The Duck

YES… I just gave the «down lowiest» Dive Bar 5 Stars. Everyone from the bar jockeys to the owner are down to earth and fun. My only complaint is that the jukebox is 60% country and the numbers don’t always line up to the corresponding song… but hey… the other 40% is kick ass music and the small fun vibe with the pool table and random pinball machines in the «walk in room». Oh… and it doesn’t hurt that it’s only 4 blocks from my house. :)

Seems a bit blasphemous to review a dive, like why? But that’s what Unilocal is about!
Definitely a dive, the signs are clear.
–dingy
–dark
–affordable
–dated furniture
–slight stench
Dives aren’t for everyone but this being the only one in a 2 mile radius it’s certainly great! Besides, cheap drinks in East Harlem? Why not?
Also, there’s a pool table if that’s your thing and if some loud, slightly creepy dudes haven’t taken over already!
Been here with a group– wouldn’t come solo but that’s just me. Go alone… If you dare!

I love having The Duck en El Barrio and only 3 blocks from my crib. It’s my second favorite (and the cheapest) way to forget a crappy week. $ 2 cans of Genny? At that price I can actually afford a shot (maybe 2) of Jameson. That is, if my wife ain’t around. She rarely approves of that second shot.

This is one of my husband and I’s favorite dive bars. No thrills, cheap, friendly and pool! They have a good selection of beers and a pool table. This place is just great to grab a beer with some friends before going out. Good spot!

This is great dive bar with incredibly welcoming bartenders. It has very cheap drinks — best spot in harlem to pre-​game before embarking on a wild night of drunkenness and silly decisions! But make this bar the best decision of your night — cheap drinks, cool bartenders, friendly regulars, and it’s called The Duck, need I say more? Drink safely quack quack!

Definitely a dive bar. They’ve got a nice, laidback atmosphere; a friendly bouncer, Felix; billiards; pinball… and conveniently located between my gym and my apartment! I will be drinking back many burned calories here.

My kind of place, an unpretentious actual dive bar with actual cheap beer. The bartenders drink with you. The fact that they’re able to charge so little for pitchers and stay open in this city makes me kind of resent all the other bars out there pocketing insane profits. The bartenders here are talkative and friendly, which makes it a neat place to go and people-​watch even if you’re not going with anyone. At one point a drunken, middle-​aged Caribbean lady was blatantly hitting on me, stole my seat, and kissed me on the cheek, if that gives you any idea of the kind of place this is.
I kind of wish I did bring a friend with me so that we could play pool, foosball, and the other coin-​op games together, but the word-​of-​mouth on The Duck seemed strong enough for me to want to visit regardless, and I definitely don’t regret it. I intend to return and also to check out the Patriot Bar in Lower Manhattan, which apparently shares ownership and bartenders with The Duck.

This is your prototypical dive bar.
My sister was moving in close to this place and I was waiting for her to bring her stuff so I decided to try this place. Usually, I have a no drinking alone policy, but I figured to break the rule once and have a beer.
The inside is very spacious, with one long bar with a friendly bartender, a couple of tables and a pool table. The ambiance is dark and grungy which is perfect for a dive bar.
They have a decent (not great) selection of beers. All-​in-​all, its a nice place to try if you’re in the area.

Such a lay back spot just want to grab a beer and chill than this is perfect bar by the way they have the cleanest bathroom seriously

I love this bar. Cheap, spacious, and super friendly crowd.

Well, it is The Duck. That’s all you can say, really. Total dive bar, with a weird entrance way, which I dug. Slightly cheaper drinks than your regular bar. The bartender was inexperienced but very nice, I think it was her first or second day. The juke box was broken, so they were playing CDs, which kept skipping. Anyways, its The Duck.

Down to Duck?
This dive is exactly what it sets out to be– a no frills drinking hole. Come for the cheap beer, considering leaving because of the honky tonk soundtrack (seriously though, would it kill them to pop in a classic rock mix???), but ultimately stay for the friendly bartenders and pretention-​less, diverse crowd.
If SpaHa becomes a haven for the city’s broke/​hip/​young, expect this place to become the go-​to haunt for a cheap brew.

When you achieve what you have set out to do, it’s only even further up from here, and that’s why The Duck is all the stars. An arcade front to deter any Duck-​detractors. All are welcome here at The Duck. There we were way down in the village somewhere in LES with a bunch of quack mouth crackpots where the din was louder than the sirens outside with too many collar stays around, so when our dear friend said come to The Duck 100 blocks North, my partners in avoiding the crime of the overpriced life said «wayward ho!»
It’s right off the 6, note that because if I weren’t so hollowly impatient we should’ve taken that.
Walking into the dimly lit arcade, turn the corner to a calmly neon lit bar with fun people behind the bar, relaxed people sitting, and plenty of space by the jukebox for a table of four with pitchers cheaper than single beers at most places.
Bras drape the ceiling. Smiles instead of dirty dive bar sneers. If you ask me, I’d love it if my feet were stuck to this floor all night long.

