The Anchor

Ended up here after my company’s xmas party. Way too many drinks and far too many shots later, I found myself in the men’s bathroom for 10+ mins (girl’s bathroom being occupied by likely unmentionable activities), too drunk to be able to figure out the lock. The man that accidentally came to my rescue that night is now my soon to be husband… 8 years in the making. Best night, best bar ever.
‘s away.

I love this place it’s one of those NYC places that restores my faith in nightlife. The owner is super cool and so is the staff. I really like the set up of the space, because there is actually room, for the bar and dancing. LOVED THE DJ he had me dancing all night, and his diverse playlist kept my friends and I on the dance floor all night. My only complaint was that the mixed drinks could have been a tad stronger but maybe that’s me.
I totally recommend this place on a Saturday night

I’ve been using my outdoor voice indoors all day today, and do you know why? Because my ears are broken after going to this god forsaken bar for a birthday party. Had I not been going to see a relative for her party I would have made a u-​turn immediately upon walking into this hell hole. Bridge and tunnel crowd, so crowded, make-​your-​ears bleed music volume, and grinding on the dance floor to dubstep versions of Blink 182. I think I’ll stick to my regular stomping grounds in the east village.

What a blast!
We came here for my sister’s bachelorette party. DJ Kalkutta was spinning it and to be honest our group of girls was already exhausted from a long day and we didn’t think we would last long that night. The DJ was so amazing that within minutes we uncovered our second wind and ended up staying until closing time. She was incredible and did a great job mixing up the new with the old, we couldn’t get enough! Also, we didn’t arrive till midnight but since I had corresponded with Jason earlier he made sure we had a nice little nook to station our things right near the dance floor (thanks, Jason!)
The crowd was really into it and we all had an amazing time. Since we were a group of girls together we didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the group but there weren’t any annoying people in sight. We had about 8 girls with us, if we were a larger group it might have been tough because it gets pretty crowded here, but it was still a blast and I can’t wait to come back.

I don’t know how to feel about this place so take of this post what you may. I came here for a friends birthday and it was ok. To be honest, I came in with a sour taste in my mouth because of what I had read here on Unilocal.At first I felt out of place because there was a bunch of people with glow in the dark paint on their faces and EDM blasting, which is not really my scene so I was left standing there wondering what I had just walked in to.
Pretty soon though the DJ switched it up and played hiphop and reggae, and after that there was a segment of what can only be described as «Middle School Classics» (e.g. «What’s my age again», «Sk8terboi») and then Top 40. The variety was actually kind of strange and sudden but it gave everyone something to get excited about.
The bartender was very nice and we were served pretty fast. The bathroom monitor guy was also delightful, which helped since I was standing in line for the bathroom for what seemed like an eternity.
Overall, I had a good time. I wouldn’t recommend it, but I wouldn’t write it off all together. I won’t be going back though unless under the same birthday situation, because the replies to people’s reviews speak louder than the reviews themselves. I’d rather avoid problematic places, and my experience in person wasn’t strong enough to totally wipe out that bad feeling I got from Unilocal

I can’t believe The Anchor has such a low rating. I went to a birthday party there this past Friday night, and we had a ball.
The DJ knew his audience and played Lauryn Hill and gettin jiggy with it. throwback faves. It wasn’t too crowded at all, the bartenders were kind and quick with the dranks. Drink prices were average Manhattan prices, definitely not overpriced lounge nonsense.
Tip: doesn’t open til 10pm, so don’t get there early!

I spent an absolutely incredible and amazing birthday last night at The Anchor and I truly cannot imagine why anyone would leave this bar a bad review. The staff were so friendly and responsive when planning my birthday, and when we arrived they were just as spectacular. For no charge, they allowed my entire party of 20 people line bypass and provided us a table right near the dance floor, at our request. Their bouncer was so friendly and knew about our party as soon as we arrived. Our waitress was incredibly sweet and attentive, even though there was no minimum for having a table. The owner came to personally wish me a happy birthday, as well as drop off a complimentary punch bowl and a box of DELICIOUS birthday cupcakes. I have truly never experienced such hospitality and friendliness from a venue. The bar itself is a great space (the ONLY word of warning I have is that the restrooms are singles and the lines can get long — bring a friend and dance in line cause you won’t want to miss all the great music!!) they had an AMAZING DJ who was playing non stop fantastic music. We danced like crazy into the early hours of the morning and I truly could not have imagined a better birthday. I will not hesitate to recommend the anchor to any friend planning a birthday or special event, and I myself will be back in a heartbeat for some more amazing dancing! Thank you to everyone at the anchor for making it such an incredible birthday for me and all of my guests!

Racist Owner!!! My friend (who is black) just got there and he picked me up to hug me and the owner who ran over, grabbed his arm and said «Put him the F down». Didnt explain who he was or why he was asking him to put me down. Then when my friend calmly walked over to understand who that guy was and what was going on, the owner told his bouncers to kick my friend out. Then hid behind the door like a coward screaming «I’ll call the cops.» The owner kicked him out for no reason cuz he picked me up!!! What kinda of BS is that. What is wrong with that?
To prove that he is racist – one of the bouncers actually came and met us at the bar next door. And apologized for his boss. He said this wasnt the first time the owner discriminated against people of similar background and demographic as my friend. And kept apologizing for not backing us up.

