RockBar

I’ve never been here before, even though I’ve walked by so many times on my run, so over the weekend, I finally stopped in after attending Urban Bear NYC. It’s a nice bar, with a very heavy leather and bear vibe. The bartender and bouncer were nice, and the drinks were also reasonably priced, but if this is your first time, like me, DO NOT get the Rockbar lager, it was so gross! I asked the bartender for a piece of orange or lime to add to it, which helped a bit, but it was still disgusting. I’d come back here again and check out their other parties.

Never go here. They bungee cord the front gate shut and bully you to leave through a side entrance. Is that the society we are living in? Not only if it a fire hazard it’s disrespectful. The FDNY and the NYPD have been notified. This place is only still open because no other business would want it’s shitty location and urine stenched bar.

So I love this bar normally but I went on «jockstrap» night and the DJ was pretty awful. He only played 80s music, which would be ok, accept the median age of the bar was 28 – 32. I even had a friend that asked about playing more current music, like Beyoncé for instance, because we wanted to dance, as did MANY of the random patrons I met that night. The DJ said he only really had 80s playlists which as a Dj is unacceptable and basically took that night that started at a 10 to a 4 because nobody could dance. It was pretty awful. Thankfully Ted on Thursdays for karaōke makes it fun.
Edit: the bartenders are always super friendly, as well. Unfortunately, a DJ makes or breaks the quality of the experience.

I’ve been a couple times and with the new policy of a cover charge, I would like to understand the value of the 5 – 10 $. If it was truly for a unique offering sure. But most times it is typical bar entertainment with very poor bar service and replacement top shelf. Yes that Tanqueray you pay so much for is likely poor generic. This explains why so often the place is empty.

I started this review when I was still drunk from Rockbar, but I fell asleep because I was still hammered from Rockbar. This place appeals to me for half a dozen reasons. I will say that prior to karaōke a live band was playing and in addition to being talented, I saw them for free since there was no admission fee. The Thursday night I went karaōke began at 9pm and since I was half an hour early I had a rum and coke that was served in an amazingly large beer glass but cost only $ 8.
That one drink kept me company all night as my friends had organized a UYE on the same night a camera crew had come by to cover the contemporaneous karaōke and charity fundraising. The place could best be categorized as a dive bar but more than that it was a happy, relaxed atmosphere that while crowded was a guaranteed good time. Also, drag queens. I f*cking love drag queens and one such lovely lady sang that night.

Great spot for this being my first bar visit in NYC. It’s a gay bar that was full of wonderful people. The crowd was so relax, friendly, and beautiful. Lots of beautiful people here. I can’t say much about drinks because I can’t do heavy alcohol, I get sick. The Orange juice was fine, only $ 2.00 ! I did had to settle for one Budweiser beer on a glass because they don’t have it in the can, it tasted bad, It didn’t taste like the can beer according to my taste buds.
The bar had really nice life music, then after it had Karaōke, it was fun. I did one song at the end of the night and I was satisfied to see a couple dance to my son. Going out to meet Unilocalers in a cool relax bar, can’t get any better than that. Thank you for the invite Mr. M. !
You can drive here, there is parking on the streets.

No business charging $ 5 cover on a Saturday night. Nearly empty, serving foamy, slightly stale-​tasting beer. Waste of money. Liked this place years ago when it was Dugout. Lose the cover and fix the beer and you might win me back.

I was a diehard for years when it was Dugout (then briefly Ramrod). RockBar’s early days showed promise with the open mike/​karaōke nights, great juke/​video, live bands, but now it has the snobby GymBar ‘tude (same owner). What really pisses me off is their deceptive website — special events may be posted if they’re «big», but on ANY given night, they will decide to charge a cover/​door fee for NO entertainment! Even if it’s only $ 5/​10, it’s usually a lame reason (guest DJ, really?).
I refuse to pay a cover just to get a beer, and even wrote to them that they need to UPDATE their website for nights they want to charge a cover. Guess that’s too much work for the über-​techie-​narcissists, or maybe they like deceiving their patrons by surprising them at the door. Oh, and IF it is posted online and you get there early, they will still try to get into your wallet — one time got there at 9:40 or so and the web DID state $ 10 «at 10pm and beyond», but the snide «cashier» wanted me to pony up… really poor biz management. As an old-​timer (been there done that), guess I grew up and have aged out of that entire «bear culture» scene/​need to be «seen». Oh yes, and like those other one star reviews — get a mop and some Lysol man, the place SMELLS.

No need to go there.
This place need a serious cleaning. You could smell the old beer in the taps and I was scared to touch anything. The bathroom door didn’t lock and I haven’t had service that bad in a while. I ordered a gin and ginger ale that was so sweet and nasty I gave it back. The clientele was a bit strange but that’s not the bars fault. In all, never going back. No need to go there.

