Arlene's Grocery

I had never been until Spencer 2024 foot our Onyx show. Boom this place - legendary for sure!!!!! And the sound stage balls for sure. It rocked. Great night!!!! The Recluse Mongoose

Lineup on March 22nd was one of the best group of rock sets I’ve heard in NYC in way too long. All the bands were crazy good. Keep the good acts coming 🤘

I go quite often!!! Great atmosphere! Friendly but seriously protective staff! Different genres of music played nightly and live bands on rotation as well!! Try the frozen mixed drinks! Those are amazing!! Love the place!!

I was at the amazing live show by the band Apollo's Ghost. The atmosphere is excellent. As a photographer I would have wished for more lighting on the drums. Other than that, everything is great!

cool bar and great music! it is a bit too loud (even just the bar floor- not the actual venue)

Awesome venue and great staff! It can get a little packed and hot, but I think that made the experience more memorable!

Staff is very friendly and helpful. Not bad prices on drinks. Very cute, cozy bar area and separate live music space. Stage is on the slightly smaller side but still comfortably fit a band of 6. Band green room is pretty tight, but it works. Howard was/is a pro on sound... quick and dedicated.

Beers at BAD! 2/2 beers on tap I asked for were skunked. Narragansett and Stella. Must be hard to keep those fresh all the way from RI. But they must spend the money on that somewhere else. My friend kissed a girl here so not all bad.

If you're looking for an unforgettable night out, look no further than Arlene's Grocery. This spot has it all: incredible atmosphere, top-notch staff, and music that keeps you dancing all night long. Let's start with the bartenders. Noah and Lauren are nothing short of amazing. They whip up delicious drinks with flair and always serve with a smile. Their friendly and attentive service makes you feel like you're a VIP, no matter how crowded it gets. The security at Arlene's Grocery is also worth mentioning. Eric, the security guard, does an outstanding job ensuring everyone feels safe and welcome. His professional and approachable demeanor adds to the overall great experience. And the music? Simply fantastic. With a perfect mix of current hits and classic throwbacks, the DJs know how to keep the energy high and the dance floor packed. It's impossible not to have a good time with such a killer soundtrack. The songs he remixes were life changing! (DJ Killah Cam!) In short, Arlene's Grocery is a gem of a bar that excels in every aspect. Whether you're there for the drinks, the music, or the atmosphere, you're guaranteed an amazing night out.

pretty fun spot! i was alittle nervous after reading all the negative reviews of the bouncer at this place but maybe they replaced the guy since but my friend and i had no trouble getting in with security dj was surprisingly good and people were pretty lively as well the drinks were reasonably priced and bartenders were pretty attentive considering how people were bombarding them the live music area is def more packed than the actual bar itself but good vibe. it felt like a mini club

Went to Arlene's Grocery for Karoke Night with the Leslie Goshko Band on Tuesday Aug. 24th! Smokin' Stompin'...everyone sang SO GOOD!! Went over time & they got their residency extended till the end of the year!! That's what I'm talkin about!! I was in NY on vacation from the Midwest, St. Louis!! Everybody made me feel welcome & this place is the one to hit for Karoke with a LIVE BAND!! Can't wait to go back again & sing again! Loved all the peeps I met & Leslie is funny & talented!! Check it out..Arlene's Grocery..where the good times (and tunes) roll!! Love, TJ from St. Louis...Dock-of-the-Bay girl

This is a great place to go for post-dinner drinks. The music is good and there is nice seating and the vibe is nice. They have a downstairs with live music for a very reasonable price!

My boyfriend was rejected due to wearing a sleeveless shirt with pants, despite many other women being allowed in with more revealing clothes. Coded homophobic language.

This place is awesome! George is the bomb! I loved his vibe, energy, and delicious drinks! So much fun!

