Kingston Hall

I hardly ever write reviews and this is one of the first times where I actually feel compelled to write one because I feel it’s necessary. I genuinely want to give Kingston Hall five stars. My friends and I loved the vibe of this sexy, tucked-away bar. It’s very dark (keep this in mind), moody, with a beautiful interior and a great bartender. We ordered some shots and the infamous Drunken Coconut, which is served in a coconut. We thought the coconut was such a fun idea that we decided to keep it as a souvenir for laughs. Cut to us 45 minutes later that night, stopping for fro-yo in a well-lit shop. And that’s when we saw it… Remember how I mentioned how dark the bar is? Well, turns out it was so dark that we didn’t notice the MOLD SPORES covering the entire inside of the coconut (photo attached). It looked like a full-blown ecosystem was growing in there. We were completely shocked — honestly, horrified — realizing we’d just been drinking out of something that moldy. If we hadn’t kept the coconut, we would have never known. Which means plenty of other people probably don’t either. All that to say: it’s very unsafe to eat or drink from here until this is addressed. I’d love to believe this was just an unfortunate oversight (a massive one) because of how dimly lit it is, but it’s still unacceptable. I really hope Kingston Hall investigates this immediately — because no one should have to worry about getting sick from a cocktail.

I am normally someone who does not write Google reviews, but my experience here was so horrendous that I feel extremely compelled to leave a review. This bar is simply awful, and you should not waste your time coming here. I booked an event here (3 months in advance) for a party expecting 40 people in their private space. This past Saturday night, they not only double-booked, but TRIPLE-BOOKED themselves (Google Calendar is free?). I wouldn't have left this review if the staff and management at Kingston handled the situation properly, but instead, they handled it extremely unprofessionally and poorly. They only honored one party in the private space (no clue how they decided they got the space, and there were probably at most 10 people in this party), and the multiple other parties who were screwed over for the night were packed so tightly at the bar that it was basically a fire hazard. Their bouncer played dumb, and their manager "was not in tonight." It was basically handled as a "too bad, sucks to suck" situation. Additionally, whoever plans their events does not answer emails because they are cowards. Conclusion: do not come here; go to the 100 other better bars in NYC that actually care about their patrons that make simple accommodations when they screw up. Mistakes happen; it is just all about how you rectify the situation. It isn't brain surgery to problem-solve when you screw up, but clearly this place lacks the skills and training to do so.

I can’t really speak to food because I don’t know if they had it or not. We were in it for the atmosphere and the drunken coconut. We also got the espresso martini which is good if you need a quick pick me up. Highly recommend this spot. They also have two monkeys doing it. Great spot before or after veselka.

Not what you expect as you ascend the apartment-like steps, but then you encounter a cozy cavern with classic decor and great mixed drinks. Billiards, too. They have atmosphere and then some.

What a cool bar! Great vibe. The decor and the drink specials don't necessarily match but it adds to the eclectic nature of this cool bar: Victorian era ambiance served with tropical drinks. Pool table featured inside. Variety of seating options for small and large groups alike. Ordered the pineapple express which was tasty! Will definitely be back here with friends!

I wish I could give this place zero stars. DO NOT COME TO THIS BAR. I was hosting an event for 30 people which I booked over a month ago, confirmed with the venue the morning of, and they did not honor it. The venue double booked their private space so I was given a circle table that was crammed in the back. There was no reason given as to why one party got priority over the other. Later in the night, I found out that the private room was TRIPLE BOOKED for another party of 50 people. Not only is this a fire hazard because you have 80 people who expected to come for a reservation, its completely unprofessional and incompetent of the venue. I have been to plenty of bars in the city that are more than capable of looking at a calendar and knowing what they have booked for the night. I also sent an email about my experience and they did not answer. Beyond unprofessional and I would never recommend this bar to anyone I know, whether hosting an event or just going out in general.

