Best bar in east village NYC. The staff are absolutely lovely can not say enough positive things about Doris. Doris made the night way better than it should’ve she is very conversational and a fun personality at the bar. Highly recommend!!
Neighborhood Favorite
International Bar is a true local gem. Friendly staff, great drinks, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay all night. Whether you’re grabbing a quick beer or hanging with friends, this place never disappoints. A must-visit bar on 1st Ave.
All the world’s a stage and all the men and women, merely players. Yet here, at International Bar, the playwright himself resides. This man is Robert, “The Mayor”, Rossi; the penultimate being on this Earth, the full amalgamation of everything that is New York.
International Bar is New York:
New York at it’s beginnings, I-Bar is old, beautiful, wooden, built and inhabited by immigrants and every walk of life coming to a sanctuary to be free of life’s cruel clutches for even just a single moment.
Old New York, where the stories take control and you’ll never know who may grab that open stool next to you to spin yards of when Irish gangs ran the neighborhood or how they still might.
New New York, representing hopes and dreams of a life filled with endless possibility. The glitz and glam of the city mixed with the filthy underbelly that breeds artists, poets, seedy criminals, corrupt politicians, and the working class that keeps it all afloat at the common watering hole that is International.
With one man to rule them all, you have Rossi. He’ll pour you a beer, a shot, a can of whatever fad the kids are drinking and serve it up alongside a helping of the most unique helpings of reality that most of us don’t even deserve. A powerful witch who knows where all of the bodies are buried, a belly-busting comedian who will have you laughing at his catch phrases for long after your visit, a modern day bard who has an eternal wealth of stories to entice you with- so many that you’ll be asking yourself how one man can have lived so many vivacious lives.
I-Bar is enough to lure you in but Rossi will keep you coming back for life.
That, is the New York experience.
Nice little dive-bar, the vibe was great but service was kinda lacking on our last visit :-/ It usually is ok but this time one of the bartender was only chatting with regulars (or friends) and it was hard to get drinks even with the bar being not that crowded.
The International Bar is a neighborhood institution and I’m so happy that it has survived as the East Village changes. The bartenders make sure to create an environment where everyone feels like a regular whether it’s the first or hundredth time they’ve been in. I love that when I come by they know my face, my order, and ask about my day. Can’t recommend a better watering hole in the city!
Love this bar!! Sadly can only make it to the city a couple times a year, but I always make sure to squeeze in a visit to international. Really wonderful atmosphere -- a true dive (and gem of the east village). Besides the sick musical offerings in the jukebox, the bartenders keep me coming back every time <3
Had so much fun tonight, we always have to stop in when we’re in the EV. Saturdays are our fav night, bartender is always making us laugh. Never change IBar!!
LOVE coming to international whenever im in the city. The bartender is always a trip and makes a mean martini. It’s tough to find a spot that feels so welcoming outside of my own neighborhood. I always wanna show off this bar to friends visiting town. Good dive. Good vibes.
First of all, absolutely love this bar!! I swung by thursday to catch the game and ended up damn near closing it out. The kind of place where the lights are low, the jukebox is always on point, and the holiday decorations seemingly are especially good! But the real reason this place earns five stars is the bartender. Sawyer’s the absolute best! Fast without being rushed, friendly without being fake, and somehow able to keep the whole room running smoothly while still making everyone feel seen. Come for the prices, stay for the vibes! (Fingers crossed you come on a night when jeopardy is on!)
Great dive with a great jukebox. Sawyer excels at both quality service and crafting martinis. Best Vesper I have ever had and I have had many. One of the only real dives left in the neighborhood, and one of the most legit bartenders in the country.
One of the best dives left in New York city. Always a good vibe, extra nice during the holidays with the decorations. New drink menu with some fun ones and always good tunes with a real juke box!
Sawyer is my favorite, always a good time!
The owner made a scene that could have easily been handled politely but her attitude forced us to leave the drinks unfinished as it was such an unpleasant confrontational atmosphere.
Terrible service for such a mediocre little hole of a place. Both the security guy and the bartender woman were rude and abnoxious. So many cheaper, cleaner, and certainly more pleasant, bars to go to in the area.
My go-to spot in the East Village since 2010. It’s kept the same charm, just has better drinks now and wine that you actually want to drink!! Best jukebox in town, and I like how the bartenders have actual personalities, it feels like you’re in a movie. I-Bar for life <3
Best local neighborhood bar on the east side! Always great bartenders, crowd, music and drinks. One of the few authentic NYC spots still around. Can’t say enough good things about this place and the people that work here. Would give it 10 stars if I could ❤️
The larger female bartender we had this weekend was unprofessional, rude and disrespectful. Her attitude was unacceptable and made me and my friends extremely uncomfortable. I’ve never experienced treatment like that in my life, I actually thought we were being punk’d. Totally bizarre.
Service is an absolute 0 from the bartender we had. She blew up at us because we moved some seats from the bar to our table. We immediately apologized and put them back. She continued to berate us and it was both humiliating and uncalled for. 10000000% don’t go here. I certainly won’t ever go again.
Went in with some friends visiting the city; knew I had to show them international bar. Matt was overall a great bartender. Personable and the best espresso martinis we ever had!
Accidentally broke a glass in the bathroom and the bouncer (or at least who I think was the bouncer) forcefully grabbed me by the sweater and shoved me in there, blocking the door until I cleaned the glass shards by hand from out of the sink. This was by far the most unprofessional conduct I have ever seen in a public place, let alone a bar, in my life. Of course, I would have alerted bar staff that I broke a glass, but this was completely out of line. Do not spend your money in this dump.
A legendary dive in the East Village, this spot embodies the New York of nostalgic dreams—a gritty, shadowy city where camaraderie thrives among locals and streetwise characters. It's a place that feels both endearing and a touch spectral, brimming with drinks that warm your spirit and set you swaying as you navigate the mysteries lurking around every corner.
Famous dive in the east village, where you can still find the New York of your old dreams - the fun, ragged, dark, twilight city of neighborhood friends and toughs, a little haunted and lovable, full of drinks that hug and send you rocking, trying to get around the next corner.
Another definitive dive bar. I had to stop here just because it looks old and scary from the outside with various beer neons blazing away. So I took a deep breath and tried to open the door and nothing….the door was locked right. As I stood there with a puzzled look on my face, the door buzzed open from somewhere remote. I walked in and looked around the dimly lit bar while wondering how I got in without knowing the secret password….lolz.
Actually there is no password but the door is locked and the bartender has to buzz you in. I suppose that’s a safety feature since that part of the city could be considered “rough”. With that said, I found it was nothing but nice friendly people inside. Mostly if not all were locals. The bar has good prices and a really neat back open porch area that is covered in really cool graffiti art. The bathroom is equally festooned with similar local scribbling.
I say take your chances and go here. You don’t see too many places that are original and irreverent like the International Bar.
Really cool decorations here if you look closely. There's a lot to pay attention to - nice place to drink alone. Easy to talk to people around you as well though.
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