Hardware Bar

Mediocre expensive cocktail (everyone said this place had cheap drinks. maybe for regulars!) served in a glass coffee mug felt low end and out of place. Owners spent some coin on the build out… they could have good glasses. But the worst part was drag queen Shequida. Very negative, very bitchy. Complained about the small crowd like 5 times in the first 5 minutes and dissed Sherry Vine and the owners. Negative energy in the whole place. Nothing special. Doubt it gets better and with so many other choices in HK with better vibe I probably will not give it a second chance. Lounge seating in the back is a plus if you are bringing a bunch of friends.

Fun crowd, cheap drinks, and really nice bartenders. Will definitely return!

I just have to say whatever horrible dj was working on Saturday January 2 was a punk ass bitch. We were literally the only 5 people on the dance floor and requested a banger. Milkshake by Kelis. It’s a gay favorite. Even if there were more people in the bar, they probably would have enjoyed this classic 2003 hit. Basically the DJ has no business in an empty gay club and the entire establishment suffered.

After 5 years of frequenting this place on a VERY regular basis, tonight’s professionalism was Very much to my dismay. My family’ litteral’ family visted to enjoy the happy hour/​drag show dj… all off whom mentioned our ‘engagement/​bday’ All were stellar…
Someone claiming to be ‘one of the owners’ (clarity will be posted once I get confirmation on that… highly unlikely to be true… turned off the music on the Dance Floor,“A Song we Requested and tipped a Reluctant D.J.” to play… We were told we could enjoy the song at the regular bar area (truly…30 seconds into the song? couldn’t let the song finish?) Once I asked to speak to the manager …‘the alleged owner’ said ‘if we did not like it, we could leave with security… I thanked the reluctant DJ and tried to LIKE the DJ’s facebook page… for trying to end a perfect night for our family.(5 hours worth of patronage for our special occasion).we were called «Biligerent Drunks”(because we wanted to hear the rest of the song» and we left while a ‘satisfactory…at best… bouncer’ breathed down our necks. NEVER AGAIN…
PS…we did finish our night at D.BL. owned and managed by lovely people ‘who clearly have several successful H.K. venues… including Mr. Bigg’s and Vodka Soda. Their staff in general confirmed that they have salvaged many RUINED nights/​celebrations from this place.
WORD OF MOUTH, Babies…

Pre-​gamed with bestie here on a Friday night and we had fun between the good music choices, convos with random people, and good drinks.

Here for musical Monday. Cheap drinks and good easy going crowd. Fridays are fun too!

Man I love their happy hour drink specials. But MAN it smells like puke. Every time. Puke. Puke. Puke. Puke. Puke. Disgusting puke. Get a hose, seriously.

Absolutely horrible service. Busy Broadway night and they have one bartender who took our order and then never gave it to us, but served other people.

I love brad the bartender! He treats us like queens. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for happy hour in NYC!

Hardware is an old favorite that seems to be getting better. I’ve always though of it as a comfy neighborhood haunt for the 20-​to-​30 something gay set and I’m glad it seems to be growing up too. I had my 29^th birthday here, in awe of Shequida fabulousness, and as I get a little older I’m glad to see that Hardware’s often hunky gay bartenders at keeping the good vibes going.

Good drink specials and a good crowd. Had a ok time on a Monday night.
I will go back here for sure. Even the show was fun.

I normally wouldn’t review a random (gay) bar, but we stopped in on a whim after dinner on a Friday night. We were looking for a casual but friendly bar, and the internet pointed us towards Hardware.
Everyone from the bouncer to the bar tenders were incredibly nice, welcoming, and easygoing. The bar was populated, but not packed wall-​to-​wall (granted, it was 9:30…) and the music was the perfect blend of 80s/​90s/​00s. We saw the schedule for their weekly events and they all seem really fun.
A really great find on a whim!

Popped in really quick and had a blast! They have a very affordable drink menu — the ambiance is lovely with details such as an ax for a door handle and a textured bar.
Their music is awesome, and it’s a wonderful place to get together with a couple of friends and unwind.