Great happy hour option for both drinks and food. You get a buy one get one coin you can use during happy hour. The jerk wings and sliders were delicious. So much so we forgot to take pics 😅. Was not busy on the onset of happy hour but it did begin to fill up on the tail end.. this was a Thursday night. Highly recommend this spot over the other popular ones on the same block.

Good drinks and good vibes. If you want to play pool for fun, don’t bother, there’s a pro who runs the table all night, hard to have casual fun. But otherwise great spot.

"JAMAICAN" themed bar; decor is cool. It has a pool table in the back and plenty of sitting space. I came on a Monday for happy hour because I've always wanted to check them out, and I was in the area. It was pretty dead, like its counterparts, but for a Monday, it was expected. Happy hour is 2 for 1 until 8 pm, which is cool. I started with a vodka soda as per Jay the bartender; they also have prosecco on tap, which I haven't heard of before. I decided to try their "Jerk chicken; which took a min to get despite me being the only customer at the bar at 4ish. The wings were drenched with a sauce, kind of like BBQ, and very spicy; the meat was falling off the bones, and it was tasty but nothing "jerk" about it. 8 wings for 15 bucks is not bad. (Reminds me of the wings from 7 eleven). My babes finally showed up, and we continued drinking. I asked Jay which aspect of the bar was supposed to be "Jamaican,"and he responded The monkeys ( two monkey figures fornicating as decor). He said, "he was joking," because someone called him out and proceeded to tell me the owner, when they first opened, had the concept, and now it's just the food. The music is all him, which was just old school hip hop. Despite his distasteful joke, my bf and I finished our drinks and still gave him a tip. His attitude began to change when customers started coming in, and I didn't want to spend any more time there. Needles to say nothing in there is Jamaican. And I won't go back. But don't let me stop you.

I was looking for a venue to host a Mix and Mingle. I decided to contact Kingston Hall to inquire about having the event there. I sent an email to inquire about having an event there. I received a response in less than 24hrs, which was amazing. The email was very detailed in response to me wanting to host an event there. Once your reservation is confirmed you have to reconfirm your reservation the day of your event. The day of the event I received a text message to confirm my event, before I was able to send a text message. When I arrived the day of the event, the place can be difficult to find. You have to go up the stairs of the residential building and the entrance to the venue is to the left. When you walk in the bar it has a speakeasy vibe. I like that your reserved area has a card on the table informing others that there is a reservation in that area. The owner Nick introduced himself to me and I thought that was nice. Happy hour is Buy 1 get 1 on select drinks until 8pm. When you purchase your happy hour drink, you receive a token to get your second drink later on. I ordered the mini jamaican beef patties, they were delicious. Overall, my guest and I had a great time. The venue does get very busy during happy hour. One tip is to apply your makeup before you arrive. All of the mirrors have art on them so you can see to apply makeup in the mirrors.

This place is a gem. Great food, drinks, and atmosphere. The cocktails here are next level. The coconut shrimp is authentic Jamaican. The service is great. I will be back.

A great solid bar with rustic vibes. The signature drinks here are so fun, I got the Pineapple Express and it was delicious and surprisingly came in a pineapple. My friend got the coconut one, and they serve it in an actual coconut as well! Would highly recommend getting one of their signature drinks for how fun they are. We also shared some fries which were very yummy. Service is also prompt, and the bartender was super attentive. Overall a fun spot :)

Got 2 drinks during the night. The espresso martini was pretty good, but I got a Long Island iced tea afterwards and... it just tasted like lemon juice. The bartender was nice and tried to fix it but... it still just tasted like lemon juice afterwards. My friend also got a tequila soda and it just tasted like seltzer. The interior was nice though, they have a sitting counter area where you can people watch from the second floor, as well as a pool table towards the inside of the bar.

A hidden gem! The ambiance inside is intimate and low key with a fire place. They have happy hour every day of the week and all day on Sunday. Happy hour is buy one drink get one. It includes beer, canned drinks, Prosecco, and well drinks. The bartender was really attentive and great at honoring the happy hour. I had a great time. I did not get the chance to try their food, as I had just came from dinner but I will be back.

