Karol M.
Yelp
The iconic Mercury Lounge, located on the Lower East Side, is known as an intimate, no frills rock-n-roll venue. Its reputation precedes it, as the club that launched The Strokes and has hosted acts in their youthful days such as Radiohead, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lana del Rey, and many others. We're from Austin, where clubs like this also make a difference in the music scene. So yeah, we put this club high on our must-visit list while in NY, and we were not disappointed.
When you enter, there's a merch and ticket section to the right and a full bar along the entire left side, with bar stools if you want to perch and drink. Restrooms are on the right and are typical for NY: small. The club is typical of a rock-n-roll club, dark and a bit divey, which reflects the genre perfectly. So don't go in expecting something posh. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Drinks are typical for NY, not cheap. Nothing is cheap in NY.
The music happens through the double doors at the back of the front section. It's an intimate setting because it has a capacity of 250, standing room only, and the stage is raised so you can see well. The sound and lighting system is top-notch, and you will want earplugs if it's a rock show (and it probably will be). There are a few booths along the sides of the wall in the concert section, but you won't be able to see anything from them with everyone standing.
Patrons 18+ are welcome, unless otherwise noted. They do card and mark hands for under 21. You can and probably should buy advance sale tickets online through their website, which leads you to Ticketmaster and adds some fees, but their prices aren't bad to begin with ($10 for the shows we saw), and it sold out several days in advance.
If you love rock-n-roll, just do it.