Merc Bar

I still walk on Mercer and catch myself looking for Merc Bar, even though it’s been gone for a number of months. Building issues osts got owner John MacDonald heading for the exit, but there is some solace in knowing it lives on in Phoenix, AZ (
)
The vibe was always laid back, yet classy. Bartenders were just as fun, throwing together drinks that were as potent as they were pricey. Not exactly a group spot, but then again the place was never big enough for that kind of crowd. It’s true the weekends were chaos, but it was more of a neighborhood bar than a cross town destination.
it was good while it lasted and iconic over the last couple of decades. Instead of drinks and good fun, the new space will be converted into a retail spot, joining the Soho fashion landscape that just continues to get bigger and bigger.

Admittedly, I am writing this review more as a eulogy than as a review. My beloved Merc Bar closed for good not all that long ago. For three solid years after returning to NY from the west coast in 2010, this place was my go-​to date spot. Perfect in almost every respect that a serial dating bachelor could ask for. Dimly lit, comfortable seating, good music, no food other than pretzels/​popcorn, great cheap cocktails. I sat shiva when Merc Bar closed, no dating for seven days and nights while I remembered a dear departed friend. R.I.P.

IN SHORT: A great SoHo spot to always have in your pocket. The superb service here will make you forget that the crowd tends to run a bit older. Free pretzels only add to the refined, rustic atmosphere that will make you feel casually swanky.
THE STORY: I first came to Merc Bar on a Saturday night to meet up with my best friend for some catching up over classy drinks. There was no line to get in, and the music that greeted us inside was just loud enough where we weren’t forced to eavesdrop on our neighbors’ conversations, but could still hear everything well in our little corner. The space is fairly large, and the décor is understated and sophisticated while maintaining its subtle mountain country flare.
The drinks are well priced and well made, albeit a little standard. The Sweet Little 16, with Bulldog gin, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, organic agave nectar, lime juice, and club soda, was still a great fix for my evening.
What made our experience special, however, was the service. The hostess was sweet and attentive, and moved us quickly to a larger table when two other friends showed up a bit later, and we so appreciated having our drink orders taken and delivered to us by a server. Plus, the bottomless pretzels were ridiculously addictive and became a nice final touch to a homey, but classy night. I’ll be keeping Merc Bar on my radar each time I’m in Soho.

Great bartender (seriously, one of the best in the city — look for a guy with blonde hair), no fuss at the door, and interesting décor. It’s dimly lit inside and the atmosphere is great for meeting up with friends or taking people from out of town. I can’t remember the music but volume levels were good (ie no shouting at the top of your lungs to communicate with the person next to you)
Drinks are expensive for the area, but I knew that when I came here and was prepared. They are cheaper than in Meatpacking. They are strong and well-​mixed.
Definitely will stop by if I’m around here again. The crowd is also a nice change from the college-​esque kids that hang out at nearby places.

Came here twice. It’s too packed for on Friday and Saturday nights. Nice and quiet date spot during happy hour. Interesting boat hanging above the bar. Drinks are good too, but menu is always changing. Place is hard to find, you have to enter another entrance before finding your way. Don’t forget to dress up when you come here!

I’ve been here many times, but this is the first time I’m reviewing the place. I’m giving Merc Bar a 4 but it should probably a 3.5. It feels a bit dated to me (dark lounge with rude people — so old school) but its a great place to take people from out of town. People from out of town have a «Sex and the City» image of NYC if they haven’t been here before. Merc Bar satisfies the need to feel like Carrie and Mr. Big I guess.
Also, they actually play good tunes (I have poor taste in music so take this with a grain of salt) and the ‘people watching’ can be good. In fact, I love looking at the twenty-​somethings who have a little money, go out on a date, and stop by Merc Bar to be seen as the city’s best-​dressed love birds.

Great for almost any setting. It’s quiet enough for 1 – 1 before maybe 9pm, then the place gets a bit more lively. They have at least a few good beers on tap. Drinks are a bit pricey, but you’re in Soho…
There are tables and it’s surprisingly easy to get one too if you ask the host. Atmosphere is lively and fun, they play good music too. Like Pegu Club without the hassle I’d say.