Came here on a whim before a theatre show. Kingston hall is a Caribbean/Jamaican themed bar with pool tables. The cocktail and food menu matches the theme - so get ready for some major island vibes. We ordered the signature drunken coconut, Pineapple Express, and barely illegal - delicious. Drinks are boozy so sip carefully.

pretty generous happy hour that runs till 8pm, even on a Friday, thank lord! great underground bar that has good blend of both classy and divey vibes. You could pretty much bring anyone here. I drank their Q-Cumberbatch & Pineapple Express cocktails. The latter had a whiskey floater which you know you'll be in for a good time. Q-Cumberbatch was a sleeper hit, I don't know many places that can make gin taste so good. Also, had their Goose Island IPA on draught. Very hard to find Goose Island on draught outside of Illinois, so definitely take advantage there while you

Not at all what I thought it was. More of a punk rock theme and less like a Jamaican theme. Drink special was okay, but bartenders weren't friendly; food wasn't good. I guess just not my vibe.

Every time we come to this beautiful spot, we feel like we're being welcomed into a friend's home. The staff and managers always make us feel welcomed. It's the PERFECT spot for any date or meet up. KH is good for a small group and I celebrated my bday here. I've I've also popped by solo just for a quick cocktail to kill time, waiting for friends to get out of work lol and I felt totally safe here. Its the perfy blend of chill and fun. Let's talk about the drinks - they are DELICIOUS! They are so interesting and fun! They have tasty bites which, great for sharing. I come out of my way to come here, and whenever I bring friends here, they always have a great time. Highly recommend this wonderful, chill place!

Cool bar. Definitely a hidden gem. They have buy one get one free drinks during happy hour. And there's happy hour every day. There's a pool table in the back. There's also a small portion that has a window for outdoors in the front. The drinks are so strong and definitely worth the price. Definitely come here if you're looking to get drunk. They have drinks in a coconut and in a pineapple, as well as regular well drinks and beers. It's very dimly lit in there. The music wasn't that loud so honestly I don't recall the type of music they were playing.

Meh. I envisioned Kingston Hall to be totally opposite to what I experienced. Described as a Caribbean style bar with 2 for 1 specials, it was more akin to being a dive bar. After our first choice was closed for a private party, my friend suggested this place. We walked up one flight to a space filled with way too much noise and made our way to the bar to place our order. This in itself was somewhat delayed. Their 2 for 1 specials (tokens were given) included well drinks and beer. No wine. Frose was $5 all night. A select food menu contained choices such as tacos, grilled chicken sandwiches and burgers. Once we got our drinks (I ordered a well drink) we headed to the teeny terrace just so we could conduct a conversation. It was without any atmosphere and on a hot summer night, felt too warm. We headed inside (with a/c) for our 2nd drink and also shared an order of fries (at $8!). It was a generous portion but in my opinion, overpriced. In summary, I'm fine not returning to Kingston Hall. Just average.

I haven't been back here in years. It's a place easy to miss because it's on the second level of a building but inside it's pretty elaborate. Cozy fireplaces, gothic architecture, interesting art pieces and stained glass. Really cool spot. They have 2 for 1s on drinks until 8pm and the nice thing behind it is that if you don't get to your second beverage before 8pm they still give you a coin so that you can come back and redeem it any time. The catch - there's always a catch, the drinks are a bit expensive. Beers are now $9 and well drinks are $13. Which means yeah, I guess you're paying an average price for a beer or well anyway. What I didn't realize when coming here last week for a second round after being at another bar was that the food is Caribbean themed. We only split an order of their cajun fries that are very well seasoned and come with a nice chipotle dipping sauce aside from ketchup. I will say, the clientele and bartenders are what keep it real and are pretty cool and down to earth. It's a weird mash up though: Gothic church vibes meet the Caribbean. They also have tiki style tropical drinks but I definitely didn't go that route and ended up ordering two whiskey gingers.

Somewhat boring large bar venue with one Billiards table and unorthodox cocktail selections. $15 a drink. 3/5 stars as a night bar.