George is the absolute best! so happytp be in this spot with such a kind bartender! I haven't been to a bar that had been this fun in the Lowe east side in. while . george made me so happy

Quite frankly these girls, are very ambivalent about songs 'like you don't mean anything at all to me.' they seem like they don't close the store they work for , and don't thrive in protecting the environment they live - love / live? You really gotta put the pedal to the metal, show ch- sh sh ! Chivalry

It's pretty deep into LES so quite annoying to reach when it's freezing outside. There was a line outside late Friday night that didn't take too long to get through. We waited maybe around 20-30 minutes to get in. We didn't have any issues with bouncers as the other reviews suggested. Inside, they do make you check in your coat. It's about $3 but they also take Venmo (not sure if it's a different price for that). Drinks are a little inconsistent - got one vodka cran with mostly cran, little vodka and then another one that was almost all vodka, little cran. The place itself is pretty crowded inside. The music is slightly hit or miss - mostly pop but I only recognized maybe about 50% of it. But it was fun and has a cute vibe being a "grocery store".

While in NYC my wife's cousin wanted to go to a bar, so we stopped at this location. I thought it was a grocery store but it turns out it was not. They had security and carded us, although we were the only people there! I did not drink any alcohol but they did. No one seemed displeased, nor did they seem blown out of the water from the drinks they ordered. I did want to go get a drink eventually but I didn't. Not sure why. Otherwise, a nice place to chill while we waited for our next adventure.

I'm at a loss of words with this place. My friends and I came here on a Saturday night because we had been here before and knew it was a fun spot. This experience, however, was just the opposite. The bouncers manning the door to get into the dance floor area were screaming at us to coat check our jackets (and pay for it) when they were part of our outfits!! It's 50 degrees outside and we are being screamed at to take our leather jackets off, fully exposing ourselves. Not only were the bouncers rude, but the bartenders were yelling at us to leave too since we were outwardly complaining in front of them. No woman should EVER be forced to take off part of her outfit and pay for it to be stowed. The bouncers were also cursing at my friends which is absolutely no way to treat paying customers. If I wanted to take off my jacket I would. Never coming back here.

George is the nicest, most fun bartender ever! Def recommend coming here for a good time! King is the GoAT

George is the best bartender ever! Go there for him! he was so accommodating and gracious!

5 stars for George the bartender. Always a fun time at Arlene's especially with a big group. Drinks not crazy expensive. They're very stingy with ID's if you have a fake guaranteed they will confiscate it but if you're over 21 enjoy some fun live music downstairs and more chill vibes upstairs. And don't forget to take a mirror selfie in the girl's bathroom!!

Thank you Arlene's for taking care of my friend's and I! George you have been the best bartender, so attentive and kind!

Shout out to George and Casey for making a party we were having for our friend extra fun and special!

Forgot all about Arlene's Grocery until a Yelp Friend checked in tonight. I'm a huge fan of live music and this venue gives bands the opportunity to play. What more can you ask for. Location is in a neighborhood with lots of food and activity for before or after the show. I'm also a fan of dive bars. Give me a place with history and it adds to my enjoyment. I soak up the vibe from not only other patrons but from the environment. Let's just say when your friends play you travel this way and that way. Any venue is okay. You don't have to drink to stay. If you're in Manhattan, mosey over this way!

Just out of the way enough to keep the non locals from wandering in without a reason. It's friendly, warm, cozy, and friendly. The bar is a nice size and has a lounge area with comfy couches and tables. Downstairs is the bar with the stage. Mostly local live acts and live band karaoke. It embodies the very essence of the Lower East Side, as CBGB's once did.

Absolutely unprofessional employees. Ruined everyone's night from the disrespect. Every single friend that attended the show mentioned how awful their experience was. As a gigging musician, this venue is not even worth your time, they give you such a hard time and for what? The place isn't even good. I even told the worker "there's a way to talk to people and that's not it, very disrespectful" and they said "I don't care" lollll go get a life... miserable people over there, truly

Yeah, it's quite old old old venue in LES. However, you can feel the traditional vibe of 20th Century!!

Rude staff, very rough with women. Everyone working there has an attitude. Relatively cheap drinks but disgusting bathrooms. Really not a good place to go if you're a woman, you'll be disrespected and possibly assaulted.