«Licensed bouncers» do not belong in gay establishments. They’re trained for straight nightlife, not for neighborhood gay bars. They start problems just to be able to say they solved them. Most visibly hate the clientele. They’re supposed to keep things under control so the cops don’t need to be called, and then they end up being the reason the cops got called. Having them around makes us wonder what must have happened at the place for them to even need a bouncer. Just save a few bucks and lay these people off until they’re legally necessary or strictly needed for other reasons. A mostly-​male crowd, most of whom know and all of whom respect the establishment’s proprietor, can police its own.

Fun old school NY gay bar. Great friendly bartenders and owners. Fun music. Mixed crowd of bears otters and muscle guys.

Warm beer, and the place smells like a dirty garbage can. Don’t get me wrong, I love a dive bar — but I don’t want to dive down into the landfill to get my drink. Color me disappointed.

Great bar. Comfortable atmosphere, friendly staff and patrons and good drinks. By far the most intimidating Keroke I have ever been to. Everyone sounded like they were in a Broadway show. I did not muster up the nerve to sing but what a show I received. It was a thoroughly enjoyable night.

I love Gym Bar.
I really really like RockBar.
Great location, with a fun atmosphere where you and your boysssss can come and go nuts, drink and sing to your lil heart’s desire.
I felt a tad outta place since I didn’t have my blonde wig on, but whatevz.
Haaaaaaiiiiiiii…buy me a drink, big boy?

If you’re a bear or like ‘em that way, you have to come here on Sunday evenings from around 5ish to 8ish. The people complaining that no one is there aren’t coming at the right time. On Sundays they have cheap beer, great music/​videos, and really great crowds. It’s a must see!

Here’s what i will say. I’ve heard decent things about this place. And even though I prefer Chelsea or HK over the vill, I’ve stopped here on my way somewhere numerous times, waiting for it to get good. I realize now that rockbar is what it is.
I’ve seen some great live bands perform
I’ve met some friendly, neighborhoody type people.
I’ve had more than a few drinks that tasted like cat piss.
I’ve seen cuties and average guys alike fraternizing which was refreshing to see.
Rockbar is what it is. You will never have a terrible time, but I leave it for a stop on the way home or to another bar. The Latin bartender is superfriendly and makes decent drinks.

The first time I was here, I walked in on a Saturday night on my own around 2am and it was completely empty except one other patron, but I’d missed the last train out, so I took a seat and grabbed a beer. Eventually more people came in and it was actually a little bit fun.
The second time, I met my friend here for happy hour. We were a few drinks in when they began hanging curtains and told us that there was an UnderBear party that night (underwear encouraged). We accepted the surprise, threw back some more drinks, stayed and had a blast!
I went again on my own last Sunday around 10pm or so… and it was again completely empty except for one completely drunk older gentleman. I don’t know what to make of this place. It’s ok, but maybe you should bring your own very large group to make sure that someone is there.

I’ve been going here since 2003 – 2004, when it was the Dugout.
Let’s just say I don’t take change very well. While the Sunday beer blasts are always fun, I miss the staff that used to work there. The old bartenders Danny, Pedro, and Anthony… all good guys who were always friendly. The clientele is a bit more mixed since the ownership change. It’s mostly bears and cubs but you can tell some of the snotty GYM Bar crowd slips through the cracks once in a while.
Joe Fiore throws a great party on Sunday’s. All request VJ/​DJ who’ll play whatever you want. $ 3 Buds and other cheap drinks. What’s not to like, really.
All in all, a decent dive… just a few too many straight girls for my liking.

A little bear goes a long way at RockBar.
This has become one of my favorite haunts in NYC. The easygoing crowd, the affable bartenders (and cute barbacks), Tuesday night trivia (most of the time at which I am completely inept except the singing part), and sometimes live music all combine to make a place where I can hang out without all the plastics. (Plastics have their place, but I don’t need them all the time.)
Proximity to the Christopher St pier makes it a great place to stop in after a day of sunning, pretending to read, laughing with friends, and cruising.
And the music is never bad. Never. I have never used Shazam anywhere so often as I have at RockBar.

I get it. I want to be one of those jaded queers who think that anything out of perfection is complete trash. If it ain’t glam … it’s trash! So, naturally I want to hate this place. It’s small, has no twinks, and no club music (is this place EVEN GAY !!!)
But I don’t hate this place. I just like it the way it is. Very chill (gets wild later at night though) and reasonably priced/​sized drinks. $ 5 draft beet? HELL YEA!
The live music performances and DJ was meh. In all seriousness, it could be a little bit better. I’m not gonna lie. Cute bartenders are always a plus :)
Are you into big guys? hairy guys? I mean … REALLY BIG guys? Then you’re in the right place: P