Awesome bar!!! Love the vibe here low key, dark to provide a speakeasy feel..love it here!!! Great drinks. Awesome Happy Hour (All Beer & Well drinks Buy 1 get 1 Free Mon-Sat 4-8pm, Sunday all day & night). Yummy Bar food. Specialty Drinks - fun choices - Drunken Coconut- rum, coconut water, pineapple juice in fresh coconut Great beers on tap Allagash white belgium style beer - our fave Food - coconut shrimp(5/5) real shredded coconut plump shrimp spicy sauce.. soooo good - sweet and spicy pinapple(5/5) - deep fried pineapple with cayenne pepper

Found this place on tik tok and it looked very cool with the fireplace and pool table. I'm thinking it's a chill and lowkey fancy type of vibe. I get there with my friends and it turns out that you cannot access that area as a security guard will redirect you. The drinks were extremely watered down with just a hint of liquor. I ordered 12 shots and 2 were empty, I had to go back to the Bartender to full it. The food is actually good, can't complain there. The wings and burgers are really good. This is definitely a one and done for me, waste of my time.

I rented the back room for my birthday and had about 50 people there... no minimum and everyone could be on their own tab! I'd recommend if you want a big party for cheap. We only had it for two hours though. Only thing is that you can't hear music in the back room and you have to go to the bar to get drinks... no wait staff back there. Overall recommend!

I had a birthday party here recently and while this is usually one of my favorite bars in the city, I had a bad experience. First of all, 15 people got extremely sick with the flu after the party - pretty sure the staff was sick and was still working there spreading diseases. Secondly, the waitress let people who were not with my party order on the tab. I am now short $250. I wish she would have verified with me who was with my party before she let random people order on my credit card. What's worse, I told her I wanted to close out after the first round of drinks, and she clearly didn't listen to me. Please be careful when starting a tab at this bar.

Great spot for happy hour and to spend the night. Great bogo happy hour with decent craft beer selections. Draft Prosecco too. Food options were not on happy hour but were interesting and reasonable. The fries went particularly well with the beer and were seasoned great.

One of the bars that's in my regular rotation. First time I came here was when I was 21. I thought it was chill, but it didn't grow on me until three years later. KH is a great bar, the atmosphere is soothing, the wood decor is beautiful (beware of splinters) and the BOGO is certainly worth it. It's an amazing 10/10, M-Thurs. The Friday crowd is intense and meh. The clientel tends to lean older because 13th step is right below and weeds out the younger crowd. There's a upper level that's perfect in the summer. It gets stifling hot, but when there's a nice breeze you can sit there look down at the crowd and pretend things are going better than they actually are.

This spot is pretty cool! A warm, sophisticated interior for what is actually Jamaican themed. BOGO free beers during happy hour with some great options! Fried bites were good... recommend the Jamaican beef patties (warning they are spicy), same goes for the fried pineapple...you get a lot, good for sharing (though I personally wasn't a huge fan of them...the combo of sweet, juicy pineapple with spicy/fried coating sat weird with me).

Girllllll ok.. I was really excited about his place because the number of Caribbean places in the city are limited. I was in between a 3 and 4 stars. The spot is small and intimate ... that cool ... but and I say but....I didn't get a Caribbean vibe from the food. It's good don't get me wrong but not Caribbean. The drinks were good and the food was good but because I was looking for Caribbean I was disappointed. I had .... Jerk wings: sooooo tender but not jerk tasting. I repeat not jerk tasting more like sweet bbq. Still good for bbq Jerk fries: actually these are a win! Love the seasoning and the sauce ... don't know if it taste like jerk but a good fry. I would definitely have this again. If you are looking or use to Caribbean food this won't work for you. Other than that the food was good! Happy eating and drinking

Shoutout to Connor for being so amazing! My friends and I ordered the Drunken Coconut and it's super cute and worth because it's quite strong. We were hanging in the spot upstairs where there are windows for you to look out but we later found a spot in the back and that's when we met Connor! Connor was super nice and served us with such hospitality. He informed us of how the table service is ending but he's happy to order one last round for us before it ends. He also offered us bar chips (which we were like OUUUUU!) and he was just super kind. I'd love to come back here and chill with my friends here again to chat and drink because of his kind hospitality and it's just a good spot to have some drinks overall!