I really have no excuse as to why I’ve never been to The Anchor. This is literally one of the few bumpin’ places in my hood. Although I have never stepped inside until recently… I’ve been able to hear the music from my apartment and from what I’ve heard, the music usually sounds pretty good.
The entrance is kind of hidden and there is nothing going on here during the day. It’s marked by a tiny white anchor and a door full of graffiti and bumper stickers. Once it hits around 9pm-​ish, that’s when the blue lights outside go on, and the red velvet ropes are pulled out. Once you get inside, you’ll notice it’s a very narrow space but the bar is still a good size, and there are lots of tables to sit at/​get bottle service. Prices are comparable to places in the area and the bartenders are easy to get to. It’s very low key and a fun place to get drinks and go dancing! Will be seeing more of me here this year!

Okay, went here on Saturday, (11−9−13) and this place WAS OVER CROWDED AND I MEANNNNN ITTT! This place was so crowded that it was jam packed to the point where you felt like a standing sardine. It was so crowded that my friend couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to get out of there fast. Because we left so quickly, the most I can say is that for the little bit of time that we were there, which was about 25 minutes or so, the music was pretty good and the women were pretty cute and nicely dressed.
Cons: For those that are into a mixed crowd, this may not be for you, the crowd here seems to be mainly Caucasian all the time.
NOT BEING RACIST BY THE WAY, JUST STATING THE OBVIOUS. I LIKE WHITE PEOPLE SO PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME ANY WEIRD COMMENTS.
Pro: The music was good and varied from old school hip hop to alternative, to Reggae to Rock, etc,.

Here is a friendly message from the establishment’s owner after I posted my review on Unilocal:
«The doorman was doing his job and was told by owners they did not want shorts. He was nice enough to come inside and get me, and I made an exception and let you inside. I see now after reading your review I made a huge mistake. Thank you though, I now have learned to not second guess the door staff ever again. Had I just let him not let you in instead, I wouldn’t have this ridiculously heavy-​handed review. Guess that’s what I get for trying to be nice to you.» –JASON L.
LMAO!!!

Eh…
The bar itself is small. There is a lounge-​y area in the front with chairs, and then a thin narrow aisle, and then a medium-​sized area in the back to dance. There is one ladies bathroom and one gents room, so the lines to get in are really, really long. It was okay when we showed up at 11, but by 12, people were spilling drinks on me. Bartenders are quick and efficient — drinks are pretty strong and moderately priced (11 – 12 dollars).
The crowd seemed like a random mish-​mash of people. Seemed sort of like a hookup bar for people in their young 20s. The girl DJ was subpar, at best. She was playing great songs, but as people got into a song maybe 45 seconds in she would abruptly cut over to another song. Hate when DJs do this.
Others: doorman was nice, no cell service in the bar.

after hearing that two of the girls from work met their
future husbands at The Anchor, i decided to go for it.
prior to heading out, i quickly read some reviews and
was taken aback as what i was reading was quite different
as to what the girls say; and GIRLS KNOW.
I hosted a girls dinner at Giorgione,
(overpriced) and then proceeded
across the street to The Anchor Bar.
we walked up to a small line which
moved rather quickly; doorman
was friendly and teddy bear like (
(Horrible jokes though)
once inside, you enter upon a sleek long
white bar on your left hand side with
tables for cocktails and conversation
in the front area.
the front area was easy to move around
and quite comfy; great for chatting up
that handsome future Alpha Male
I quickly noticed what seemed to be a large crowd in the rear
of this bar; almost as if they were giving
things away.
I’m always curious as a cat, so i proceeded
to the rear of the bar, dance floor area only
to find an ass– kicking party with a super
dope DJ going by the name of Fresh Direct.
Great music, Fun Crowd and they seem to
follow the rules here, no A– holes smoking
in the place or doing drugs, a pretty well
managed establishment.
I actually asked who the owner was but
the staff would not give up his/​her name.
Upon dancing for an hour, I Began to
feel a bit parched, as they say.
I went for The Anchor (cocktail board) a truly
fresh margarita made with premium
high quality tequilla. yummy yummy…
yes, there is a small line for the restrooms ( Unilocalers)
and yes, its a small spot that fills up rather quickly ( Unilocalers)
It All seems like a small price to pay for Great Music, Alot of Fun
and a great crowd for dancing, drinking and getting picked up–
Leave your panties home–
we will be back… SOON–

I didn’t read any reviews before rocking The Anchor for a bday jam on Sat, but DAMN, it seems like this place runs hot or cold. Luckily, I caught it on a good night.
Rolled up around 11:15 and there was no line. Gave the bouncer the name of our party and our Id’s and we were in. No crazy door girl. No cover. Easy peasy.
The place is pretty simple. Small front area with a few tables, long bar and a back area with some more tables. End of The Anchor. So, yea, it’s not the biggest and, yea, it’s gonna be packed on a Sat night. The place filled up quick and was full by midnight. Our crew hung out in the front and enjoyed the DJ rocking some late 90’s hip-​hop and then mixing in some EDM. Solid tunes for the drunks. We started a mini dance party and in the front and no one was bothered. Drinks were in the $ 12 range, but the free drink with Unilocal check in made that an afterthought.
The only really odd part of the eve was that there were no locks on the bathroom doors. There was a security guard blocking the door when people were in there. Why pay a security guy to be there? Get a lock. I’m sure there’s a reason for it, but being a one time patron, I thought it was real weird. Besides that, if I was with a crowd and was looking for a place to show off my moves, I wouldn’t mind coming here again. A-​OK!

