55 Bar

This little jewell in the Village is quite interesting. The show on Saturday started at midnight, great music, the place was full but not super crowded. You can get a table if it's not too late, no rush, no pressure, no such thing as "bottle service" or anything like that, this is a very down-to-earth place. Beautiful people, the ambience is very relaxed; no judging, no measures, no worries, just fun! Pros: accoustic, music, relaxed environment Cons: small, understaffed more

I was so excited to go to 55 bar. I went there ready to spend money and enjoy some jazz (both the early and late show) and it took a solid 15 minutes for the bar tender to even aknowledge the existance of my friend and I. Granted it was not crowded yet and 2 bar tenders saw us and literally ignored us. We finally get a beer, finish them and the bar tender proceeds to clean out or glasses and not say a word to us asking if we want another drink. She sits down and starts reading a magazine tending to everyone else but us. Its quite the shame because I went there on a special occasion prepared to drop some serious cash on this night until we were so fed up we went to another bar. The music was great but it is not worth the rudeness. Bummer for the middle aged snobby bar tender women because we ended up spending 100 bucks at the next bar...its not worth the attitude. Spend your money somewhere that appreciates it. Pros: music Cons: employees more

I was fortunate enough to experience an early show at the "5's" on a recent July saturday evening. I had been to the 5's previously (the year before) and was compelled to return this year. The atmosphere of the 5's is unsurpassed...I was made to feel as though I was family there. The entertainment was fabulous. As I am also an entertainer I truly enjoyed meeting some of the performers there. I have plans on returning to the 5's my next trip into New York...at which time I will be performing in various places upstate. I hope nothing changes but the date when I return. Thanx & good luck to all the staff at the 5's...they were exceptionally friendly & helpful. Bruce Orr El Dorado, Ks 67042 Pros: A very high..."thumbs up"!! The atmosphere was very inviting & relaxing. The music wasn't so loud that I couldn't enjoy what I was hearing. "2 thumbs up"!! Cons: Nothing comes to mind other than we don't have a "55 Bar" in Kansas. more

I go out and check alot of music in the city. I tend to hang downtown and one of my faves, faves, faves is the 55Bar. Good service, inexpensive drinks and the music is usually sublime. I've been hanging here for years and the vibe is usually on the right side of mellow. An eclectic clientele - European tourists, older folks checking out the more straightahead jazz fare, college/conservatory groupies and everyone else in between - give the place a home away from home feel where everybody feels welcome! Music programming there is varied and top quality too. Early shows are NO COVER and the 10:00PM set has a cover but ya get 2 drinks with it! No better deal in town. I'm telling you and you should tell your friends!! Pros: great vibes, great music, groovy bartenders, good for casual dates more

I had a great time at the 55BAR. I'm 66 years old Japanese. I live in Chiba near Tokyo Japan. I love jazz music. For end of June, I and my wife visited New York. As for me, the second and my wife were first NY. There were two object of the trip of our NY trip. The one of the object was to visit 55BAR in the west village, and another one was city sightseeing and shopping, that my wife hoped. I can't expresss it in my English well, but write it about a wonderful impression in 55BAR which we visited. I visited 55BAR in the same time two years ago, but then 55BAR came to be unforgettable for me. And the reason because the atmosphere of this 55BAR is very warm, and having been homey, Ms.T. did very kind cosideration. I was able to be relaxed very much. This is nice for traveler above all. And 2 years later, I visited 55BAR again. This time with a wife together. If the state near 55BAR before two years, it was same feeling. I was full of feelings of the nostalgias and opened the door. Ms.T.welcomed us very much. I was excited. The atomosphere of the 55BAR was the tatally same as the front for two years. Very friendly regular customers (Fivers). The perfomance of the Van's band was a thrilling and fantastic. And beautiful Ms.T. I and my wife had a great time at 55BAR. We were really happy meeting Ms.T. We came to like NY more and more. The distance of 55BAR is very far from Japan Chiba, but I feel it very near. I want to visit 55BAR with my wife sometime again. Arigato 55BAR, Arigato Ms.T, Arigato Fivers and Arigato NY. Pros: Wonderful Beautiful people Cons: not one complaint more

Recently, my friends and I went to 55 Bar. We had a blast! We didn't expect to have such a good time. The atmosphere was dark, but it got us in the mood for good jazz music. The bartender was sociable as well as the other patrons. Highly recommended. Pros: Friendly workers Cons: Loud music made it difficult to hear people talking. more

The 55Bar on Christopher Street is a prime example of old Greenwich Village panache, dark brown atmosphere, friendly charming bartender and two music scenes a night at six and ten.The early show is particularly groovy, a two-drink minimum and no music charge. No wonder so many European tourists show up, especially on Thursday and Friday nights. Still a remnant of the old Village regulars adds charm. Harriet more

I recently found myself in the city looking for something to do, when a friend and i stumbled into the 55. we found it to be a very quaint setting and very nostalgic, I actually had a really good time there,,,the bartenders were courtious and diligent and made sure that my glass was always topped up with some yummy drinks. I listened to some ok music,,,jazz really isnt my scene, but i did enjoy the show and the next time i find myself downtown... i'm going to give it another go and see if i have as good a time again..thanx for the great evening 55...Dave w Pros: nice sorta layed back atmosphere,very relaxing,cute ladies Cons: parking stinks,but i should have known better than to drive to the east village more