Super small concert room..people on top of each other The next day I woke up achy with a bad cold and fever Maybe I caught it there The performances were not so good And the bathroom is very old, dark and dirty Definitely not going back

Why Arlene did you take away the live bad karaoke That was a staple of the LES and I, as well as many others I'm sure, miss it! Regardless, this is still a cool bar of if you are looking for a different vibe from some of the other places in the area. Part hipster, part rocker, part charming old man type of vibe? I know that doesn't sound appealing but it is in an odd sort of way- just trust me on this one. Drinks moderately priced, carry cash or wop out $20 on that credit card tab. I enjoy this place and will be back. 4/5

This place yanks the hair of women. Nothing but unnecessary force from the bouncer standing in front of the dance floor If you hire people stupid enough not to give people stamps, fine. But to AGGRESSIVELY PUT YOUR HANDS on me and then gaslight my friends about it and say you it didn't happen and that you "yanked my bag".  Check the tapes from 11:45 / 12:15 on 7/9 to 7/10 2022. Made one wrong turn, never received a stamp, and was berated when I couldn't hear properly,  then assaulted by the bouncer - could have easily grabbed my arm or bag but instead scalped me. A joke. To all women - if you care about yourselves, stay far far away. They will gladly use their power to grab  you and get away with it Read a bunch of other reviews and you'll see the same thing. Ugly people and ugly staff. Go elsewhere

If you're into small-scale concerts performed by up-and-coming bands in a super chill setting, you will have a good time at this bodega-turned-basement bar. Came here to see the Four-Eyes Horsemen and really enjoyed my experience! $20 cover and easy reentry. The venue is on the smaller side but luckily wasn't too crowded when we were there 10PM on a Saturday night. We didn't drink here so can't comment on the bartending/service, but they have a water cooler so that's cool. I just wish these places would crack up the AC, for the sake of both the performers and audience.

Unfortunately the bouncer took my REAL (22 y/o) ID after waiting in an extremely long line, put it in his pocket and refused to give it back to me without any reason. He also refused to look at my vaccine card or photos of my passport, and made me call the police to get it back, being persistent that it's a fake ID. (Not sure why I would wait for the police to arrive if my ID wasn't real??) He did this to multiple other people (ages 25+) while I waited to get it back, and the other woman checking bags at the door was extremely rude to my friends. Really unfortunate that I had to wait for police to arrive to get it back and ruined my friend's birthday. After the police told him it was indeed real, I didn't even get any sort of apology. I will absolutely never be back and would rate it 0 stars if I could- avoid this place like the plague, not worth your time or money.

Let me just tell you. If you have a disability they don't care you can't come in with your service dog. They won't ask you what her/his task in, you are just not welcome. That's what the door guy said repeatedly

Arlene must be one cool lady to have a grocery store that's this much fun. The overall atmosphere was young, fresh, and had an air of exclusivity & mystique. My friends and I went on a Saturday night, so there was a line as expected. The line did move pretty quickly and was tolerable despite an angry bouncer who yelled at me for sharing a beer in line (we are from Florida, Ron DeSantis encourages sloppy behavior on the street so we were unfamiliar with rules like this). When we walked in, I thought the entirety of the bar was in the first room which was VERY disappointing. This is not the case. Walk down just a few steps and go through the door and feast your eyes on the coldest, literally nice fresh cold air, dance party. Reading the other reviews it seems they usually have some sort of live music? When I went, there was a DJ who played absolute bangers. A great mix of older music, current popular rap/hip-hop songs, and edm. I wish I could directly praise the DJ, but I am sure enough girls tried to get into the DJ booth to do the same thing. The drinks were relatively cheap when compared to other bars we went to; $9 for a beer and a shot! The bartender Alice was an angel not only for making us drinks quickly, but she also asked the DJ to play Pitbull for me without even making fun of my request. The COLD air that prevented me from looking like a drowned, sweaty rat and the fantastic music that kept me and all of my friends dancing our hearts out until close will be truly missed.

