Burp Castle

This spot is the best. It's a safe haven for those who want a bit of quiet from the chaos of NYC. There's nothing quite more satisfying than watching everyone collectively shush those who are being too loud and disruptive. Drinks-wise, the peach beer was excellent.

Perfect bar for people who don’t like loud atmosphere or have a very small voice. Absolutely loved the ambiance, and their Belgium beer selection was very good!

This is a very unique bar. It can only be in the Czech Republic, but I'm not surprised that it's in New York. It's a very cool place. You can call it the temple of beer. It's very quiet and the beer list is very big and very steep. Here you can talk in a whisper. I really love Banana Bread beer and for the first time in my life I see it on tap. Today is a very sad day, I decided that I had drunk my tank of beer and decided to give up alcohol. I was very glad to finish this journey in this place! I've been to mcsorlais dozens of times and passed this place by, it's a pity. I recommend it to everyone if you like to think over a mug of GOOD beer, and not to chatter with friends.

If you like a drink but not the loud bar noises this is the best place to be at! The bartender shushes people if they get loud. The ambience is like if Met Cloister had a bar, painting about or from middle ages and is wonderful. I realised I weighed my words before speaking and had a great conversation with friends over a beer.

This place is really a cool hole in the wall style bar. We were down the block to check out McSorley’s and popped into Burp Castle on a whim and it was well worth it. It’s a Belgium style pub with a unique vibe. It’s dark and quiet with signs around asking patrons to please whisper. There were no TVs and in the background they had old fashioned monks chanting playing on low volume. The walls are also adorned with murals of monks and the like, where are really cool. Belgian beers on tap and the bartender was friendly. Definitely a cool place to stop in for a beer if you are in the neighborhood.

Since 2004, I have been a regular visitor to this unique Belgium pub nestled in the vibrant Ukrainian Village, and it’s clear there’s something truly special about it that keeps drawing me back. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted by quirky medieval-style murals, carefully curated selection of beers... and back in early 2000s, a bartenders dressed as a monk. BRING BACK THE MONK.

I’ve been to Belgium and I’m a big fan of their beer. This place has great beer. If you’re one of those weirdos that drinks Michelob Ultra this isn’t the place for you. The quiet thing here is a bit weird. The bartender shushed me when I asked about beer in a normal voice. You have to whisper. I wouldn’t go out of my way to come back and listen to monk music and whisper in a bar.

I was initially intimidated by the quiet when I walked in, but gave it a chance and it was honestly delighted after a few minutes of hanging out there. They also had an excellent draft selection. Highly recommend!

This is a unique bar, which was originally founded by Trappist monks. There are multiple signs that say be quite and Shhh. If the volume gets too loud the bartenders or the patron will say Shhh and the volume tones down. This occured a couple of times. This is great for people who want to escape the noise of the neighborhood bars around. You can hear your partners conversation. The bar is dimly lit with candlelight and there are huge painted murals on the walls. There are days and times where they have free Pomme Frites. On days they don't you can bring your own food and eat it quietly. While here we enjoyed a burger and fries from 7th street burger. I drank a raspberry beer and my friend had a rose. We liked both, and enjoyed it with our burgers and fries.

Burp Castle is for the lovers of beers. They offered a unique flavor and a variety of beer you'd rarely find in the U.S. There was one with banana and chocolate flavor. Now if youre a cider lover such as myself, they had one cider called Rose cider that was refreshing. The drinks are a toped off so the prices are very reasonable for a night out. This intimate setting is a perfect place to catchup with friends. Lots of Boston Tea party esque images which gave it an interesting look. But be aware it is still a bar with a grungy yet 1920s prohibition flair so dont expect the bathrooms/decor to be any less. My biggest suggestion besides fixing up the bathroom would be deep cleaning the carpet. Overall I give it a B- and 3.

