The Red Lion

GREAT LIVE MUSIC GARDEN STATE RADIO ALL THE WAY!! more

Went for the India World Cup games. Had a blast! Great atmosphere, great service, great food! Drinks are decently pricey, but the experience is totally worth it :) more

I haven't been back to the Red Lion in 10 years. Kind of fell out of love with Bleecker Street when they went all banks, drug stores and condos. But I happened to be having dinner at Minetta Tavern the other night. (If you can get a seat feel blessed.) And decided to give Bleecker another shot for old times sake. Mike Tait is still Alive. He's been playing there for 17 years. All the staff behind the bar is still there. Evan remembered me from when i had a big head of hair. (I haven't been called Haircut in a 100 years.) The music is loud, they sell Boddingtons. They moved the bathrooms - but basically it's all how I remembered it. I even woke up with a good old fashioned hangover straight from a bottle of Jager. I must be having a middle life crisis - but I had a great time. Nice to see the whole city ain't a big Starbucks. more

Lookie here, bud. The girls is easy. The music is loud. And the drinks is strong. If you can't get something at the red lion you must be down the block somewheres thinking your in the red lion. more

I have been to red lion lets just say enough times to know we almost always end up here when we head down to the west village, cheap beers $3pr tall boys, cant beat that!! and always a good time, loud kick ass cover rock bands covering everything from journey to pink floyd..... rocking it out on a packed dance floor is my idea of winding down at the weekend! we never have to wait online, i think the staff all know us well by now, keep up the good work guys and we will see you im sure very soon. BK 55 more

Ok this is a last ditch effort. I know this site is for reviews - but I met this guy Will at the Red Lion last week AND I lost your number! Will is a West Ham supporter. And I called the bar today cause they were playing. (I couldn't make it was too early.) The girl who answered the phone asked everybody in the place. No Mas! I am not a stalker. I just lost your number. This is Judy. I was there last Saturday night - September 25th. George was behind the bar making us Pickle Martini's. (Thanks for holding my umbrella George) I tried Magners for the first time. I lost your number. If you get this at all - just know I tried for real. more

My baby brother has special needs. He is in a wheelchair with a ventilator attached. For his 22nd birthday we brought him up from Fort Lauderdale to celebrate for the weekend. He loves Jimi Hendrix so we took him to the Red Lion. I gotta say everybody in New York was great - against what they tell you otherwise. But the people who run the Red Lion - even the customers were off the charts. We didn't call ahead like we usually do for my brother. We were just going around and somebody had told us Jimi Hendrix started in the Red Lion so we went off. The door guy radioed another door guy and we got the VIP treatment coming in the side door on their roadie ramp. They waved the cover for us. Made a little section for us by the bar and it was sweet. The guys behind the bar - I'm sorry I can't remember your names guys, they was both real Brooklyn boys, they were making non-alcoholic shots for my brother. And they told the band it was his birthday and they wished him happy birthday and played Foxy Lady for him. And customers were really good around him. One girl asked him to dance and she was taking him around the dance floor. You know they know us in our local - so we know what to expect in the case of Stevie, but these people didn't know us from a hole in the head. And me and my brothers we do appreciate it. Pros: Friendly, Kindly Staff & Bar Goers Cons: Not in Florida. Well not the Red Lion We have. more

Myself and a couple off coworkers went out for a few beers after work, we work uptown but were recommened to go to the red lion, We were very dissapointed and will never take anyone's opinion on a good bar again, The two barteners were middle aged men, dont get me wrong im no young lad either but after a long day at the office the last thing i wanna be lookin at is two miserible old men behind the bar moanin about there achs and pains. There was no atmosphere at all even the waitress's had a look off misery on there face, It was depressin. My addvice to the Red Lion is time to upgrade ur staff, maybe if u got some yong guys in with a bit off life in them you would be as busy as your competition in the area. Pros: burgurs are pretty good more

I just moved to Greenwich Village, this summer. Bleecker Street to be more specific. Upon helping me move into my apartment, my father who went to college at NYU, went searching for his old stomping grounds. All he could find was the RED LION, to which I met up with him for drinks. My father actually met a singer there who he had known over 20 years ago. That was the first time I ever sat and had a drink with my father in a bar and it will always be our spot now. :) The music is a little loud at night. The food is pub food. But George the bartender is a really honest to goodness NYC bartender. I don't know what my father told him, but everytime I walk in there he yells over the bar, "Hey, It's Charlie's kid!" (My father's name is Charlie.) Pros: Right down the block from me. Cons: The music is too loud to have a real conversation more

I have never ever walked into a bar ever in this whole country and heard Chris Mars playing!!!!! And when I told the bartender he shook his head like he was cool as a tray of ice cubes and told me he done all the music hisself and that Chris Mars was God. Like no Biggie. I told him I just wanted to use the can. (I don't drink no more. Sorry folks.) And he told me take my time: 'This is the longest song Mars ever wrote.') And you don't even know who Chris Mars is! Pros: Best IPOD Music in This City Ever!!!! more

My first trip to NYC, on a drunken hiatus from reality I started drinking in the Red Lion at 5 in the afternoon and did not leave until the lights went on the next day. I wish that sober Sally would have left drunk Sally a note that said mind your purse, glasses and cell phone. When I woke up the next day and realize everything was gone I thought I left it in the cab. But when I went back the next day, George had everything of mine safe behind the bar. And so began my second visitation at the Red Lion. I can't remember the other bartender's name - sorry! But they both really looked out for me, listened to my drunk whining and kept me from jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. Try Heaven's Jamaican Rum Kick. But like George warned me rum kicks are like boobies - one is not enough, three is too many. Pros: Live Music until 4 in the morning, George behind the bar more