First and last visit. The bouncer was incredibly rude and unprofessional. He falsely accused the group I was with of cutting the line after we waited over 40 minutes to get in. He insisted that we go to the back of the line or leave even after other people not in our group vouched that we hadn't cut anyone. This was the most disrespected I've ever felt at any establishment. We were all really excited to visit Arlene's, but given our experience, I'd never come back again.

I've been to this place a few times and mostly had a good time, except for the last time which was a few weeks ago. Not only did the place REEK of mold, but they didn't have a stamp or paper bracelet system so that when my friend went to get a drink at the front bar (her tab was open there) and she headed back, they wouldn't let her back into the dance area. They treated her like a criminal, shining lights in her face, etc. and the bouncer put his hands all over her and made her feel very uncomfortable. She was just asking to get her stuff back from the dance area. They treated her terribly even though she did nothing wrong and they eventually "86ed" her. She wasn't the one who escalated the whole thing, it was all the bartender and the bouncers. I am NEVER going back there!

Tbh I love to go dancing at arlene's. The room off to the left has good djs and a fun crowd if you just wanna go with a group and dance. Just go a bit early if you can.

I've been coming here for years and it's always a fun time, but this past Saturday I saw a situation being handled really poorly by the staff. I saw a girl get a drink from the front bar and try to go to the back area where they had dancing and the bouncer at the doorway put his hands on her waist and motioned for her to go back to the end of the line. She told him she had already been in the back area for hours with her friends and had only come to the bar to order a drink since she had a tab open there. He again put his hands on her waist and pointed to the line. She told him her friends and her phone, etc were all in the back so she needed to be able to get in touch with them to let them know and he just kept pointing to the line silently. At this point, things got heated and she began arguing with him because first of all, he should not have laid a finger on her and second of all, it's wrong that there was no system in place like stamps or bracelets to allow the people who had already been in the back area to return there. At this point, another bouncer and a female bartender came over and were shining a light in her face yelling at her to get out and that she was 86'ed. She told them repeatedly that she would gladly leave but her credit card and ID were at the bar and her friends were in the back with all her stuff so she needs some way to get that back. They finally returned her card and ID and I saw her friends come out from the back so I guess she got that across somehow but there was honestly no need for them to escalate it to this point. This girl was tiny and they really needed 3 people to intervene? If you want to crowd control, that's fine, but have some system in place like bracelets or stamps so that people can get in and out of the dance area without this kind of thing happening. Also, whoever they hired as a bouncer is really creepy because why does he need to repeatedly place his hands on a girl who was not doing anything to him other than explaining the situation?? The whole thing was so bizarre and I've never seen this happen anywhere else. Really sloppy handling by the staff and sadly, it makes me hesitant to return here.

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. They have the rudest staff I have ever encountered. They were completely unaccommodating and to even just get in was worse than TSA security. I will never come here again and I recommend that you dont either.

Similar to other recent reviews on Google, the head security guy at this venue is unprofessional and could use training in anger management and de-escalation procedures. He was walking behind me and put his hands on my back to push me out of the way, to which I pushed him back. He still did not remove his hands so I shrugged him off again. He then began yelling that I needed to leave the venue, claiming that I pushed him when he came up behind me and instigated it. He then stood way too close to me and kept yelling in my face that I needed to leave and I kept calmly repeating that there is is no justification for me to leave, he shouldn't have touched me, and he can just walk away from me and there will be no problem here anymore. I refused to walk out and he left to go get a woman security guard. She came over and initially would not listen to me either, and said we don't need to discuss the incident we can just watch the tape (I would love to see that tape, by the way). I said please go ahead and watch it. The main security guy kept standing there yelling and trying to justify himself to my friends. After another minute or so, he let it go and security left us alone. It was such a ridiculously unnecessary sequence of events. I will give a shout out to a different man security guard who was there, who reported to the guy that caused the issue and so was not in charge himself. He was a witness to what happened and kept apologizing to me saying that he wished he could do something and that he felt terribly this was happening. I really appreciated that. The other guy could learn a lesson from him.

