You ask, the forum answers. A reader writes in:
Hi Uptownflavor -
I really liked the discussion you got going on the food options in Harlem. Maybe you can consider asking everyone for their input on where you can get a good comfortable beer in the uptown Harlem area. I had heard acclaims about John’s Recovery Room – but went looking for it and learned that it went out of business a couple of years ago. Pity. I think we need a couple of good bars (not necessarily playing jazz).
Anyone out there have any suggestions on where to get a cool drink around town?
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Posted in: Bars and lounges, Community
Anonymous
March 30, 2008
Lin S. i actually know the woman who owns suite 308 and the dj there as well and i have been born and raised in Harlem all my life so living is an understatement,but Suite is very small and on different occasions you have the “ghetto looking” bouncers outside along with the weed smokers. I can get down with the best of them i just said some people may not be comfortable.
Lin S.
February 16, 2008
You people are lame. There are great places in Harlem east & west. What about Orbit 116 * 1st Avenue? Great food, reasonable drinks and good service. They are also very gay friendly. Also there’s Mojitos on 116 (2/3) the best coconut mojito I have ever had! And there’s not a meal over 8 bucks. Suite 308 is not ghetto! It’s a well run establishment owned by a black woman under 30. If you’re going to live in Harlem, then live! And not whine! Take that back to the East Village. Where 15 years ago the yuppies were complaining about have to drink with the “locals” translation Puerto Ricans.
Mark Nyon
February 14, 2008
Hi,
My wife and I moved to Harlem in 2004. We’re two Black professionals who like to socialize and drink, but finding a place with reasonably priced drinks, good music, a good atmosphere isn’t always easy.
We’ve been to Moca, Native, Ginger, Shrine, the Den, Harlem, Lenox Lounge, Mintons, Billie’s Black, Harlem Lanes, amongst others.
Mintons and Lenox Lounger are great places, but are often not full.
Native has decent drinks, but the food and service aren’t often good. Moca is more expensive than many hotel bars downtown, and is sometimes a little too ghetto fab. Ginger has a nice place, but the drinks aren’t cheap either.
It would be cool if there were more happy hours in the area as well.
We’ll check out some of the places mentioned in this thread and see how we like them. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Anonymous
January 1, 2008
Suite 308 is a tiny hole in the wall and if your caucasian you may feel uncomfortable because it’s full of black people from the “hood”. and im black and from the hood so i dont say that to offend anyone, but The revival is a nice place to have drinks the Sugar Shack and even Harlem Lanes because they have a nice lounge upstairs and if the mood strikes you can bowl a game or two. There is also a place called Mocha and zipcode google them they’re nice spots to be in on a weekend.
Anonymous
October 28, 2007
I discovered Shrine last week – absolutely fantastic vibe. Adam Clayton Powell around 133rd. Really friendly, wonderful music, great drinks.
ns
September 20, 2007
there is also soundz on bway and 123rd ish. Great afterwork drink specials.
rmk
September 19, 2007
Oops, someone mentioned Suite 308 already. Can you tell us more about the ambiance?
rmk
September 19, 2007
I’m bummed that there aren’t more responses too. I moved to central Harlem over a year ago and still haven’t found a good place to have a drink. I tried MoBay a couple of times but their liquor selection sucks and the service there is NASTY. I think there is a lounge on Lenox and 126th called 305 or something like that? Has anyone been there? Over the summer I would hang out at Columbia-area bars like Night Cafe and 1020 but now that school’s back in session, I steer clear. Any idea when Harlem Vintage will open their wine bar? I love that place and would pretty much live there if their wine bar is as nice as the shop…
ellen
September 15, 2007
I don;t love when people act like Harlem is not Manhattan, I prefer to call it Midtown North. Its not a boro, we aren’t bridge and tunnel people. We moved here from Sutton Place and LOVE it here and its going to be major BIG. There are things going on up here that will make everyone want to pack up and move here. Its been GREAT..
Hugo
September 15, 2007
Cool uptown places for drink:
Caliente
Carlito’s
Hudson River Cafe (kinda pricey though)
Jewel (on 5th Ave)
Suite 308
A Touch of Dee (reaallly laid back, no frills)
Anonymous
September 15, 2007
isn’t it interesting that an eat article will generate over 30 responses but a drink one will generate less than 10?
what are people doing to socialize and lay back in Harlem these days
where is cafe largo? and what about this Paris Blues Bar? I am so tempted.
Uptown Artist
September 14, 2007
I love CAMARADAS on 1st Avenue b/w 115th and 116th Streets. They only serve beer and wine, but they have live music and very friendly staff. The vibe is especially good on summer nights when they open giant windows onto 1st Avenue.
sphh
September 14, 2007
Didn’t know that Maroon’s was opening a branch on 145th. Where?
As for Starbucks, one could argue that there is more “risk” in opening on 145th. There’s probably less of a guarantee of business (albeit still lower rents) than if they opened on 42nd street and 5th ave.
It’s not really a bar, but you can get beer at the bodega and take it to Cafe Largo and order appetizers.
Harlem Girl
September 11, 2007
Economist: Isn’t it just supply and demand.
The shorter the supply the more it costs.
The owners are using the lack of quality places to their advantage.
You can actually get more bang for your buck in West Harlem. More options, better prices.
Anonymous
September 11, 2007
to the economist – do you think it is the lack of demand that is pushing price up?
Anonymous
September 11, 2007
is it actually legal to drink on your stoop? (im not a NY native, I do not know). Are police picky about this?
Anonymous
September 11, 2007
It’s ridiculous that in Harlem the price of drinks is on par with the rest of Manhattan. Yes, real estate prices for a bar are high everywhere but commercial real estate in Harlem is no where near the price of real estate in Tribeca or the UES, yet they want the same $10 per drink, what gives?
I’m really confused on why an Apple Martini in Harlem is the same price as in some of the most expensive areas of Manhattan….?
I am a professional economist, hence I am anal about this. Yes, it’s a rip off when Starbucks charges the same prices in Harlem as it does in the most expensive places in Manhattan for it to operate, but they do.
I say Harlem is exploited. The cost of “sitting down” for 30 minutes in Harlem is far far far less than that same cost to do that same thing Mid-town on the East Side for example. The price of drinks should reflect that.
You will see this exploitation of Harlemites when Maroon opens on 145th. The cost per square foot for Maroons to operate their soon to be 145th location is a fraction of that of their 16th street location, yet the price for drinks will be the same, if not more.
This is (will be) the exploitation of Harlemites exemplified.
nutsandbolts
September 11, 2007
Options:
mix a little henssey and sprite, call it an “Uptown” drink it on the street. good music and plenty of eye candy.
buy a six-pack drink it in your living room: opps, most of us don’t have a living room.
drink infront of the Langston and see how long it takes for the cops to come
you could buy a single beer for a $1.50 in the Bodega. however, in a couple of years the NYPD will have a BODEGA TASK FORCE cracking down on this. they will also be arresting the cats running around the bodega for health violations…
Anonymous
September 11, 2007
has anyone ever tried Paris Blues ? It looks kind of interesting and comfortable.
Anonymous
September 11, 2007
Who can afford to get drinks in this town? I went to the Hudson River Cafe, 1 Cabernet $11, and a martini $10 + tip is $25.
Between $1,750 for a 1 bedroom & trying to save to hopefully one day buy, I can’t afford “drinks” in Harlem and I make over $100K.