Local 138

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138 Ludlow St B (at nr. Rivington St.)
New York, NY 10002

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(212) 477-0280
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Local 138 - New York, NY
Local 138 - New York, NY
Local 138 - New York, NY
Local 138 - New York, NY
Local 138 - New York, NY
Local 138 - New York, NY
Reviews
( 8 )
( 5 )
( 1 )
( 1 )
( 0 )

Best

This bar typically has a relaxing atmosphere, good music (nothing cheesy, indie rock is a possibility), reasonable prices, decent lighting so you can actually see your friends, an...

Worst

not a bad place, decent crowd and bartenders, but it sure is boring. so boring in fact, that we had to watch some awful women's softball game on espn to pass our time there.

Chill LES bar 2/17/2010

Though nearly empty save a single patron at the bar when we walked in, Local 138 was well worth the stop on a recent weeknight. Walking down Ludlow, we were looking for a happy hour joint and decided it would work for us. The bar boasts decent happy hour specials with effectively strong mixed drinks and a chocolate stout that served as dinner and dessert. I appreciated the mix of punk-grunge-rock of my youth playing at a decent level, but what really made this place worth it was the roomy booth at the front of the bar that we snagged, without much competition, which afforded us near-panoramic views of the street ? always interesting in the LES. Pros: Not too crowded more
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great happy hour 4/9/2008

good selection of draughts; the special: two booths with a view of neighborhood life, casual atmosphere. happy hour till 9pm. Pros: great atmosphere more
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Good atmosphere, staff and prices -- a rare combination 7/21/2006

This bar typically has a relaxing atmosphere, good music (nothing cheesy, indie rock is a possibility), reasonable prices, decent lighting so you can actually see your friends, and pleasant bartenders. They were very accomodating about reserving the back room for me on a Saturday night (10/1/05) at no charge. It's good for maybe 15 people or so. The bar, overall, is small, but when I was there on a Saturday it never got too crowded for me. Pros: Ambience, music, bartenders more
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coziest at the lower east side 2/19/2006

looking for a place to chill? this is the place! cheap drink, not as crowded and totally not pretentious! they play good music, bartender was really nice and friendly. Pros: inexpensive, football/soccer, not crowded Cons: not crowded, soundsystem more
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great music 12/18/2005

on a nice little sound systems, unlike some other bars and lounges that sound like mud, playing some funky underground hip hop, no cheese, and the bartender was very cute and friendly, though my scotch on the rocks seemed like it could have been a bit more generous, this was the only place on the block I walked into, every place else seemed really obnoxious Pros: music, bartender, tv Cons: small drink more
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cheap drinks :) 11/13/2005

I was in NYC for the first time ever this weekend on an impromptu trip, and we decided to bar-hop in East Village. I was shocked by the crazy drink prices at most places in the area, and I was starting to lose hope when I found Local 138. I asked what the specials were, and when she said they were over - but they had beer for $3 and wells for $4, regular price! Compared to the $10+ wells we had seen, we were ecstatic. The drinks were nice and strong too, and we didn't have to wait long to get a table big enough for all of 6 of us. Great place to chill and talk. more
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What a great place 7/23/2005

Everyone talks about the ""snugs"" up front, but there is a little known lounge in the back which is great for parties. Very chill by comparision to most lower east side spots. A great place to kick off a night or wind down and chat at the end. Prices are very reasonalble for NYC and a great beer and booze selection with lots of top shelf scotch whiskey and tequila you can't find elsewhere. Not to mention the friendly, low-key bartenders. Pros: Comfortable, Friendly, Great Variety Cons: Kind of Small, No bar gaming more
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Think Locally 12/1/2004

This bar is by far my favorite place on the Lower East Side these days. The alcoves in the front are each roomy enough for a small group; the bar & table area has great atmosphere; the back room's minimalist design makes a great setting for a private party, and the layout of the place allows easy traffic from front to back. Also, check out the cool ceiling fans! more
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TOPS! 11/30/2004

the best spot on the lower east side. no attitude, great music, great atmosphere, mixed crowd. a great, normal neighborhood bar for times when you're in the area with friends looking for a drink and not in the mood for the dark, loud lounge down the block. should you be looking for more, this is the perfect bar for the first or last drink of the night. more
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got to go 2/16/2004

The bar was great. Had a fantastic time. They have 2 booths up front for for your own privite chill out you can get about 10 people in them. One has your own private service window. There is also a back lounge. All the bartenders are great and fun. If you are looking for good service in NYC this is the place to go. They have a happy hour 4 to 9 all of the draught beers are 3.00 a pint. Stella Guinness Newcastle all premimum. Drink prices are very reasonable you can even get shots for 4.00 Its a must go in my eyes. Cheers Pros: good service, fun, good prices more
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Great alternative 8/31/2003

This place is perfect for a chill night - not too loud, not too crazy. The staff is always cool and the front booths are awesome for semi-big groups. Perfect as an alternative to the way-too-trendy bars up the block! Pros: great staff, cool booths, laid back more
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great bar for a drink 12/16/2002

Like the other reviews of this place, i agree that it's unpretentious, laid back, cozy, etc. Local 138 is not the place to go if you are into ""face-time."" Don't expect a rowdy crowd. It is, however, a great place to go for a drink. Nice beer selection, with some of your usual english ales, all of which taste fresh, and not like the stale stuff which is typical of many bars in ny. For most people, this is a good place to spend the early evening on weekend nights, or go after work, to get away and have a drink. A good date place if feel like talking to the person your with. Pros: laid back, quiet more
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whatcha talkin' about willis? 8/23/2002

willisdrummond-->kinda boring! Don't know what willis is talking about -- this place has a great crowd, super-friendly bartenders, and is hardly boring. Maybe willisdrummond should go back to the upper east side bars where it is super exciting and not boring at all. more
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Hidden Treasure 8/22/2002

My only regret is not knowing about this place sooner. This lower east side pub is low key and has interesting people watching. The bar staff are the friendliest I've ever encountered in NYC and they're always good for a laugh. Not a pick up joint necessarily but lots of cute girls around. It's worth a trip. Pros: happy hour drinks, great staff more
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kinda boring 8/8/2002

not a bad place, decent crowd and bartenders, but it sure is boring. so boring in fact, that we had to watch some awful women's softball game on espn to pass our time there. more
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Menu for Local 138


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Good people, good times and reasonably priced drinks.

Editorial

  • The Scene
    The wood-encased interior is minimally decorated to give Local a more contemporary edge than some others on Ludlow. Clean, geometric lines snake around the bar and two small...

  • 8/14/2003 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: 4pm to 4am, 7 days a week
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown, Lower East Side
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