La Linea

I went to La Linea for a friend’s goodbye party.
It was a pretty cool spot, hip-​hop/​rap/​reggae/​reggaeton music.
It is too loud to have a conversation so it is the type of place you go to if you want to (drink and) dance .
I was not doing that the night that I went, but I suspect if I was I would have had a great time.

We came to this lil spot after drinking at other various places. SO take this review with a grain of salt. Its definitely a small spot but had a nice crowd and the music was on point!!!
However the only down fall is the service and drinks… sad but true. After already drinking one should not complain but here we are. The drinks were small, weak and over priced, plus the service is sub-​par. I can’t imagine going here sober… smh…not sure why it would take so long to order then make a drink but it did. I was also the one buying the round so I gave my friend my card to hold a tab. Well you would have thought he asked the bartender for cash back??? I even waved at the tender so my friend could hurry up with my liquid. Well of course not because the bartender must thought it was some type of scam… not sure how when she/​he was just going to keep the card until I cash out!!!
If I’m in the area and have cash, and not looking for freindly quick service then I will probably be back… cuz the MUSIC was good.

Little torn here — it was super cool on the inside, good vibe — but so damn packed you could hardly get a drink. I like a bar/​lounge/​etc to have a lot of people, but you need to have an equal amount of servers then. Wait was crazy — too packed — need to control access better.

Great place to come for happy hour on Thursdays or Fridays.
Very calm environment, great location, drinks are decent somedays there stronger than the others.
Music has never been a problem there are definitely good vibes!

This place gets 3 stars max: 1 star for location (a min walk from the 2^nd Ave station), 1 star for the late happy hour (went here around 2:30am on Thursday, it’s ½ price drinks 11pm-​4am!) and 1 star for my drink which I enjoyed. But they lose the other 2 stars on customer service and overall atmosphere… when we got there it felt like we were intruding on a private party… the bartender was busy talking to some friends/​patrons and didn’t acknowledge us for a while then eventually came over and asked if we were ordering. I asked her about the happy hour and for a menu and she just pointed across the bar and said «there it is». She honestly seemed bothered that we were ordering & interrupting her convo… It’s a pretty small bar which is fine but seems like a place that would be fun only if you are a regular or friends with the staff. Not terrible but I won’t be coming again.

Ten years ago I celebrated my birthday «after hours» at this place and it was a nightmare. I didn’t think it would still be open, considering the dramatic shifts in that area in the last few years, but lo and behold «La Linea» todavia esta! To borrow the words of my bestie, it was like the same great mix of music from Fat Buddha Bar but without the chill Asians. The music was on point — heavy on the 90’s hip hop with a little RiRi and crunk thrown in there for «spice» to get the ladies dancing all ratchet. Some of them, unfortunately, were a little ratchet in other ways. Oh how I missed my chill Asians, who love themselves that hip-​hop and dance their night away all full of compliments and respectful glances for their fellow woman. When someone let off a stink bomb in the middle of the dance floor (yes, that actually happened), it was all over for me. 3 Stars for nostalgia, the sweet girl by the toilets that was nice to my bestie and the «Thong Song.»

happy hour: 4 dollar well rum and coke (cool)
after happy hour: 10 dollar rum and coke (not cool)
if the price really goes up 150% after happy hour ends, that’s crazy. this isn’t a club, 10 bucks for a well drink in a divey lounge is nuts

Went here around 8p on a Thursday night for a friend’s birthday party. Good music, affordable drinks, staff was decent. We had a large group of people that didn’t work so well in the space (open space near entrance, tiny hallway x bar, back room open space). A lot of people were standing in the hallway which just clogged up the whole place lol but if you wanna be by the bar that’s where you need to be! Place isn’t to die for but its a good casual place to grab drinks with friends.

I don’t care what anyone says, La Linea is the best! However, I would definitely only recommend going Sunday-​Thursday. That being said, they have some great bartenders and some amazing drinks. Enjoy!