Came here for Happy Hour with my colleagues. Upon arrival of you have to walk up a few set of stairs. Make a left and once inside you will be pleasantly surprised upon entering. The decor is very cute and reminiscent of a plantation in Jamaica. The bar has several selections of cocktails and beers. Happy Hour until 8PM on beers, prosecco on tap and well drinks. DRINK I ordered two of the drunken in coconut cocktail! It was so delicious and a strong drink which makes it worth while for the $14 price tag. FOOD We had the fries, Jamaican beef patties and calamari! The fries were seasoned with delicious spices. The fried calamari tasted fresh with a nice crunch. A must order is definitely the beef patties. So tender and juicy in side.

Saw this place online and thought it would be cool to pop in for a few drinks after my friend's birthday dinner. Not much reminds me of Jamaica unless you go to Annie Palmer Rose Hall Great House. The bartenders was super cool... I asked for extra cherries for the birthday girl and he obliged. When we were leaving he gave her a shot for her birthday. The drinks we had were great, since you could definitely taste the alcohol. Definitely want to return in the future since it's a nice chilled spot to get a drink or two.

My friends and I were at Kingston hall, where I've enjoyed multiple nights over the past 7 years. Tonight, I almost got kicked out of the bar for asking people to close the door because it was cold. THEN, when my friend was paying his tab, he noticed his wallet was gone from the bar counter. The bouncer said, "are you looking for this?" Which means the bartender STOLE HIS WALLET. DON'T TRUST YOUR STUFF WITH THESE PEOPLE.

I came here on my first night to New York last weekend for happy hour and while it was raining, I was relieved there was most likely not going to be a crowd but was I wrong! It was actually packed which is a good sign at least for me, because it ensures a great time with friends and meeting new people. The happy hour was 2 for 1 and the bartenders were busy but very attentive! I guess the only con I would say is that there's barely any seats available so you would have to get there early to get some bar food which I saw as servers were passing by looked delicious! It was great music to dance to and there were some cocktails in an actual coconut which I must try next time I go

Probably one of the better happy hour options I've attended. Good food, good drinks, and good music. The bar is small and gets crowded very quickly, it is predominately a college crowd that is around happy hour but once happy hour is over, there is more space. The jerk chicken wings have a great kick, the coconut shrimp is delicious. The pineapple drink and coconut drink are a must try!

I went here for happy hour - what a great idea! Two for one drinks is hard to find in this pricey city! Buy a drink, get a drink and a token - until 8pm! They have a good selection of beers and a nice list of specialty cocktails. I didn't realize the prosecco was ON TAP - or I definitely would have tried it. Really hefty pours on the prosecco, too! I also ordered fries, onion rings and the chicken sandwich. Everything was really hearty and delicious - and very reasonably priced. My friend reserved the small area up the stairs in the front for her birthday gathering - but they also have a pool table in the back. I'm totally coming back for another happy hour!

I just came for the drink. I've had this place bookmarked for over a year. I was in the area and figured I would track it down to try the amazing coconut drink. Now that being said there is really nothing special about the drink other than it was inside of a coconut. The bartender was great and attentive which I like. This place is located on the second floor and they they do have a bit of outside seating. It's a divey bad so no need to dress up. The coconut drink is $13. Pricy but I just had to have it.

I recently hosted my 28th birthday party at Kingston Hall and I truly could not have had a better experience. David, the person I was coordinating with, was incredibly helpful the entire time. I was able to reserve the pool room area free of charge. Day of, we got there and the bar was already crowded and fun. They immediately cleared the room for us and even had a bouncer who stood at the entrance of the pool room area and made sure that only my guests came in. The bouncer was incredible!! We had our own waitress assigned to the area and she was THE BEST. The bar was so fun, amazing atmosphere and vibe, and I was able to host 30-40 friends comfortably. Everybody had the best night, I cannot recommend Kingston Hall enough!! Best place in the city to host a fun party.

