The 2x1 deal is awesome, the staff is extremely friendly and the vibe is great. It is a bit of a night/day place since it changes it's total nature. If you go in the afternoon it's going to be mostly empty and you'll have a quiet and awesome hang. At night (specially thursdays, fridays and saturdays) it gets packed, full of people fighting for the bartender's attention. Definetly worth getting a Rollo shot.. or a few!!
Review Source:Wanna get drunk and [sugar] high?!
Let's meet at Keybar! Had a couple shots, which I can't remember most of them (not because they weren't good, but because there were too many). The one that did stand out though was the BRAINDEAD shot. My friend was right, it was all about the texture. Imagine leaving an already mixed Irish car-bomb out for too long. That kind of texture. It's pretty cool though cuz when he pours the Bailey's at the end, it does look like brain.
Last words: Lot's of great, cheap surgery shots. A great, all-inclusive vibe, and a drink ticket system to guarantee your happiness is met.
Keybar's like a muthafukkin Jekyll and Hyde.
Daylight: A relatively small and serene joint where you can have some casual drinks with a group and if it's nice outside the half patio-style windows are open. I think I even heard a bird whistling a lovesong to a bee. The notorious drink tickets are around but somehow don't cause as much trouble.
Nightfall: Multi-colored well shots, shoulder-to-shoulder sweaty chaos and you're hooking up in the bathroom with someone or something. A typical wholesome LES night!
One star off for intensely sugary Lychee Martinis (for this I would prefer Verlaine) and overcrowding in a tight space. But the Happy Hour can't be beat in terms of its length and the specials offered. The last time I went there were a few too many NYU kids for my liking, but what are you going to do. It's a really small space that gets packed pretty easily. It's probably up there with the best happy hours in the East Village and a fun to go with a big group. Sebastian is always so warm and I have actually had events here that go really well.
Review Source:Keybar truly is a little hidden gem in the East Village. Its 2-for-1 happy hour runs until 10pm (even on Saturdays!), the bartenders are always super friendly, they have great beers on tap, and they have a few delicious custom shots (Rollo & Brain Damage). If you're not a shots guy / a beer snob, you can get 2 Delerium Tremens for 9$ (without tip). That'll make you all warm and fuzzy for sure.
It's has never been too crazy here but it's also too small to do anything crazy, which I like. The 2-for-1 deal makes this place an ideal starting bar for a night out.
The last time I went here, Sebastian the bartender was one of the coolest bartenders I've ever met in NYC. He was very friendly with my group as well as other, joking around and having pleasant conversations about EU politics. lol.
This place is definitely worth going out of the way for during happy hour. They have an awesome happy hour that is made to get people to come back....or just super drunk. Essentially they have half priced drinks, but instead of just saying they are half priced you pay full price for one drink and they give you a little certificate for a drink of the same value. You can then use the drink coupon after you are finished with your first drink or take it with you and come back to use it another time. Strangely, they don't allow you to just order two drinks of the same price and forgo the coupon exchange; instead you must order your second drink after receiving your first drink and your coupon. While this is a bit annoying, their drinks are worth the extra effort. Their Brain Damage shot looks weird but tastes almost like chocolate dipped strawberries and is very smooth. If you come, you should definitely get one of those...or two, I mean you DO have a free coupon. They have a lot of different options, and all the ones I tried were extremely tasty. This place has great drinks and great prices, especially during happy hour! It's got a chill atmosphere where everyone fits in- some people are dressed up to go to a nightclub, others are dressed business casual, and the rest are dressed in regular street clothes. Yet, despite everyone's differences, it all seems normal. I went here twice and during the day it was a lot more casual, while at night everyone is hammered and dancing everywhere (including ON the bar!) and nobody cares. This bar really becomes what you want it to be. The only unfortunate part of this place is there is very limited seating as it is very small, and due to it being small it's very difficult to get a bartender's attention to actually order a drink. They really could use a larger place since so many people come here, but I understand it is NY and space is often limited. Overall, if you're looking for a sweet place to go with a great happy hour- this is definitely your place.
