This is a fantastic spot for live music lovers. The bar has an intimate atmosphere, making it the perfect place to really enjoy the performances. The sound quality is excellent, and the drinks are generous—definitely giving you great value. The live music lineups are always top-notch, featuring a mix of talented artists/djs/comedians. It’s a great place to unwind, catch some live tunes, and enjoy a drink or two. Highly recommend for a night out!
Love these small clubs that seem endless in the Big Apple. 1st time here, as I continue to enjoy the upward career of my friend Hannah Ray Teal and her band. (Please check her out on Spotify!) Thats her in the picture...and doing her thing in a small intimate room right off the bar. Typical of these venues is many acts, one after the other, on a given night. Some sound issues apparently, change in set times and general non-structured kinda vibe, which all goes with the territory...:)No worries, Hannah and her band adapt easily and were great, crowd was cool and enthusiastic, drinks flowing just fine..,:) Ran into some old friends, made some new ones (including a couple of the performers, which is really cool..:) and just a general great NYC type of night...perfect...:)PS...I didnt eat, so no review on food.
Bowery Electric consistently guarantees a remarkable experience. Both the upstairs and downstairs areas are staffed by warm and friendly personnel, with bartenders who are quick and attentive. Despite its modest size, the venue offers a perfect ambiance for live music. It’s my favorite place to enjoy a live performance in the downstairs space. For those seeking straightforward drinks and an energetic music scene, Bowery Electric is the ideal spot.
Worst customer service I’ve ever experienced in my 59 years. My birthday July 12 yesterday. I was visiting NYC. Me and my girlfriend were walking and saw live music thought we would stop in to the Bowery. The woman at the door, maybe Marissa not sure, charged us $56 to come in. We fought our way to the top of the crowded steps and could see folks were cheering for an encore and the band to come back out. The band did. They were very good but we got to hear just two songs. We were surprised to see everyone clearing out. We realized they were done and no second band was coming.I went upstairs to ask if we could be reimbursed because the band is done and we just got here at 10:20. She told me no! And further was so rude as to say “well why did you come so late?” I told her we didn’t k ow anything about the band of time or anything. I asked her why she didn’t tell us the band ending soon and she said a couple more rude comments which I care not to repeat. That was theft. And a Terrible experience. Giving me a terrible impression of people in New York. I would be horrified if this rude degrading woman worked in my business.
I’ve been here a few times but most recently this past weekend for the electric feel dance party. It starts later (11 PM). The city was oddly less crowded than usual so this time pace was also not as packed this time. But me and my friends got on the dance floor in the back and pretty soon, the place was jamming out! Definitely plan to come back for more dancing nights out!
Great venue, all around. Was in their smaller room for two great bands, Chillbillies and Citizen Sane, and the sound was excellent. Kudos to both venue and audio engineer Justin!
Came here to see my friend’s show. Was very excited about supporting her. Unfortunately, at the fault of the venue—missed it.If you’re a musician thinking of booking this venue, either don’t, or make sure you tell your friends directly where they should be going for your set (there are two floors).Upon arrival, the person greeted my friend and I, asked us which show we were there to see, and directed us downstairs. An hour and a half later, we thought we were waiting for our friend’s set still, the greeter came down in a panic, and told us that our friend had already played upstairs. Without giving us a chance to respond, he claimed he had directed us to the upstairs room, and blamed us for going to the wrong place. It’s clear to us that what happened is he made a mistake, realized it, and freaked out. But to handle it by angrily blaming us is bizarre / uncalled for, and made an unpleasant experience worse.This was my first time at the venue so I would not have walked downstairs of my own accord. I did not even realize there was a downstairs until he pointed it out.To top things off, when we exited the venue shortly after, he cheerfully said, “Have a good night!”When watching the sets downstairs, I was already planning on recommending the venue to other musician friends because I thought everything seemed smooth. Definitely won’t be recommending it now.I wanted to tell his manager but didn’t see management around, so came here to warn ahead of booking this venue: Either don’t do it, or make sure you tell your friends directly where they should be going for your set! Def one of the worse/weirdest customer service experiences. We’re upset that we missed the chance to support our friend, and instead of offering anything for their mistake, like free drinks or food, they blamed us / acted like it wasn’t a big deal in the end.
Came here around 8:45pm on a Wednesday to see a band and there was no line and a $10 cover. The venue was casual and there wasn’t a wait to get a drink at the bar. My friends and I were right in front of the band and that was pretty loud, but that’s expected during a live music show. Overall, it was a good experience.
This place is SHADY, dont go here for drinks. I stopped in for one $6 happy hour beer and I see on my credit card statement I was charged $12. Even with tip, what?? Their tips also START at 22%.
Nice space with friendly staff. Margaritas were tasty and strong. The tequila was very smooth. Main concert room is pretty roomy with a lower section and an elevated one... both have room for dancing. The sound mix could have been better, but still a fun experience! Late night dance parties downstairs, and the upstairs area gets pretty packed on weekend nights!