If Pocahontas owned a cool bar, this would be it. The interior is composed of lots of earthy, woody colors, animal skins, deer horns, and canoes on the ceiling and over the bar. Despite the redneck sounding décor, it’s quite pretty and trendy inside.
DELICIOUS cocktails! Try the Cayenne– it’s like a extra spicy less tomato-​y bloody mary (pretty much what I wish a bloody mary was). Also good was the dark and stormy which was a ginger beer cocktail. Come for happy hour 5 – 8 pm where they have certain cocktails and beers for half off. This was especially nice on a Sunday because the bar was quiet. They give you popcorn at your table too which was a nice touch. I especially like this bar in the summer time because they keep their french doors open and on weekends this place can get crowded!

I want to say it was an off-​night for this place, but this was my third time having a bad time coming here. The three strikes (each time) are: pretentious attitude of people who are in here, poorly mixed cocktails, and the RUDEST doorman I have ever met in my life.
On a not-​crowded Saturday night he firmly pushed me as he asked for my ID as I was walking in. Please sir, there is no need to put your hands on me. And upon leaving, he was blocking the door with his back to me. I said, very nicely, «excuse me» which he ignored, so I said it a little louder. It was then that he turned around and yelled, «there’s a space — you can get by». MY apologies on not wanting to try and squeak by the 5″ opening when he could simply step aside and let my group of friends out. Sadly, this is not a rare occurrence with this place or this doorman — who said his name was «John» but I highly doubt it.
If I were the owners I would promptly fire this guy. He starts and ends the experience at their establishment in the worst ways possible. Yes, he may be a tall, decent looking, African American man — but no one should treat anyone with such disdain. Especially if your job is to work with GUESTS.
No one in my group will be returning here.

MercBar is an umpretentious upscale bar in Soho. I come here every Monday to participate in my mastermind group called MercBar Mondays. We’re a collection of professionals that work in a diverse mix of industries and help motivate each other in accomplishing our goals/​dreams.
The drinks are all crafted by the talented bar staff and served with a smile. If you come on a Monday, stop by the back area and introduce yourself. We don’t bite. Hard!

I’m a design junkie, and loved the interior décor in this spot. Maybe because it was easy to grab a table early in the evening on a Friday night, or maybe because the bill at the end of the night wasn’t hard to swallow, or maybe it was the great soundtrack in the background.
Glad I found this place around the corner from my office.

I’ve been to Merc about 10 times and this place would usually get 5 stars, and the service is usually stellar, but our server was horrific. I’ve got mixed emotions here because Merc is fantastic but I’ve never met a more matter-​of-​fact, don’t care about patrons experience, server. She was too busy associating with her colleagues to really pay attention to our table of five, and if that was not a hassle enough, when I asked her about the receipt at the end of the night, not in an accusatory way, but in a simple question way, she gave me the Connecticut B Face response talking down to me like I was in the 5^th grade. Now… on to the good stuff…
Merc is one of my favorite lounges in the city, probably been here ten times. Always a good vibe in the place, packed with attractive people dressed well. The layout is nice with dim lights, plush seating, suspended canoe, gigantic Native American painting. There’s a large and long bar area which is roped off at the back so its easy to walk to the back. And most important, can usually get a table even on the busiest nights.
Merc Bar is home to my favorite drink in the city called the «Cayenne», which is hella spicy but not enough to make you cry. I’ve honestly never had anything else… I stick to what works.
All told, definitely go back but if I see the server again, I’ll just request someone else. Simple solution.

Very comfortable little lounge we went to on a Saturday night. Virtually no wait, and really delicious drinks. I had a vodka cranberry and some interesting elderflower liquor-​based martini. Truly delicious.

I absolutely love this bar and have been several times. It’s classy, yet chill. Always has a attractive, sophisticated crowd with good and friendly service. It’s decorated like a dimly lit ski lodge and it somehow works. There’s even a canoe on the wall.
They have a pretty decent cocktail menu with a few interesting drinks. My favorite is the jalapeño tequila watermelon cocktail… can’t recall the name. It is my go to drink when I have come here. Drinks are a bit pricey at around $ 15 a pop, but doesn’t really bother me.
I highly suggest this place for a date night or good drink spots with a group of friends.

This place is all about the décor. Like a snowy lodge somewhere outside of NY with cozy seats and antlers on the wall. This place has a unique drink menu and a very small selection of draft beers.
The playlist is amazing and ranges from your pop hits from the 80’s to some grungy tunes you heard in High School.
The space is large enough to come with a crowd. Lots of cushy seats!
The drink prices range between $ 10-​$ 15, but that is kind of normal for Manhattan.

