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Pianos A staple of Lower East Side nightlife, Pianos hosts a steady lineup of up-and-coming indie artists that keeps its diverse clientele coming back again and again. New York United States 40.721108 -73.987751

3.45 13

Pianos - Bar | Live Music Venue | Lounge in New York.

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9 User Reviews

User Reviews (9)

Ratings:

Lucas

Adriana

Jonah

Emma

Party Earth Review A staple of Lower East Side nightlife, Pianos hosts a steady lineup of up-and-coming indie artists that keeps its diverse clientele coming back again and again. The main bar sports a soothing urban beach décor of blues... ... read full review

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side
Address:

158 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002

Get Directions

Subway:

F, J, M, Z: Delancey Street-Essex Street
Phone:

212-505-3733
Links:
Official Website

Hours:

Daily 2pm–4am
Recommended as:
- Night Spot

First to review Chelsea D.

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Party Earth Pianos Review

The Scene

A staple of Lower East Side nightlife, Pianos hosts a steady lineup of up-and-coming indie artists that keeps its diverse clientele coming back again and again.

Lower East Side, New York –

A staple of Lower East Side nightlife, Pianos hosts a steady lineup of up-and-coming indie artists that keeps its diverse clientele coming back again and again.

The main bar sports a soothing urban beach décor of blues and whites featuring peeling wood-plank floors and a curvy concrete bar adorned with tree trunks that combine to create a mellow atmosphere for the young artists and hipsters flirting over frozen margaritas.

As singles mingle at rustic picnic tables and raised banquettes up front, grungy hipsters, music lovers, and friends of the band head for the showroom in back, a dim performance space decked out in large tropical photos, a splintery wooden bar, and a simple stage hosting local indie rock acts.

A colorful stairwell featuring displays of papier-mâché animals leads to the upstairs lounge, the preferred hangout for lively young professionals who cluster around the tile bar or on the assortment of low leather benches.

On weeknights, a DJ provides ambient tunes from his rickety station in the corner, but on weekends, the vibe gets kicked up a few notches as the lounge turns into a club and intoxicated young urbanites and international singles flood the floor to form a massive dance party.

A classic downtown joint, Pianos is a great option for patrons looking for live music, dancing, and a uniquely diverse crowd all rolled into one.

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Tip from Jonah:

Pianos may be all about the music, but the burgers aren’t bad either! Before heading to the showroom, sink your teeth into the Red Wine Burger, a delicious twist on an awesome classic.

Crowd

Fans of the bands and local hipsters in the showroom, single young professionals in the upstairs lounge, and a mix in the main bar, mid-20s to 30s.
Entertainment / Music

Live music nightly. Mostly indie rock bands in the showroom starting between 7 and 8pm, more eclectic acts and singer/songwriters upstairs most nights 7–10pm. DJs every night in the main bar from 5pm and in the upstairs lounge from 10pm. Special nights include Rock and Roll Trivia 8–10pm followed by karaoke 10pm–close on Mondays.
Food / Miscellaneous

Bar snacks, salads, burgers, and sandwiches served 2pm–midnight. Happy Hour daily 2–7pm.
Prices

Cover charge $8–$10/showroom and $5/upstairs lounge weekends after 10:30pm. Appetizers $5–$9, salads $6–$12, sandwiches and burgers $7–$12. Beer $5–$7, wine $6–$9, cocktails $7–$10, bottle service $195+.

What to Wear / Dress Code

Casual downstairs: jeans, t-shirts, button-downs. Slightly dressier upstairs, particularly on weekends: jeans and heels, dresses, button-downs.
Hot Nights / When to Go

Any night for the bands, or Saturday nights for a fun dance party.
Close By

Cake Shop (152 Ludlow Street) is another live music venue only a stone’s throw away.

Tags:: 30sBar FoodBottle ServiceBurgersButton-downsCasualCover chargeDJDanceDancingFinger FoodFlirtyFrozen MargaritasHappy HourHigh HeelsHipsterIndie RockJeans and HeelsJeans and T-ShirtKaraokeLive BandLive MusicMid 20sMusic LoversMusiciansSandwichesSeafoodSinger / SongwriterSinglesVegetarian FoodWingsYoung Professionals

Pianos User Reviews

Anna Kim May 2, 2013 3.0 stars Low Key Great Vibe Pianos is the spot for low-key nights and cool crowd. Drinks are affordable and the atmosphere is always laid-back. You almost always get a good DJ to spin some quality music. Who doesn't love the LES to begin with?!