Got a chance to visit this bar/music venue last week and had a pretty good time. Three bands performed where the original singer was not very good but the other two bands, who I believe are named Kota Dosa and Familiar Faces were great! The upstairs bouncer is know for giving people a hard time so make sure you have your ID and are of age. Also the downstairs stage can be a little hard to find. Additionally, it is a bit odd they cut off all the bands at 10:45. Put down worry there is music playing upstairs all night!
Great place to see an experience new and up coming rock band showcases local bands as well,the atmosphere is relaxed, drinks are a little on the high side,but from what Ive been told those are average price for that area,I went on a Tuesday night and it started slow but by the midnight hour the place was packed. I enjoyed it. check it out I think you will too.
Saw a bunch of rad live music here 3/18/2018. Upstairs were a bunch of chill acoustic performers and then the main act was downstairs. I didnt know two different things were going on and we didnt know the concert we were there for was downstairs, but it worked out and we got to see a few extra acts. We didnt miss any of the main event either, because it started a bit late. The drinks were reasonable.
Smells bad and crowded because its the size of a 1 car garage but they do like little girls there . Watch your kids when you go here !!! Those punk shows like to get free grabs on them !
Always a great time at Bowery Electric. When I’m here it’s usually to see a live show downstairs. Not a large space, but great atmosphere for live music. Whether you’re upstairs or downstairs the staff is all super friendly and the bar tenders quick and attentive. If you want simple unpretentious drinks and live music then look no further.
Event I was there for was held downstairs, very cramped and dark, candles lighting the way. Bathrooms are limited, and a line was forming as nite progressed. The bar seemed well stocked, and drinks were flowing smoothly. As crowd filled, it became noticeably warm, that is until the air was turned on. Show began promptly at 8 pm, and with 3 bands playing, all was completed by 11:30. Sound was loud but not overly so. Afterwards, I enjoyed a cocktail at the main bar upstairs, listening to 70s-80s punk music. Overall I had a great time and will visit again !!!!
The bar was nice , the manager was great. The person from The bar overseeing the bands playing was rude and obnoxious. Very disappointing!! The bands were playing and he just turned off the mics without any warning.He should have said “ one more song” or 2 min warning. He was very disrespectful of the bands playing.
Run down a bit, but positive in that way. Drinks are well priced and the acts are more than capable. A great place to visit for a history of underground rock.A star of for the set up in the basement. The main floor is cozy and comfortable, but the proximity and elevation of the downstairs bar results in talking voices during shows.
Great bar happy hour and tremendous service Ashton at the door is the best and Nick the bartender is excellent great musical venues downstairs well be there for Johnny cash bday
They are very aggressive with people and (last week) witnessed them treating someone with disrespect when it wasn’t even necessary. I don’t recommend this place…
I got my wallet stolen here on New Year’s Eve during a ticketed only event. When I approached the management they completely brushed it off. Very odd and suspicious behavior. I asked several different members to speak to management and they were rude. Don’t come here.
Cool spot! Note that there are two live music rooms in here: in the basement and towards the back of the bar on the main floor. Had a couple friends get lost and miss a show because because it wasnt clear there were two places to go!Otherwise, great venue. Sound bleed to the upstairs seems to be a major concern so they really do their best to minimize the impact on the neighborhood. The sound guy really knows his stuff and I left the show without my ears feeling like theyve been blown out.Just heads up that drinks are quite expensive (even your simple well drinks like Jack & coke are like $15), and they only took card at the bar, which defaults to 20% tip. Not a deal breaker, since its probably how the venue makes the majority of its revenue, but still something to keep in mind if youre on a budget.Would come back for another show! 🤘
Its a cute little venue w friendly people, I went to their comedy Tuesday where pizza was included. Personally I just find most comedians out here to be so crude, vulgar, mean and hopeless which is not my humor lol. Thats what I deducted 1 star for. The dark little stage room was cold and stuffy but everything else was good. We paid for our tix on eventbrite Im not sure if everyone else got in for free
I went to see Glassio and had a great time. The space is intimate and the bartenders were kind. I didnt want to drink and asked for a tonic, and they didnt charge me for it. I plan to look into more shows at the venue.
Manager and bartenders are cool but the frozen margs are too strong for the price
Didn’t let me in bc I didn’t have my id LMAO SO FAIR of them fr I bet it’s fun in there but 1 star bc how would I know
Small venue area nice bar the place is a little hard to find out when youre driving I would get there a little early to beat the crowd. because it was packed. And when you want to go to the restaurant and the bar. Its very hard during the performance because it is a big crowd so I recommend getting it before and they do have happy hour. I dont know when. But when I was there, they had it
I love this type of venue. We knew one of the bands and so glad we were there to see them. Fast drinks and fun crowd!
Weekly venues, the owner has his own band and performs alongside other bands in their basemet venue. plenty of guests from around the neighborhood perform here constantly. its a great place to network as a musician/ performer.
