The Horse Box

Dive bar done right. No frills kinda place. There are games scattered throughout the bar to keep you occupied. The bartenders are friendly and accomodating. A black hole if you let the place suck you in. Friendly place and never too crowded.

This place started off great. The bartender was nice and a couple of the patrons were nice albeit reserved like me, but whatever. Too bad it was ruined towards the end of my stay when some guy said in an angry tone «what are you looking at?» Well, I was actually putting something in my pocket, hardly even know what you look like so get over yourself.
Then it hit me.
I was the only female in the bar except the bartender. It wasn’t a «bro bar» but it was definetly a man’s bar…
The dispenser in the bathroom was hilarious til I realized after that guy said that to me that they offer condoms if the guys do meet a girl there and maybe the guy gave me that attitude cuz he had no need for the condom he just bought:)
As the night went on, I thought that the bar belonged more in the middle east than in so called progressive America… and certainly not in the most diverse city in the us.
Too bad cuz drinks are cheap and the bartender was nice. And they lured me in with their cute sign out front. But I do like to find the happy medium between pretentious and woman hating/​objectifying/​you should move to Taliban type places. I know I am my own breed;)

I love this bar. It’s unpretentious, competitively priced, and a fun place to chill. They have several $ 6 shot and beer specials and it’s never too crowded. If you’re looking for a spot to get drunk cheap come here!

It’s kind of divey, definitely a «bro» bar, but it has its charms. The bartenders are friendly and attentive, and they have a decent draft beer selection. I hear that they also do pickle-​backs, but I didn’t ask for one, so I can’t confirm. The Buck Hunter game near the front door is entertaining, and they also have darts. Word to the wise: sitting near the dart board while drunk people launch darts is sort of a death wish — you’re better off sitting at the bar, unless you’re feeling risky. They also have a decent number of televisions to broadcast any sport your heart desires.

Fun bar! Stumbled in and was lured by the Buck Hunter in the front window. The whiskey and High Life special was good, the music was REALLY good and the bathroom had the fanciest digital vending machine I’ve ever seen. Bartender was nice and for a Friday night it was busy, but not too crazy packed.

My local watering hole! Pretty much always open till 4. Full selection of tequila, scotches and beers. Private shitters with locks and my favorite video game on front! I usually get good vibes in this place, mainly because the local leftovers from Stuy are all lushed up before i get there. Usually a random fight every other night or so… But i haven’t specifically noticed any weapons other than mine so nothing really to be alarmed about! Good times!

Horsebox is spectacular! The atmosphere is perfect and the staff is cheerful as hell. Nick is awesome. Go there and see :)
Disclaimer– I hate Unilocal… so you know its real

@ Luke, very sorry to hear you had such a terrible experience however I do believe you have confused this bar with the Horseshoe. A big hint was that you were treated rudely however the time you stated they were closing confirms that you aren’t talking about the Horsebox since they close at 4 AM.
Personally I love the Horsebox I find it to be the friendliest place I’ve found in New York City so far! Please don’t change a thing… Even a Jersey girl feels welcome there

Just killed some time here during the late game on a Sunday. There was gratis food in the back. Bartender was very friendly. Place started to fill up (looked like post-​soccer match brews). Would go back.

I love the horsebox. It’s a great neighborhood bar where the bartenders know your name and will shoot the shit with you. They are friendly and hard working. It’s great to come with your friends as they have games in the back and one dart board in the front. It is cyclical though as many patrons rotate in and out, so you may have the occasional slow night, but when it picks up you will have a good time. Also a great place to watch a game.

Hate to be a real Debbie Downer but i’m unable to echo the sentiments of those who reportedly LOVE LOVE LOVEd the Horse Box.
Two friends had chosen this place based on name (we were meeting to watch the Belmont Stakes), also because it was reported in Skype that they were wheelchair accessible.
So when I pulled up in a scooter, the owner met me at the door and said, looking at the front door STEP, «This probably isn’t the place for you» I was shocked to say the least. We decided to go in anyway, so he said, seriously, «I can see liability written all over this.» He then insulted my husband. «Don’t you think you should help your wife?» Our friends showed up and after we finished our drinks-​we were the polite ones-​we left.

