Irene "Go Big or Go Home" F.'s Profile

If you're looking for an awesome hookah bar with great music variety and some pretty epic food, this is the spot for you! I've come here about oh at least a million times (no, seriously, a full million) and I plan to be back repeatedly. Between sangria that can be life changing (beware your morning after, though) to the attentive but never overbearing wait staff to the sexy and talented belly dancers, your senses will be tantalized in all the right ways at Babylon.

Each night has slightly different music, with late Friday and Saturday generally going much more club/lounge style. The layout is perfect for dancing, with tables on the periphery and a good space for yourself, a fun friend, or watching the beautiful belly dancer. You know, kind of a pick your poison and motion of the ocean type of situation.

The staff can accommodate groups of all sizes, and there's one very large one inside for birthday parties and the such, along with cozy nooks for dates and medium sized tables for me and my girlfriends. I mean, you can come too!

Now, to the piece de la resistance: the hookah! A wide variety of flavors appeals to experienced palates and novices alike, so the world (or hookah) is yours! The important thing is that the hookahs are all very clean (there's nothing skeevier than a dirty hookah, no?) and the staff ensures your coals keep burning and the smoke keeps coming. Plastic tips are of course provided. For the hookahs, perverts!

So...guess I'll see you there tonight?

Yes, yes, it's completely unnecessary and grossly overpriced, except that there's a Murray's cheese shop here and for that, I must love it for always! Not to mention when the weather sucks/I am running late to see my parents/need to grab something specific up to go with dinner/so on and so forth, it's just darn convenient.

Sometimes, and particularly in midtown, convenience comes with a price. And when it's for Murray's cheese, or whatever other ridiculous fancy strikes me, it's sometimes worth that price.

The lunch buffet here may or may not be a good idea depending on how much of a glutton you are, but regardless of self control and one's waistline, it's a fantastic lunchtime option for the area. The only reason I have to take off a star is because I am pretty sure my former neighbors in Jackson Heights would never let me return if I gave it the full five stars.

Excellent variety, fresh and tasty, just beware the lunchtime rush or you may end up waiting forever! I believe they also do take out, but why limit yourself like that? I certainly try not to!

A mandatory pit stop in my work week, CoCo makes me a happier person, and that means everyone is happier! It's like every time they make me a Two Ladies, a financial sector worker cracks a smile. Just for a moment though, don't get too excited.

Bubble tea is great, of course, but the specialty drinks with coffee jelly, and loads of other neat ingredients, are the best part. There are definitely mid-morning and afternoon rush periods when you'll have to wait for quite a while, and lulls when you don't. Cash only, so be prepared!

Although not local for me, this is the epitome of the perfect local watering hole. Friendly bartenders who share cookies and cheese (randomly) with you, pour a fair drink, and a great jukebox? Don't mind if I do. The pool table at the back is a nice touch too. Divey in all the right ways, yeah, I call that winning.

Otto Zutz is not the absolute best club in Barca. It's probably not even in the top quartile, honestly. But, it was walking distance from home, and that counted for a lot.

I always had different coupons to get in (pick em up at shops and bars and restaurants all over the place, you will encounter stacks everywhere), so I don't recall ever paying a cover. The three floors of various music can be confusing but simultaneously fun, depending on who you're with and what state of mind you are in!

It's a good place to start off the night, or to go for an random night of dancing. Heavy pours at the bar for sure, but I found that's pretty typical all around the city. Easy door, no face control type BS that you might find elsewhere, and a steady crowd of locals makes it a good and not brutally expensive night out!

The only thing you need to know about Bar Tomas is patatas bravas. Their patatas are like crack, something amazing to behold, and incomparable anywhere else in the world. We would frequently wander over between classes to feast on their greasy goodness doused in awesome bravas sauce.

Apparently now it's become known in tour books, which saddens me. While I am sure the business is great for them, I can't imagine cameras and fanny packs fitting well with the grease and dirt. Maybe leave those behind and work on your language skills before popping in, it's worth the effort for sure!

Where do you go for an enormous menu of shots in a slightly grimy yet fun setting? That's right, the shot bar! This was a staple of my student days in Barca, and whether or not I should be proud of that is a good question indeed. Tons of shots, but whatever you do, don't order a beer. Or disregard what I wrote and be the source of hilarity for your friends, that's up to you.

There's one night a week with student shot specials, but if you ask me which it is, I'm really not sure.  A personal favorite was definitely the Harry Potter, if they still offer it. I hope they do!

Agreed with Sandy, you'd never get this in the States because it would totally be considered a hazard. And that makes reason ten million why I love Barca.

The rooftop bar has some pretty spectacular views, and plenty of room for everyone to move around, dance, mingle, whatever. The downside? Dang those drinks are pricey! I mean wow. Haven't tried out the food, but it's a one drink and move on spot in my book.

OK, maybe I'm just not sold on the whole schnitzel thing. Yes, the portions are big and they get you in and out fast, but it's so greasy/heavy, all I could think after lunch was fooooooood coma! Time to crawl under my desk and take a nap!

The multitude of side offerings is nice, but I was also surprised that sauerkraut is a whole separate side. That should really be a given with schnitzel. I'll pass for the time being.