Real cheap and artist friendly so you never really know what youre gonna get if you show up at random. Its a lot of people just starting out so expect a lot of friends/homies in the audience and listen to whos playing before going for a vibe check. But no question this place will find its way into your NYC nightlife experience at some point. Not unlike Arlenes Grocery but they have two venues on site that are a little more separated so they can book a couple stages at once. And theyre a little nicer there, bartenders are real friendly. If you tip in cash theyll insist on buying you a shot.
Love it. Great hardcore and punk shows here. Some are free but its best to give a donation or get some drinks at the bar to keep these shows going!
Honestly, I had high hopes for this place. Until my friend got assaulted and was called homophobic slurs. In response to this we quickly grabbed a security guard and he said it was merely here say… so I went to the manager and he sided with the person who assaulted my friend and called him slurs. Won’t be coming back
I hadnt been here since the 90s & forgot what a rush it is to see a show in such an intimate setting! Drinks were affordable & tasty & the bartenders are on point!
Went to see some bands play, expensive drinks, some staff were nice, some were jerks. Hard stop on the band so they could switch to a DJ on a Saturday night for a bunch of underage kids with fake IDs and their parents credit cards. Way to kill a good crowd and basically kick them out of your bar. What happened to live music venues?
Awesome venue! Great shows!
Went to the Bowery electric to see my friends band play, and was assaulted and called a homophobic slur. Management proceed to side with the assaulters. Will not being coming back to this homophobic venue.
Experience would have been much better had they let the musicians finish their sets. I saw 2 gigs cut short after starting late.
Music! atmosphere! with friends 10/10
Not sure about the food but they did a pretty cool free all ages rock show last Sunday. Sounds like a recurring thing. Very cool.
One of the last ones standing. CBGB, the Continental, and others have sadly given way to gentrification, but this place keeps the spirit of what the Bowery once was. One star short of five only because it would be more awesome if it had something like the band sticker wall, graffiti laden bathrooms, etc. Everyone Ive encountered working there has also been great.
I have been helping a friend present Hardcore matinees here for a year and it is the jewel of the Lower East Side. The sound man Sean is among the best in the business. Jesse Malin generously allows these shows to happen because he knows how important the music is. One of the best sounding rooms in New York
Count your change, shaddy Bartender. Last night (Sat.) I went to The Bowery Electric for an event. The event space downstairs wasn’t ready yet. The man who greeted me at the door was polite & friendly. He stamped my wrist & said grab a drink at the bar, it’s Happy Hour. At the bar I ordered “Whiskey-ginger”. When the bartender brought me my drink & I asked how much, he said “$11, $12 with tax”. Puzzled, I asked “Is that Happy Hour price?”. The bartender looked at me and said “Yes.” And stood & waited as I went into my purse to get out more money. I paid & tipped and took my drink. Something just didn’t seem right to me. I went to the front door, looked outside and the sandwich board advertising Happy Hour for The Bowery Electric, clearly says well drinks $8. I went back to the bartender and told him that the sign out front said Happy Hour mix drinks are $8 and you charged me $12. He looks at me and says, “I gave you Jameson”. And I said, “I did not ask for Jameson. It’s happy hour and I ordered just whiskey-ginger”. “Okay”. The bartender turns around and hands me $3. I say, “Happy Hour is $8”. He says, “$8 plus tax, $9. You have a good night”.Lets unpack all of this. It is Happy Hour time at the bar, you Know that is what people are ordering, that is why bars have Happy Hour prices. When I asked regarding the $12, is that Happy Hour, he said Yes and did not say anything regarding Jameson. When I returned, quoting the price listed on the sign outside, only then did he say, “I gave you Jameson”. He gave me, he did not say this is what I ordered, he gave me something I did not ask for. Next, tax on $11 & $8, both, is $1. Last, no apology just a snarky “You have a good night.”The Bowery Electric. Cool looking bar, nice space downstairs for events. Front door guy, friendly & inviting.The Bartender, CAN NOT BE TRUSTED !!!
Staff was nice! Showed up too late for the show but the door guy said I should head down and check it out anyhow. No cover to have a drink upstairs, nice strong frozen margarita.
Horrible experience!! We went two nights in a row and both bartenders were awful. The first night she threatened to kick us out because we tried to get her attention to order another beer, but the second night!!! The bartender Tristan I think took the machine away from me and changed the tip to the highest possible after I had already signed. This is not okay!!!
Awesome place to see nyhc music.
Lost an entire group of patrons credit cards which ended up being stolen. Week before - lost multiple cell phones. Handled situation horribly trying to sell more drinks and keeping music on loud so people couldn’t even call banks to cancel inside also wouldn’t turn the lights on to help search for the stuff just in case it was stolen.
Well I went there to see 24/7 SpyZ band bc the members of the band grew up with my boyfriend, and I knew that they were a heavy metal/Soul band but what I didnt know was, there were four previous heavy metal bands that played before them and the crowd that heavy metal music attracts are a lot of slam dancers and head bangers. So I got caught out there, although I was sitting down, I got my feet stepped on had to sit guarded with my hands and arms up to push the people back that were falling on me. It was a bit scary at first if youve never been in that environment before. But besides that I enjoyed the band but the atmosphere is not for me. But it was an experience. If youre into that type of thing then its wonderful!
