St. Nick’s Pub

Hace un año y medio estuve en NYC. Mi chica exponía en la AAF, una feria de arte internacional que cada año se celebra en un lugar del planeta (
, aprovecho para meter una cuña, es una artista deliciosa)
Pues con esa excusa, junto con un grupo de 8 amigos nos fuimos a conquistar Manhattan. Pero lo que nos conquistó fue el Harlem. Alquilamos un piso durante diez días en la 145. Nos encantó el barrio, sin duda lo más moderno de NYC y la gente con más swing.
Cuando me preguntaban qué era lo que más me había gustado, que si el Empire State, el Metropolitan, el puente de Brooklin,… yo decía que el St Nicks, en el Harlem.
Yo lo pondría como visita obligada a NYC. Jazz y blues en directo, músicos que se van sumando a un concierto improvisado, un abuelito trompetista que torpemente sube al escenario y que en él nos regala su destreza pulsando vertiginosamente los pistones, gente a tu alrededor bailando suave, con un ritmo que un español jamás podrá lograr,…
Hay que echar unas horas aquí. Y observar a la gente. De vez en cuando el local se vacía de repente, todo el mundo se dirige a los servicios y parece como si se los hubiesen tragado.
No. Es que el St Nicks tiene otro espacio igualmente atractivo. Al final del bar hay una puerta que conduce a un patio interior. Allí se organiza el post-​concierto. No te diré lo que se cuece.
Si ves una oferta en tu aerolínea favorita a NYC no olvides visitar la trastienda del St Nicks.

LOVE IT!
I came here last year with my boyfriend. My father has lived on 145^th street before I was born and I never saw this place– not that I ever really explored the neighborhood anyway.
Sad to hear that is closed. But I’m glad I was able to experience this gem. Great place to relax, have a drink and listen to great live music. I had a blast. I hope that it will reopen soon.

I hope this place has indeed shut down and I hope it’s forever. The music deserves 4.5 stars but the staff makes St. Nick’s a place to avoid. If you’re a tourist who doesn’t mind being ripped off, duped and treated like shit once then go for it but I used to live in the UWS and went there several times; every time the staff was crap. The people who run/​work at this place have a major superiority complex and an awful attitude. 2 examples:
I’d barely sat down at the nearly empty bar with a friend early one night when the bartender asked what we wanted to drink. We asked for a minute. A few seconds later (I’m not exaggerating) she came back to ask again and we asked for a minute so we could sit down and see what we wanted. She then TOLD, not asked or anything a decent person would do, told us to get off the bar because we couldn’t just sit there if we weren’t going to order.
Another time I asked for a gin and tonic and the man behind the bar made it in the back shelf of the bar, covering the fact that he was not using any gin. He gave me a glass that was barely ¹⁄₃ full and I even tasted the drink so I could confirm there was no gin in it. When I told him there was no gin in my drink he said if I caused trouble he’d tell the bouncer to kick me out.
No thanks St. Nick’s, I’ll stick to bars with civilized staff.

I have to start off by I’m really sad to read reports that this place is closed indefinitely. This place is a real-​deal Harlem dive establishment.
So long as you’re drinking, you can sit and watch jazz all night long without being bothered. No one stands over your shoulder, although they will start passing the collection plate to those who are not drinking. The drinks are strong and reasonably priced too. The crowd is a mix old old school locals and Harlem newcomers, and the atmosphere is chill, with everyone doing their own thing and enjoying the music.
The place is a dive, so the furniture is absolutely no frills, worn, and could honestly have been salvaged from the curb. The bathroom is functional. I don’t know that the place really sells food, except there always seems to be someone with a few aluminum pans of food being heated by sterno.
But if you’re all about jazz, and are not out to impress anybody, this is definitely a great place to spend an evening.

Another piece of Harlem’s jazz history has been closed for a few months. I love everything about this musical jazz dive from the box wine to the carpeted stage. You could smell the history in this place.
Shame that it couldn’t stick out another decade.

