The Distinguished Wakamba Cocktail Lounge

A dive bar with friendly bartenders who like to dance. This place isn’t your trendy gastropub but they do a good job just serving drinks efficiently with a smile.

I have a soft spot for terrible bars, so I wanted to check out this one for years.
There’s nothing special about it, and two shots of Fireball (my buddy and I needed some good breath before moving on) cost 29 bucks. That’s right, 10 dollars per shot.
Won’t be returning for 10 dollar shots in a narrow, wholly unspectacular bar.

Lightning round of facts:
1. Male customers dominate this place
2. Guys wouldn’t bring their gfs or wives here
3. Bartenders are all female wearing tight black dresses with certain features that men appreciate
4. A limited happy hour
5. Normal beers, normal drinks — no specialty anything
6. Out of touch interior but with an irregular charm (random Seattle space needles)
Please don’t get me wrong, I like this place but let’s be real honest here… we all know we go there to stare at the girls and think that maybe there’s a slight chance that one of them will notice us… wait, she smiled at me and I think she likes me — oh wait, she’s doing it to the guy next to me — nothing like booze and girls though.

A definite spot to be after work, can’t ask for much being and working in the neighborhood. Cheap beer real New York vibe, lovely bartenders that add the spark for a extra beer or 2. Overall my experiences there have been great, give it a try can’t go wrong if you haven’t been in here or wonder what type of bar it is. It’s the first time experience that gives you back that feeling of feeling 21 again.
Jukebox is where it’s at, play your tunes to make the party.

Family Bar — Although you wouldn’t think. It is a DIVE BAR — in every sense of the word but it has a charm and appeal to it. If you are up for an interesting night in Hell’s Kitchen, are in the neighborhood and want to play with a juke box/​meet all different walks of life Wakamba is certainly the place to go!

The trashish charm of this great place is that it always looks closed, hence the false rumors of its demise on Unilocal.Only change to the mix of chicas and chicos is a new awning. Lively jukebox music and Presidente beer usually available.

I went there today. Not closed at all. Fix this Unilocal

It’s a big name — The Distinguished Wakamba Cocktail Lounge — for such a tiny, seedy bar. Sure, it harks back to the pre-​Giuliani NYC era with its mirrored walls, rundown bathrooms, and 70s décor. But the prices are strictly 2014 — very high for drinks that aren’t even that good. Take the margaritas, for example. They taste soapy, yet weak.
Sure, there are regulars, who swear by the place.
Since I“m in the area, I’ve tried it on a few occasions — after work, 9pm-​ish, late night — and it’s always the same. A bit disappointing and a lot of money for the service and drinks you get.

We came to the conclusion that the «No Admittance» door must lead to the stripper pole and lap dances. We loved this place. The fact that the bar tender didn’t know what a mojito was and offered me a capareina instead matched with the mirrored walls and homeless dude enjoying a Heineken at the table behind us, this experience was more than we had asked for. I am not sure why there are so many models of the Space Needle behind the bar but, being a New Yorker from Seattle I became immediately loyal to this place. Random music choices and a strong drink, we had a great time. Enjoy this dive bar for all it is and in all it’s glory. PS: the bartender chicks were pretty cute (and I am a chick)! Have fun!

Quirky is my middle name, l which is why I love this place.
First off, it’s in a still-​seedy-​feeling part of Midtown West, on the same block or two as some remaining peep-​show type stores. I love this fact, as it feels like the real NY… not some sanitized touristy version.
Secondly, the tacky lighting as seen from the street. Beautiful.
Thirdly, Wakamba? That sounds African… but yet. it doesn’t seem like an African bar. What gives?
And how can you not love a dive bar that used the word ‘Distinguished’ as part of its name?
Then there’s the female bartenders… sorta young-​latin-​hoochi-​mamma style. Yeah, as others have said… it DOES have a bit of that cheap strip club feel, without the actual stripping.
The patrons: an interesting mix of people. Mostly regular folk. No posers here. Thank you very much.
The music: I’ve been here twice now, and the selection seems to lean towards salsa and bachata, though there are other offerings on the jukebox too. (Oh yeah, and who doesn’t love places that still have jukeboxes!)
Last night after two beers as I’m starting to feel good and just looking around at the diverse group of patrons, the bartenders in their outfits, the lights, and then… what do I hear coming from the jukebox (TWICE!), but ‘Roses are Red’ by Bobby Vinton (a sappy romantic ballad from the 1950s…’…roses are red my love, violets are blue, sugar is sweet my love, but not, as sweet as you…’). It was rather incongruous in a bar like this but then…
…that’s why I love this place, and what makes it uniquely New York!