Anyone who knows me knows I don't have an "inside voice". But the thing people don't believe is I lived in Germany so I will bring it down a million notches to be able to drink crafty beer. I am not sure why they call it "Burp Castle" since a burp in this place will most definitely get you shushed! McSorley's was packed on a Friday. So we went to the next best option, Burp Castle. Immediately every head in the bar turned as we walked in. I was in awe of the super cool hand painted murals on the walls of ships, sea life, monks, a coven having dinner and some risqué pieces by the bathroom. One particular literati had to put his pencil down in his book and wait for the shusing to commence. I am sure this brings him all the joy in the world. Like yesss...finally you cool kids have come into my domain where I rule supreme. Hahahahhhahah! My boyfriend ordered us two Hofbräus while I found us some seats. My other two friends would soon be joining us. The music was a strange level of instrumental. The beer was a perfect pour. And the soon enough others were shushed. It happened about every few minutes. It must be criteria to work at the Castle. This is the absolute perfect place to come to read your book, work on brainstorming for your novel, bring your introverted partner or a romantic date for those who are friends with the libraries. Do not bring the life of the party, sporty yelling types or large groups. There is no food and the men's bathroom is to the right and does not lock. The Belgium, German and British beers are on point. Absolutely delicious spot to enjoy a drink at a slower pace where you enjoy your time in the now. See you soon...you can't keep me out for long!

This past weekend I was over at an over-packed and obnoxiously loud bar a few blocks away. In conversation this place came up. Known as that "whispering bar". I had never been so I thought it would be a great idea to pop in on the way to heading home. It's a little bit more different than I was expecting. They lowly play some kind of gospel church prayer hymnal music in the background so that you get that vibe that you've just entered a place of holy worship. But with alcohol. There are beautiful mural paintings along the wall. If you look at them closely some of the murals are depicting just straight up debauchery but with angels with black wings. Intriguing. A few barrels line the walls and you get a very old timey vibe of the bar. A few beers are on draft with most of them being belgian ales of high quality. A little bit expensive being around $8-12 for most things on tap. I enjoyed a pumpkin hard cider because it felt festive. Beware in that the bartender can kick you out for being too noisy. You are shushed for talking above a low whisper or tone of voice. It's kind of an ideal spot for reading a book if you're craving a pint and have no one to share one with. This is my kind of bar. Screw screaming petulant Gen Zers and their whiteclaws. I'll take a quiet night out like this every day.

Shhhhh. This place is awesome. Just go and you'll know what I mean. Great beers and excellent ambiance. The bartender has been the same person the few times I've gone, and he's hilarious.

Excellent selection of Belgian beer on tap. They have a requirement that you keep conversations to a whisper, and they play peaceful music so it's a nice break from the chaotic noisy east village bars.

Went here with two friends on a busier Friday evening, as the whole "whispering" thing was intriguing to us. As the other reviews have described, it is a bit off-putting - perhaps in a good way - if you are used to a loud bar where you can talk at any level you like (mostly because the other person is unable to hear you over the music :D). Note that inside there are about 6-8 spots at the bar, 20ish seats inside, and a few seats on the deck outside. There are signs telling patrons to whisper, the bartender shushes people, and Gregorian chants or other calm music play from the speakers. I was amused by the huge, irreverent mural and the concept of the place. The beers are on tap and the drink prices are fine for this part of Manhattan. However, the concept is a bit tiring if you actually just want to have a normal conversation with friends. Do NOT bring groups here - even if everyone whispers, you will still be louder than desired. This place is best for reading a book, "work from home with beer," or a conversation with up to one soft-voiced friend or lover.

Love the quiet ambience. The music. The vibe. The beer is good too. This may be my favorite bar in the city

We really enjoyed the uniqueness of this bar. Having to whisper for the entire 2 hours we spent here was very fun. Also experiencing the "shhhhhhing" of the patrons by the bartender was entertaining. Could be a fun date location in the future.

I love this bar. It's such a unique concept. You have to whisper. You go and you enjoy a beer and you chill with your friends. Delicious beer, chill environment, not your typical loud bar. If you want loud go up the street to McSorleys.