I ordered a beer and the bartender proceeded to charge me for a beer and an additional $15+ drink that I didn’t order. When I tried to explain that I hadn’t ordered the drink (I was probably being confused with someone else), the bartender refused to listen and called the bouncer. The bouncer grabbed me by the arm, threw away my beer and escorted me out of the venue with no explanation. I tried to had a conversation with the bouncer to clarify the events, but he had no intention of listening whatsoever, and he also got really violent.
Good bands, great drinks, friendly staff & one of the most mixed broad based crowds you will ever find: Everyone seems to be welcome and come as you are rules the day. Tiny back room for bands, but the music is always excellent. Feels like an 80s bar on one level, yet something entirely different on another: gritty and real above all. Honest pours on the drinks: Rarer and rarer these days. Only been a few times but had fun each time, more of a come with friends, rather than meet new ones kinda place. Neat neighborhood too: plenty of options.
I attended this dope nostalgic lounge to support a good friend and upcoming artist by the name of Uni G. I enjoyed the energy and love shown by the staff. The event was great, met a lot of people and was able to buy some awesome artist merchandise. As an artist myself I would consider using this venue in the future. They appear to accommodate patrons very well.
We went to this spot unsure, hearing decent things about it. I guess it’s like a music venue spot/bar that turns into a dance club on sat nights. Don’t know why it took us so long to hit this bar because it was awesome and we live in the area. Great music, packed full and good company. The bartender named Van was dope and super professional and gave the floor good energy. Great place, will be back again for sure. Place is probably great in the summer.
I went here for a music show on a Friday night. Theres a good amount of space throughout this bar/venue. The wine was decent. Not really a sitting kind of place from what I saw. The bathroom was clean. There was a little bit of intoxicated dancing around midnight but not a lot.
Good music venue, small but not tiny. Carries sound well. LGBTQ+ friendly. Check for cover price before.Pro tip: great dollar pizza for before or after around the corner, on 3rd Ave between E 4th and E 5th.
The bar was comfortable and had a nice noise level. The bartenders were attentive and all the drinks were great! Theres also a fun concert space downstairs thats good for dancing and gigs. Will definitely be heading back there
Great venue with upstairs and downstairs areas that are well separated enough to never hear the other show but easy enough to access both without issue if you wanted. Upstairs is more lounge like setting and small, kinda awkward if the show has more than 5 people watching which is kinda sad for the performers. Lately downstairs have been booking great old school rock and punk acts
What a neat venue! The bands kicked ass. The Woggles!!! Beer was good. I had Sierra Nevada Pale Ales. Bathroom was clean. Friendly staff picking up my empty pint glasses. Definitely has character. It is small but I love small clubs with good music. Cant wait to get back!
Excellent bar. Friendly, attentive staff, great atmosphere for young people. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, expect there to be many people in their 20s. The only downside is the music they play is a bit old, I wish they played current popular songs. Other than that, excellent place.
I stopped in with some friends late one Saturday night. We didnt have too much trouble getting in an getting downstairs. It was a bit too packed but we still managed to have fun. They have surprisingly cheap ($7) beers. All my friends and I had a great time dancing to the 80s/90s/today music.
Great atmosphere and great happy hour deals. I was there for a show, easy to get in and great hangout spot if youre early. My bartender was awesome, Rosalie, let me know about the happy hour specials and future events that she thought Id like, very helpful.
I don’t usually write reviews for places but my experience here at Bowery Electric was so bad that I had to share. The bouncer was extremely aggressive and delusional as he denied our group access to the club on the premise that they were all fake which they were not. All of us were well over 21 years of age and even when we provided alternative forms of ID, we were still not allowed into the club! The managers were also extremely rude and disrespectful towards us. The only reason we were going there was to see a friends band perform there that night. Needless to say, we will never be going back there again! But if you do, bring two forms of ID because one is apparently not enough…
Similarly to Olivia, my wallet was also lost at the same private party on New Year’s Eve. I’ve called several times and have not received a response.
Great place, downstairs is where the action is. With a nice stage and a large space its a great place to see some live music.There is a full bar downstairs as well as on the main level. The restrooms are singles so there is usually a line.The crowd is more on the young hip side and the staff very friendly.
It gets crowded but the atmosphere has a great energy to it. The music selection is enjoyable and easy to dance to, if theres room. I went on a Saturday but would be curious to see how it is on an off night.
Great venue to watch local rock bands play loud! As a musician sound check is always on time and the sound guys are down to earth. As a punter the unconventional layout works. You can always see the band playing. Even on the screen at the bar! Beers are decent and the crowd is a grungy mix of New Yorkers of all ages. Support local music and get down to the Bowery!