Yeah, I mean. It's Arlene's Grocery. Duhhhh. Sometimes I review things and totally forget some people haven't had these bars their entire life. Arlene's is a staple of the LES. It's a staple of every 21-30 New Yorker's life. You've been there at least 4 times because your friend's roommate's girlfriend has a show at 9pm on a Saturday. You pay the five dollars for some mediocre band and mediocre drinks. It's totally amusing when it's not you 2000th go around. Don't go out of your way to come here. If you're dragged to a show, alright sure. If your favourite indie metal punk band from Rochester is in - then Sure. If you just fancy a cocktail, my guy -- you're in the wrong place. It's a concert venue more than a bar. The bouncers are aggressive, and they have to be. Piano's and Hair of the Dog is right next door. Notorious for letting in underage kids. Don't be upset for them giving you a hard time with your ID. The bartenders try their best, but the wait is always a smidge too long. The crowd tends to be fun though. If you can find a seat at least. Often times, people have allowed us to share a seat so it's not so bad. Arlene's is arlene's. A generic shoulder shrug of a place.

This is one of my go to bars when in the LES and is a staple. Groovy vibe, friendly and conversational staff, good musical performances, and affordable drink prices. There are two levels to the bar. Though the bottom level bar is frequently used for private parties, when it is open it's as though you're in an entirely different bar. Both levels play different music and have their own bartenders. There's always an interesting mix of people. You're able to order outside food to the bar since they don't have a kitchen, which is a huge plus. Only wish the bathrooms were bigger. Please check this place out!

The music here was great. The drink service was quick and efficient, the prices are good too. I would suggest this to be a great pre drinking spot for a night out in east village

The security here is highly unprofessional. They are absolutely horrible at de-escalating situations. I watched them jump someone in front of the place 5 to 1 and then they choked out a girl on the hood of a running vehicle. It was a 6'5 male choking out a girl a whole foot shorter than him while everyone was screaming at him to stop. He choked the girl so hard she had a bruise on her neck. Absolutely pathetic excuse for a man he should be held accountable for his actions.

Arlene's Grocery NY: Manhattan: LES 11pm Saturday 20th February 2016 Four Stars It's more upscale than Iggy's but just barely. I enjoyed an $11 Marker's Mark. The crowd was diverse to say the least. They had a sticker machine but no quarters at the bar. The sticker machine didn't work. It was overall pretty fun place to drink.

I was looking forward to coming here for years, and finally after the pandemic has calmed down, a good friend of mine was performing here. I, 23, got here with my 26 year old boyfriend, and the bouncer started saying our IDs were fake, which they are not. He bent my boyfriend's ID and refused go scan it, actually telling us he "did not want to," even with him being 26 and it definitely being real (just an ID from another state, but he's lived here now for 2 years). I've lived in NYC for all of my 23 years and I've been going to bars and clubs now for 2, and never had an issue like this (I never even had the courage to get a fake ID in high school/college). He confiscated my boyfriend's ID and said in order to get it back we had to call the police, which is absurd because it was real! We thankfully got it back and my (much nicer and calmer) boyfriend was able to talk to them and finally convince him to scan it, and low and behold it was real! We missed half of my friend's set even though I paid $20 for my tickets. There was a crowd of people (one being an actual performer) who were all of age (most of them I actually graduated with from college, and it was our first rime really all seeing each other since our pandemic graduation), with real IDs saying that the bouncer accused them all of having fakes. I get you need to watch out for people actually trying to sneak in that are underage, but not one person in that crowd was under 21, and we certainly did not have fake IDs. The bouncer is rude, condescending, and not good at his job considering he doesn't know what a fake ID or real ID actually looks like. I will not be coming back here, which is a shame because I have always looked forward to listening to the artists that perform here.