This bar is a super cool experience! Don't raise your voice!! Have some terrific beers on tap and ambience is a change of pace and well worth the trip.

I had no clue that Burp Castle is a monastery-themed bar that refers itself as a "temple of beer worship." I chose this place due to its unique quiet atmosphere. I suppose monasteries are supposed to be quiet places of worship. In this case, you're worshipping beers imported from from Belgium, Germany, and Britain. Reportedly, the bartenders occasionally don monk robes. To my dismay, mine didn't when I went one random weekday night. In just regular attire, the bartender did a fantastic job shushing some of the patrons. You can't really be mad or annoyed. I was able to try two of their beers on draft. The sour one was very good! I would definitely come back to try the other unique beers on draft! There's a stout one I want to try. I'll be sure to whisper my order next time!

The best hole in the wall you'll ever go to. This used to be a monastery where monks brewed their own beer. In case you didn't know much about monks, they had to speak in whisper tone. So you're not allowed to speak above a whisper in this bar and the bartender will shush you if you do lol so cool! It has all the old paintings on the wall and architecture of when it was a monastery and I'm pretty sure Some of the beer selections are from the monastery.

Me and my friend went in for a drink and they were telling my friend who was an African American to lower his voice when he was not talking loud. So racist.

The idea of a quiet bar is appealing, but no matter how quietly we whispered, it was unacceptable and we were ultimately threatened with being kicked out. I mean quiet whispering was deemed unacceptable so we had to end all conversation. And it was not done with respect our courtesy but by reprimanding and threatening us. Perhaps it would be a good place to go by yourself to have a high-quality beer, but conversation was impossible at any decibel level. They cross the bound between "interesting concept" and "ridiculous" and "sanctimonious." Other than the fact that talking is not permitted, there are some appealing beers on tap.

Excellent selection of beer on tap, to enjoy in the quiet on tiny (but highly suitable) tables. Shhhhhhhh!

a funny and unique concept! we had some friends tell us about this place and we had to check it out. unfortunately we didn't get to experience any shushing since it wasn't busy during the time we went, but this bar is definitely a place to check out as it offers an interesting and different environment. We tried a couple beers, which were both good. The bartender had some great suggestions and was helpful and honest.

Whisper The shush bar was quite a trip. We entered this beer bar knowing what to expect but this was a bit over the top. People were putting medieval monk outfits on and handing out blessings. I attached a photo of one of the weirdos we met, everyone we met was very cool. As for the bar itself, the walls are painted from floor to ceiling with murals. They serve craft beers that seem to be focused on medieval varieties with several lambics (Belgium) and other bitter varieties. Beers aren't cheap, but the strange atmosphere makes this spot worth a stop. You'll really never go in a bar like it. Thanks

If you love Belgian beers, ales, sours etc. this is the place to be. I'm reluctant to post a great review and am tempted to say "stay away" but accolades are deserved and this is a must go to place for those who appreciate the Belgian way. Stop in when your travels take you to the City and keep your voices in low gear to preserve the chill vibe.

It's a schtick, for sure, but it's one I like and found fun. My friend and I went to Burp Castle in East Village on a weeknight so it wasn't too busy. There was only one other table with a few people and then several singles drinking their beers inside. I was actually slightly disappointed that we didn't get to hear anyone get shushed! But it was fun for us being completely silent while having our beers. I love going to breweries and having a flight alone so I can definitely see the appeal of this place for solo imbibers. No one bothers you, no pressure to talk to anyone, it's lovely! I'd totally be here all the time if I lived in NYC. The bartender was very friendly and happy to help us. It really was a fun & unique vibe at the silent Burp Castle. The only thing for me personally was so many German beers, blegh. Not my favorite styles offered here but they did have one cider on tap so that got the job done. Prices were reasonable, as well. It's such a unique place, how can I not suggest it to those interested in a fun & different Manhattan experience?! Just be sure to make it your first stop out & not go after drinks at other places because this is not a place for being rowdy!

