Ghosts of Punk's Past: NYC's Best Punk Bars

Twenty, even ten years ago, the Lower East Side was a Mecca for counterculture and rebellion. The Tompkins Square riots gave voice to a people disgusted and fed up with the city’s authorities, and with corruption in general. Nowadays, one look at the corner of 1st and 1st will tell you that things have changed. Glass-framed skyscrapers tower over tenement rows, and trendy restaurants are steadily replacing old-school sidewalk cafes. Punk is dead, many people say. But the truth of the matter is that punk is just waiting, biding its time. Though diminished in scope, New York’s punk scene is about as far from dead as Rasputin ever was.

Despite gentrification, there remain places where you can get a taste of old New York, of patch-studded jackets and striking green mohawks. Bars where Top 40 is the last thing you’ll ever hear, where pop is replaced by hopping rockabilly and intense hardcore. Where The Clash has taken over for Justin and Beyonce.

Mars Bar
25 East 1st. Street
(between 2nd St & Extra Pl)
New York, NY 10003

Mars Bar is not for the faint of heart. This 1st street is so divey you’ll probably need a bathysphere to salvage what’s left of your inhibitions on the way out. A staple of the punk crowd since the dawn of time, Mars Bar wastes no time on decoration or ambiance: they let their patrons create both. Graffiti covers literally every surface, and you’re invited to add your own tag, if you can find the free space. Back in the day, rapscallions in tattered pants would hang outside and suck down 40s of bodega-bought King Cobra in hopes of finagling their way inside for a drink. That crowd is all grown up now, and they’re sitting inside on stools, still wearing the same torn-up denim jacket and the tight jeans with squatter flaps. Drinks are cheap and potent; this is the kind of establishment that is eternal—it never seems to die. Intimidating to some, and home to others, Mars Bar is the kind of place you go to fight or drink, while the jukebox effortlessly puts out classic after classic, from Discharge to Aerosmith. 
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Double Down Saloon
14 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
(212) 982-0543
http://www.doubledownsaloon.com/newyork/index.html

The Double Down defies easy description. On one hand, it’s not that much more than a big, dark room where people come to get wasted. Yet it’s also something else entirely; the Double Down is probably the only bar in New York City to serve a bacon martini. One of the first things you’ll see upon entering this simmering sanctuary of sin is a massive jar of vodka, perched behind the bar, and filled with marinating bacon. Just like its signature drink, the rest of the Double Down is pretty congruent in tone. Two signs hang over the bar. One reads "PBR and a shot  $6. All Day. NO SHIT." The other? “No F--king Hippies.” The irreverent staff meanders before the macabre wall mural of smoky skulls and stylized vixens. Fetish porn plays on the television, spliced with clips from hardcore punk videos and cult horror films. Horror is the prevailing theme, from the prop skeletons abused with sex toys to the house’s ‘Ass Juice’, a combo that tastes only slightly better than a Hurricane and three times stronger. Just remember the one rule, printed on a big sign for convenience – “You puke, you clean.”
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The Continental
25 3rd Ave
(between 2nd Ave & 9th St)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 529-6924
http://www.continentalnyc.com/

Riding on the upper end of the punk bar bell curve, Continental is trying to make something more of itself. Unfortunately for them, the patrons just aren’t having it. There used to be a space for local bands to play shows, but that has since gone the way of the Dodo, making room for more drinking space. While the décor and ambiance don’t exactly scream ‘punk’ these days, the crowd is the real sell here. A mixture of clueless tourists and die-hard veterans subsist on what is probably New York City’s best ‘I desperately need to forget my name and how much I hate myself’ value: five shots of anything for $10. Perfect for pregaming, postgaming, or flat-lining. Sure, The Continental may appear lifeless to those who knew it ten years ago, but the spirit remains. A film projector makes regular showings of pulp movies, from the original Dick Tracy to the modern noir of Pulp Fiction. The Continental may be singing a swan song to the old days of carefree punk, but the new sound is still worth a listen.
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Manitoba’s
99 Avenue B
(between 6th St & 7th St)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 982-2511
www.manitobas.com/