We did a show here on July 23rd and the Bowery team was amazing in helping our show be amazing! Ian did our lighting and he did an outstanding job, coordinating the lighting to fit our show! Ian is going to be doing big things. Appreciate all the efforts from Bowery for our night!
Heres where the spirit of New York rock and roll lives. Great staff, great sound and tremendous value. The only downside is that for achy joints like mine, its a drag to stand for 4 hours through a triple bill and it does get mighty crowded. Still, a great place to see legendary live music.
I like playing and seeing shows here. Reasonably priced ($10 for the evening) and lots of good sightlines. Sound is very good. Friendly bar staff upstairs and down. Very good sound and pleasant staff. Cool room.
Let me start by saying that this is an awesome bar. The venue is great, the music is incredible, and overall its just a great place.But dont ever host a party there... We paid to rent out a room in the basement and management (Diane in particular) and the bouncers were extremely nasty. They stopped letting people in to my party, even though we had not yet maxed out on the amount of guests that we were allowed. They made people wait in line, wouldnt let our guests into the room that we had reserved, and were just nasty on top of it all.There are a million great bars and clubs to host parties in NYC, the customer service at this one was atrocious. I would return at an earlier hour to experience the venue (so you dont have to wait in line), but there so may other places that are equally as cool and that treat their guests better.
I came here to see my friends show. It was a nice venue. Easy to get to. Sounds system is great. I left my ID but they let me in, I just had to get huge Sharpie Xs on my hand. We could exit and re-enter. I didnt get a drink so IDK how they taste. The bathroom was big and clean. Two performances took place. One upstairs, one downstairs
Went in for the rock music… it seemed great! However drastic change in music after a couple of songs… kind of disappointing
Never really been out to party in NYC. This was a fun place. Very little room to dance and it was obviously pretty crowded. Fairly priced drinks though and good/quick bar service.
Seen a couple of the best bands ever there so far (Uzuhi and The Dickies) and look forward to seeing the legendary 999 soon. It is really a wonderful place: intimate, hospitable and there is simply no place where there not a great view of the bands. It is easy to get to and I look forward to seeing many more shows there!
It is a great place for concerts, in general the bands are off the hook and the sound system makes you jump. But the really cool think is grab a $7 beer and dance the whole night the best music mixing old and new hits
The Bowery electric is one of my favorite places to go out to dance. The crowd here is very young, mostly college age. Good place to dance and have a great time with friends or friendly strangers. There are also bathrooms and two bars here as well and some areas to sit in with booths.The first time I went here with friends, we ended up dancing with another group of people we just met for two hours. Drinks were middle of the road for a venue in this part of town.
They took my ID for absolutely no reason (it’s a real ID and I am 21) and had to wait for an hour for the cops to show up to get it back... they did this to a bunch of random people in line. Avoid at all costs unless you want to have your ID stolen. The bouncer is on a major power trip, they need new management. The woman outside was even using offensive slurs and lied to the cops about what happened.
I really like this venue. Its divey but cozy. Its a small venue with a more intimate connection to the band than most. The bar isnt super well stocked, but it has the basics and the bartender was friendly and accommodating.
Great place to hang out! Crowded during the weekends, the music is fine (some days better than others) but great ambience. If you wanna go to the floor downstairs, you have to pay a 10 usd fee.
Its complicated... On one hand, the basement is awesome and a lot of fun. On the other hand, the way you get there is insane.There is a bar upstairs which is perfectly fine. If youre trying to go downstairs to the club/dance area, you have to wait in a whole separate line INSIDE the bar. 2 lines to get down there. 2.Its worth it if youre in no rush to go anywhere for a while. You can also get drinks while waiting in line if you have a friend walking around which is better than standing in sober in the cold or heat.
BE has been able to mix a bit of old NY and the new! Something that is very rare. A place you can still hear iconic bands usually seen at larger venues. Great sound, great place, highly recommended.
Two stars because the band happened to be their only saving grace. Dont bother with mixed drinks here, theyre mostly mixer and hardly alcohol. Management also managed to believe a false accusation from some anonymous source that the lovely gentlemen I was with had a weapon on him. I was annoyed!
Waited in line for over an hour with my 5 friends only to get to the front and the bouncer didn’t let in our friend because he said he wasn’t 21 (we were all 25+). Bouncers were very rude and the manger was a totally unhelpful, good-for-nothing. Also of course our group was 5 white guys and 1 black guy and only the black guy got stopped and not let in… We all left and will not be spending another dime there
Really cool small punk venue. Its great and a little surprising to see a place like this that still exists in Manhattan. The bands play in the Map Room, a tiny room in the back with the music playing through speakers at the bar, or in the basement.
Best bar in the world. The music is absolutely amazing. They play come on Eileen and everyone goes insane. Been kicked out before but it was my own fault (had a flask). Awesome place and good people.
This place was a lot more fun when it was Remote Lounge and had the cameras/screens everywhere. Now its just a regular bar with a slight industrial feel. Ok place to get a drink, but the type of bar you stop into before going somewhere else for the night.