Review Source:One of my fav little divey type of bars. Drinks are always strong and delish!! Happy hour - 4p-10p 2 for 1 Best part is you dont have to get your free one that day. You can keep it and use it at any time. Even if its not HH hours. No food but you can order in from the neighborhood spots. There is a little cubbyhole type of area by the bar that you can reserve if you plan to go with a few friends and want a guaranteed seat. You can reserve the main couches as well but i think the cubby hole is cute. lol
Review Source:We came here with our huge group of friends and it was an awesome place to start our bar hopping for the night. This place is kind of small so it can get cramped. Luckily, when we got here, it wasn't too packed and we were able to get a section of the couch to sit down and hang out. There is plenty of standing room too.
The drinks were really good and the difference shots were excellent. My friends were all over the shots especially the Brain Damage Shot. Try it out! It's awesome!
Although we were only in town and visiting, we were really happy that we came across this bar. All of would definitely come back. Great drinks, great service, great atmosphere... I mean what more could you ask for?
Such a great Happy Hour I have consulted three coworkers to contribute to this review:
If you like Jock Jams and 2 for 1s, this is your bar - Lunchbox
Great spot to get blackout drunk off craft beer with some dudes after work for like 20 bucks - MJ (not Michael Jordan)
Can we rate this place as 6 stars? ....No but I would give it 6 if I could. Very few places in the city offer the chance to get obliterated on delirium tremens for almost nothing. 2 for 1 drink tickets are the best thing since tight fitting yoga pants. Great times guaranteed - Hungry Eyed Killa
Overall - A2
Was always apprehensive about going to keybar as I was worried it would be beyond crowded. A few girlfriends and I went after dinner last Friday. It wasn't too crowded and we were able to sit. There must have been a post-work event group there as we were all creating a scenario of what these professionals, who looked entirely too buzzed, were doing at Keybar. They have decent prices and interesting sounding shots. I would definitely like to go back and take advantage of happy hour!
Review Source:I love this place so much. They have 2-fers from 4-10 every day and they give you an awesome little business-card-like object so that you may redeem your second drink. The best thing about the 2fers is that you can redeem them at any time. You can even take the card home and bring it back next time. Good marketing!
Secondly, the beer and liquor selection is out of this world. They have all sorts of beers, creative cocktails, and super fun shots. I love this bar.
This is a good happy hour spot - I've come here several times with friends, as they have happy hour that goes til much later (9 I think) and you can just take your coupon with you and come back later if you only feel like having one drink.
However - and maybe this is like bad luck on my part - I've always run into sketchy people trying to start weird conversations with either myself or one of my girlfriends.
This isn't usually a first resort for us, and will probably stay on our back burner list - however, the bartenders are nice and the drinks are strong - so we can't complain too much!
This place was awesome, bare small though. I like the little free drink cards that they give out that Ed gave to me lol. I like free! I didn't get a chance to use it since I wasn't feeling well after two shots and a pear cider. Saturday just wasn't my day. I just was out of my element. Thanks Charle for taking me here. I like it (: Will definitely be back. I love the itty bitty back room. Laid back and not as loud. The owner was by the DJ booth. I like when owners are actually apart of their investment. Makes it feel a bit more personal.
Had the rolo shot that was bloody disgusting, and the passion fruit shot that was so tasty, then the pear cider. I'm in love with the pear cider. My sweet sweet alternative to beer.
Keybar has an awesome 2 for 1 Happy Hour from 4-10PM everyday. Let that sink in for a minute, what kind of place offers a happy hour deal until 10...everyday?!
The decor is very cool with the glowing bar and the lights super dim. Their specialty shots are also very good, and my personal favorite is the 'Brain Damage,' it's got Bailey's and a bunch of other goodies in it. Their beer selection is also pretty darn good, they've got an Abita on tap! They've also got Pilsner Urquell and Blanche de Bruxelles from what I can remember.
