Arrow Bar

As far as dive bars go, Arrow is one of my favorites. Drink specials that get the job done (any shot and a beer for $ 8), music that actually gets people dancing and socializing, and unpretentious bartenders who seem like genuinely nice people who aren’t solely out for tips. There’s ample seating including a nice lounge area. Definitely worth a visit just for the experience!

Used to be a good underground bar but now it’s just any other bar with slow service and rude bartenders.

Apparently arrow is no more and I’m truly heart broken. Rest in peace to a true east village dive bar that had a little something for everyone. I’m going to miss this place :(

Basically the only reason I come here besides the cheap drinks is on Fridays forever. DJ Dirtyfinger always have the best line ups and it’s always a good time when him and DJ Teeburr play a set.

Love this hole on the wall. The music was banging, hip hop, house, reggaeton, but no dembow tip for DJ spin Arcangel, De la ghetto, EL Alfa, El Mayor Clasico etc, IWe was there for Halloween. spot was pack, free admission and cute niggas, Latinos Brothas.

Trashy, dirty and loud. Just not a place you want to be seen in. I saw cockroaches running across the bar as I ordered a drink… there are so many better options in alphabet city.

If you can’t already tell, I’m a huge proponent of the dive-​bar; nothing exemplifies the genre quite as well as Arrow Bar. Located in the immensely cool area of Alphabet City where ave A and 6^th street meet, Arrow Bar fits in well with a neighborhood that has been associated with seedy bars since time immemorial. It’s great to see a place that keeps the tradition of cheap drinks and social bartenders alive in a town where overcrowded clubs with annoying DJ’s have become (sadly) the norm. Don’t get me wrong, I like the aforementioned annoying DJ and anti-​social bartender once in a while, but it’s good to know there’s still a place to go where you can find a cheap beer/​shot combo and listen to the Clash (make sure to walk over and pay homage to the man, Joe Strummer at his 7^th Street mural, which I believe they put back up).
You could be forgiven for almost missing this place as you walk up or down avenue A, in your quest for a cold beer, and I have many a time. But if by chance you happen to notice the stairwell down to this subterranean gem, you’re in for a grungy treat. Walking in you’ll find a place that is covered in graffiti from ceiling floor, band stickers adorning the bathroom fixtures. Not long ago they had a Sega Genesis reissue that was loaded with classics like «Streets of Rage» and «Sonic», probably the coolest thing I’ve seen in a city bar and should IMMEDIATELY be brought back. The space itself is enormous, and takes up the entire basement of the building. This means you can bring a load of your buddies who are looking to drink on the cheap, driving home the essence of what it means to be in a dive bar; dirt-​cheap whiskey and friends.
Arrow Bar is a must visit on any proper stumble through Alphabet City, don’t miss the opportunity to drink in one of the truly great dive bars of the city. When you’re done it’s a quick walk down to the lower east side where the other dives are holding out against the invasion of overpriced clubs our city seems so fond of.

I wandered in here and I’m fucken glad I did. I’m old school with the hip hop and the music tonight is on point. The bartenders are super attentive. That’s the biggest plus. This could be my new regular

Absolutely the worst experience at a bar I have ever had. There’s really no reason to come here when there are thousands of places light years better than this walking distance away. Encountered the rudest bartender I have ever seen, who also was so intoxicated (on something other than alcohol, it appeared) that she was incapable of pouring beer out of a can and into a glass — half of it ended up on the floor. It was quite a sight. Don’t waste your time here.

I used to go here a lot back in the day. This bar is easy to walk by and miss. It is located underneath a restaurant — just look for the stairs leading down to the basement. It’s a dive bar plain and simple, but an above average one. Dimly lit, Buck Hunter arcade, and graffiti covering the walls. It is usually vibrant and has a good chill atmosphere. They have a rotating group of live DJs who play mostly rock music which is great for me. Drinks here are cheap, with a two for one drink special during happy hour.

Fantastically bad: the tell-​tale sign of a good dive bar.
It’s literally a dive, i.e. underground. You will walk past it like 5 times before asking someone at the bodega, and they won’t know where it is either.
Once you actually find the place, divey is as divey does: serves cheap drinks with cheap alcohol, plays mostly rock, and as other reviews mention, rarely has toilet paper or soap.
Plot twist: later at night, Arrow gets ratchet as bleeeeeeep. G-​g-​get yo’ freak on.

This place was chill and the price for drinks was pretty good.
Does it have a smell like drunk people wasting away? It does but I guess I dont really mind that so much because I would go back. I would totally go back but not that often.