I'm a regular at Bar 55 and I enjoy the music, the prices and the people I meet there. I don't know when the reviewers who trashed it were there. I've never seen anything going on like they described. I would have been very uncomfortable If I had. The place offers an extraordinarily broad range of jazz musicians and singers, some of whom write their own stuff, many of whom play and sing standards. Try it once and you'll see what I mean. Pros: thumbs up, great place to share a table with friends. Cons: the volume can sometimes be too high for me. more

I met up with my girlfriend after work on a Friday for some jazz. We got there for a six pm show. The place had a reasonable sized crowd. It looked like there were a few followers of the particular band from the pre-set chit chat. The bartenders were friendly and the service was good. Drink prices averaged out to about six or seven bucks a drink, considering the three hours of music, it was a good deal. The negative that my girlfriend agreed with me on was that it was too loud. For the size of the place the volume could be lower. Maybe it was this particular act but it seemed unnecessary to individually mic the two horn players. They can acoustically produce enough sound unlike say an upright bass. I could me nitpicking but whatever. Bottom line: The music was good, the staff was cool and it had that village vibe to it. Definitely worth a second shot. Pros: Friendly people Cons: Too loud more

After searching for a good jazz bar to show my visiting jazz-loving friends a good time in NYC, we decided to go to 55 Bar because it was rated really good online. After reading on their website that the cover was free with a 2 drink minimum, we arrived at the bar expecting to walk in for a good time. Well this is where the rudeness and condescending remarks began. The website was not correct, it was in fact $10 cover and a 2 drink minimum per set. None the less, we wanted to see the show, so we began to pay the doorman which is when he stopped us and said "If you guys wanted to be loud and party go to the bar down the street". This blew us back, because we aren't kids, we aren't disrespectful and as young professionals, we showed no signs of such behavior. We brushed it off, insisted we were there to hear the jazz, paid and went in. We found seats, and then we met the waitress... the most UNPLEASANT, rude, condescending waitress I have ever come across.. She spoke to us as if we "didn't belong", as if we were not worth her time despite being paying customers. Even though anyone and everyone should be allowed to enjoy music wherever they want in the city, it was clear this bar did not care for our patronage. We will never go back to 55 bar, and hope that people read this review and take it seriously. A bar that hires such people and condones such behavior should not be given business. Pros: ok music Cons: rude waitress and poor service more

it all started with the doorman being really rude, when we were surprised to see the 10$ cover charge when the website said it's free entrance, but 2 drinks per set. the guy told us (in a very condescending tone) this is a jazz bar, if you just wanna drink and be loud you can go next door. we explained to him that we know its a jazz bar and that's why we are here and their website said there's no cover charge. he responded with "what's a website". we knew this was a lost cause so we made sure there was no drink minimum (since we paying a cover charge) and went in. we were 3, a friend visiting, my grilfriend and myself. a waitress approached us and asked what we would like to drink. both my friendand i had a drink but my girlfriend could not drink since she was on medication.... the doorman was super nice compared to this woman. talking down, being rude, saying we must drink 2 drink per set and she doesnt care and those are the rules, and if we want to be difficult then she can also play this game and just left. really, really rude. ruined the entire evening. and btw, there was no need for that stupid attitude since we were later joined by another 6 friends and drank about 4 drinks or more each so that really covered it. needless to say she didnt get a tip. do yourself a favor, and dont go there... i would have had more fun eating glass. there are plenty of other spots. Meni. Cons: rude people. more

My friends and tried this place Sat night for the first time, and the "Door" guy was extremely rude. I definitely won't go back there- they were also charging a $10 cover and said they couldnt sell alcohol??? When I questioned the cover he said "We dont want you here" and kicked us out- what a strange, unpleasant place. more

I went to 55 Bar for the first time last night. It seems like a great place to hang out but the bartender was so rude, I won't go back. You know this type of bartender...chatty and nice to the regulars but if she doesn't know you, then you're ignored. more

Hit it on a Tuesday night with a friend. Went to see the 10pm act after we had dinner. $5 cover (though the bartender told us if we didn't care for the music he would refund it), act was Leni Stern.. she was about 30 minutes late. I had heard a couple of songs on her website previously and thought they sounded pretty good. What she played was not very good, just wasn't feeling it. Guess I'll have to give it another try with a different act. Pros: relaxed atmosphere Cons: mediocre act more

I went to 55 Bar recently and had an unbelivable time! The live music is amazing and the atmosphere is perfect. If you like live music and fun bars, you've got to check this out! Pros: Live Music, Service, Atmosphere more

nice atmosphere, good place to socialize, good bartending!!!! tater head, pinneon, babycat, cloe corn chip more

Small, loud, and full of good vibes! The 55 Bar on a Thursday night... Wayne Krantz...or whomever... these are not guys playing jazz standards in a mellow groove. These players are slammin! If there is a cover it can be like $15... but that comes with two DRINKS and popcorn! Nice! Great spot! Pros: small, loud, good people Cons: crowded more