Yooooooo this place is crazy. I paid 45 bucks for three homies and all I got was 20 Seconds bro. Wtfffffff the door guys sick as fuck but damn y'all played My ass lmaoo for real no lie that place is wild man. Whoever is running this be crazy as hell.

The one star was because the bartender not only didn't give me the receipt but also refused to give me one after I asked for it. She simply said, "It automatically charges tax and tip, we don't give receipts". She told me the total charged on the card after everything. That was bizarre so I decided to check my statement the next day and the charge was way more than what she told to me. I would be careful with this place.

Ridiculous prices with ridiculous service. Please find some other place on Ludlow; this bar treated us extremely poorly and the bouncers were rude. One of the worst experiences I've had. LITERALLY GO ANYWHERE ELSE!

I have been coming to Arlene's for years. I love the divey ambiance, loud music and the constantly rotating artwork. I've never seen a bar with so many personalities. Some days you walk in to be one of only a few groups of people. Very laid back, you grab your can and shot combo and relax at the bar or at the back tables. The bartenders are friendly and willing to chat with you. Other times you walk into a madhouse with people crowded upstairs and down. And still, there are times you walk in to find that they set up a 15$ tattoo table and people are waiting in line, pouring over the few options that evening. No matter, it is enjoyable and a fun experience. The lower east side has been such a phenomenal place to experience. Between Arlene's, Iggy's and Local, I feel like I have been able to appreciate the city for what it is, not what it is becoming. I will always love a dive bar over a fancy cocktail joint and Arlene's helps round out my list.

Came here on a Saturday night to support my friends band! Glass Tactics/ Jarflower/ Every Flavor Machine I arrived around 7pm and found out my friends were playing at 9pm. There is a ramp to the entrance and a bouncer in front who checks your ID. Once you enter you will see a bar. To go to the music venue area you make a sharp right turn when you enter and the door is right there. Once you enter there is a booth where you can pay for entrance (10 dollars for the whole night in and out) and you get a stamp on wrist. The ladies bathroom is downstairs and then down the hall on the left. I loved the art on the walls on my way down there! Once you enter the music venue, there is a bar on the right side of the room and tables yea the left and right by the front. They have lots of draft beer and wines. 20 dollar limit for credit cards. The music venue itself is very small but the sound is awesome! Everyone was in a very positive mood and lots of fun. I really enjoyed all the bands and had a great night! Definitely recommend this place for local bands and just stopping by if you want some live music!

My best friend had a show here Friday night. This place is clean, easy to get to and super organized. The security guard at the door was cool, the bartenders were fast and friendly, drinks were amazing. I was told they had happy hour from 4pm-8pm, but I didn't see any signs inside or happy hour menu. My vodka-soda was $4!! However, later we decided to drink coronas which were $7. Not too bad for Manhattan. Tequila shots were $7 as well I believe. There is a bar upstairs, and the venue is downstairs. Bar wasn't too loud. Enough tables and chairs. Before you enter the venue you have to pay I believe $10 and you can't re-enter? I was with my friend who was performing so the rules didn't apply to us that night. Clean bathrooms!! Very important at the bars. Overall I would come back. There is nothing special about this place, but I really like how friendly everyone was. Bartenders didn't seem annoyed with all the drunk people and they didn't try to uncharge you! Big plus on my side.

Best bar. Best staff. Good prices on drinks. Great place to hang and hear good music and catch up with friends.

PROS: $10 beer and shot special, quick service and a separate back room with a DJ and dancing (earlier in the night I believe they have live music) CONS: Expect long lines if you don't get here early and a man projectile vomited while walking past my group. Needless to say the crowd is little sloppy.

i posted on google reviews as well, if you are thinking about going there read some of those reviews as well. disgusting gross environment. bar tender was clearly racist, dropping the N word to her co workers in conversation, also talking poorly ab other women who were currently at the bar. They just were not discrete at all. They also couldn't make a single drink right for me or my group of 5. Couldve been a fun night bc they do have some good music and the vibes of the bar are cool. but the bartenders were trash and the place was dirty it kinda ruined the whole night for me.