Fat Cat

Cool under ground bar/​lounge with numerous pool tables and ping pong tables. They sell so joy at the bar and have live jazz music along with couches to just chill and listen to the music. It’s a hip spot, but not the cleanest. Definitely returning

Went there for the first time last night with a buddy of mine. If you like to have a beer over pong, pool, air hockey, and jazz there is no other place I know of that can accommodate. It’ kind of has a dive bar feel with its lack/​choice of décor but that’s right up my alley. Beers are cheap and only $ 3 cover!!! Only bad thing I can say is that they do not serve hard alcohol, but they do have a mean sake shot!

Came here for a friends Bday party. Low key basement spot where you can get your drink on, play some games, and listen to live music. There was a $ 3 cover and they check ID.
The games: They have Ping Pong, Pool Table, foosball, shuffleboard, chess, and checkers. Pricing for pingpong is $ 7 per person per hour. So $ 14 per hour pretty much for a game of 2. You get two paddles + a ball and you get decent space to play your game or share with other people in your party. Foosball is about $ 2 in quarters you get change from the bar. Beers are about $ 4-​$ 7 wine is about $ 7 per glass. You can also get bagged potatoe chips and nuts (cashews/​almonds/​pistaccios $ 2 per cup)
Live music: On the Saturday I went they had Jazz and you can take a seat to appreciate the musicians. It can get loud in here with so much going on. With all being said i still had a great time with my friends and would recommend Fat Cat. It is very spacious so you can go with large parties and multiply the fun. Right off the 1 train at Christopher Street.

Came here twice and it’s super fun! It sucks that you have to pay per person so the cost adds up the more games you play. The only reason I put 4 stars is because it’s kind of run down and yucky.

Step up your wine game, you have enough customers to offer more than 2 buck Chuck that has been open all day.
So much potential for greatness with this place…

Whenever I come here, it reminds me of college days! I guess the fact it’s in the center of west villages and NYU campus, it also attracts alot of students, drinks are nyc priced but nothing fancy, it’s a huge venue in the basement, very chilled and unpretentious vibes, sometimes you have to pay for cover, but not much, couple of bucks, there were some live bands playing while I enjoyed my sips, couches are not the comfortable to sit but if you feel like moving, there are plenty of games you can participate too!

Fat Cat is like being in the basement at your one friend’s house whose parents don’t really care what you do, like the Cool Mom from Mean Girls only trashy. Fluorescent lighting and dilapidated couches are the cherry on top.
The drink selection is pretty minimal; it’s too bad they don’t have a liquor license. I could have sworn I saw something about mixed drinks on the menu but the bartenders will abrasively let you know they only serve beer and wine before walking away from you. I wonder if they keep the dollars charged for board games as tips because they know their service is crap?
The band that played that night was really good! At least there was that.

Great place to go with a group for ping pong, pool or shuffleboard or date night for the live jazz. There’s a $ 3 cover charge, good beer options and an eclectic crowd.

When you walk in, you automatically feel like you are in a basement of a college party– dark and dingy, young crowd, and stained couches that looked like they haven’t been cleaned in forever.
Firstly the bar is pretty chaotic and since the music is so loud, the bartenders can barely hear me. I asked for a game of shuffleboard and the bartender gave me scrabble. I was confused and I went to another bartender and she gave me a number– which was what the 1^st bartender should have given me. If you play shuffleboard — is a ticketing system.
I figured the scrabble was just to kill time– since there were about 17 people ahead of me.
However I looked at the menu and they actually charge you one dollar– per player! What kinda place charges for board games? that’s just super cheap!
At that point I was too annoyed to go back to the bar to fight for two dollars back. So I played scrabble– it was fun until I had to wait for 2 ½ hours for a shuffleboard table. Mind you, I came in at 4pm on a Saturday– it wasn’t even prime time yet.
The icing on the cake was that there was no live jazz music during the 2 ½ hours I was playing scrabble. once I got up and left, they started playing.
Thank goodness I didn’t pay for the «3 dollar cover charge» since I was early. This bar might seem cheap, but they seem to scam you in other ways. Now that I think about it, maybe they make you wait longer for a game, so that you can order more drinks. Welp I’m not coming back here any time soon.

Fat cat is a lot of fun. Ping pong, shuffle board, cards, games, etc. They have local beers $ 6, not my favorite but I tried one said to taste like Stella. Not even close. Just tasted like citrus and hops.
It costs $ 6 per person per hour for the ping pong tables. They had a group coming in for an event so we only had 30 minutes.
They charged randomly at the door starting at 630 which I couldn’t figure out why. I think it was $ 3 per person. Ask ahead about this. I didn’t see a reason to charge so early on a weekday.
It’s a cool place, fun spot, with room if you go early enough. Got busy at 645 on a Thursday.
Will go back… just no beer for me.