I was a bit hesitant upon arriving to Arrow bar, but this bar welcomes all!
Let’s start with THE BOUNCER.
He likes to joke and interact with the crowd, something MANY bars don’t do enough of. This makes me want to return to a business like this.
The BARTENDERS!
I think she had orange hair, but she was always attentive and made sure everything was fine with the booze-​seeking audience.
The second time I spent a couple hours at Arrow bar, only the really tall white guy was working. Although the service wasn’t as prompt, he made sure everyone was satisfied and did a great job serving drink after drink to what seemed like a alcohol-​deprived crowd. Props to that guy!
These bartenders not only contributes to the customer-​return rate, but good business.
*Be considerate to your bartender, they work diligently to get you shit-​faced!
Happy hour is until 9, but it’s definitely not expensive. You could have 2 cranberry vodka’s for $ 6 and be buzzed! OH, they also fill your shot glass till the top.
THE ENVIRONMENT & MUSIC
One attribute I truly enjoy about Arrow bar is the diversity. You’ll find and appreciate individuals of all kinds and unorthodox dance moves. Additionally, you’ll probably have a conversation and possibly a debate about whether girls poop or not. On a more serious note, the crowd always seems to appreciate a good night and attempts to make this place vibrant. The age range of weak-​kneed– booze-​sippin crowd seems to be approximately 21 – 30. But hey, all are welcomed!
Music is normally hip-​hop and even a bit of dance-​hall.
You’re thinking «I don’t even like that music», but by the end of the night, someone will welcome you to dance foolishly.
ONE CON
Not that I had to violently erupt shit out my asshole, but apparently toilet paper tends to run out quick and remains missing for the remainder of the night. Pretty girls come here so I’m sure a lucky guy wouldn’t want a girl dancing on him with a foul smell.
=-o
Overall, great place to interact with interesting people and not remember them the next morning. Good place to enjoy your night!

Great music on a Friday night and pretty packed. Pretty mixed group of people and drinks are a decent pour.

2 for 1 drinks until 9 p.m.
Is this place a dive? Yes.
Does it smell like a toilet? Yes.
Will you walk past it like an idiot? Quite possibly.
(I’ll do you a solid and save you some time — Arrow Bar is down the stairs)
Probably not the best place to sit and chill for hours but it is a good place to grab a few quick drinks.

Todd and i came in at 8 pm on a Wednesday night for drinks. We were really one of the 2 sets of patrons there, but the bartender was a great gal, and made us a decent manhattan with the well whiskey. For 6 dollars we were out of there, and we were decently drunk and happy. I really love happy hour. Have I mentioned that I love happy hour? I think anyone who knows me for 3 minutes knows that.

Go on an off night to have a conversation you might have with your mob boss.
Go on an on night for a sardine-​experience.
I always measure a place based on three major things: Service, atmosphere, and quality.
What’s that you say, 2 for 1 drinks until 9? Why, don’t mind if I do.
Service is average. It is not particularly friendly, but no trouble getting a drink. However, when I came in it was totally empty.
Ambiance is super sketchy and divey, but lots of room to sit! That’s a huge plus in a city that’s hurting for space.
Drink quality was average. you get exactly what you would expect.

BIG fan of this place. The most important thing to know is happy hour is 2 4 1 until 9pm and there are beer cubby holes on the wall to hold your drink.
I’ve never had a bad time here and I’ve been for numerous occasions. There is usually a DJ and good tunes. The back section is a good spot for birthday parties. Sometimes they have special events like metal happy hour and gay night. Although those aren’t really my thing it still was a really great time.
Oh, they also have Big Buck Hunter!

Looking for a divey East Village bar? Here ya go.
I came here with some friends on a steamy Saturday night to have some drinks. In typical East Village fashion, the bar was downstairs, narrow, dimly light, and plastered in graffiti. I sometimes wonder if the owners of places like this either let this crap happen organically or pay designers gobs of money to achieve that «East Village» feel.
The booze was cheap, people were dancing on the makeshift dance floor (a 7 foot by 5 foot open space in front of the dj booth on your way to the bathroom), the bartenders were friendly and the waify hipster dj was spinning some really good hip-​hop.
The only downside was that the doorman told me I looked like Ben Stiller. I hate that, but he was just trying to be friendly, which is a rare event for a doorman /​bouncer.
We came, we saw, we had a good time.

Elements of a good dive bar:
— Off the beaten path, basement location
— Surly bartenders that threaten to break your fingers when you crack a joke about swiping an extra beer while they’re on a 20 minute cigarette break
— Grimy, single bathroom covered in vomit crusts and graffiti
— Buck Hunter and a photo booth, both of which only sometimes work and have a tendency to eat your cash
— Amazing music that has you hysterically shaking your booty as you bump into other elated hipsters on the tiny dance floor
— Cheap drinks and shot specials in addition to whatever happy hour special is running at said moment
— Dark nooks and corners where you may or may not have once watched a heavily tattooed chick wearing a plaid uniform make out with a short guy with a sombrero on.