Great place, cheap drinks, friendly staff! The place is small and usually crowded but that is part of the atmosphere. Everyone is invited to participate on the stage. I had a nice time at St Nick’s Pub :-)

This hole in the wall is the reason why I fell in love with New York. What a great jazz club! People bring their instruments and just jam all night long… I absolutely loved the ambiance and the music was phenomenal. The music is free to listen to and the drinks are cheap. There’s even a man who sells home made food in the corner. I left at 2 am on a high (with the music still playing in my mind). You can’t help but leave with feelings of optimism and joy. LOVE LOVE LOVE St. Nicks!

Many years ago, when cigarettes were half the price they were now, I used to frequent jazz clubs in college. Birdland, Fez, Jazz Standard, Smalls, Smoke, Time Café: you could inevitably see me chain-​smoking Camel Lights outside before the next set started at 2am or whenever the musicians decided to stop playing.
St. Nicks Pub might have the feel of a bargain basement, sparsely decorated with dollar-​store Christmas lights, cheap plastic tablecloths, and magazine cutouts from jazz magazines along the sidewall, but the music is amazing and the crowd diverse.
Monday jam session nights are a great night to stop by. Sometimes you’ll hear a woman belt out a turn from the Billie Holiday songbook; other times, you’ll hear an aspiring artist improvise scat and bebop during the bridge of a well-​worn jazz standard. These random moments of unexpected spontaneity are the reasons why I spent so much time in the clubs, and St Nick’s Pub is one of very few places in the city that has the crowd and the vibe to capture the fleeting improvised genius of an inspired performance.

Just adore this place. Sugar Hill still at it’s finest. Used to live around the area when I was a student, and would come here religiously during the week. Less pretensious feel than other jazz joints in the UWS (i.e. Smoke). Staff and patrons (mostly locals, university students — with a spattering of scandinavian and japanese tourists) are friendly, music & tap dancing is free flowing. Tip: Get there early to get a table (sometimes a minimal $ 5 charge applies for tables). It gets crowded even during weekdays!
Also try the delicious fish and chips at Devin’s Fish & Chips, only a block away (if you get there before 10pm!).

If you’ve tired out your usual village, redhook, meatpacking fanfare, head on up to Harlem to enjoy a great night listening to some soulful and lively jazz.
The place is great; very lively, but so relaxed. The atmosphere is wonderful. Everyone’s chattering away as if it’s a barber shop. The bartender takes his sweeeeeet time making a drink as if we’re down south. People are moving in and out of the place constantly.
I thought my friend and I would stick out like a sore thumb, being asians going to a jazz pub in Harlem. But no one gave a second lookj. When we came in, we saw a table of Japanese people, a group of Brazilians, and all the Harlem locals line the bar — no one cares. Everyone’s just here to enjoy the music.
As someone mentioned before, the drinks are expensive. But really, you don’t have to pay cover, and you’re listening to great jazz. What are you complaining about?
Oh, and according to a local, the pub becomes a dance floor (African music, he says) on Saturdays from midnight — 4am. He tells me it’s great, and I’d believe him.

I went to St Nicks after reading the reviews on Unilocal.Can I say, it did not disappoint.
We wnet on a Thursday night ~ they were celebrating Denny Davis’s birthday. He invited all the musicians he wanted to play with and /​or hear.
We arrived around 10 and were able to secure the last two seats in the place. After that it was standing room only. The music was absolutely marvelous. We heard four sets of music before we left at 3am.
Dont left the fact that it is a basement bar put you off. The music is worth visiting.
Beer is steep at $ 7 a bottle but you aren’t paying a cover to get in the door.
I will go back again.

