Boom! -
Review from Mary E.
Manhattan, NY
1/27/2012
AMAZING beer selection. The staff is very knowledgeable about all of their products. I was not so sure what to order because of the large selection of beer. They asked me what I usually like & recommend a beer for me. It was delicious & their suggestion was right on! It is a very comfortable and fun place. The owner, Matt, is very friendly. He's done a great job since taking over this place and bringing it to another level. If I lived closer this would definitely be my local!
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Review from Holly N.
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was raining, it was pouring, and I should have been snoring, but instead I was schlepping through NYC in a quest to find a warm dry place to enjoy a drink before meeting a friend. Like a beacon of light, Ta-Da! There was Valhalla. Perhaps it was warm light bouncing out onto the street or, more likely, it was the remembrance of my childhood playing in Valhalla Park that got me through front doors, but I digress.
The atmosphere here was livelier than expected - filled with good brews and cute dudes. I went for the Elysian Pumpkin, which I'd put at the top of the heap of pumpkin beers I've sampled this fall. However, everyone coming in seemed to be asking for the Elysian Hansel and Gretel, which was already tapped out.
Overall the selection was great, the crowd was amiable, and the vibe was chill. If I lived in the neighborhood I feel like I'd escape the cold by dodging in here all the time. -
Review from Chris M.
Austin, TX
11/26/2011
Great beer selection, laid back and fun crowd, cool bartenders...everything you want in a craft beer joint. A hair expensive but hey, it's New York (tourist from Texas here). Found on Yelp and glad I went!
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Review from Nick R.
12/18/2011
Outstanding beer selection. We love IPAs and they had enough for a whole night. Not too pretentious, but not a dive either. Snack foods were delicious (beef sliders). Not too loud to be able to talk. Classy and relaxed
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Review from Sara H.
Manhattan, NY
8/9/2011
lotsa beers. Im not necessarily a beer expert, but I've been known to enjoy a brew from time to time. I didnt eat here, but I did have a piece of what was a delicious hot pretzel. But pretzels and beer are a no brainer, so shame on you Valhalla if it wasnt delicious.
I saw they had Duval and Delirium Tremens on tap, two of my faves, which is cool. Its kind of blah in there though, too much wood, not enough personality.
I think its because its not much of a destination spot. I wouldnt bring a date, I wouldnt recommend it to pregame, I definitely wouldnt recommend it on a fri or sat night. When would I go? If I had to get a beer with a college professor, or like an elder gay gentleman that was interviewing me to be his assistant. They did have a special for $5.00 pints which was cool, but it may have only been on monday.Listed in: Hells Bells
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Review from Tracy M.
8/11/2011
You like beer? This place is for you.
At least 30+ beers on tap and the bartenders are friendly. They will give you a tasting if you'd like. There's something here for every beer drinker.
Picnic style benches and bar stools. A very laid back place. -
Review from Eric A.
New York, NY
12/2/2011
Great selection and vibe.
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Review from Mike T.
Ridgefield, CT
9/12/2011
This bar has local beers from Captain Lawrence, Greenport Harbor and Sixpoint. As well carrying selections from further away such as Goose Island, Avery and Victory. Some cost $9-$10 a glass, others $7.
It is certainly more crowded than some might want at times, so keep that in mind if heading in on an evening later in the week. And be wary of well intoxicated patrons who feel the need to tap you on the shoulder and ramble incoherently. -
Review from Michael S.
Manhattan, NY
6/18/2011
Came in last night (Friday) around 10 pm. This used to be my local hang out where I would bring friends to sort of impress them with my beer knowledge and one of the classier bars in the hood. So, I was excited to be back! It's just not that anymore. They have these ridiculous neon signs covering the outside now so when you walk up, it looks like your going to a carnival. Also, they used to have candles inside on the tables which gave the bar great ambiance, which are no more. The beer selection is fine, I've definitely seen it be better and we wanted some good scotch or bourbon to go with our beer which their selection seems to be very limited and completely unimpressive.