I love this place they play the best music and have good and fair priced drinks. All the staff are really friendly and attentive. It has great space with a more private back room and screened in porch up front, and a great pool table area in back. Attracts a good crowd and a good vibe. Great EV spot!

Spacious bar located on the second floor. I've been here a few times in the past but most recently came back for drinks with friends. I got a frose and I would say it's mediocre but the 4 stars is for bar layout - spacious with round table couches as well as a pool table in the back. We ordered cajun fries and calamari to go with our drinks and the snacks were tasty.

I tried to reach out to management a million time regarding this issue. I can't believe people get away with this. Disgusting staff.

This is one of my favorite bars! Whenever I'm in or around the EV and we are trying to pick a place to go, I suggest Kingston Hall because it is just a big, chill spot with great drinks. It is pretty dark inside but its a great place if you're just looking to get some drinks and hang out. There is a bunch of seating and tables. They have a little area that looks out onto the street as well, while it is enclosed, it is still nice to sit at. They have really fun drinks too, some in a coconut, some in a pineapple, and some regular cocktails. They also have great HH specials. We were here on Saturday after and it was Happy Hour which was BOGO (Buy one, get one free) for beers and well drinks, so they just give you a chip to come back and get your second drink. A really great deal! Love this place and will be back for sure!

Came for happy hour with some friends for my boyfriends birthday. Great spot to actually be able to hear your friends since it's not too crowded. There is a dark and cozy vibe and great drink specials (two for one!) current happy hour goes until 8 and on Sundays it's all day. Only downside is there are no TVs and food selection is limited. While yummy, the jerk wings are not for the faint of heart. Overall great spot to catch up with friends and/or coworkers. Also great for all ages (my dad and his friends also love this place)

Good atmosphere, great bartenders, and tasty cocktails. The vibe/people may be hit or miss some nights, but the yummy cocktails and friendly bartenders definitely make this place one of my go-to's when I'm around the St. Marks area. They have a pool table that my friends like to partake in, but sometimes the people playing/waiting can be a bit anal about writing your name down (not sure why, but whatevs). They have a decent amount of space in the general bar/seating area and a back room that has good seating for larger groups. One thing to note is that their bathrooms are usually clean! Private, one-stall bathrooms-- a gem amongst crowded, dirty, cramped stall bathrooms. Bartenders are attentive and security is friendly! In terms of drinks- the Drunken Coconut is my fav. If I have the energy to do so, I always try to scrape off the coconut meat after I'm finished with my drink because why not. I'll keep coming back, for sure.

What better way to escape the cold weather than to go to a place with drinks in pineapples! I had been wanting to check out this place since I'd lived in NYC, but was here for the first time after I'd moved away and was back for a cold weekend in the city. It was a great meeting spot for friends. We got a nice big circular booth and lots of pineapple drinks and some yummy fries and wings. It was heaven. Love that it's dark and warm and good music softly playing in the background so you can actually catch up with friends without losing your voice in the process.

Don't miss out on this place, walk up the stairs and walk in to a super special old style bar with a pool table, fire place and great decor! Go for happy hour M-F 4-8pm Sat 1-8pm and all day Sunday buy one get one white claws!

Well I loved this bar on arrival, it looks so cool. Everything else about it was just OK. The coconut drink was fine, the other people there were a mix of preppy and fratty, that's the East village for you.

One of my fancy favorite bars of NYC. Lively ambience, candle light, solid coconut cocktails. The evening I was there was very pleasant. It was my best friends birthday. Exactly as I wanted it was. I love the vibe there- it's unique and romantic. Crowd well dressed, staff is polite, original drinks- masterfully crafted by the mixologists behind the counter. Highly recommended.

Amazing place , bar tender super awesome and the drinks are super strong I will Come back for more soon .