Be warned, there aren't many seats in this place, and it can get packed very quickly. I usually end up having to stand around the bar that is closest to the bathrooms, but for that deal, I can't complain. The music is also very much on point as they've played stuff that I haven't heard any other bars play.
I was only in NYC for 5 days and I came to Keybar twice for happy hour. Went  for the first time on Thursday at around 6:30-7pm and it was crackin. Great vibe, all types of people getting their drank on. Got wayyyyyyyy too shitfaced, lol but that's what happens when it's buy one get one!!! Had about a million Zygo shots and a billion lychee/mango/passion fruit martinis. Everytime you purchase a drink they give you a coupon of the equivalent price.... all all all BAD, but ALL GOOD.
Love you Keybar :)!
Re-visited Keybar this week. Â Still, the best Happy Hour deal in town. a $20 goes a long way here.
First thing I had to have was the Fruli ($7). This is a Belgian beer that I had previously only been able to find in London. Â It is a strawberry beer that is delicious. I had two of those, and was pretty happy about it. I will return just for this fact.
At 7pm on a Thursday before Good Friday, the place was busy, but not to the point that we couldn't' get to the bar.
I tried a Pimms Lemonade for my next drink which was pretty tasty. Â I don't think you really go here for the well crafted cocktails, but it was pretty solid, especially below the manhattan prices. $9 with a card for more. Â
There may have been a few shots that followed this, but nothing I think worthy of mentioning.
Bartender was very friendly, and the service was pretty quick, even when they were busy. Â Bring cash here because there is a $20 minimum on all cards, so you may wind up a bit tipsy if you weren't planning on having much to drink.
I love Keybar. Â You will not find another bar like it.
Keybar offers the dark intimate setting complete with an active fireplace you need to bring your dates to. Â Happy Hour offers two for one drink specials on what seems like everything on your menu. Â For every drink you order you receive a "key" for a free drink of the same price. The best part about these keys are they NEVER expire. Â This comes in handy for us New Yorkers living off of 20 bucks after rent money is withdrawn. Â I can't count the number of times I have come back to this place and only had to pay a tip to one of their wonderful bartenders.
Did I mention their drinks are fantastic? Â Amazing beer selection ( Anchor Steam? Heck Ya!), great martinis, amazing shots (brain damage, Â zwack, rollo shots)!
Atilla is a great owner who really takes pride in his establishment, and is very approachable and personable. Â I wish all bar owners would converse with their patrons as much as him. Â Atilla also DJ's on weekends, he is an admirable business man!
Next time you are in Alphabet City make sure you check out Keybar, and say hi to Ed Lee! Â You can find him at the end of the bar!
I came here based on all the Yelp reviews this place got and all of the positive reviews. My first mistake was coming here on a Saturday night. Keybar is tiny and the placed was completely packed. To make things worse everyone had jackets on because it was the beginning of winter. My friends and I justposted up in a corner but it was way to cramped. Had to either hold your jacket in your hand or continue to wear it. On top of that we haf endless people passing by us to go to the bathroom. You can't really enjoy yourself when you feel crammed into a place like a bunch of sardines.
All everyone seems to rave about is there drink specials, mainly the 2 for 1 Happy Hour that lasts til 9pm everyday I think. On average a drink here is going to cost about $9 and you get a ticket for a free drink. I tried a couple of their mixed drinks and I wasn't impressed. They weren't very strong at all.
If I were to ever try Keybar again I'd do it on a weekday. Keybar is just way to small of a bar to enjoy yourself on the weekend and I'd probably stick to beer for the 2 for 1.
Love... Love .. Love this place. Cozy and small this place has everything you need and want for a small hangout. Not appropriated for a big crowd though for any day not even a week day because it was filled everyday. You wont be able to sit down unless your lucky.
On weekday they have two for one special which lets me order my favorite cocktail the " Polish Kiss". Â They have plenty of other choices for cocktails and shots. Â The prices are reasonable.