We ordered some food and it, unfortunately, has also dwindled. What once was a somewhat classic small German menu, unique in it's own way, has been made into a joke! No more chicken brats, potato pancakes (which were SOOO GOOOD), Pork Chops!!!! I loved their food!!! All these great things were replaced with nachos, hot dogs etc...that's a REAL SHAME. They were onto something before with the German inspired stuff.
And finally, the crowd...wow, how it has changed! Was a chill, nice spot to hang out, have a pint and a conversation, is now completely full of A) ALL GUYS B) beer swilling loud obnoxious guys. The prices seem to have steadily increased as well while it seems quality has more than steadily decreased. WHAT'S GOING ON VALHALLA?? I really was a fan. A lot has changed in less than a year when I moved out of the hood.
All in all, it pains me to say it, but...skip it.
PS...it looks like they did put a smaller sink in the men's bathroom...so now you can actually get passed someone at the urinal without having to physically assault them! It's a bonus. Doesn't make up for everything else, but I did want to give at least one positive here! -
Review from Michael M.
Manhattan, NY
1/5/2012
I've been going to this bar for about six years now. One of my favorite bars and it's only gotten better during this past year with owner Matt at the helm. If you love beer, give Valhalla a good visit. If you don't love beer, then I just don't trust you.
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Review from Olivia R.
Costa Mesa, CA
10/31/2011
Great beer, great vibe, great prices [for NY]. And a great name that I can still say after a night of drinking yet still sound somewhat coherent. Like.
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Review from Mike B.
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
for a place named after the Vikings' superior version of the afterlife (sorry to those of you subscribing to the lamer yarns spun by other faiths - I personally like the idea of spending my post-death days fighting, eating, and drinking), this was a bit of a letdown.
ginormous beer list here. had some Dogfish Head brews that I've only heard of, and they're one of my favorite breweries (Santo Palo is freakin DELICIOUS). the Warsteiner on tap tasted a bit off.
one of my friends ordered nachos; they were mediocre. just everything about them was mediocre - the chips, the meat, the toppings. the fries we ordered were much better - almost had the texture of the fries you get at Pommes Frites. I'd stick to the fries, if anything.
atmosphere: small place. only a few tables, and lots of standing room. get ready to wait a while if you want to sit.
Peter D has already highlighted the awkward setup in the men's bathroom.
I'll give them the 3 stars for the beer list, the statue of a topless Valkyrie, and the doorman who gave me a firm handshake instead of asking for my ID. good manners are the glue that holds society together, Jerry. -
Review from Brandon Z.
Ridgewood, Queens, NY
10/14/2011
Large beer list and pretty chill, relatively non-douchey crowd for the neighborhood. Pretty damned busy, is the only thing.
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Review from David C.
Manhattan, NY
12/30/2011
Clearly a star in the craft beer bar wars and probably a superstar, but I am holding one star in reserve for future visits. The improvement on the food front is huge, but may I suggest adding cheese and charcuterie or a ploughman's lunch type option. A great selection of craft brews covering a broad range of styles with regular changes so it doesn't get old, and really good helpful service.
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Review from Dave K.
Queens, NY
6/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ridiculous beer selection.
The bartenders have to be beer sommeliers to be able to work here and they'll definitely lead you in the right direction if there's a particular taste you're looking for.
The food looks tempting, but there was a food festival on 9th ave that day, so I was busy sucking down oysters from the booth outside. I thought that it was VERY cool of them to let people bring in food while they enjoyed their beer (extra star for that alone).
I'll definitely be back on a regular night to sample their German fare though. -
Review from Louis R.
1/11/2011
The dope:
Huge and terrif selection of beers (draft and bottle). Leffe blonde and Duvel were my beers of the night but they have many options on rotation. I ain't buggin. Who figured?