Let me put this in perspective. There are… a million people waiting on line. There are a bagillion people inside… but my friend and I manage to steal a seat on a couch while we wait for friends. From there we can see the musical act perform and wait it out. Friends come, hijinks ensue. I’m waiting in line for the bathroom and a friend that I know from competitively rowing in the Netherlands 5 YEARS AGO pops up in line with me.
Look, any place where those coincidences happen is pretty stellar in my book. Many a good time has been had here in the past with the cheap (ish) beer, ability to use a credit card (which most places in the area require cash only), and Games? It’s a keeper. Do it.

After I ask «can you please help me understand how I can get a pool table? I don’t see the number on the screen change and there is an empty pool table for at least 10 min.» Asian worker responds by saying «you get a ticket and wait for the next number, you are Asian, you should know!»
Insensitive comments. If it wasn’t for my friends, I would of left right away.
And that’s the story.

Love the atmosphere and the live band, love all the games and a very cool place to hang out with bunch of people

Very cool!!!
$ 3 cover.
Tons of games and great music!

It’d been years since my last visit, and while the crowds are a little bit crazier nowadays, I still have fun at Fat Cat. Sort of a divier bar, but not really quite a dive per se, and I really enjoy the vibe. The crowd skews younger, towards college student-​age, so take that as you will. The place could be a little cleaner, but that’s just the charm, baby. In general, it’s hard not to have a good time here.
The attraction here is that there are a ton of games to play here, which can beat your run-​of-​the-​mill, hang-​out-​at-​a-​bar-​with-​nothing-​to-​do-​except-​converse bar experience. Sorry, that was a lot of hyphens. Anyways, you do have to pay a charge to use the pool/​ping pong/​shuffleboard equipment, but it’s a relatively small charge compared to the amount of enjoyment you’ll have. At $ 7 per person per table per hour on weekends, it ain’t too bad, and easily better than the rates you’ll get at other places. Also, you can rent the board games at $ 1 for unlimited time, which isn’t bad either, considering that they’re all in decent condition. There’s also usually always a live jazz band playing, and the acts are pretty good, so definitely take some time to check them out when you’re there.
Service is always pretty decent, and the prices are fine, even if you don’t love the idea of cover charges. I find the value more than fair, and the drink/​food prices are better than most places in the area. Beer selection is only okay, but since they’re also on the cheaper side, I’m totally fine with it.
A good place to hang out with a group of friends on a low-​key night, or even a high-​key (is that a thing?) night. With so much to do, in such a comfortable space, you’re bound to find something good.

I had a really great time here on a Sunday around 11pm. I wouldn’t set foot in here on a weekend, anything with games gets overrun as a rule, and the other reviews acknowledge that problem. But during non-​peak hours it’s awesome! There was no wait for the shuffleboard or the pingpong, but all the pool tables did look occupied.
The place looks like a basement from the 70’s, a type of décor I’m always a sucker for. You’re there to have fun. The ramshackle no frills vibe combined with the jazz reminded me just vaguely of New Orleans– or the closest you can get to it in this city. The mens bathroom has no door and the urinals are pretty much the first thing you see when walking by; exhibitionists will love this place. There’s a small stage area close to the bar that has some couches that you sink deep into to settle in and watch the jazz.
Don’t come for the jazz. I feel comfortable saying that, at least for Sundays. It’s fine for background music, lord knows I’d take it over top 40 crap, but most of the time it seemed to consist of poorly done elevator music type stuff, or a repetitive «jamming» style. Fridays and Saturdays are probably a better bet if you’re here mainly for the music.
No food, but they do have chips. Nice beer selection but no tap list. Reasonably priced booze.

I LOVE FATCAT!!! This place is literally like your best friends basement that happens to have billiards, ping-​pong, scrabble ans other games, AWESOME jazz, food and beverage. Fat Cat is otherworldly to me simply because it is open ultra late… the perfect place to go when you want to stay up all night into the morning… and then get an early breakfast at a diner at 6am. :) Everyone is pretty chill and down to earth at this spot. I’ve never had any problems or complaints hanging out here. People pretty much just come to hang out, grab a beer and play games with friends. Its also a really great no-​pressure date spot! For some reason its always difficult for me to find someone to play scrabble with, but at least I know I can do it here… even if its with a stranger… while listening to some great music. This place is in every way… perfection.:)
P.S.
There is a small cover charge of $ 3 bucks. Have your cash in hand and your I.D. ready. Totes!