Owned by Dick Manitoba, front man of the legendary proto-punk band The Dictators, Manitoba’s is a throwback to New York’s 1970s burgeoning punk scene. Far from the extreme grime of Mars Bar, or from the shock-chic of the Double Down, Manitoba’s finds a comfortable niche by taking a little bit of both, and seamlessly blending it with a classic pub atmosphere. Located in the heart of the Lower East Side, and just a block from the legendary Tompkins Square Park, the heart of NY’s punk scene, Manitoba’s is awash in the history of punk. Aged photos of Iggy Pop and Patti Smith hang on the walls, while Handsome Dick himself stands by in person. The basement has been converted into a game room, with pinball and some old-school arcade games; most people seem to overlook its existence, so it’s a good spot to retreat to if you’re in need of some breathing room. The jukebox plays tunes the heyday of classic punk; Yellow Card, the Dead Boys and the Ramones. You don’t need to be a punk to enjoy yourself at Manitoba’s, this place is all about embracing the unpretentious good time that punk is supposed to be.
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Otto’s Shrunken Head
538 E 14th St
(between Avenue A & Avenue B)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 228-2240
www.ottosshrunkenhead.com

A punk rock… tiki bar? Don’t worry, you’re not hallucinating. Otto’s Shrunken Head pays homage to the voodoo vibe, while throwing in just enough divey kitsch to make itself feel at home on East 14th street. Musical acts from all over showcase their sound, with many evoking the OC-style rockabilly sound made famous by Social Distortion, though Thursdays are the designated night for Jamaican beats. Though the punk and rockabilly acts compose the mainstay of Otto’s lineup, you can also hear metal, surf, classic rock, country and blues on any given night. And if there’s no live band scheduled, a DJ will pick up the slack.  The drinks are delicious, though be warned that they’re stronger than you might expect from an average tropical cocktail. With a vintage vibe and patent lack of any pretention, Otto’s brings back the late-80s/early 90s East Village; the grunge and grime are all in moderation and served with a dash of tropical ambiance. If you’ve ever wanted to get loose and stare at a mermaid, Otto’s will be your new best friend.
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Ten years ago, there was a constant flow of great local punk bands; on any given weekend you could collect a heap of fliers advertising great lineups of local bands rocking the stages of such legendary spots as The Continental, L’Amores, and Coney Island High. These days, it’s hard to find a place that consistently books great shows, but Martini Red has captured that feeling and treasures it. It may seem like the most incongruous of places for a punk bar to call home, but Staten Island is known for making good music, period. There are a lot of bands that capture that old punk feel, but blend it with the famous Shaolin sound of Staten Island’s own Wu-Tang Clan, producing some fresh rapcore to go along side the more classic-style punk bands. Martini Red’s weekly Red Friday events draw some of the best and freshest-sounding bands from all over New York City and beyond.  More modern than a lot of punk venues, the atmosphere is carefree and the decor is, well…red.  More importantly, this isolated venue recaptures the sound and spirit of days lost, making the ferry ride alone worth the trip.
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Trash Bar
256 Grand St
(between Driggs Ave & Roebling St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 599-1000
www.thetrashbar.com

Defying Williamsburg’s increasing levels of chic by staying true to its rockin’ roots, Trash Bar also has a tendency to defy your expectations. Don’t be put off by the nom-de-plume: Trash Bar isn’t trashy; in fact, it’s actually somewhat tastefully decorated (even if it’s mostly kitsch). Its front space sports a rather cozy lounge feel, decked in worn red velvet seats reminiscent of a VW van interior. But one step through the curtain near the bar and you’ll discover the meaning of the name. It’s going to get you trashed. A massive array of local bands fill the stage on any given night, paying tribute to everything from cheesy 80s hair metal to the sweet sounds of psychobilly. But the best is yet to come – from 8-9pm, Trash hosts a seven dollar open bar for everything your poor liver can take. They’ll also load you up with free tater tots to make sure your intestines can soak up all that booze. Guaranteed to be totally in-your-face on any given night, with slam-dancing, skanking and a little bit of Oi! for all.
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