Small, which is good for a lot of bands, but the layout means that if youre standing by the bar, you cant see the stage at all - and its difficult to move around.
A hopping city landmark and unbeatable venue for the most intimate NYC Rock of the Hard and Rolling varieties. Awesome staff, great bar and just a really vibe!
For reserving a back room with space for a private party, its perfect. Cant comment on anything else like the general crowd or the downstairs dance room with 80s music or anything really.For 100 bucks, you can reserve the back room, fits 50 tight, 25 comfortably. You get your own velvet rope (ooooh), bouncer, bartender, DJ, and 5 drink tickets. What?! Thats a great deal in ny. They say you can get in 50 people with no cover with your name before 12:30am.
Both bar and music venue. Bar upstairs has a back room, which Ive only been in for a live band karaoke event which was entertaining, but small and can get cramped fast if a large crowd shows up. Bar has great drinks and specialty drinks named after classic punk bands songs. I had to get the Teenagers From Mars seeing as how Im a massive Misfits fan, but the Sailin On is good too (just like the Bad Brains song). Downstairs is where the music venue is with a small bar. Once again, depending on the crowd the event pulls in, things can get a little uncomfortable fast as crowd grows in size, if the performer pulls in large crowds. Fun times all around, despite this, though.
I debated even writing this review, but I had a weird experience here when I went to support a friends band and now feel compelled to note it:First, the door guy scanned my 100% legitimate, state-issued Vermont ID and proclaimed it fake and told me to leave. After a minute of back-and-forth where I insisted my ID was real, and upon realizing I was making no headway, I asked for a refund of the tix I pre-purchased. A manager came over and tried to explain that [my] Vermont ID isnt worth losing [their] liquor license over, which is a totally legitimate concern on their end. I do not fault them for this take, theyre just doing their job. Still, after inquiring about how to get a refund for my tix, and asking if there was any other form of verification I could provide (i.e. a CC with my name on it, a picture of my lease, etc), the manager relented and said that if I had some other federal- or state-issued proof of ID I could enter. After a minute of searching, I discovered an old expired ID in my wallet that I keep for posterity, which he accepted in addition to my current ID and allowed me in. Thank goodness I had it on me, though I cant help but wonder if he only gave in to me because I asked for specifics (including his name) in the refund process. Regardless, I generally dont like callous assumptions about myself, in this case that my ID MUST HAVE BEEN fake because it didnt scan the way they expected. Again, these gentlemen were only doing their jobs, so I dont fault them for carrying on as theyre expected to. Still, their customer service acumen in this regard left something to be desired.The strangeness didnt end there. I looked past the incident at the door and opened a tab downstairs. I ordered the same pair of drinks twice, and when my partner went to close my tab at the end of the night, the bartender said he did not have my card. She summoned me, and when I came up to try and close my tab again, he insisted that he did not have my card. I gave him my name and a description of my cards (he had my ID too); skeptical though he was, the bartender did some digging and found it set apart (for some reason) from the cards of the other patrons with open tabs. I get that mistakes can be easy to make, but so strong was his conviction in telling me that he did not have my card - when he absolutely did - that it struck me as somewhat patronizing. I was not drunk, nor was I slurring my speech, nor was I acting aggressive at any point during the night, so this was also not an affront borne of spite towards my behavior in their venue. Again, mistakes can be easy to make, but the bartender - who up until now had been perfectly pleasant in interaction - only gave me my card back with a muttering of my bad. I recognize that he was likely ignorant of what had occurred upstairs with the door guy and the manager, but with all of the evenings infractions taken together, a shot on the house wouldve been a nice gesture of good will and maybe secured my continued patronage. I get it, the service industry can suck, but are these common occurrences at this establishment? This was my first time here and ultimately left somewhat of a negative impression on me.Alas, I will likely not default to the Bowery Electric for future evenings, despite how good of a venue it is (nice stage, good sound, great space, solid drinks, clean bathrooms). I certainly cant speak for anyone elses potential experience here, but I urge any attendees with newly-issued state IDs to bring a second form of ID with them, inconvenient though that may be. Hopefully the Bowery Electric update their scanners soon, or stay apprised of changes in the appearance of various domestic IDs. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Chill place that serves drinks and always hosts good events. Bathrooms are clean and well maintained. Easily accessible and in the middle of a great neighborhood.
Rock club like its supposed to be. Perfect.
The party downstairs is not as advertised. It says classic hits. It was not a mixing DJ just some guy playing random songs. First a lizzo song then nsync then Nelly then ed Sheeran. DJ was terrible. The place was dangerously overcrowded and coat check was disastrous. You could not walk from one end of bar to the other without it taking 20 minutes on either floor. If there was a fire we all would have died. And the cover was $10. They tell you to buy online in order to ensure u can get it so online its $12 and they still let ppl in anyway. Terrible place.
Saw The Brummies with Low Beam. Very cool place and our bartender was amazing!