If you’re looking for a dark and dingy dive bar that provides more than just drinking, look no further than Fat Cat.
Fat Cat is a good place to check out if you’re into games and drinking. The place gets crazy packed, especially on Friday and Saturday nights ($ 3 cover doesn’t exactly deter anyone from coming in), but for good reason: they have almost every game you can possibly think of. Scattered around the floor are pool tables, ping pong tables, shuffleboard, and foosball. In case you don’t want to wait for those (wait times can be over an hour for one of these), they also provide board games: chess, checkers, scrabble, backgammon, and Go. Of course, you can always bring your own games to play as long as you can find a table to sit.
The bar area is a little nuts because that’s also the area where you get a number for a game/​table, but it seems to be well run by the bartenders. They have a good variety of beers on tap ($ 6 or so), and they usually have liquor (except for the one night a few weeks ago). I mainly like that they have a self-​serve tap on the bar just for water so you can get it yourself rather than fight through the crowd.
The bar is also known as a jazz bar. I haven’t exactly paid attention to the live music while there, but it seems like people enjoy it.
Overall, I wouldn’t mind coming back again as long as I can tolerate the amount of people there.

I’ve heard about this place before but never actually got a chance to check it out in person. Firstly, it is located in the basement with a dimly lit staircase going down. Once you’re downstairs the bar is to your immediate right and several tables scattered around for your cards/​board game pleasure; yes they have board games here. In addition to that there are pool tables, shuffle board tables and ping pong tables for your playing pleasure. Who says you cant have good olé wholesome fun while sipping on some beer? This place definitely can be a fun place with a group of friends during a night out. I can see how if the place was crowded this would pose a problem due to wait time, but a little alcohol can liven up any situation.

This officially will be my hiding spot after a long day!
Fat Cat Jazz club is an awesome place you can catch up with friends and casually play a game of pool/​ping pong/​etc. Live jazz all night and they close super late (I think 5am).
It was a monday night. We didn’t pay to get in. no cover charge. We simply showed our ID’s and got stamped.
I came here for my birthday just to chill and vibe out with a few friends of mine, It was cool a/​f. The sweet sounds of live jazz being played while busting someone’s ass playing pool felt amazing. I felt like the Queen of the world ;)
I will definitely be back. I can easily see me being a regular here.

I’ve been here a bunch of times and it’s usually a fun time.
When you have a basement divey bar with plenty of games (ping pong, pool, shuffleboard, board games), combined with sporadic live jazz, what else do you need on a rainy or cold or whenever you want to play games in NYC type of day?
It’s semi-​hidden, on Christopher st in the village, and you have to walk down some dark stairs to get in. However, once you’re in, you feel as though you’re in some secret hidden club that not many people know about (but they do).
This bar is what it is. You’re not going to get exceptional service or drinks (decent beer selection), but they know their niche — not many bars in the city offer the games that they do. They have a card and numbering system, as you have to give your ID/​credit card to play the games, as well as a few bucks. The ping pong tables are behind these nets, which is nice, to help control the craziness of the pong balls flying all over the room (like at Spin). Shuffleboard tables are in good shape, as are the pool tables. It’s a bit dark, but the game tables have enough overhead lighting so you can see what you’re doing. One point of caution: if this place is crowded… stay away. It’ll be so hard to get a table for any game, and then you’ll be awkwardly standing in the middle drinking beer, and the place becomes a zoo with people playing games all around you.
A few minor cons:
–Cover for happy hour and on the evenings… c’mon man (Chris Berman voice)
–Hard to sit in the booths — extremely tight
–Not the cleanest place
–Wish they would upgrade their board game selection — when we played scrabble last time, many pieces were missing
Overall, a fun place to go to if you’re in the area and with a group of friends who want to chill, drink, and play some games.

Not impressed and not sure what this place is trying to be. Had to pay a cover to enter the basement jazz lounge on Saturday night, which is also a one-​stop shop for games (pool, shuffleboard, etc) and drinks. There’s barely any cell phone service down there, and the atmosphere feels like a dive bar except, with a live jazz band playing.
The seats are also extremely close to the band so it could get really loud at times. Other people, deeply engaged in their games in the back, seemed rather indifferent to the music by contrast. There are also booths in the front by the bar area. I guess I’m just not a fan — or am simply confused — of the damp and crowded basement feel of a jazz venue that also feels like a college students’ dive bar.