This place is out of my way but every time I come here I truly happy. Reason being that I only take the few people or person I really want to be around and drink. If you don't like the company your with it's hard to lose them because you wont be able to move. They have a dj specially wonderful on weekend but you won't be able to shake your foot.
Don't come here if you're at all claustrophobic...but if you're not and you don't mind inhaling other people's exhaled breaths (yea it's pretty small), check out Keybar. Â
It's a straightforward dive bar with no gimmicks -- walk in, see bar, order drinks, order more drinks, enjoy your company. Â What they do offer though, are matching free rounds before 10pm, which will surely keep your night going (or ended). Â Reserved a table and had to cancel last second (damn you Nemo) but the owner remembered my info and helped me set up for the following weekend. Â This place is a 3 that earned it's 4th star with above-average service, free drinks and good vibes.
Oh, and sorry Keybartenders...not a fan of the Rolo shots...
For the first year we lived in the city, we would come to this bar every Monday. Half the time it was packed, half the time it was empty. We would get there early to reserve their back room. On Sundays and Mondays, they have buy one, get one drink specials. It's great, though, because you receive a voucher that you can redeem any evening. They have a selection of unique cocktails,and delicious "rolo" shots for birthday celebrations.
We only stopped going because the bartender we befriended moved out of the city. Overall, a fun time!
When I first moved into the East Village over ten years ago, I saw three Europeans building a bar on a desolate street in Alphabet City and thought to myself, "this place is gonna to close in a year." Â There was no foot traffic and Alphabet City was sketchy at best. Â Ten years later, the Keybar has proven me wrong, thank God! Â In the past ten years, Attila, Gyuszi and their fantastic staff have built a vibrant, neighborhood friendly venue that has created a sense of community. Â The last I've heard, there have been almost thirty couples who have met at the Keybar and have since been married (how many are still married is anyone's guess). Â I've also spent many an orphan holiday with the regulars at the bar. Â With a generous happy hour, live DJs and a good-looking and friendly staff, the Keybar is THE East Village destination. Â
Some have deemed the small bar a "dive", but it's got more of a lounge feel. Â Many of the regulars have commented that the bar serves as the neighborhood living room, with a working fireplace, friendly staff and always a few regulars on hand. Â There is an awesome 2-for-1 Happy Hour Special that runs from 4pm - 10pm from Tuesday through Saturday and ALL DAY on Sundays and Mondays. Â The way the special works, buy your first round and they'll give you a ticket which you can redeem for a drink of the same or lesser value (any time any day). Â If you'd like to get a pricier drink, you can pay the difference on the card. Â I challenge you to find a more generous Happy Hour. Â
In addition to the Happy Hour special, they have a birthday shot special, where you buy a round of shot for your party and they'll buy you another round! Â This special is good a week before/after your birthday and good anytime. Â As with all BOGO specials, I recommend tipping on the service not on when you pay, you're a grown-up act like one. Â
I find Sunday through Tuesday are pretty low-key (no pun intended) and serve as great date nights. Â Wednesday and Thursday start to gear up as the weekend approaches and live DJs playing the hits. Â Friday is their big 80s, 90s rock night often featuring co-owner Gyuszi behind the decks. Â Saturday features co-owner Attila da Hun spinning Tech and Soulful House. Â If you come, you'll find a lot of regulars that are fiercely protective of the bar, but if you're cool, we'll welcome you with open arms. Â
Stop by and you'll usually find me tapping my toe by the DJ booth or chatting with the beautiful staff. Â Say hi. Â I don't bite. Â Hard. Â :p
Keybar is a few notches above your typical neighborhood dive bar. Â Not classy by any means, but they have fun music reminiscent of the 80's and 90's which makes for a good time with friends. Â I really like their happy hour specials as they run late into the night (I believe it ends at 10 PM) and it's a great place for birthday parties because they offer a round of free shots for every round you buy.
The major downfall is the lack of space here. Â This place basically reaches overcapacity once the 20th person enters and it gets hard to breathe, let alone mingle with friends.