Came in on a Saturday night and the bar was nearly empty. I am willing to offer that this was an off night because the experience I had was nothing like the one described by previous patrons. Unfortunately, my visit was bad enough to never return and to share with Unilocal and all of my friends. Atrocious service, belligerent Owner/​bartender, and generally terrible atmosphere. Perhaps everyone else is potentially thinking one of the many other sports bars in the area.

I come here regularly to watch Syracuse basketball. I work in operations in the service industry so I’m always interested in the little teachings and gimmicks restaurants and bars implement to increase the percentage of return customers. «Hey how are you, my name is _​_​_​_​_​_​_​, what’s your name? Good to meet you.» Immediately I felt important, and to be honest I thought it was a ploy. But the bartenders there actually remember me, know what team I’m there to watch and have seen me at other places and said hi. In my mind what was just a tactic became part of their lifestyle. Excellent service transferred into better people on both sides of the transaction. So the people that work here are either very committed, genuine or both. Either way thanks! Cheers.
Oh they have that game with a washer on a string and a hook on the wall. It reminds me of summer in the Adirondacks. Tubular.

The horse box rocks. Sitting close to 14^th street on avenue A, it’s almost always my first stop in alphabet city. You’ll find the pace full of regulars more often than not, and there’s a good reason why. The first question you’ll get asked when you sit at the bar is «how are you doing, what’s you’re name?» — that is until they know you, then you get a «how’ve you been?». I LOVE that, simple old fashioned courtesy that’s so hard to come by these days.
The décor is simple but well maintained, an old wooden bar and brick walls will greet you. The drinks are not overly expensive, and the mixed drinks are very well made. This bar has become my unofficial pickle-​back bar, I seem to have one every time I’m in.
Challenge to all you Unilocalers out there — can anyone actually get a win playing the ring on a string game at this bar? I’ve tried so many times and can’t seem to get it! Let me know if you do, I’ll buy you a drink if you show me how ;)

Orioles bar and a great happy hour for this Baltimore ex-​pat. I’ll take it.
I came here finally after hearing rave reviews from Maryland transplants in NYC who need their fix for Orioles games and really enjoyed the environment. It’s a totally no-​frills, sports bar. I’m surprised since it is the East Village, but the characters were diverse and the bartender was nice.
I’ll come back for some September baseball!

Sporting events on televisions, alcohol, board games and friendly bartenders. Why wouldn’t you come here? Oh you’re not in New York. Then why are you reading this review? Well than I’m flattered.
Seriously though this is a top notch place. Not huge by an means but if you want a place to watch the game of just grab a drink the Horse Box is a great option in the East Village.
It has all the features I mentioned but the bartenders are really awesome here. I can’t say enough about them.
So if your pathetic sports team can’t win the big game (Dammit Jets), they blow a huge lead (Damn you Mets), you lose in Jenga and have to do an awful dare written on the piece (Damn you society), just know the bartenders will be there to cheer you up.

I love the Horse Box! If there’s a sporting event that you want to watch with a group of fun drinkers and you’re in the East Village, then Horse Box is the spot. I started coming here when they first open and the bartenders/​owners were the friendliest in town. They still remember my name!
In addition, to all the TVs, they have darts and bar games. And if you have a petite member in your group, see if they’ll fit in to the Horse Box!
Happy drinking!

Well now I know where they keep all the hot bartenders in New York! Went here this last Friday for a birthday party and spent the entire night splitting my time between staring at the bartender and forcing picklebacks down my friend’s throat because he picked the losing hockey team. Sucker — never pick the American team over a Canadian team unless you KNOW hockey. Amateur. This place is average except maybe now I have more of a reason to drink there…

In the interest of saving money this year, I decided to forgo cable television, which makes life during NFL season very difficult… if not downright un-​livable. Enter Horsebox, stepping up to the plate to fulfill my need for both alcohol and football.
I didn’t notice it when I was there, but now that I’m reading some of these reviews, I do remember that the crowd was somewhat of a sausage fest. Really, how could I have missed that? Hmm…

First stop of many last night was at The Horse Box. Basically, it’s your standard bro bar, good for one drink or so to get things started. Pretty chill crowd– but really nice bartenders. Nothin fancy– an A-​OK place!
I’d like to come back and see what its like on a game night, seems like the right kind of place– lots of seating at the bar and the back around the walls.
*I do not recommend the House Brew. unless you like watery beer… womp but for $ 5, I ain’t too grumpy.