I've just back into dating pool recently and started internet dating. I was actually supposed to meet my date at the Lion's Den, but walked into the Red Lion by mistake. It was my date's choice. ANd after he was informed that there is no more Lion's Den, he came and met me at the Red Lion. I was didn't know what to expect but the two bartenders George and Brian behind the bar totally put me at ease. I was introduced to several of the regulars and was told: You are Not Alone. My date showed up and though there wasn't any sparks, let's just call him Mr. Mister (inside joke, right back at ya!) - I found my new home base for meeting with internet daters. It's nice to meet up for drinks but I wouldn't want to have a first date meal there at the bar like I did. At least try and woo me. The music is a little loud but entertaining. People are really friendly. It's the one good thing that came out of my date with Mr. Mister. Cons: Music can be loud more

The Red Lion is a great place to spend a casual afternoon or evening with friends. With sports in the day and live music at night, I'm also comfortable going alone. The bar staff is friendly and efficient. George, Joe and the other staff members create a great local pub feel - which is no small feat in this city. I don't hesistate to drag my oldest friends, my newest colleagues and everyone in between to this pub. Pros: Local pub feel, friendly service Cons: Can get really crowded on Friday and Saturday nights more

It's been 8 months since I moved to L.A. Last weekend I went back to New York for a visit. I went to NYU and lived in the East Village for ten years. Of course I went to all my usual haunts, but the one that made me feel most at home was the Red Lion. Totally unpretentious,great energy, and a good mix of people. The bartenders were perfect- New York charm, attentive, remained cool under a demanding Friday night crowd. My girlfriends and I sat at the bar and were drinking tequila and beers. Rather, downing quite a few, but between the bartenders, the British soccer players, and some great music, it remained the evening that I am remembering the most. Missing my Manhattan. Thank you Ann, George, and all you there last week that made 10 degrees feel warmer than it ever has. more

3 of us from the UK spent 2 nights in NYC, with no prior knowledge we asked the taxi driver to take us to some bars, we ended up here. Unfortunately we had booked elsewhere for the day after (New Years). What a place! Grabbed a table and received excellent service - the second our drinks became empty they were filled again. Thank you excellent barmaid! Several hours later it came time to pay the tab.......and what value! Elsewhere we could have expected to at least double the tab! What followed was an exceptional evening of dancing which continued until 0330, and we loved every minute of it! Anywhere else I have been in the world I have never been made to feel more welcome by the general public, this really is the place to go! Thank you very much staff, and customers on 12/30 for making our holiday! Pros: Excellent service, good dancing, friendly customers, welcoming! Cons: I'm not still there!!!! more

I've been attending Red Lion bands off and on since '97. We attended December 17th (2008), Wednesday for the live jazz. Awesome! On your feet sax, drums, trumpet dancing! Wednesday evening shift male bartender was cold, moody, snappy, rude, and extremely arrogant. This coming from a former bartender, in the Village, of the female variety. Politely asked him for water, we had to several times, to which he is one of those bartenders who gives us no recognition, look, or reply out of his personal 'nose in the air' work ethic. Plus, he snapped at us to "f*cking wait." We were shocked. Top shelf scotch. Several rounds of beer. Opened a large tab, and he made it openly certain to several customers--he wasn't happy to be there--patrons annoyed him thoroughly--female bartender was great--but since we made the mistake of opening the tab with him, he was the only downside of the night. Such an awesome bar. Very disappointed with his service and basic demeanor towards people. Pros: Great atmosphere. $6 Tap. Food menu. Cons: Wednesday evening shift bartender. more

really good cover bands if you are into live music. In the village so if you wanted to go somewhere else there are hundreds of places. The drinks are not that expensive and the bar atmosphere is great. I have been there a lot over my tenure as a New Yorker and I highly recommend for a good time....late nights there rock Pros: awesome music Cons: packed at times more

I've been meaning to do this for three months now. I never even leave these reviews my friend Rachel always does. But - every year the four of us that still ain't married yet take a room at the Ritz Carlton downtown in Battery Park and we see the city like we are tourist and we always crash the Red Lion. We went their 1st because Dawn was dating a drummer in a band that played there and now it is part of our city tour. They are always open! It's live music every night. But this week we was there I seen John Mayer, Katie Couric and the guy from the Weird Science movies all in the same week. Annie and George are the best! They remember us each and every time we come into town. The doorguy is Supercool. Ask for the rum-punch. more

I really like the Red Lion, I usually go once a month at least or more to see my favorite band, its a nice venue, nice atmosphere, good drinks (try the choc martini) and the wait staff is friendly and check if you need drinks often., the bands there are awesome, GREAT live music!! Pros: Nice Atmosphere Cons: None more

my bf and i were lookin for a cool place to drink and listen to live music and after an extensive search on Citysearch, picked Red Lion. We were very pleased -- the two bands were heard were truly talented, the $5 cover being a small price to pay. We had a few drinks, the price was in the normal range for a place like this in a location like this. I usually hate the weekend crowds in bars but would go back to Red Lion on any night of the week. Pros: great music Cons: may get a little crowded - but doesnt every good place? more