The Scratcher
Bar$$$$
East Village, New York
The experts at The Wall Street Journal and Serious Eats recommend this place
"... plenty of warm woods, low light and great beer prices."(3 Tips)
"Great happy hour in a fun area."(7 Tips)
"Nice dive."(2 Tips)
"Great for a date or casual drinks with friends."(8 Tips)
79 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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Official after-work bar of team foursquare. If both bathrooms do not have foursquare stickers on the doors/mirrors/toilets, someone's getting fired... #justsaying
DevontaFebruary 28, 2016Met with some former and current coworkers here to catch up and chat. The place was perfect. It was not crowded and you could hear yourself talking. Would sit down and have a drink here anytime.
Ranu RajkarnikarMay 23, 2015A great chill dive. You can do work here, enjoy a date or hang with friends. It's mellow and the staff are super nice. Sometimes they even have free pizza, what more do you need?
Serious EatsMarch 6, 2013$6 PBR + shot of Evan Williams special Sunday to Thursday. $2 off drafts and well drinks during happy hour, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
On Sunday nights beginning at 7:15, The Scratcher has free live acoustic music, performed by Irish and local artists. Be sure to contribute to the artist tip bucket that is passed around.
The Local East VillageAugust 14, 2011"The vibe was ideally low-key, with dim lights and a low ceiling. There are tons of long, wooden tables where you can sit with your friends and make new ones." --Helen Zhang, "Best EV Dive Bars" Read more- If you're from out of town and have the ability to expense things the receipt will read "The Scratcher Cafe"
Zaarly NYCOctober 9, 2011Dive done right. Great crowd, great drinks and no tv's. Grab a drink, take a seat, and enjoy. Can't go wrong. Also, be wise with your restroom breaks. Can get crowded quick back there.- Valerie SJuly 30, 2017Lower level bar tucked away from the street- chill vibe and decor. Great for a date or casual drinks with friends.
Great bar. Ask if Luke is there and tell him I sent you.
Tom IgoeJanuary 28, 2016Great, unassuming, unchanged bar. Don't tell your friends about it. I like it the way it is.- DoubleDeuceMarch 14, 2018Great spot just below street level with plenty of warm woods, low light and great beer prices.
emeFebruary 21, 2015Cozy low lighting place ideal for winter. Happy hour until 8 and good beers on tap.
Puu KampolratanaFebruary 21, 2015I'm surprised, Wednesday night was almost full. Nice place to grab a drink and talk with friends.
I go here weekly to celebrate my $5 Astor place barber school haircuts - ha! I agree one of the best Guinness pours in all of downtown. No idea what it's like late nites, but it's excellent early on.
Sara 🌈⚔🍾October 2, 2014A nice dive with lots of seating and good drink specials. Can definitely get crowded
Raphael LangenscheidtSeptember 15, 2015Good prices, relaxed vibe and not overly crowded. This place is easily overlooked but totally undervalued.
Village VoiceMarch 3, 2011A favorite of Voice staffers-They have a great happy hour ($2 off drafts/well drinks) that you can find using our Happy Hours app! http://www.gotime.com/nyc/mobile
Patrick BaskinOctober 13, 2014Cute, cozy bar perfect for hanging out with friends and grabbing a drink, maybe a date
All the beers are great and the ambiance is fantastic for group drinks
Generally quite, cozy and friendly dive with decent beers on tap. What more do you need?
Jordan HepnerNovember 11, 2012Always scratch your itch. Come on Sundays with the wedding section to drink fine bourbon and listen to jazz standards.
Ryan AmbsNovember 6, 2014Kind of hate the seats here. Kind of love everything else. Completely unassuming allowing you to fade into the ambiance.
Sit in the back in the winter and by the windows in the summer.- JPFebruary 20, 2016Great happy hour in a fun area. Start you night here and let the night take you away
The Wall Street JournalAugust 2, 2010This is Foursquare co-founder Dennis Crowley's favorite bar, which he told us in a video tour of the East Village. Read more
Paul SmithJune 13, 2012Great for happy hour - arrived just after six and got a Lagunitas IPA for $4!
Before it was the official Foursquare bar, I lived 100 yards down the block and enjoyed liberally poured Maker's rocks here after work.
One of the happiest places on earth. BYO pizza, claim a table, order a Guinness. Maybe a whisky, I don't know, let's get crazy.
Rafi SyedOctober 31, 2012This place is past its prime. But it's still a good dive bar to stop at on the way home for a water.
Grace CheungFebruary 19, 2012Get your astrology reading here, back of the bar some nights, $10 for 10 minutes covering your entire life.
Matthew CaldecuttSeptember 2, 2018Sure, it's a dive, but one bartender on a Thursday night? It took 30 minutes to close out my tab
The wifi password is the bar's phone number (look for it written on a piece of paper behind the bar)
Go on a Monday or Wednesday when Renata works! She's the best!
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People tend to check in during these times:
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- 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
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- 6:00 PM–11:00 PM
- Tue
- 6:00 PM–Midnight
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- 5:00 PM–2:00 AM
(212) 477-0030
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Wi-Fi
Free
Outdoor Seating
No
Food & Drink
Menus
Happy Hour
Drinks
Beer, Full Bar, Cocktails
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