We came here on a Friday night. My companion ordered me a Fruli Strawberry. I didn't tell him, I'm not a fan of alcohol. When he saw me grimaced, he knew. It was a $10 drink hence he drank the whole 10oz. It was a very fruity beer with a lot of foam on top. I like the decor of this bar. It's a quiet place if you want to get to know someone. We were there for awhile.

I love how the keep the noise level low here, it really makes for an easy conversation without having to yell or strain your voice to be heard. They only have beer here, which I am not usually a huge fan of, but they had a really great fruity beer that I thought was delicious.

Huge fan of the ambience- speakeasy vibes, and variety of beers. If you're walking past, you may be quick to miss it. It's quite small and definitely a cute little gem. The lights are dim, volumes low, and enough seating to keep it intimate. Love this spot for date nights or an evening of reading.

My friend and I were wondering around on a Saturday night seeking the ultimate unicorn - a chill place to chat amongst the hustle and bustle of East Village night life. But thankfully we stumbled into Burp Castle because it was exactly what we were looking for. The whole ambience was surprisingly cozy given the occasional shhs and flickering candle light. There's something surprisingly satisfying about hearing drunk people get shushed. The space itself was on the grimier side but definitely added to its charm. A great selection of drinks as well - I can't wait to stop by here again!

The concept is really cool and maybe a main reason this place is still doing business. But I got the feeling it wasn't as great as it used to be. Came on a Saturday night - there was a single bartender, and she seemed like she really didn't want to be there. The place was also supposed to close 2 AM on Saturdays, but that night she said they were closing early at 12:30 AM. Beer selection was lacking and seemed dated. However we weren't given a beer menu, so I couldn't tell if there were better choices in print. There were a few people there, and I have to say it was pretty awesome to have a quiet place to hang out on a Saturday night, after a long day of exploring. But just based on my visit, I got the feeling either it's new management or a place on its last legs (a subpar Health Code score, when I visited, doesn't help). The monastic wall murals and furnishings, as well as the "quiet" rule, are the props that seem to continue to breathe character into this place.

they have rlly good drinks but they will literally shush the whole room of grown ass people. it's cool for a date MAYBE but it's just a bummer.

This place is amazing. I couldn't help grinning like a goon the first time the bartender shushed the room. Although I could not work here because I would demand an even lower and unrealistic volume level. Blond bartender was super professional and had exactly the demeanor befitting this magical place. I'll be back. With my fucking book. A+

If your whole gimmick is being a "quiet bar," the bar should probably actually BE a quiet bar.

This place was very intriguing. My friend suggested it and I had no idea it existed all this time. We went on a Sunday evening and it was fairly quiet at the hour of 8PM. The "castle" had a dark interior with low lighting and one bartender. I noticed a person reading a book with a beverage and another in the corner by themselves. Nothing terribly strange about that. Our group sat in the corner by the bathrooms (which looks like an exciting entrance to somewhere else but it is as exciting as it can get - the toilet). We got a bit excited during our conversation and that's when we saw the bartender go, "shhhh." At first I was so confused. I thought the place had thin walls and that the neighbors were going to complain. It turns out, when the bartender hushed us the second or third time around, we learned it is their "house rule" to not go above a certain level of noise. Fun place if you want to actually hear yourself at a bar! Great intimate spot.

Been wanting to come here for a while. Finally got the chance recently. The atmosphere is unique and the service is attentive. (Note that the staff insist that guests speak in a quiet voice, and will, gently, shush you if you get too loud.) The selection was decent and Belgian centric. I'm actually not sure if they had bottles, everyone seemed to be drinking draft. They also had a tasty mead on tap. The space is cozy, and the upper walls are decorated with painted scenes of Trappist monks.