Almost walked by this place and a guy came out and told us the bar is in the back. When we walked in, I was pleasantly surprised. The bar area is quite divey but comfortable. It wasn’t crowded, and that was a plus.
The drinks are cheap and I hope they keep it that way. This is the first non Hispanic bar I’ve seen in east Harlem. I’ll take it! There’s no food, but just outside are a ton of places to eat. Some even deliver.
I’d go back.

The Duck. Best name.
A faux arcade covering up a dive bar in the back? If I were a celebrity and I wanted to hide from the the paps (and money hadn’t changed me), this would be my favourite place in the world.
Cheap beer, cheap drinks, it’s cheap street up in here, and the staff are fast talking, fabulous folks.
The only issue is that I wanted to take a cab back downtown, so like the evening wasn’t really that cheap, but tipsy Pepper doesn’t like to walk, so it is what it is. Don’t be me, take the subway or walk. But probably subway because East Harlem at night is still a bit sketchy. I’m digressing…
Just go here.

So I found myself way uptown on a Saturday night in some seriously shitty weather for a friends birthday party. Let it never be said that I don’t rally. After the festivities died down at her place we all decided to go the only dive in the area. We were shocked to find this little gem.
A bouncer stands alone in what appears to be an empty bar. I didn’t quite understand what was happening, so I handed him my ID and proceeded to go further into the building where I see another bar, this one with actual people. Me and friends grabbed some seats and put our coats on a random empty seat next to the jukebox that had no CD’s in it. The bartender said it had held mainly country, so truth be told I wasn’t too heartbroken to find it out of order. Instead the bar was playing some sad, soft rock in the background. Over the course of about 2 hours I was only able to identify two songs: one by James Brown and Beast of Burden.
Our bartender was nice and friendly (wish I could remember her name). They’ve got TV’s and usable bathrooms. Not the strongest drinks but dirt cheap ($ 4 for a rum and coke). Then some guy started rummaging through our coat pockets. My friend flipped on him and I rushed to her defense… long story short I either heroically helped retrieve stolen merchandise from a pick pocket or mugged a total stranger. Pretty sure it was the former. Either way, the evening went on as usual though we held our coats in our laps for the rest of the night.
The particular night I went most of the people there seemed vaguely creepy and a mite desperate. It could be the usual or just the combination of a full moon during a snow storm. I’d come back if I found myself in the area again, but I wouldn’t come out of my way to drink here.

Dive Bar at its best.
— Decoy Bar
— Picture of Toilet as the main Unilocal photo
How could you not want to go there? The bartender — Wendy — is amazing. Quite a personality. Throw in a few very passionate Unilocal Elites… and it’s a recipe for an amazing time.
Plus Wendy suggested that I try Hangar One Vokda. Delish. Smooth. Made in San Francisco.
Thanks Phil H for the recommendation!

Now this is what a dive bar is supposed to be! Gritty, sticky floors, Miller High Life at just $ 2.75, and wacky bartenders who get stoked when you order ridiculous shots. Throw in a fake bar in the front to protect patrons from being rolled by the fuzz along 2^nd avenue, and you’ve got yourself quite the unique hang in East Harlem.

Hell yeah, I’m a regular! Here’s another Harlem spot where I don’t check in nearly as much as I should, but indeed, I’m a regular!
Divey but not grimy.
Super cheap drinks.
Cool bartenders (Elle is my fave!).
Miniature pool table for a dollar per play.
Cheesy décor, Christmas lights and all.
Any one of the above can get a five star rating outta me. Put them all together and I’m one happy regular! After barhopping throughout the city, this is where I come to end my nights. I feel comfy here.

Okay, let me begin this review by saying I was very confused when we first walked in. I was already intoxicated so it was not nice that when you first enter The Duck, you’re in a «fake bar». There is a bar to the side with no alcohol, tables, and a bouncer. The bouncer checks your ID then you mosey on into the actual bar, which is a shit hole. But it’s a good shit hole. It’s the clean portapotty you hope and pray for during a music festival in 90 degree weather.
There are wires EVERYWHERE! Surge protectors hang off the walls with wires hanging out of them. There is an average size bar and a few tables here and there. There is also a pool table in the back with some interesting décor above it. Eff that, the entire place has interesting décor! There is a bra collection hanging over the bar, but the ladies of the group were all wearing expensive undergarments so you won’t see ours up there… Sorry, gentlemen.
Our bartender CiCi was awesome! She gave all the ladies free shots. She also said if we danced on the bar, we would get another free shot. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of us were up to the challenge last night. The beers are also ridiculously cheap. On average, a beer will run you $ 4.50 and that’s NOT during happy hour. $ 1 beers during happy hour ;)
Come here to get drunk for cheap and possibly donate your bra. This place gets 4 stars alone because of how fabulously crappy it is. I love me a fabulous dive bar.