Just Lorraine’s Place

I had my street naming reception after my grandpa Harlem Renaissance producer Leonard Harper inside «Just Lorraine’s Place». The owner Lorraine Drayton was wonderful and very supportive throughout the entire experience. I can’t thank her enough God Bless her. The affordable drinks were flowing ever so nicely and the atmosphere was like a down home Harlem family house party.

Was in Harlem last weekend and went to Just Lorraines for a book signing. A book signing in a bar? YES, the author was signing copies and they were selling like hot cakes… The place was packed with all kinds of people, from locals to Staten Islanders to visitors from out of town. Everyone was made to feel right at home and the great drinks didn’t hurt.
It appears to me that Lorraines is not just a B.A.R. But more of a place where folks not only come to drink, but catch-​up with friends, and learn about what’s going on in the community. You might bump into local politicians, TV and radio personalities and community leaders (as I did). It’s a reminder of what Harlem was and could be again.

A true locals bar in a neighborhood riding the gentrification wave. You won’t find any obscure whiskies and beer here, just reliable, old school staples. They have a TV and a bartender. Emphasis on the olllld schoooool. Even the patrons, who I’ll assume are all regulars since the bartender knew their names, are true Harlem OGs.
They have tequila (patron), whiskey (jameson/​crown), scotch (JW), a plethora of vodkas (flavored and unflavored) and I even think I saw a bottle of Alize hiding behind the Tanqueray. No beers on tap, but bottles a-​plenty: Bud, Amstel, Heneiken, Corona and the ever-​mighty Red Stripe. Music was cool: a mix of true R&B and hip-​hop. I may remember a Yolanda Adams joint but at this point I was three drinks in. I’m no lightweight, so I’m essentially telling you the drinks are strong AF here. I ordered a jameson and seltzer (because if you don’t drink whiskey straight or with a splash of H20, you’re doing it wrong) and she filled the cup to the very top and gave me the can of seltzer on the side (10 dollars). YAAAAAS.
Because we soon realized we were among true professionals, shots of tequila were to be had. And you guessed it, the same exact pour as my jamo.
At some point, a regular came up to us and started speaking to us in rapid Spanish (?). What we made out: he was originally from an island in the Caribbean and lived in LA… where he used to hang out with some cholos. «Soy la muerte» was his catchphrase. I dug it.
No longer in the neighborhood but I do miss this place. Great for when you are over Corner Social/​Cove/​and the wannabe fancypants places west of ACP.
HARLEM USA!

Looking for a good bar where I could watch a Knicks game. Found it on Unilocal and loved it! Very relaxed and the people who worked at the bar made my vodka tonic very nice and strong. People go to the bar are very nice too. Spoke to a guy about the Knicks and sports for an hour. Also bonus treat… met Marcus Samuelson. He walked in to have a drink and relax. I was the only star struck person there. You want a cold beer or a strong drink, sports and good conservation, check this place out

Just by walking you could tell this is the community bar. Lots of old timers conversing, killing time watching sports. The Black Cheers. Everyone knew each other and here you go walking in like an intruder. Folks were friendly though.
My husband was really here to peak at a Syracuse game so we ended up seating ourselves. The waitress, a cute little old lady (maybe Lorraine herself?) fixed us these really really strong drinks. My husband barely touches his after a while. Like it was 100% straight vodka. We might as well have ordered our drinks on the rocks. Despite all that, the drinks were dirt cheap. I totally understand now why some people (see alcoholics) are drawn to this bar.

My best friend and I stopped by after leaving Chocolat and Corner Social this past Saturday. Cool doorman, efficient bartenders, strong drinks, and a slamming DJ.
Drawbacks? The ladies’ room has no door for the toilet stall, and if you’re fashionably dressed (I had on a BCBG asymmetrical cocktail dress), the little scutter bugs (code for broke females looking for a sugar daddy/​captain save a h**) will hate like crazy and roll their eyes and try to block you from the bar (You’ll know them when you see them, they usually sit at the end of the bar going towards the bathroom).
Dress trendy.
Overall, worth it if you’re looking for some fun.

Just Lorraine’s Place is one of Harlem’s best kept secrets. It’s on 7^th Avenue and 132^nd Street and is a wonderful place. The drinks are reasonably priced and free poured. The atmosphere is kind of old school Harlem. She caters to an older mature crowd and constantly surprises her patrons with free food and no-​charge parties. 2 flat screen TVs are usually showing all regular sports programming, Knicks, Giants, Jets, etc. This is a bar full of regulars who go out of their way to welcome and embrace newcomers. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

This is a great easy going bar — we were reading poetry on the street as part of a poetry/​pub crawl and the regulars from inside came out to make sure we came in for some tasty beverages after (we were planning on it anyway, but it was nice that they showed interest in what we were doing, and then wanted to invite us to their local)
the bartender poured a VERY stiff drink. cheap prices for a gin and ginger ale that was poured like a large triple gin and the slightest possible hint of ginger. she was not fucking around.
it was so good that when the crawl was done, we went back there to finish the evening off

Lorraine’s is a great Harlem neighborhood bar. I love their stiff drinks poured by mixologist, Tracy. A must-​stop in Harlem.

Lorraines has the most bang for your buck when it comes to drinks. They have TV’s to watch the game and if you want that mature old school Harlem atmosphere pre gentrification come chill in Lorraines. It reminds me of a few spots on the west and South side of Chicago. I bet all of the Harlem legends frequented this place at one time.

Watched the Mavs Heat game with the locals while staying at the Harlem YMCA. Everyone was friendly. I was drawn in by the smell of chicken grilling outside. There was a card game going on in a table in the back with food provided for the regulars. Definitely a neighborhood bar but not completely closed off to outsiders.