Emily Hebner Apr 2, 2013 3.0 stars Margs & Music A cure for bodily ailments, work-related blues, or general apathy - Piano's margaritas. Swing by between 2-7 for a lovably long happy hour or if you miss it, no fear - the drinks flow as fluidly as the music, which ranges from rock bands to DJs to new musicians ready to entertain. Sit downstairs (or dance - options open), grab a burger and another marg, or head upstairs for a bigger dance party with a late-night vibe. The crowd is young, friendly, and seriously - did I mention trying the margs because they will really make you happy. Even one.

annemarie919 Feb 19, 2013 2.0 stars Hipsters wouldn't claim it A friend of mine (who has never been to Brooklyn) recommended this as a "hipster" bar. Being from Austin, Texas, which boasts one of the highest concentrations of hipsters per capita, I had a hard time believing that Pianos was "hip", as the soundtrack was comprised of a mix of top 40 and over-played "indie" rock. Granted, I was taking a recommendation from a man who religiously listens to Justin Bieber, but I expected more. Perhaps it was an off-night, as I've heard that the live acts are decent, but from all angles, Pianos just came across as a regular bar. On a Friday night, the drinks were reasonably priced though the service was slow if not incompetent and the crowd was thick with average-looking dudes trolling for drunk girls. If you drink enough, sure, you'll have a pretty good time, but there are far better options on the Lower East Side in my opinion.

Garrett Bernz Jan 29, 2013 3.0 stars Solid crowd, That perfect mixture of hipsters and non-hipsters for a LES bar. Drinks are priced pretty average and you can usually catch a decent band or DJ as they have music seven nights per week. Great place to bring someone for the first time or to come in with some friends. Guys sometimes have to wait 15 min+ without any ladies with them.

G-rocks Dec 12, 2012 2.0 stars Safe choice I liked the live atmosphere that this bar has to offer. I say safe choice because it has three different rooms (the front room, the back, and upstairs), all playing different type of music, therefore chances are you're bound to like one of them. If you go on a weekend there is a cover to go upstairs. When I did go upstairs I remember I had a lot of fun dancing with my friends, and they seemed to like it there. I like it because when I bring my friends there they seem to be having fun. Lastly their frozen margaritas are pretty good.

FISHNETS Dec 10, 2012 2.0 stars Neighborhood Stop My coworkers and regulars at one of the restaurants I work at love going to this place for weeknight post work drinks. While I don't hate it I have yet to see why everyone is so enthralled by it - I guess because it's relatively busy on weeknights with lingerers from the earlier live performances, and the drinks are somewhat cheap. I've also been to shows in the downstairs room which can be hit or miss depending on the act, but usually when I go we hang out upstairs where at least on Monday nights they play a lot of old school hop hop which I can appreciate. Its a good place to check out if you're in the neighborhood or going for a particular performance.

Eamonn Best Nov 7, 2012 3.0 stars Always a good time, even mid-week Cool place located on the Lower East Side. Came here with my brother on a Wed night when there wasn't much else happening. Had no problems getting in around 11. We began with a drink (standard bar prices) at the downstairs bar, which has a slightly unfinished, wooden decor that meshes well with the "hipster chic" exterior that is characteristic of the LES area. The crowd was mainly young 20-somethings and although it was fairly busy, we managed to get ourselves a table. We found it be a fairly friendly vibe and easy to strike up a conversation. After a few more drinks, we decided to step things up and explore the upstairs area, which has a much darker lounge/bar feel with a small but vibrant dance floor that kicked on until well past 3am. All in all, an enjoyable night and worth a visit.

Alicia Nov 3, 2012 3.0 stars Eclectic There is *always* a line to get into this place. I've come early, gotten some beer on tap, and had a great conversation. I've also come super late, gotten sucked into the back room, and was subjected to an experimental indie band's set with a polar bear documentary projected onto the wall behind them. But when Pianos is not indulging the eccentricities of what's surely Downtown's hottest up-and-coming act, it's a good antidote to the much stuffier Beauty and Essex down the street. When you're wandering around the Lower East Side looking for a trendy but no-frills bar, this is a pretty good choice.

Chelsea DeMarrais Oct 8, 2012 3.0 stars Love Pianos! I love Pianos. I somehow always end up here & always have the best time (but let's not jinx that). Pianos is known as a "hipster bar", but I love it because there's always a good mix of people. I usually head straight upstairs, which costs $5-$10 depending on the time of night. Upstairs is one big dance party with good music (hip-hop, today's hits, etc.). It's a lot more lively than the rest of the bar and definitely worth the extra cash. I really can't put my finger on what exactly I love about Pianos... I just do and I'll keep coming back until I get sick of it. By the way, if you go and you're not into it, there are plenty of bars in the area to head to. I'd definitely give it a chance though.

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Pianos Bar / Live Music Venue / Lounge

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Address:

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Links:

Hours:

Recommended as:

Party Earth Pianos Review

The Scene

Tip from Jonah:

Crowd

Entertainment / Music

Food / Miscellaneous

Prices

What to Wear / Dress Code

Hot Nights / When to Go

Close By

Pianos User Reviews

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