St. Nicks is my favorite way to spend a lazy evening in the city. It’s absolutely awesome and we keep going back. The draws:
Great to amazing music. In this place, the musicians actually WANT to play — they literally fight each other to make it onstage. You can feel that energy in the music and it feels great.
It’s cheap! Sure, the drinks are expensive for this part of town but, hey, where else do you get to listen to such good jazz without even paying cover.
The atmosphere is decidedly neighborhoody and relaxed. Everybody’s just there to enjoy the good music. Go on a weeknight, sit close to the door and you’ll get to actually talk to some locals. Love that they’re cool about the tourists. Oh, and you can _​talk_​without anybody complaining. No pretentiousness.
They introduced to to one of the very few decent American beers: get a Sugar Hill if you can, it tastes great and it’s a real local Harlem thing, too.
Only one thing: do stay late. The first band is often blown away by the later band. It can take them forever to switch bands but they WILL play again. And it’s worth the wait.

Being inside St. Nick’s Pub is certainly an experience. I love the atmosphere; even though basements usually make me feel claustrophobic, I like basement bars for some reason.
Inside it’s TINY. The drinks are a bit overpriced but I can’t remember if they are actually strong. The music is either great or overwhelming depending on what you want. It’s sort of interactive at times, with musicians coming and going from sets, and playing from all sides of the room. My friend has brought her trumpet Here and has «popped in» to a couple of sets. It’s just that type of place. Very friendly… sometimes oddly so.
They do have a cramped bathroom that you have to squeeze through a teeny hallway to get to, and you might want to wait until the set is over because you’ll pretty much be passing right through the performance space. They do have a garden but I don’t recall much seating. sorta just a smoking/​kibitzing in between sets type of hangout space.
Haven’t tried the food, but it sure smells good.

Cool, divey atmosphere — decidedly non-​divey prices. Though, while I do somewhat resent paying $ 7 for an Amstel Light, St. Nick’s Pub is the best place in the neighborhood and the eclectic crowd, outdoor smoking patio (don’t smoke kids, it’s terrible for you), and live music make up for the somewhat inflated prices.
It bears emphasizing how eclectic and charming the St. Nick’s crowd really is; on any given night, you’ll see fedora-​clad hipsters, a line of fifty-​to-​seventy-​something harlemites, eyes closed, basking in the lilt of the jazz, besuited professionals sporting ever-​loosening ties, and a grab-​bag of other characters. The point is, anyone would be comfortable walking into St. Nick’s, even if they’re slightly uncomfortable with the drink prices or the lack of elbow room.

Perhaps they think that since they’re on Sugar Hill, that their prices should be steep. But yeah, theres never a cover so maybe it evens out?
Regardless of the alcohol price tags, SNP is a chill spot. It gets packed, and can become pretty stuffy when this occurs. Get there earlier to get a decent seat/​table. The music is always stellar, no matter the night.
Theres a good music selection on the juke too, for between sets. Bartender can come off as a shrew sometimes. Just sayin.
–1 for being pricey. We’re in Harlem, gimme a break.

While agreeing with everyone that their drinks are definitely a bit too expensive (cash only too), everything else about this place makes it worth going to. What a great place this is if you want an AUTHENTIC NYC Jazz experience. I’ve gone to a couple other Jazz establishments in the city but nothing compares to the real feel and talent of the musicians that enter this place. We went on a Friday night and had a great time!
Older musicians who have played with the likes of Stevie Wonder hang here and the vibe, the smiles and overall experience of being here is memorable. Even some of the patrons don classy outfits that you’d maybe even witness back in the earlier Jazz days. It is an intimate setting and the energy/​talent pours out of the club doors. I would recommend it to anyone visiting NYC. Head on up to Harlem and experience it!

Love this place. beer is a bit expensive ($ 7/​bottle) but it’s one of the ONLY places you can get Sugar Hill’s own local brew, the only other place I’ve seen it sold is at Harlem Fairway. Definitely worth a little splurge. Also, there’s never a cover…
GREAT music and a really interesting crowd of locals, tourists, students, and neighborhood forces of gentrification… definitely has the Harlem vibe.