I don't understand why this place has only 3 1/2 stars?? This place is great! Happy hour went utnil 8, and for those who work a little later that's much appreciated. The best drink I had was the drunken coconut, it was a very fun drink. Aside from getting a real coconut, you also get a shot glass of extra pina colada. I thought this was a shot and took it immediately, perhaps that was not the best move but I enjoyed it. Everyone else just used it to top off their coconut as they went, which seemed a little better, but to each their own. Overall, this was a quaint location with nice decour and a free pool table! The people there were quite good, so I chickened out, but it was a lot of fun to watch as well.

Amazing place ! Friendly bartenders but seats are very limited. If you arrive after 530 chances are you will be standing Coconut and pineapple drink are $5-$16 each... For me the pineapple was stronger than the coconut one. Just remember go up the stairs when you get to the address and go through the door that looks like an apartment door

Stopped in here for a drink with friends. The dark, almost cavernous like space is nice, but on that sunny afternoon, we wanted fresh air and light, so we went upstairs to the little room with all the windows. Really great chill spot, ideal for people watching. All of us ordered the drunken coconut drinks. They're pretty fun, made out of a coconut with a piece of pineapple and topped with a cherry. I liked how you get the extra drink in another glass. The drink itself is sweet and tangy, although the presentation is more impressive than the drink. The only bummer was that this drink isn't included in their happy hour special. Oh well.

Such a great spot to get drinks! Most of their cocktails have a fun twist to them. Plus when I most recently went with my friends our cocktails were extra strong woo. I was surprised by how busy the place was mid day Friday so my friends and I were lucky to grab a spot by the bar. An interesting bar and vibe in nyc for sure.

My friend decided he wanted to meet here to catch up and have a drink last week. It was an extremely rainy night. I was drenched from the rain but was relieved to see there was a fireplace once I got inside. I decided to stand next to the fireplace while I notified my friend of my arrival. As I was trying to figure out where I wanted to wait at the bar, the security came up to me and told me I needed to leave. When I asked why... He told me there's no reason other than the owner didn't want me here. I tried to explain my phone was dying and I was waiting for a friend, he told me he didn't care. He inched towards me throughout the conversation as if to intimidate me. The owner never said a word to me; I was at the bar all of three minutes. Very humiliating experience. As a Black man living in New York for over seven years, I've been pushed out of bars before but never has it been so direct and blatant.

A close friend of mine kept dragging me to Kingston Hall every single time that I would visit him in East Village. And I wont lie, the first couple of times I wasnt sure why he liked it so much. But I have to say, after visiting a few times this bar has grown on me significantly. To the point that I am now the one suggesting we meet up at KH. Bar is dimly lit overall, but has cool decor and has a surprisingly large amount of space. Upstairs room that overlooks the street, back area with pool, and a back room. But what really makes this bar great are the 2 for 1 drink specials from 4-8pm every day (including weekends). Every time you buy a drink you are given a token that can be redeemed for another drink later in the day (or another day). And the selection for the drinks that are eligible for the special is quite large and well equipped. Love me some Allagash and Lagunitas. Has honestly become one of my favorite places in the city to kick back, enjoy some beer, and kick some ass in pool (but lets be real... im getting destroyed).

Very chill Caribbean themed bar, I applaud the designer of this space. They have a solid happy hour - buy one get one token system - this only applies to wells and beer for both redeeming a free drink and what drinks get a token. So don't go for a cocktail and expect a token for a well/beer. Also, you can only redeem tokens during happy hour. Learn from my mistakes! The cocktails are alright but nothing especially good, I'm not a huge fan of coconut drinks but if you like coconut get the Drunken Coconut. It comes in a coconut and it certainly looks good. There's not a lot of vegetarian options here but the jerk fries are damn good. This bar has a surprising amount of space but it does get filled up the later it gets. There's also a free pool table. Yeah, you heard me. If you get there early there's usually a short wait. The table is solid and there's enough space to shoot comfortably.