Merc Bar is a nice Soho lounge with comfy chairs and intimate lighting. It has a relaxed, but sexy atmosphere. Judging by the PDA with dates, everyone else seems to think its sexy too.
I came here on a date and was directed to some great rum drinks by our waitress. They have a lot of choices on their drink menu so be prepared. You really can’t go wrong with any of their specialty drinks, because they are all skillfully made.
The service is very friendly and has great drink recommendations if you tell them what you’re into. My date was French and didn’t speak much English; the waitress was very accommodating with him. This bar tends to attract the finance crowd/​after work crowd. The bar gets packed after 11pm so try to get there early if you want to snag a table. It does get pretty loud so don’t expect to get in too much deep conversation, which is fantastic if your date is foreign and your conversational French is lagging.
Overall great bar for a Friday night. I will return.

It’s been a while since I had been to the Merc Bar. Nestled along the cobble stoned streets within American Express way this place still has a sleek look with a mountain hunting cabin vibe. Small list of decent house named mixed drinks and terrific music selection. The Cure to Pink Floyd to Queen to Jessie’s Girl! Whoever sets up their ipod knows quality music.
Mixed drinks will run you in the $ 10-​$ 14 range. Only a few options of beer on tap such as Stella, Sixpoint IPA, and a few others in bottles, but an acceptable selection for a casual stop in for a drink.
Still love the dim lighting, leather chairs, lounge like couch seating up front, and the giant canoe hanging from the ceiling. Just a laid back place to bring a date, or catch up with a friend over a few beers in a bit nicer atmosphere.

Came around 10PM on a Friday and didn’t have a problem getting one of the tables with my group.
Cocktails looked good but everyone I was with wanted wine so we shared a bottle. It was a nice place to sit back and relax with our glasses of wine after a long week. It was getting more crowded when we left about an hour later but that is to be expected!
I would come back.

We ended up executing an unplanned pub crawl in lower Manhattan during a business visit. Merc Bar just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I immediately felt right at home in the darkened main room lit almost only by the streetlights outside. It’s got I’m on a drinking safari kind of a hunting lodge feel to it.
Pulled up a seat at the zebra hide covered couch and enjoyed several glasses of wine. It’s a young, 20ish crowd… not surprising in Soho on a Wednesday night.

If you are light weight, don’t come here.
The cocktails here are pretty Strong and pretty good.
I ordered the Apple Seare Cocktail and I was done for the entire night. Price is a tad high but it’s a nice strong mix cocktail, also it’s accompanied with mini pretzels just in case if you want to munch something while zipping your drink.
Love the front area which was Open and you can see people walking with a nice chill wind coming in.
Décor is all Wood with hanging Canoe in every spot. Dimmed and mini candles in every table.
It wasn’t crowded that night because it was the night of the heavy thunderstorm. We got the table for myself (And my significant other).
Music Varies, first five minutes you will hear an old school hip hop. Then another 5 minutes you’ll listen to mellow 30’s music, and after that they’ll put some top 40’s. It’s a nice mix for all types of people.
Service was pretty descent. Waitress comes and check every 30 minutes unless if you want something just stare at her. Good spot if it’s not crowded and couples to have a nice convo.

Meine absolute Lieblings Bar in New York!
Auszeichnungen & gute Bewertungen von:
London Times, Vogue, The New Yorker & The Paper Magazin, …
Auch Gewinner des «New Yorks hottest Staff» Award!
Eine der Kellnerinnen erzählte mir mal von ihrer Schwester, die wäre mit so einem Deutschen Sänger zusammen «Till» von so einer deutschen «Rockband»…
kann schonmal vorkommen.
Wie ich mal hörte, soll die Bar wohl mal einer Modelagentur gehört haben, oder gehören, und sich desshalb die Models abends gerne da treffen, eine urbane legende oder auch nicht.
Getränke sind zwar nicht günstig, aber sehr gut.
Coctails 12 – 13 $
Tequila 12– 42!!! $
Bier 6 – 9 $
Die Flasche Champagner von 45 – 375 $
Hoher Flirtfaktor, seit ca 10 Jahren den gleichen Türsteher, der mal in den 80ern in Deutschland Basketball gespielt hat.
Einfach ein Platz zum Wohlfühlen!