A friend recommended this place for Hip Hop, and being the Hip Hop dance queen I believe I am I wanted to check it out. When we arrived, the music was popping in the first thirty minutes. There were multiple going in on the narrow dance floor. I definitely yearned for my most beloved dancer friends to join me that night. However there were two problems. First and foremost, the bar is really narrow, being New York it almost comes as no surprise that walking from one end of the bar to the other took time and flexibility. Secondly, the DJ decided to spin music every 10 seconds so that by the time you were ready to sing along to the music, you had to figure out what song he had just changed it to. Extremely aggravating, but glad I came. There was no cover. I just hope that the DJ does not change the song that rapidly on a regular basis.

I have frequented La Linea many times in the past, early 2000’s and it’s was a cool place, but now on the weekends they just have these power hungry bouncers that just try to take advantage. Off nights I don’t mind. LES isn’t LES anymore, atlas the cool LES
I don’t frequent there anymore, but a friend had her birthday party and I just rode the citibike from 87^th (little exercise) to celebrate there with friends. When I went to the door they said no hats, so I gladly removed it and said I’ll put it in my pocket because it was a crushable hat. The JERK said No, not hats on the premises, and as I was about to say I’ll put it in my pocket, I guess someone that was the «manager» yelled, «No hats after 9, how many times I have to tell you guys.» I don’t go here, so how i’m supposed to know…
That area has too many options to make that your first choice or even 2^nd, 3^rd, damn 10^th option. They need to fix the back area for dancing, its strategically laid out wrong. They need to hire a nicer staff or do more training, I understand you have to deal with drunk obnoxious people, but that’s what you signed up for, also I was completely sober and happy after my nice ride.
I guess the place has attracted the undesirables from the area because they do play good music rap and reggae, but there’s nowhere to dance comfortably, and the ratio is terrible, 20 men to 1 woman. Get it together La Linea. Become the place you used to be.
P. S. this place is disgusting in the light, try not to sit on the dirty lounge couches in the back, worse than sitting on a subway seat…

Lord Jesus God Almighty. why would any friend of mine suggest a place like this to party on a Friday night!!! Let’s just say I’m cutting my friendship with him short lol.
So after a failed night at 1am at another spot, my homeboy suggests La Linea as a good alternative.“it’s usually lit” — he says, «it’ll be fun» he says.
Well I wish I could light this place on fire. I stepped into this dingy old bar with a very small dance floor, packed with the best that the hood had to offer. with everyone who looked like they either borrowed a fake ID to get in or wanted a low key night with no dress code required to pick up a barely presentable lady.
Patrons-​young, slightly hood, unattractive, with male to female ratio 20 to 1.
Drinks were passable. some watered down, others may give you a mild buzz.
Music was actually good. nice mix of old school hip hop and new school ratchet.
However noone really danced. how could they? The dance floor is kind of non existent and everyone packed in like sardines breaking every fire code ever made in NYC.
In conclusion, don’t do it to yourself. there are a plethora of lounges/​bars/​clubs around. Don’t blow your night at this place.

Was with a big group around the corner for dinner at Boulton & Watt, when a friend said he wanted early 2000s Hip-​Hop & R&B A.K.A. a really good DJ. I followed my little Unilocal-​ing nose and picked out La Linea based on the reviews about music and fun vibes.
I can’t really describe what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t what I walked into. Definitely a lot smaller than I was imagining, and not at all the crowd I had envisioned. Regardless, my friends and I claimed a spot in the front corner of the bar and had a pretty good time. The music was on point, and the drinks were pretty cheap at around $ 10 a pop for well drinks.
Nothing else was really catching my attention so, for the location I feel like some improvements could be made and it would be more inviting to the east village/​les crowd.