Fat Cat is good. Unless it’s crowded. Then it’s completely miserable. If you’re looking for a casual group get together, this is always a solid option. There is a lot of room (most of the time) and people can either play games or congregate standing. I don’t believe they serve vodka here which is fine by me as a beer drinker. There is also a $ 3 cover charge which sure, kind of sucks but you get live music which is always cool. The bathrooms are a darn shame. Pure misery on busy nights especially if you’re an avid bathroom user like me. The short and dirty is: a go-​to spot for beer drinkers, dive lovers and those who can endure the occasional crowd.

This is a really great place for group gatherings. It’s a giant, grungy basement filled with tables – pool, ping pong, board game, foosball, and shuffleboard tables, that is.
Drinks are cheap, though nothing is too fancy. Tables are rented out by the hour.
I tried shuffleboard here for the first time and loved it, so this place will always have a place in my heart. It’s weird that they have everything but darts, the game I equate most with bars.
Be mindful of your belongings, though. Someone stole my umbrella, and another person got her scarf stolen.
Likelihood of another visit:
For another game of shuffleboard? Yeah.

I recently went to a similar place to Fat Cat and I’d have to say it was a lot better
Fat Cat looks like a basement of a fraternity house. Beer soju and wine only. no liquor
Pool tables, shuffleboards, ping pong tables… whichever u like to play u just have to grab a number like u were at the deli and wait… forever
It is kinda grimey down here also. like i said, basement of a fraternity house
other than that. it is fun once u get on the game tho

What could be better than live jazz music as I dismantle opponents in foosball? That’s right, there really isn’t anything better. So many games to play, everyone else has already listed them so I’ll just say I really like the shuffleboard because it is right next to the live band that is laying down that sweet sexy jazz riff. I think the cover price of $ 3 is not bad at all, I just kinda hate the higher price of renting tables, where it cost our group of 4 $ 28 for one hour of shuffleboard. Little steep if you ask me, but combine that with the live music, good vibes, and sweet victory in all leisure sports, and you have a winner.

An unserem letzten Abend in NYC sind wir in diese Bar gegangen. Man zahlt 3 Dollar Eintritt und begibt sich sodann in ein Spieleparadis. Es gibt Brettspiele jeglicher Art von Dame, Mühle, Schach Backgammon. Außerdem Tischtennisplatten, Billard-​Tische und lange schmale Tische, auf denen eine Art Eisstockschießen mit flachen Runden Scheiben gespielt wurde.
Für ein paar Dollar konnten die diversen Spielgeräten ausgeliehen werden. Es war ein Emsiges Treiben an vielen Tischen und eine tolle und energetische, lockere Stimmung! Außerdem spielte eine Live Band kubanisch klingende Lieder — wenn ich das richtig zuordnen konnte. Eine tolle Atmosphäre insgesamt, sehr positiv und spielerisch halt. Es gab einige Biersorten vom Fass, die man probieren könnte und auch sonst einiges an Drinks und Cocktails — ein toller Abend, unbedingt probieren!!!

I always have a blast at Fat Cat! There are so many things to enjoy — ping-​pong, pool, shuffleboard, foosball, live jazz performances, board games, and affordable prices all around.
For me, ping-​pong has always been the highlight. I came on a Saturday night at 7:30pm ($ 3 cover to get in) and the wait was only five minutes long for a table (of which there are 9 or 12 in all). Once you take a ticket and your number is called, you just grab the paddles and go. (Note that the crowd picked up significantly by 9pm, so I’d recommend getting there earlier in the evening.) It’s $ 14/​hour (pro-​rated by the minute). The ping-​pong tables are spaced out well enough and each group of tables is separated by a net.
Drinks are affordable: the drafts I ordered were $ 6 each, and I imagine PBR would’ve been cheaper. The cost for Scrabble was negligible (a flat cost per player, totaling a few dollars for the both us), but beware that your game runs the risk of missing a few pieces. If Scrabble isn’t your cup of tea, other games include chess, checkers, and backgammon.
Definitely check this place out if you haven’t already. Between drinks and all the activities here you can easily spend a few hours hanging out here having a lot of fun and paying reasonable prices for everything.