Great sound engineer. The bartenders upstairs can be snobs but the downstairs venue is a fun place to see / hear live bands
If your band attracts not more than 50-100 people, this place can definitely hold that many individuals. Theres a bar if you like drinking.
Good blend of music in terms of both genre & intervals between bands. Attentive bartenders & reasonable prices along with a good selection of choices. Support local live music
The line to get into the bar takes about 15 min but once youre in the first floor is pretty crowded. I did enjoy the music and the bar was quick as well. However, there is a huge line on the first floor to get to the basement club that takes forever.
Great place to hear music. Down in the basement lies another bar which is the place to be.I have no idea how many people can crowd the venue but it is music happening with a stage and a dance floor. Up the steps is a long bar crowded with people of all ages drinking and socializing.I was just walking down the block and over heard the COUNTING CROWS were making an appearance during the CMJ2013 and said --Free concert for the crows! Wait...I am in- so after listening to a few bands ON they came. Soundchecks and hours later- here I saw Adam, sing with the crows- along with some other bands. Free concerts!
On our way out my friend and i were yelled at by the bouncer telling me I couldn’t take my drink outside and that i had to throw it out or take it back in. I was confused but i threw it out in the trash can on my way out. Once we were outside she runs up to us again saying I can’t take my drink out. I explained to her that i didn’t have it and she asks “so where did it go then?” She didn’t believe me until she went to check the trash can. Meanwhile the two white girls who left before me were not stopped and took their drinks with them. Felt racially motivated
Great time here! Venue downstairs is a great size for a show and there is a bar down there.
Very disappointed with how Dana handled an artist booking. The artist tried to follow up several times and was provided no information on the validity of the gig which led them to contacting a different booking agent at Bowery. Very unprofessional and stressful for all involved. We hope this changes so other artists won’t have to worry about minute details up until the show unlike other venues where thorough information is provided unprompted in advance.
Its a nice place with great music. Their ATM is too bright, my only complaint as its a killjoy, kills the lounge mood. Aside from that, great music and cool crowd!!
The people were great from the front door to the comedians & everyone in between. Tickets were cheap & included pizza (which was delish).
AVOID THIS PLACE! The most unprofessional staff I’ve ever seen. The security guy acted like a criminal and tried to threaten my friend. It happened around 10:30 p.m. 06/24/21. We weren’t even their customers just passing by. Should call the police but didn’t want to spoil the night.
Went two nights ago and had a blast. Great music, great indie band and the drinks were good as well. Awesome place to land if youre in the East Village.
They put an AC in the basement! No heatwave in the mosh pit! Ive seen a lot of great bands here!
Had a great time, but I think that was more due to the show I was seeing than anything else. Maybe this is my bias from mostly going out in Brooklyn, but drink prices were pretty steep for a venue that felt like being in someones basement.
Awesome sauce this place rocks.. always have a great time when when I go.. can not wait for the next show
Cool venue. This was my first time here, and I loved it. Bartenders were also great here too. Definitely worth a visit if youre in the neighborhood.
Good music downstairs, but as for the upstairs, its your run-of-the-mill bar with a DJ and people stopping by before starting or ending their night. FYI, on Thursdays after the John Vartvatos event, they have free well vodka until 11 PM.
Had two simultaneous shows when I grabbed a drink, fun place with friendly service. Would definitely come back with some pre-purchased tickets in order to check the venue in the basement.
Extremely rude staff & bouncer who confiscated multiple real ID’s and refused service after the police were called and returned our ID’s to us. Just a terrible experience and it almost ruined our night. Be careful if you party here.
Great place to play shows! The sound check is very professional and sound quality os really great. Nice intimate venue where the crowd and staff are very cool.
Hot. Sweaty. Cramped. Loud. Everything you could ask for to make an excellent end to a date night in your 20’s. Pro tip. Get there early or be prepared to wait in line to go downstairs, which is where the real fun is happening.
Great venue for all sorts of events.Staff has been really nice and polite.Strongly recommend.
Fun to go out at! Can be lines later on (1030-12). Open late (4am+). NYU and recent grad crowd is prevalent. Everyone is dancing so buckle up.
Bartenders are good people. Can find some good shows for as little as $5 a night. Two stages. Close to major transportation. Lights are good in this place
Expensive and nothing special drinks. Unfriendly staff. Really unfriendly. Tiny space and very overcrowded. Maybe they oversold for the show that was there. However, the show was good and there was open bar for beer for about an hour or so.
Exactly what youd expect for a club on the LES. Watch your belongings closely as pick pockets arent uncommon.The DJ usually plays decent beats and the downstairs is gets crowded with people dancing rather quickly.
Awesome venue for great live local regional and national acts, reasonable drink prices, awesome staff. I recommend!
Music is danceable (think Jackson 5). Crowd is usually 21-24, kinda bro scene. Gets packed later, the downstairs isnt worth the $5 cover
Amazing musicians, great dance atmosphere and good drinks. Had a lot of fun here and would try to visit again.