My friend Tameika and I were looking for a bar to sit n chat, we passed so many places and stumble upon this place one. And we were SATISFIED! This place is great for happy hours ! I was definitely amazed by the prices. Imagine ½ off ALL COCKTAILS !! I don’t even mention that happy hours is until 9PM !!! If that’s not a plus then I don’t know what else is.
Only thing I didn’t like is the musical selections, but then again it played everything from 90s Hip Hop and R&B, Reggae/​Soca, Reggaeton and Today’s Hits.
Overall, La Linea is the spot to be at … especially if you want a mixture of people and music !

This was my first time here and I must say, I enjoyed myself!
There was Happy Hour until 11PM — ON A SATURDAY! Now… that’s how it’s done! The music was so-​so; there were spurts of good old-​school jams but not consistently.
As a born and bred New Yorker, when I have a special request, I expect it. It was my cousins birthday and asked the DJ to play Happy Birthday (Stevie Wonder or 50 Cent) at Midnight. He said he would but did absolutely nothing even when I approached him a second time. This was the only thing I was unimpressed with.
Oh! And when ordering drinks, make sure to stick with the same bartender. Not all makes drinks the same.

So, tis place use to be the go to spot for me and the pals during my college aged years but as the partying got harder, this place fell of the map. However after coming here last weekend [5/​16], I think i may have to revist and give this place another try.
Came on a saturday and the chunes were off the hook: reggae, current and all those tunes i like to here to dance my bootay offf…
Unfortunately, I have only come here on the weekends but I have been told by friends that during the week they have a very good happy hour.

This is a nice spot to come relax and unwind after a long day. The place is not that big but enough space for locals to hangout and what not. There was no DJ on the night that I went but the music was leaning towards old school hip hop. They have nice comfy seating and small tables for your drinks. There’s no table/​waiter service in here so you just order your own drink and claim you own table. Everything must be ordered at the bar. In the back there’s a private room for larger groups I assume, but not sure how that works.
Their happy hour prices are unbelievable. It’s usually until 9pm but I believe there’s an extension to that. You really get your bang for the buck for their low prices and huge cocktails. I’m not sure if it’s just the bartender that night but the drinks are really strong. So, let’s drink up and have a good night!

This is by FAR one of my favorite no-​frills bars in NYC — has been for the past 3 years or so. Awesome after work spot. Happy hour is half off everything which is the besttt and it lasts till 9pm most days. The bartenders are chill and don’t skimp on the drinks and when they’re not busy they chat with people seated at the bar (Flaca is my favorite — and she always remembers my go-​to drink).
Patrons that come to the bar are usually laid back and down to chat and meet new folks.
When there’s a DJ they’re always on point and people can’t help but dance the night away.
They also have a private room in the back for larger groups, which is a huge plus. Like I said, this is no-​frills so there’s no table service, you have to grab your own drinks.

It is a nice spot to get a drink and I enjoyed the hip hop and r&b music. I wanted to like this place more, but it is very small and just couldn’t quite get comfortable dancing in here. I honestly kept walking up and was trying to look for when I was at the end of the wall.
Not bad if it’s not too crowded, but it wasn’t even that crowded when I came here and I had to fight my way out because it really is a small spot.

If you are looking for a good happy hour with a welcoming local crowd, this is the place. My friend and I sat at the bar, kicked back a few and chatted with some cool men. It’s definitely a place people come to unwind after work.
The guys we talked with were nice enough to buy us a round. I’m not cheap. I have my own money, but the gesture was nice. We were flattered.
A good crowd and cool bartenders is what makes this place stand out.

Not sure when this place opened but it seems that I’ve been going here for years. Music has always been good (typically hip hop, R&B). I remember many nights of dancing towards the back.
I went here last night and last Sunday night. The vibe has changed. Perhaps it’s a slow week but the place is pretty dead.
I appreciate the ½ priced drinks until 8pm and then again from 11-​close (approx) but the music is more mute and they don’t necessarily play hip hop, R&B. Crowd is older and less hip now, too.
I’m glad this place has survived the last couple years but it needs an injection of youthful energy.
Props to Robin, the bartender, for her friendliness and attentiveness.