After an apologetic private message from part owner/​manager Jason, my friends and I decided to give The Anchor another go ’round this past weekend.
We rolled in at around 9pm on Friday to a much more pleasant/​manageable crowd. Even though the action was light, Jason was zipping around the bar, coat check area, and outside to ensure everything was running smoothly… It certainly was. He recognized us from the prior week and offered us a complimentary round. Even more, he jumped behind the bar himself for some reminiscing and to personally mix our libations.
Unfortunately, we had to leave prematurely, as one of my friends was in need of some dinner. Jason assured us that the weeknight scene is waaay different than the one we first witnessed on the Saturday night when we first came here. I’d likely take his advice and give this place a weeknight try if I’m in the area.
Four stars for the review update for an excellent manager who listens to concerns and follows through on addressing customer needs and ensuring satisfaction. Thanks again.

The only reason I am giving this place one star is the DJ and awesome wallpaper.
I went on a Saturday night, there was no line, which is always a good thing but the staff was terrible and pushing people around. We ordered a round of drinks, and the bartender gave us an attitude and acted like making a vodka and club was too above her.
I would never ever go again and the DJ needs to find a better bar.

Not sure why people are hating on this place as much as they are. This is a place that is trying to be a hip lounge, which could mean some drawbacks. Yes if it’s a particular night with a special guest D.J. or an event, they may ask you to wait outside for awhile and depending on your gender you may not get in at all.
Guess what, that’s a lot of places in N.Y.C. If you are looking for something that will let everyone in, every night, the Emerald Pub is located right next door.
If you know how to get into a place like this and do not fret. You shall enter. I’ve never encountered a problem with any of the bouncers or doormen. I have had good times here and unpleasant times here.
What made the unpleasant times just that? Way too packed on certain nights. I like a good crowd, I don’t mind a large volume of people but there’s a limit where it’s beyond enjoyable. Especially when there is one stall bathroom for each gender. I don’t like the tables in the front. I would never accept one again, always take a table in the back.
I have had good times here as well. Great D.J.‘s on average. Most times they’ve been pretty solid. If you get a table in the back, you should be in store for a good night. I was just here for NYE and had a great time, much better than I expected.
In the end I would describe the place as hit or miss, but if you can reserve a table in the back for you and your friends it should be a solid night.

It’s amusing (and also makes a lot of sense) that such a horrible bar has a trashy enough management team (under various names, «joe,» «Jason,» «baron von Unilocaly») that they attempt to harass every negative reviewer rather than cleaning up their dump of a bar that people clearly universally hate.
Still the worst dump I’ve been to in the city, and spending a great deal of time stalking Unilocalers instead of cleaning up their act.
Filthy dump with trashy management (only discovered per said Unilocal incident).
Oh and «Jason/​joe/​whatever other faux name you choose to use» as you’re too lame to man up to your horrible publicity, I speak fluent French as I lived in France (I’d be happy to write this review in French, as I have many others, if you did your research, but you wouldn’t understand it, especially given you barely speak English as it is), and only you cant tell the difference between Chanel and forever 21-​as evidenced from your prior stalker comment.
Get a life — although its kind of cute (albeit sad) you’re so obsessed with individual Unilocalers. I’d take it as a compliment were you not so pathetic and low class.

Came here on Saturday for a friend’s birthday. It was super crowded and made the place seem smaller than it probably was. There was hardly any room to dance either. The music was decent, usually a mix of whats popular. However, it was super loud, and upon exiting, my ears couldn’t stop ringing, and they’re still ringing 2 days later!
The cons:
— There seems to only be 1 bathroom for guys and 1 for women. WTF. There was a point in the night when the line for the bathroom stretched from the door all the way to the back where the DJ was.
— While people were waiting in line, I saw several people light up cigarettes and smoke and no one did anything! A HUGE turnoff from this place if they blatantly ignore the law.
I can’t say anything about the drinks, since we had a bottle at the table.
I don’t think I’ll ever consider coming back unless I had to.

I was here last wkend with my girlfriend and had a great time. I went on a Friday evening, which I was told tends to be less crowded than Saturday. Whoever told me was right: the place wasn’t too crowded and we had a great time dancing with no cover charge. Jason is a cool guy and really made us feel welcome. Drinks were fine and the atmosphere was friendly. Age range I would say mid twenties, but not stupid drunks; rather respectful and nice.
I would (and will) totally go back before Fridays become like Saturdays.
:-)