I wish I could like this super awesome bar located on Bowery. Unfortunately, the owner Diane is so rude. I usually avoid this bar and go to other bars in the neighborhood. There are plenty to chose from that appreciate customers.
An intimate venue, with very interesting bands, who you can usually talk to at the bar after their set is over. Check out their website for upcoming shows, a definite must visit
A small club with a great PA system. Theres a bar upstairs and the club downstairs. The club level has 2 tiers and the stage is tiny so its an intimate experience.
Nice, small, homely environment. The audio was great and Natural Born Leaders absolutely killed it during their show. Cant believe they wouldnt allow an encore...
Good bar but extremely overpriced and the concert hall section is a little back room with a stage. Great local musicians play but you have to squeeze in to see people play
Great dancing place, liked you pay 10 $ and go to the downstairs part definitely worth it. Music was great and they have good selection of drinks.
If you between 21-30 you will love it, great dj hyping the crowd, lots of people dancing, but the vibe is young way to young for me
Not many cool concert venues left in the City. Here on the Bowery they used to be everywhere. With CBGBs across the street from this place. If you want intimate setting entertainment check this place out.
We were charged $17 for a green tea shot. That is an unreasonable amount of money to be charged for one shot without some kind of heads up. I will not be returning here.
Such a fun place! Been to many concerts here. The vibe is great. The music is always amazing! Always take my friends out to this place!
Absolutely way more personal if you want to meet who your going to see ! SANTA CRUZ IS AWESOME SUCH DOWN TO EARTH GUYS !
I stopped to use the bathroom at 2am and this is the whitest bar Ive EVER been in. No joke, I walk in and there are 50+ white dudes screaming mr brightside, then avicii and finishing the ballad list with Katy Perry.If youre basic af and in Bowery I guess thats the spot to be.Not white enough? There was a sign for 5$ frozen margaritas, so any race or creed can unlock their inner Karen or Janet.
Great stage, great audio
Great little place for live music. Upstairs gets packed with fun loving girls in high heels. Downstairs the bands bang out.
One of the few good spots for music in Manhattan proper where you dont have to wait forever to get a drink, and you can actually see the stage.
Subwoofer was broken so was hard to get the full experience with the music. Loud, may have hearing damage from the night. Not worth it.
This place is awful. The management was totally irrational and rude. The place was dirty and had a bad stench. My friend had a birthday party there and no one could get in. I would not do events there. What is the point of hosting an event that no one can actually go to at venue that smells and is dirty?
Fntastic and lively spot on the Bowery... come for the food, stay for the crowd. I cant say enough good things about this place.
If you like California burritos from San Diego, I would recommend Dorato over Electric Burrito. First and last time here. Repeat customer of Dorato.
The best on Monday nights for vintage vinyl sounds of rnb disco house and hiphop. They spin all 45s!
Nice place good music beautiful women... But it gets real crowded so go early. 😁😎
I was there for a friends birthday, so the closed an area off for us. Place is really great and the staff are very helpful.just be wary of the bathroom lines because people like to skip.
Great live performances every time I go. New lightning enhances the show and makes photography easier. Friendly staff.
Fun 2 level venue with an intimate stage setting
Really fun venue for shows. Had a great time there.
Great place for live music
Has two floors first floor as soon as you walk in is a bar clean nice chill vibe no extra nonsense downstairs is where the artist perform which was amazing each artist had there own unique style but the artist that stood out to me the most was Merc the big body Benz she performed the song titled talk to me like that off of her EP called day sex it was amazing she absolutely had the crowd in awe with her amazing performance definitely should check her out on Bandcamp will definitely be attending again this place is a diamond in the ruff
Great Rock n Roll theme still persists; well decorated, cool ambience - however more expensive then similar bars in the area.
- Address:327 Bowery, New York, NY 10003, United States
- Site:http://theboweryelectric.com/
- Phone:+1 212-228-0228
- Monday:5 PM–2 AM
- Tuesday:5 PM–2 AM
- Wednesday:5 PM–2 AM
- Thursday:5 PM–3 AM
- Friday:5 PM–4 AM
- Saturday:5 PM–4 AM
- Sunday:5 PM–2 AM
- On-site services:Yes
- Dine-in:Yes
- Delivery:No
- Takeaway:No
- Fast service:Yes
- Great beer selection:Yes
- Great cocktails:Yes
- Live music:Yes
- Live performances:Yes
- Sport:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible car park:No
- Alcohol:Yes
- Beer:Yes
- Cocktails:Yes
- Dancing:Yes
- Happy-hour drinks:Yes
- Spirits:Yes
- Wine:Yes
- Bar on site:Yes
- Toilets:Yes
- Wi-Fi:Yes
- Wi-Fi:Yes
- Restaurant:No
- Casual:Yes
- Trendy:Yes
- Groups:Yes
- Tourists:Yes
- Accepts reservations:Yes
- Credit cards:Yes
- Debit cards:Yes
- NFC mobile payments:Yes
- Credit cards:Yes
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