Positives :
–the music was good for the 5 minutes I was in there.
Negatives:
–It was too crowded for such a small space.
–Some drunk, old man grabbed my ass when I walk through the door.
–The environment was unfriendly and the people were rude.
NEVER, EVER AGAIN!
& to think, I was looking forward to this place.

Looking for some unpretentious, genuine joy and an escape from NYC?
You’ve found the place at St. Nick’s Pub. Open til 4am (and yes, we stayed til 4:30am+, even though the place was ‘closed’), I was initially cynical that any bar would match NYC’s on a Saturday night up in Harlem near Washington Heights.
With a crowded entrance throughout the night (we got there at 11am), we starred at a smiley, posted picture of Barack Obama as we awaited our drink orders. Mostly, people ordered bottles of beer (–1 star for no light beer available).
The music for the evening was exceptional and upbeat, enough to keep you awake the whole night. At 3:30am, a guys vs. girls dance competition was held. With about 5+ drummers and band members, a speaker did acapella rhythmic beats into a mic as guys and girls took turns dancing to the applause of the crowd. The owner put money into the shirts of girls who rocked it…
It was loud, so we took some time sitting in the outdoors back of the joint. Though it was freezing, we enjoyed some great conversation (as well as our table neighbor’s «intellectual» drunken debates).
Ladies — Go in groups, and watch out for yourselves. Some random guy started dancing with/​trying to get on me. The smarter ladies took a chair and stood on that to dance, giving you a nice view of the place.
TIP: Don’t be like me and bring a wool coat there. Even sitting in the outdoor patio, my friend said it smelled like someone near us was smoking weed. Definitely got my coat dry-​cleaned…
Check out the website
for performance schedules.
Refreshing to find such a great vibe. Highly recommended for anyone who’d enjoy Carribbean-​style music that flows into your veins!

I met a couple of my boys here for drinks on a Thursday night. It was quite a scene. And boy did it get crowded at 12AM … on a THURSDAY!
Certainly an old Harlem joint with an old Harlem feel. A tight space. Don’t be afraid of getting close to the locals though. Everyone’s mostly there to hear some good music and don’t really mind if you’re sitting on top of them. My biggest pet peeve is that it is what feels like way over yonder if you don’t live west of St. Nick’s park but I did find it to be worth the trek. It’s dark with a little sexy red light special mixed in. Before the acts come out (late into the night) the jukebox plays and the patrons will join in on classics by Luther and Patti. Love that! What can I say that hasn’t already been said, except for it gets my own personal stamp of approval? Bring your cash because there is no ATM and you are ready for a full and fabulous night.
I don’t think I even came on the best night but our bartender was great. Great girl. Great hair! She kept our glasses full and I think it helped that my two boys were paying her attention right back. We danced to some standards sung by one of the acts. And I could barely walk myself out of the place (whoopsie.)
I’m in love with the pub and keep trying to lure my current crush into meeting me there. And I know the effort will be worth it.

St. Nicks, like everyone else has said, has absolutely amazing music. I went on a Sunday night and was completely blown away by the musicians — the soulful bassist on a 6-​string electric base, the spot-​on drummer, the eclectic and guitarist, and the man-​of-​all-​trades who played flute beautifully, sang and looped sound experimentally with his looping pedal, and used several other musical implements (whistle, maraca, harmonica, etc.)
However, I sat there enjoying the music with a tinge of anger from feeling ripped the f&*K off. Straight up. It’s $ 7(!!) for a normally $ 5 or less beer (I prefer red stripe) plus $ 3/​person to sit down at a table — which they don’t tell you until you sit down. Plus tip — which the waitress demanded from us AND money for the band — they go around and collect it in a silver bucket. You would think the high prices to drink and sit here would go to the band — but maybe they don’t.
Nevertheless I have to say it was a worthwhile experience. Feels like 40 years ago in here — kitchy christmas light décor, painted music notes on the white brick walls, low light, with a still-​cool vibe — truly Harlem.
Next time — I’ll just stay at the bar and skip the table service fee and make sure to pre-​party beforehand or skip the drinks all-​together.