First, a qualifier for my update! A lot of reviews are bullshit. We go somewhere one piddly time and then we blabbity blab about it like we are Jesus Christ. You're the disciple. Most of the time we're uneducated about topics outside of our subjective opinions- myself included. Actually, I might just be talking about me.
That is except for my bar reviews as I'm always at the same places- either Keybar or MercBar. And in regards to Key- There is not one place outside of my own apt that I have become more familiar with. The Keybar group is my family- Attila, the owner, is everyone's favorite person. The Amy Sacco of the East Village, he basically has his own Facebook Fan Club. Keybar is more of his home than his own apartment, he loves his bar and pours all of his energy into it accordingly. I know this well as I have been around for the last 3+ years to witness Key's growth.
Young finance guys to international photographers to National Geographic contributors to resident DJs to NYU students to notsopretty hipsters to the ubiquitous douchepig to pretty people to me- we're all regulars. It's nice walking into an otherwise nondescript popular bar with crazy-nice 2-for-1 HH (in an increasingly gentrified neighborhood) and knowing it is the perfect place for a few hours with friends and new friends or a few more hours.... or then a few more.
If you're there when it's not busy, you can play Apples to Apples(!!!) at a table or sit in the back booth. There are always superbowl parties or holiday parties or birthday parties or, as in this Sunday, an Oscar watching party. Attila has 80s and 90s videos on the large projector screen on Wednesday nights. Saturday is deep house. Sunday and Monday the HH lasts all day.
All of these are apostolic truths! For real, though. In this one instance I know what I'm talking about.
Keybar has the best happy hour I've ever experienced. It's simple, none of this choosing beers of a specific list or only being able to order certain wines. When you buy a drink, the bartender gives you a voucher for another drink of the same price. Basically any drink on the menu, as far as I could tel.
I'd already had a few beers at another bar, so I opted to try some of the cocktails. First I had the Mango Madras, which was very good, if a little bit sweet, even for me. Next I had the Freaky Seabreeze, which was more citrusy. Both were really quite delicious, and with the happy hour deal I only paid $4.50 for each!
My date and I also shared the pear cider, which is very sweet. It resembles ramune - alcoholic ramune.
We went early, so they weren't very busy, which was nice because we could sit down. They had a fire going, which was awesome since it was so chilly outside, and the bartenders kept on stoking it to keep the heat going strong.
One of the best happy hours in the city - 2 for 1 drinks (keep the card and bring it back whenever). Beers on tap are pretty good with dim-lit/divey decorum.
Space could be bigger, so it's best to go when it's obviously not too crowded, but the place is a great spot to start a bar hopping night or pre-game.
This place is banging! It's got that Bob's Bar vibe but bigger ( but not by much). Came here on a Friday night and this place was packed! Aweeeeesome people watching as the crowd was looking damn good.
Met up with my boy Louis R. for a few rounds and let me tell you, they hooked the drinks up. Bartender was real cool (bald head dude) guy and kept giving me these cards which i later learned were voucher for drinks. Â It's a buy 1 get one deal which in this case, you can redeem anytime!
Keybar has got some really cool people working there from the bouncer to the dj, all really friendly! This place has made it to my top 5 list of afterwork spots. Â
Well done Keybar.
Can't believe I never reviewed Keybar. This is a regular spot for some of my close friends, so I've been here a couple of times. During happy hour, they have 2 for 1 drinks, where when you buy a drink, they give you a drink ticket. Mixed well drinks are $7 each, a good standard price.
The place is a little small, but it has all the fixings of a good bar: bar (duh), DJ booth, ample seating, and bathrooms. I think this place has hit  a goof balance of seating vs dance floor area given its small size. It has been pretty packed when I've come here, so beware. And one time, only one of the two single-occupancy bathrooms were working, so be prepared to wait in line.
The dance music is the most eclectic mix of music I've ever heard ranging from Hungarian folk music to good old reliable house music. It's all good fun and vibes over here.