I waited years to come here. I added this to my Yelp bookmarks when I was sixteen years old. Finally at the age of 23. I went on my first mobile app date here. Both the date and the bar were okay. I guess I expected it to be nicer, but it's pretty divey. Which is fine. The quiet is def real. Came here on a Thursday night in the spring. Which is a pretty lively time for Astor/EV. The bar had maybe 8 people in it. All talking in hush tones. The bartender hushed us a few times. We left after the crowd began to get a bit unhushable. All the wine I had here was terrible, but it is a beer bar. I would definitely come back. The patio looks small, but it seemed pretty chill. It's like when you wanna pretend that you're 16 again and chillin' on ya best mate's stoop in Queens.

Love the concept of this bar and the commitment to it. Got shush'ed several times throughout the 2 hours I was here, but definitely happy I gave it a shot. Will swing by again if I ever find myself in the area.

Burp Castle is a fortress protecting something rare. If you enter feeling rowdy prepare yourself for glares. High ceilings and low light murals depicting sinners. Belgian brews on tap. A sanctuary after dinner. Love it for what it is, a (quiet) breath of weird air. If not for you, go drink next door, for a higher decibel affair.

Calling all sensitive souls who hate loud crowds: you have found your drinking hole in the E.Vil. Behind the 1980's spiked white fencing lies a limited but premium beer selection even a Belgian would appreciate, or perhaps just a soft-spoken experimental beer drinker who isn't offended by a beer that might include a seasonal fruit. The unfortunate name of the bar does a sufficient job of chasing off the pretentious high brow drinker in favor of the weirdly sublime one who likes things a little out of the ordinary. The music atmosphere wafted between electro-pop and indie-jam, often bordering on a soundtrack for existential and self-reflective conversations with a touch of lamentation. Perfect for an East Village crowd full of high hopes and dark realities. If you have an emo friend or partner, bring them here for a bit of sanctuary and soul-spilling over drinks.

not much to say about this place. Great beer, great bartenders, great art. I wanna die here

Burp Castle? More like Burp Church: the first time I visited, I was taken aback by the eerie quiet. This venue focuses on maintaining a quiet drinking experience. When the noise level starts to go up, a bartender will give an authoritative SHHHHHHhhhhh. Almost immediately, everyone hushes. Either you'll love this or hate this. Luckily it grew on me. There's no hard liquor here, so have yourself a glass of white or a framboise instead. Enjoy it, and relax to old-timey music.

I'm not a beer person at all, but even I found something I liked at Burp Castle. Prices are reasonable. Beware that you should NOT come here if you are a generally loud or drunk person. The bartender shushes the room if it starts getting too loud. General conversation is totally fine but don't get too animated and high pitched like I did! This policy did piss off some people but I found it fun and unique. And plus you can actually hear what your friends are saying.

This is the best bar in New York City. They have 12 beers on tap, all of which are high quality and high ABV. You want a Belgian on tap? They have it. A stout? Yep. The selection rotates daily and never disappoints. The people are friendly and the service is on point. They do shush when the bar is too loud, but that's a good thing. It means you can hear the people talking to you. Best. Bar. Ever.

If rating just the bartender and beers it's 5 stars. The bartender was super sarcastic and didn't take any weirdness from my friend who was being really specific with their order. Which was great. They shhh you (yes really) when it gets too loud. Which is also great. But COME ON. Upgrade this place, the tables and chair and floors were just a total dump.

Granted, my visit to Burp Castle was a brief one, but I do hope to be back in the near future. First of all, uh, it's called Burp Castle, which is amazing! The best. Second, as you can tell by all the other reviews, it is an interesting monk-themed bar that enforces silence, which is particularly golden in New York.