Very cool, spacious but divey bar. Plenty of games to keep you busy all day — shuffle board (legit table — really long), ping pong, foozeball, chess, board games, mind games/​puzzles, pool, and more.
Later on in the night on a Saturday (and I’m sure other nights of the week/​weekend too) they have live Jazz music and couches to sit, chill and listen.
Fun place, not far from the PATH if you’re coming from Jersey.
Games are charged hourly — about $ 7 per person per hour for shuffle board and ping pong. And if you go over an hour, they do the math and charge by the minute so they don’t round up to the next half hour/​hour which is nice.

Qué lugar loco Fat Cat. Como primera impresión da la sensación de antro neoyorquino de dudosa reputación, pero el lugar es genial, amigos. Este bar de jazz dónde tocan muy buenos músicos en vivo no tiene desperdicio, ya que aparte de tener una entrada muy económica, los espectáculos que brindan están más que buenos.
A todo esto, el lugar es un toque bizarro. En principio hay que decir que es bastante grande, hay una muy buena barra en la que pedís y luego te llevas para alguna mesa de preferencia, como también podes comprar fichas para jugar al billar, ping pong y demás juegos que tienen en el lugar. Los precios no son para nada caros y tienen muy buenas cervezas tiradas, entre muchas cosas más.
En fin, Fat Cat es más que recomendable, ideal para ir alguna noche y sentirse realmente en New York, al compás del jazz y de la muy buena onda que tiene el lugar, el cual es mucho más económico que otros bares similares.

Saving my 100^th review for this incredible place!
I honestly think everyone should come here if they have a free night in New York. We came after a sushi dinner one night at around 9 and it was absolutely packed. There is a cover fee so have cash ready (it’s either $ 3 or $ 5).
Stairs are a little sketchy when you walk in but don’t like that deter you! Walk in and the bar is to your right and booths filled with people drinking and playing board games are to your left. Walk a little further and the bathroom is to your left, along with tons and tons of pool tables, shuffle board tables, ping pong tables and foosball tables
Head straight to the bar, grab some beers and get a ticket for one of the games (each person should straight away grab a ticket cause the wait will probably be long). Foosball is the only game that you put quarters in, no need for a ticket.
We ended up playing foosball for so long that we missed our numbers for ping pong and pool! The place was packed but it’s so fun watching other’s play games while you’re hanging out and drinking with your group. Everyone there is super friendly.
Seating for the Jazz area is limited but the music is phenomenal and can be heard throughout the bar when they’re playing (seemed like every 15 minutes).
Overall, this place is an absolute must if you are cool with more of a dive bar feeling!

Muy buen club de jazz con toda la onda. Podés escuchar una banda en vivo (la música en vivo garpa mucho) ya que tienen varios horarios de shows. Y la entrada en realidad es un cover de 3 dólares. el lugar es muy grande, con distintos espacios copados donde tomar una cerveza o bebida de preferencia. Hay juegos: ping pong, tejos, billar, etc. Y también espacios donde sólo sentarse y disfrutar del ambiente y la buena música. Muy recomendable!

El sitio no está mal, como local de fiesta, donde ir a jugar billar, ping pong, ajedrez o shuffle board, pero hay que aclarar que No es un sitio de jazz propiamente (aunque tienen una banda tocando para 5 o 6 personas que le prestan atención). el resto es un masivo público que ronda los 20 años. sólo sirven cerveza. Si se busca un local donde escuchar buen jazz es mucho más recomendable ir al Smalls, Mezzrow, o 55, todos muy cerca del FatCat, y dónde sí te encontrarás con un «Jazz Bar».

Ótimo som é tudo muito barato. A casa e simples mas vale a pena conferir a boa música, mas quando for ao banheiro cuidado com a escada de descida. O local também fica perto de outros bares.

Lejos de parecerse a lo que en Sevilla (o quizá España) conocemos como un local de noche para gente joven, aquí en Nueva York tienen otro rollo y saben perfectamente encontrar la mezcla perfecta entre noche, música en directo, juegos de mesa, cervezas y mucho más en un espacio la mar de polivalente, barato y más que bien pensado.
Jazz en directo, billares, ping pong, ajedrez, cervezas, dominó y curling de mesa son algunos de los entretenimientos y posibilidades que tenemos aquí. Es un sitio muy llamativo y espectacular. Cuesta 3 dólares entrar, pero vale la pena y no hay que dudar pasar por aquí si estamos por el West Village neoyorkino buscando un plan de noche que no sean los caros clubes de jazz de la zona.
Yo tengo muy buen recuerdo del sitio. Aquella noche hacía una sensación términa de –17 grados en Nueva York y bajar a este sótano fue como encontrar un oasis cálido en una Invernalia neoyorkina como la de aquel día.