The Hard Swallow

Welcome to The Hard Swallow

140 1st Avenue and St Marks Place

NYC Most Resilient Rock and Roll Bar

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 12PM to 6PM!

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Fun times in New York City might make a tourist think of Broadway shows or Chelsea galleries. But for those of us who have carved out a home in New York that we can call our own, fun times happen at the local pub. The local bar is really the heartbeat of any neighborhood. It’s where we get the news, forget the news, and sometimes make the news.

The Hard Swallow is a neo-dive, a sexy local rock and roll dive bar for adults. Coining the term Cheap Beer and Booze as it’s motto we feature budget friendly beer shot specials, a daily happy hour from 12pm-6pm, and a classic cocktail menu for the sophisticated palette. It’s concept is based on the real gritty dives of New York’s past, old east village favorites like Lismar Lounge, Mars Bar, Motor City, Three of Cups, and Downtown Beirut.

This bar is all about the neighborhood and its colorful residents. From Tuesday Night Live Local Music Events to Summer BBQs and Drunksgiving Thanks Giving Pot Luck, the owners Big Lee and Sasha created a home away from home. They provide an inviting atmosphere complete with a pool table, Jukebox, tasty cocktails, and a Skilled Staff waiting to serve you. Characters are always welcome at The Hard Swallow.

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 12PM to 6PM!

Meanwhile, you can’t say we didn’t keep it rockin through the apocalypse. We made the New York Times! Read HERE

Check out this profile written up about us in VICE by Andrew Schwartz! CLICK HERE to read up on the vibrant, gritty, real-real history of the best dive bar in the East Village.

Protected: Big Lee and Sasha

Drink Slingers

Characters welcome! Our carefully selected crew of alchemists and Chemists keep the party going with their undercover mixology, and loud personalities. They’re here to serve you, listen to you and for some of you, berate you, sedate you but never coddle you.

STORM

Our General Manager Storm. Chicago Native East Village local, Storm is either slingin the drinks, or singing her heart out with her band Broken Time Machine. Ms Information Storm knows everything, everyone and every place to be in the East Village. Buy her a shot and make her your friend

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Guzo N Yc

Our assistant Manager Guzo. Doesnt get anymore Rock and Roll than Guzo! He’s a Visual Artist , Guitars & Vocals of WICKEDEXORCIST , and a Witchdoctor Of Spirits. You’ll love his Cocktails and his Wolf spirit

Sasha

The queen herself. Nuff said. But really, nobody runs a bar like Sasha–she’ll make you feel at home with a shot and a beer, and read you for filth if you get out of line, and you’ll probably like it. She makes a killer cocktail and even better company!

The Gate Keepers

You Must be 21yrs old to enter The Hard Swallow. We require ALL patrons regardless of age to provide a valid physical ID. Photos, Apps and print outs are not accepted. Please respect our staff and show your ID when they request it.

They don’t care who you are, how old you are, or why you’re here, show your ID or enjoy your night elsewhere!

Biglee: ID please?
Customer: wow so at 85 yrs old i need to produce ID?
Father Vincent: well look at it like this when you croak we need to be able to identify the body

12615635_10154574915447907_6460749455764550423_o — Father Vincent

Father Vincent

Rest In Power The King of Gotham

The Legendary God Father of NYC Nightlife. Modest and unassuming Father Vincent in well known to a vast community of nightlife industry people and NYC subcultures. Having worked and partied at the infamous venues of New Yorks club scene, like Mother’s , The Limelight, The Palladium and many others, has bought him a love and respect from all who know him. A respect that afforded him the Title of Father among others that we’ll let him tell you about. You can find him at our door on Monday’s and Wednesday’s, or hosting Dark water on Tuesday’s at Otto’s Shrunken Head.