When deciding what to write for my 200th review on Yelp, I felt it must go to a special venue, and for this I've chosen Burp Castle - why? I waited ten years to come here. Repeat. Ten years! I first heard of Burp Castle at the minty age of 21 when I started to get into the craft beer scene. Burp Castle used to be run by monks and was/is considered a beer monastery. For all the haters who complain about the shushing, go to any of the other loud bars in the East Village because this place is not for you. This place is meant to appreciate craft beers in quiet contemplation, hushed tones with piano playing in the background and Jesus looking at you from the painting above the bar, not judging you but cheering you on. Why it took me so long to get here, I'm not sure, life got in the way and like any twenty something year old I dashed to the hottest craziest bars in NYC and forgot about this one. I don't think I would've appreciated it back then. Now? I would like to sip my damn beer in peace with a couple of good friends. Burp Castle's the perfect place to do it.

I fell in love with this place. Maybe 10 tiny tables, and the tiny bar seats about 7 or 8. Small selection of (I think) red wines only. 12 well curated, rotating drafts with a focus on Belgian beers. No food. No TV. No music. No liquor. Best of all--no noise. I was there on a busy Friday night, and the place was packed. About every 10 minutes as the din of conversation would get too loud, the bartender would shush the small crowd. Shhhhhh.... Ah, quiet. You can actually hear yourself think. Not only can you hear yourself, you can hear those you're with, which when you're with others is good. Because you want to talk, you don't want to stare at each other, or worse, yell at each other. Burp Castle is a gem.

If you also enjoy a quite bar where you can actually hear yourself, then this is the place. The bartender will actually shush people if they talk too loud and I thus have an entire class of friends that I can't bring here. Good Belgian focused craft beer selection ($7-12). Sometimes the bartender dresser in a monks cassock, they play soft jazz, there's a weird mural on the wall, 4 seats of outdoor non quiet seating. This place is a respite from the noise

Have not been shushed yet since sitting down. This "temple of beer worship - whisper bar" is exactly why I keep coming to NYC. An endless number of adventures always await! Super chill, cozy bar in the east village. Great beer choices and super cool bartender. The shushing thing must be real because people are literally whispering!

Shhhhh!!!! By order of the monks, the bartender will Shhhh you when the place gets too loud. This makes it a great spot for drinking and having a decent conversation. They have a decent beer list on tap, and the friendly bartender will even let you sample different beers. While having a nice conversation there, some drunk tourist started going "Shhhh" and seemed to have lots of fun with it. The bartender said, "Only I am allowed to do it." The tourist then begged, "Can I do it one more time? Please? Just one more time?" The bartender said " No, that is my job." The tourist just stayed silent after that. However, after that, whenever the bartender went "Shhh".. I heard many people echoing him and doing "Shhhh" which was pretty hilarious. I am sure that tourist was definitely going "Shhhhh" whenever he had a chance. So shhhhhh.... I'll be back again, and will make sure I keep the volume down low.....