Hmm. okay, Hardware Bar, not bad.
Really, Hardware is your typical Hell’s Kitchen gay bar: cute bar area in the front with a lot of blue lighting, almost no lighting elsewhere for optimum NSFW activity, huge dance floor in the back with a crystal ball, and a semi-​brightly lit bathroom.
All that being said, you’re more likely to find me at home. Have I become too antisocial for this scene?

Came here to celebrate a birthday on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised! We had a big group of us and we had a blast. It’s on the smaller side of the gay bars in New York, in comparison to Therapy and Industry at least, but that made it all the better. The dance floor is perfectly sized in my opinion, bartenders were super friendly (more so than other places I’ve been) and the drinks are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP! Beware though, credit card minimum is $ 20. My boyfriend actually had left his ID and card at the bar when we left, and we went back the next morning to get it and they were really accommodating (AND didn’t charge extra like most places do! Yes this has happened before…)
Anyways, if you’re looking for a fun gay bar in HK that doesn’t have the craziness/​club vibe of Therapy/​Industry, I definitely recommend this place and will be coming back for sure.

I was in the neighborhood and decided to check it out after seeing the happy hour board outside. The $ 3 well drinks and $ 4 Stoli specials definitely caught my attention. Since I was solo, I sat at the bar and both bartenders were extremely attentive and helpful.
When other places offer cheap happy hour specials, they tend to short change you on the amount of liquor or the overall volume by using those small plastic cups, however that was definitely not the case here at Hardware. The bartenders were very liberal with the poor and the cups they use are something along the lines of a sturdier plastic mug, kind of like the shape of a mug you’d get if your ordered an Irish coffee. It feels a little weird when you initially pick it up because you are expecting the weight of glass, but it’s half the mass.
Overall, great bar, cheap drinks and nice bartenders. I’ll definitely be back!

I came here on a Sat. night and the music was too fricking loud… unacceptable.
Could not have a conversation without shouting, and that’s a huge peeve of mine. What is the point of going out to bar to meet friends if you can’t hear each other?
Another time I came early and it was a weeknight and the place was empty except for some nutcase who was harassing people at the bar. Hopefully the managers will read this review and take note; didn’t get to really experience the place because of the noise level.

This is easily one of my favorite gay bars in Hell’s Kitchen. Whether a chill drink with friends, or coming for a show, or sometimes even a night of dancing, Hardware Bar has it all. It also claims cheapest drinks in Hell’s Kitchen — which is generally true as well drinks are $ 7 at other bars nearby versus $ 6 at Hardware.
It’s a very cool space, with lots of room to roam. The every-​Thursday Shequida show is something you need to come for if you haven’t yet. She’s absolutely amazing (I mean, fabulous!).
Sundays from 3pm — 8pm they have drunk liquid brunch:
$ 3 margaritas
$ 3 bloody marys
$ 3 mimosas
$ 5 long island iced tea
I mean, who can beat that?

You wouldn’t know that this was a gay bar at first. Mixed crowd with various ethnicity. Came here with a small group of friends for after dinner drinks. A cute young Indian guy hit on my older sister and turned her into a self-​proclaimed Cougar.
The Bouncer at the door asks everyone for ID which flattered me. The front bar area was crowded with guys and girls vying for the bartender’s attention. Looks a bit rustic upfront compared to the back as you past the bathrooms (sort of futuristic lighting) to the lounge and mini dance floor in the back.
Nice music and music videos playing but could do without the fog machine. Tables and chairs seem carved out of tropical wood and looked a bit out of place with the banquettes.
After a glass of champagne, I had to leave since the fog was getting to me.

Didn’t realized that it was a gay bar. Should’ve noticed that it was, with Brüno being played on the TVs, and most obviously that my fiancée and her sister were the only females there.
Good times though.
Good drinks with a long happy hour.
Cash only unfortunately (though waived after $ 20).
Will I come back again? Yes, but maybe without my fiancée next time around, so that I can get hit on for once ;) Yes, I’m in desperate need for some self-​esteem inflation.