Woah. From the outside, this place looks like a Christmassed out sports bar. From the inside, it looks like a red light district bar in south east Asia. I think I was the only girl in there, but if you want to feel transported to another country, look no further. Came here for a quick drink but if I am in the area again, I would come here. It looks like a movie set for some weird bar.

This place is such a trip. It’s like stepping into a Latino strip club in the twilight zone where no one is stripping.
If you’re on the fence about coming here once, stop reading and do it.
Full Disclosure: I think creepy = hilarious. What can I say? I have a weird sense of humor. I’m not sure if this place is supposed to be funny, but it is. It’s very very funny. Also creepy. Very very creepy.
Once the jukebox stops it gets WEIRDLY silent. Adding to the creepy ambience is the owner, who is staring down his nose with a scowl at everyone in the bar. Dude, you’re making it too obvious. Calm the facial expressions down a notch. Enjoy yourself a little bit.
Just wish the drinks were cheaper. I thought dive bars were supposed to be cheap. Whatever, you’re paying for the entertainment. Just make sure you take a shower when you leave!

I’ve passed Wakamba several times and was always intrigued by the name and the store front. FINALLY, we found a parking spot and went in. It’s a great dive bar with lots of personality.

This place was an utter disappointment. Whoever says this place is a tiki bar is just plain insane. My friend loves tiki bars, and actually has a list of tiki bars that she wants to check out. This one was on her list, and upon entering, could not figure out why to save our lives. There really was nothing tiki about. Dive bar would be a more accurate description, and a not very good one at that. First thing we did was ask for a drink menu, lo and behold, they don’t have one. Since it was Cinco de Mayo, we asked if they could make a margarita, and she said yes — strawberry or regular. I opted for the strawberry, and my friend, the regular. After waiting for a bit, we were served what was called a margarita in a martini glass. It was small, super sweet (I think she just served me the strawberry mix you buy at the store, with a splash of tequila), and barely drinkable. How much for both? That’ll be $ 20. $ 20 bucks for margarita syrup.
Seriously, save your money, and go to a place that will make a better drink, and not charge you an arm and a leg.

It’s your typical bar aimed at Latinos, well, Latino men. The bartenders are voluptuous, sweet-​talking (if you speak Spanish) vixens that will gladly bring you a beer. I didn’t try any mixed drinks but if you’re looking for a Latino dive bar in the heart of midtown, well, I think this is your only choice.
(The only real reason I opted for this place was because I saw Bourdain go here in a Vice vid, I pass by the place all the time and figured I’d give it a shot because of it.)

The most wonderful dive bar dark and hidden even on 8^th ave. A great place for a Stella or a cocktail. I will always come back here.

Neither tiki nor distinguished.
I read the reviews and decided to test the reigning theories about price gouging. Because I love a good dive bar and want to see them pull through. This place held true to form. They offer very little in terms of dive bar environment, but offer plenty in terms of over-​charging.
Very little upside unless you are a regular. Bummer.

Friendly dive bar – centrally located – However $ 10 Drinks is over the top for this place! $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks $ 10 Drinks

I’m still trying to wrap my brain around how badly this bar disappointed me recently.
After a shopping jaunt at Mood, I suggested to friends that we stop into Watamba for an afternoon tiki cocktail to cool our hides. I’m a big fan of rum drinks featuring mini umbrellas so it was an obvious choice. And then we walked into what felt like a place that strippers go to die. Red lights and wood paneled walls. The stench of sweat and sadness. And a row of sleazy alligator men sitting directly across from the door ogling whatever entered their eye line.
«You girls look thirsty. Don’t they look thirsty, Al?» hissed one guy loudly in our direction.
Scurrying to the back end of the bar we settled into some red vinyl stools, still relatively unfazed. The bartender arrives and tells us there’s no happy hour since it’s Friday. At 5pm. Okay, how much is a margarita? $ 10. We stared. She stared. «But,» we stuttered, «it says margaritas are $ 6 on the sign outside.» She stares some more. We look around at our miserable surroundings, grab our things and bolt for the door — but not without squeaking away from a butt slap from Al.
I love a sleazy, grimey, completely oddball bar. But there was no redeeming qualities about this place and it was overpriced. Pass.

Oh my. I never expected such a non-​hipster dive bar. Usually, when I read «dive bar», I’m thinking hipsters in skinny jeans with ironic t-​shirts hanging out.
But, this NYC dive bar is more of a local hispanic/​latino joint. The bartenders are really sweet, and the patrons you don’t want to mess with.
Definitely a cultural pit-​stop as you’re waiting for a train at Penn Station.