The ill:
The restos around here are kinda blah so if this is your pre-meal warm-up spot, then this may be the apex of your evening.
The patrons:
Beer lovers, yups, more yups and recent college grads. Not alot of eclectic flava' but its Hell's Kitchen, c'mon.
I can't believe "Yay! I'm a fan." ugh -
Review from Kyle E.
Scranton, PA
10/24/2011
Rolled into this place around 130am on a Saturday after a concert. It was filled. Good vibe. Very laid back in spite of the large crowd. Lucked out and got 2 seats at the bar(the preppy kid sitting next to us was in and out of consciousness the whole time we were there. Was great). Good service. Solid beer selection. Would definitely go back.
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Review from Aaron L.
2/19/2011
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is the "hall of the slain," the god Odin's Asgardian hall of fallen warriors. As we all know, if there's one thing that dead soldiers require upon being awoken in their warriors' paradise, it's a wide selection of moderately-priced draught Belgian and American microbrewed beers. That's why they go to Valhalla.
That, too, is why I patronize Valhalla. The selection of beers is neither overwhelming nor standard fare and the bartenders really know their stuff: if you tell them what you like, they can find you a new brew to taste-test. The wide-open sawdust atmosphere and mixture of beer garden-esque tables with bar seating means that this has become a happy hour paradise; it becomes crowded and noisy fast. Personally, I don't have a real job, so I avoid the happy hour if I can. On the other hand, the aforementioned atmosphere makes for a great west side bar late at night when the crowds have returned to Jersey.
Aside from the inherent crowd, the only other downside is in their bathroom arrangement, a single door that open upon a gawker's urinal perfectly placed for peeping Toms. By the time I use the restroom, I tend not to care who sees my wang, but let the voyeur-disinclined be warned. -
Review from Katie R.
New York, NY
4/3/2011
I really like this bar. Have been here on weeknights, weekend nights, and weekday afternoons, and it's always fun. Huge beer selection, and the bartender can give you the rundown if you have questions about any of them, and there's usually a good selection of happy hour $5 beers that you would actually really want to try. The times I've been there, I've always found a seat at the bar or a table after waiting a little bit-- it's not narrow, so you can find a place to talk to your friends even if it's busy. At night it's got a flickery candle long wooden table thing going on, too.
I find myself bringing out of town friends here for a stop because you can talk and it's never got that can't-move-narrow-new york bar thing going on and it's always a pretty casual crowd -
Review from Alexis G.
Updated - 3/24/2011
I hadn't been to Valhalla in quite some time, and decided to drop by here after visiting the Museum of Arts and Design at Columbus Circle. Weirdly, the place was running on a cash only basis (lame) and the kitchen was closed for repairs.
I was very disappointed as I wanted more than 2 drinks, but did not have the cash, and I definitely wanted food. Their food. Their sweet sweet food.
Maybe next time?
Sidenote: Hell's Kitchen is the worst if you are not a gay man. Gross food options. Only gay bars. And this is coming from a gay lady. WTF at all of Hell's Kitchen. In general. Valhalla, please don't leave me hanging again.
Props for having Six Point Sweet Action on tap though. Always a plus.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2011
This place is a no-frills, but still very classy establishment in which to get yourself some… Read more »
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Review from Ryna D.
3/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Now this is the place I would, and have recommended to people in search of a good bar with a great beer selection. Even though I'm not a huge beer drinker.
It's very laid back and feels more like an indoor beer garden so it's great in the summer. -
Review from Gina N.
Staten Island, NY
9/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place. Completely casual. Great atmosphere. The beer menu is always changing. Also, the food menu is much more diverse than it was. It used to be strictly brats/sausages and preztels. They now have nachos, fried pickles, aweseome hand cut fries that are out of this world, chicken sliders, kobe beef sliders and probably something else I am forgetting. I am looking forward to going back in the fall to see what new seasonal beers they get.