What a disappointment to discover that one or of our all-time favorite bars is owned by a clueless, aging frat boy with a big pot belly. My boyfriend and I, and our sweet little dog (who also happens to be my certified emotional support animal.) stopped into the gorgeous Burp Castle last evening. The place was empty but for the bartender and a single patron. We asked if we could sit in the outdoor section with our little dog (Check the health code. This is permitted now). We were told it was fine and ordered our first round. Chilling out on the front porch, we read our books and enjoyed a couple of rounds. As we started to drink our third round , served by a chill, venue-appropriate bartender, in walks a chubby guy, dressed to change a tire or attend a keg party. He unceremoniously interrupts us, without greeting us or making eye contact. He tells us that due to the Health Department, dogs are not allowed in the porch area. He tells us we have to leave but we can first finish our round. He doesn't try to come up with a solution or even give us a chance to respond; just turns on his (ratty-sneakered) heel and walks back into the bar. Couple of things to note things about this man and his pub: 1. DudeBro also owns the sports bar next door, called Standings, which is the polar opposite of Burp Castle and all it stands for. Here's a tip: try hiring a manager who excels at catering to the Burp Castle Crowd. As is shown by the empty space, you aren't cutting it. Sports Bar is bustling. Maybe stick to that and give BC back to someone who will treat it like the venerable institution it once was. 2. Read the NYC Health Code!! Rather than focus on a sweet little dog, sleeping under my stool in the OUTDOOR area of a pub that DOESN'T SERVE FOOD. Burp Castle is rated a "C" by the Health Department. That is pretty tough to do when you don't serve food. But our man managed it. In fact, the most current grade is Pending publication and has not been released yet. Here are the citations listed by Health Department, quoted below: The 2019 health grade hasn't been announced yet; but I wouldn't be shocked if the place were shut down shortly. Why not worry about curing these revolting violations and leaving the little dog alone? Violations: October 9, 2018 FOLLOW UP VISIT "Critical Violations Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facilitys food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh" Violations: August 7, 2018 "Critical Violations Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facilitys food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh Non-critical Violations Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to 3. The health code has been updated to expand the discretion of restaurant owners to permit dogs in their outside areas. You have an empty bar. The one customer reading his book on the porch beside us had no problem with the dog. 4. Let's get back to those health code violations. Do you want to pay for drinks from a place cited for having these unsanitary and unsavory conditions? Notably the health code ratings for this place dropped dramatically in 2018. Hmmmm. I wonder what changed around that time. Signed, Two formerly enthusiastic patrons, who frequently recommended this place to friends, family and colleagues. Thanks for nothing.

Came here a few times on weekdays and weekends. Even though it's a small bar, the place never seems to be too crowded. Last time I came on a Saturday night there were 3 or 4 tables empty. So if you like a quiet, dim, and uncrowded bar, it's a good place to go. It's most suited for dates and not really a great place to chat with friends and laugh. If you come with a loud person, expect to feel kind of awkward and be "shushed" a lot. Quiet people only! :P

This is the anti-B Bar. Came here with a couple friends last week around 1 am escaping aforementioned frat haunt. It was my third visit. You need to be in the right headspace for it, as it's quiet and often a bit empty even at peak hours. There was a big crowd outside (escaping the silence?) but half-full inside. On louder nights, the bartender's shushing was gentle and judicious. Selection of beers is small, leaning towards Belgians, stouts, and ciders; mostly recognizable brands but often a few I haven't heard of. Prices are fair for the neighborhood. The frescos on the walls are cool but I prefer the small fenced-in patio outside-- perfect for a conversation and a beer while you watch the sidewalk scene. Ideal when you need a break from East Village nightlife and to actually hear each other speak.

Shhhhhhhhhh! This place's gimmick is that it's supposed to maintain a level of silence. It's monk-themed. There are awesome murals on the wall. There's no music playing. And the bartender will shush the entire bar when he deems it too loud. Cool just to see what it's like, but a few complaints - they have a good beer selection, but the ones we had seemed stale (Delirium Tremens), so we only stayed for one drink. Also, despite the nice bar interior, the men's bathroom was super divey (aka unbearably stinky). There's also a small gated off outside area where you can talk, though it was packed.

I've only written one other review on Yelp--a 5 star review--but today was such a bad experience that I had to call it out. When I arrived with my friends at 9PM on a Saturday night, the bartender asked me to clear the two tables of a party that just left. I asked him, "Sorry what did you say?" just for clarification because no one asks a patron to clear a table. He said, in a pretty smug way, "What do you think I'm asking you to get from those tables?" Me, being a notoriously polite dude, just said, "You want me to get the glasses?" "Yeah." So, for whatever reason, the bartender saw me as an easy mark, and that's how the night started. Of course, I cleared the glasses and handed them to him. Cuz I'm nice and stuff and act in good faith. Later in the night, he shushed me at least 5 or 6 times, and I wasn't speaking loudly. My friends, who hadn't witnessed the previous event, pointed out that he was always looking in my direction when he did it. From what I can tell, he had an axe to grind. I was the target. And it made for a terrible night, because here I was trying to bond with people I hadn't seen in ages, and ended up being on the receiving end of some confusing power trip.