Phoenix
New York, NY 10009-3421
Phone: (212) 477-9979
- Cross Street:
- Between 1st Avenue and Avenue A
- Directions:
- L at 1st Ave
- Best of Citysearch:
- Gay and Lesbian Bar 2005, Gay and Lesbian Bar 2005
- Hours:
- Daily 4pm-4am
Editorial Review for Phoenix – by Rose Martelli
The Scene
Do not be put off by the dungeon-like exterior. On the inside, Phoenix is, well, equally dungeon-like, with a cavernous, seen-better-days, bordello-esque twist. In other words, it's a dive, but calculatedly so. The walls are painted blood-red, and the place looks as if it hasn't been renovated since the late-'80s, when the East Village gay bar scene was really down-and-dirty. Still, there's something oddly homey about this joint--maybe it's the Pac-Man video game a few feet from the front door.
The Draw
Good-looking rocker boys and neighborhood Joes congregate in the back lounge and at the bar, where friendly, past-their-prime leather daddies sling the drinks. The clientele puts on few airs and relatively little scamming takes place. Gay-guy-loving girls should feel comfortable enough here--as should any guy who wants a drink, but can do without the meat-market scene of flashier gay bars.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
The ExtrasFor a more kick-up-your-heels evening in the East Village, join the tourists at Lucky Cheng's.
User Reviews for Phoenix
08/31/2008 Posted by evnycguy2
Sadly, this bar has succommed to the new a priori modus operandi here in the East Village. What used to be a good local neighborhood bar, unpretentious and without the bridge-and-tunnel crowd trying to grab the so-called "East Village Hype", has gone the way of every other place in the community. These guys used to operate the now-defunct "The Bar", a great and legendary gay hangout for many years for locals, and it's a shame to see the change in attitude toward the locals and long-time patrons (of either establishment.) Rather than staying cool and hanging onto the traditional alternative/counterculture vibe of the neighborhood, they've become like every other place. Tonight, a friend of mine and I, long-time patrons of all the various East Village bars, were carded at the door, even though I am 52 and he is over 60, each of us looking WELL OVER the legal age to drink of 21. When we questioned this new procedure as uncalled for, disrepectful, and insulting, and then asked to speak to the manager about it, we were summarily thrown out and called "a**holes" by the bouncer. I can understand needing to card some people at the door to preclude serving drinks to those underage, but there clearly was no need of us to be treated the way we were -- they should allow their bouncers some discretion and/or hire bouncer are able to discern when a given procedure is necessary and when not. This is really sad, because now I can nor will no longer go there, as I no longer feel welcomed and appreciated and respected. Maybe this is part of their plan: to screen for a younger, hipper, more affluent clientele. If so, they have totally betrayed their roots and all of us who made The Bar and then the Phoenix the places they were (at one time.) Time to move on.... to someplace else that wants and appreciates my business.
Pros: (used to have the) neighborhood vibe
Cons: rude, undiscerning staff
07/04/2007 Posted by sarababygirl22
i have been and successfully avoided the rude staff and overpriced crappy liquor by making my gay boy friend buy my drinks but he had a similar experience and when we were smoking a cig outside a group of guys confirmed that we weren't alone. Bartenders there are really lame...
Pros: never too crowded
Cons: staff
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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