I've never had a bad time over here, and since this is a regular for some of my friends, I expect to come here a lot in the future.
I know a couple of my fellow Yelpers have ranted & raved about Keybar. On a whim, I suggested Keybar as the venue to meet up with a couple of girl friends. I've heard so many good things about it, I thought, why not?
Yes, there are 2-for-1 drinks, which you can get the cheapest for $9. However, I found that they were kind of watered down with all that juice. You really need to order a couple (by a couple I mean ALOT of rounds) to feel a buzz.
Also, the space is extremely small. The best thing to do is to get there early enough and grab some of the seating available. If not, you're in for a night full of awkward moments as you get really close to strangers while hanging out or going up to the bar to get a drink since it tends to get crowded.
I really think I have to come back with a different crowd and give this place a chance. I want to like Keybar, but I just wasn't feeling it.
It seems like most of the positive reviews for this place are for weeknights. Â I was here on a Friday and it seemed like a decent bar, except the service was terrible. Â It was fairly crowded, but not packed, yet it still took me almost fifteen minutes to get a round of drinks. Â These are seriously the slowest, least efficient bartenders I've seen in New York. Â Sure, the happy hour special is great: 2 for 1 until 10:00 (the beers are expensive, though). Â But when it came time for me to order, the bartender took two minutes to pour EACH BEER. Â The bartenders also operate on a "territory" system, where they each take half the bar as their own rather than serving the customers who have been waiting the longest first, no matter where they stand. Â This system is okay at a huge sports bar, but it's ridiculous at a tiny East Village joint.
Slow service ruined an otherwise likeable bar for me. Â I won't be back.
UPDATE: I'm adding a star here. Â The owners contacted me to ask for specific observations and suggestions, and they told me that they were working with their staff to improve speed and efficiency. Â I'll change my conclusion from "I won't be back" to "I might be back".
2 x 1 from 4-10PM. Love that late happy hour!! They give you a card which you can use at any time. Meaning, get hammered one night for cheap, then redeem the cards during the weekend for free drinks!! Beers run $5-8 and drinks $8-$12 depending on what you get.
Last Wednesday's highlights included a video DJ who rocked out to 80's and Christmas music! There is also ladies night on Wednesday after 12 for those who like to rally midweek.
Russian bartender was great! I even left my credit card there (whoops) and they didn't charge me extra.
Maybe it's just not my type of place. Several great things about Keybar is that
1- you get drink coupons that never expire so you will always keep coming back.
2- Birthday specials !!! not going to get into it since there's a big announcement sign on Keybar's Yelp page and on the bulletin boards in Keybar itself.
3- Drink prices make you want to keep going back.
Some things I didn't like about it:
Keybar is very very small, too "hip" for me and felt like I was in Captain Hook's secret dungeon bar. Â And might I say, this is the first bar that I ever went to that did not have Stella. I thought that every bar had that. I guess not. (but what made up for it were the drink coupons). Â
I didn't feel comfortable in Keybar, perhaps it was because it was so..... soo...... small  and I personally prefer not only bigger spaces but also places that don't look too much like every drunk guy's paradise.
The rumors are true: best 2for1 in the city. Hands down. Amazing beer selection and one of the cheapest priced Chimay/Delirium I have ever seen.
They just recently started offering food, which is actually from the restaurant next door so be sure to get there early if you want something. Otherwise, if there's one bartender, he/she is the one that has to walk over to the restaurant and place the order. A poor system for the bar but they'll figure it out. You then pay the delivery person in cash. I felt bad because my bartender went over to place the order for spring rolls, then she came back to tell me that the restaurant was out, and instead she went back to put in my order of fries.
Poor Hana.
Who also happens to be the most awesome bartender. Ever.
And it was dead at 6pm on a Thursday but apparently it gets serious crowded around 8pm so pay attention to your watch.
Come with $50 in your pocket and get ready for the shit show.
It's glorious in so many ways.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
