Thursday, September 9th, 2010—Bar 242
Day 242—Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
Black Door
And that sound you hear is the donation bell ringing loud and clear. 365 commentator and my fellow co-worker, Jason Hwang (the guy who was so grumpy last week), generously gave me twenty bucks in good, old-fashioned cash! Jason’s flying to Paris tonight to meet up with his fiancée, Zioum Zioum the Chainsaw. Have a great trip, Jason and say hi to Zioum Zioum for all of us. And thanks for the dough!
Thanks Jason!
Okay, tonight I’m pulling a bar out of my pocket that I’ve been saving. The Black Door is a decent looking bar that’s only five blocks from where I work. I’ve been meaning to stop here on a night that I don’t feel like traveling far, and to quote Neil Young, tonight’s the night. I’m tired as fuck because some goddamn dog was barking all morning. He’d wake me up with his annoying yapping and then stop. I’d fall back to sleep and the fucker would start it again. It even got to the point where I walked out onto the roof and screamed, “Shut the fuck up!” And you know what? He stopped, or the owner put the dog inside. But by then I was wide awake and now I’m beat. The reason I haven’t stopped in to this place yet is that it’s usually packed, but I walked by earlier and it wasn’t crowded at all, probably the result of this being the Wednesday after a holiday weekend. This bar is a simple yet somewhat elegant, no frills, extremely dark bar. You’ll see when we get there, which will be just minutes away as it’s just five blocks on foot.
And here we are, I told it wouldn't take long.
And the door is indeed black, no false advertising here. Shall we enter?
This is truly a dark bar!
I was craving a Michelada, but it wasn't on the cocktail menu, but friendly bartender Michael made me one up anyway. That's the kind of place this is, friendly and attitude free.
Some of the drinks and wines are written on the mirror behind the bar. They don't need no stinking menus here!
Just to show how dark it is in this joint, here's the same shot without a flash.
And once again, the sign of a great bar, a tin ceiling overhead.
Here's Jamie who's the manager and he bought a shot for the both of us. Cheers!
There's an ice tub in the middle of the bar to keep the glasses chilled for drinks.
There's dark wooden candle-lit tables upfront and opposite the bar.
Frederick and Sara were enjoying drinks at the end of the bar and were very supportive of the 365 bar crawl idea. A nice couple!
A table in a nook in the back of the bar.
A painting on the wall opposite the bar.
Michael taking care of business at this dark bar.
My michelada, Corona and...FIRE! A beautiful thing.
Barback Stephan had never had a michelada, so Michael made him one and now he's hooked. Don't blame me, blame Tiki Bar Susie, she introduced me to this addictive drink!
A glance out the window and it's time to hit the road. Goodnight, everybody!
Review
The Black Door is a low-key, dark, candle-lit bar located in the middle of a block that’s barren of decent nightspots, making it a standout, if you can find it. There’s no big sign or awning announcing the bar, just a logo on the window, adding to the bar’s charm. Once you’ve found it and entered you’ll find neighborhood locals and friendly bartenders enjoying a night out. Music is played at a conversational level and the decor inside is all dark wood and candlelight. A perfect spot for a first date or late night rendezvous as their open till 4am every night of the week.
There’s no draft beer available, but there are pleny of bottled beers and a decent wine list. There’s also a large cocktail menu and the attitude-free bartenders will even pour drinks off-menu, as I found out with my Michelada. Drinks are served in ice-chilled glasses from a tub at the front of the bar.
There’s also a nice seperate back room with a bar that’s open on weekends in the prime months and available for private parties. Call to inquire about availability. And if Michael’s bartending, try the Michelada, it’s the best I’ve had. A must stop for Tiki Bar Susie!
Black Door
127 W. 26th St. (Near Sixth Ave.)
212-645-0215
This one goes out to raginrr.
28 Comments
Reader Comments (28)
Marty that was well spent 20 bucks .
Nice Dark Bar . A table in a nook in the back of the bar looks like there is some secret door in corner .
If I get a internet connection in France , I will send images , I have some funny idea , & hope they work .
I am going to Airport very early , since it will make me feel better once I am there & waiting for the Plane.
Bye , KOC
@Jason: Thanks again for the donation and have a great trip! Say hi to Zioum Zioum from all of us!
Why is Jason Hwang signing his emails KOC? Is he a member of the Knights Of Colombus too?
Hey, there's an idea, Marty. How about you go to a Knights Of Colombus bar (they are EVERYWHERE) and review one of them joints? The drinks are usually dirt cheap and the atmosphere...well.. the drinks are usually dirt cheap.
You had me at no draft beer. Black door looks cozy and I think I'm going to have to try one of Tiki Bar Susie's Micheladas one of these days - they sound delicious and refreshing! Nice tin ceiling and dark walls in this joint. And excellent glowing bottles! I'm giving Black Door two thumbs up and moving it to the top of my queue.
Yo JD it means : KOC = Keep on crawling
@Joey D/Maffei's: Do you really think this shameless plug is going to get you a free slice? If it works, let me know, it's almost lunch time.
Okay, I just Googled Michelada and I have to try one tonight. Love the darkness in this place. A nice place to hide out in!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelada
Two thumbs up for the Black Door. You meet a better class of people in the dark!
that was nice the manager buying you a shot!
yooo yooo I got Paris and I'm with my cousin, drinking my 4th beers and yues I'm drunk and I can't read well because I'm too drunk but just looking at the photos, I can say that bar looks cool !!!
Hi everybody too !!!! we will get the web connection so we're gonna send crazy drunk photos !!!! because one of the best thing to do in Paris is too get drunk always !!!!!!!
Paname paname paname !!!!!!
Cheers everybody !!! Cheers Marty !!!!!!!!! Viva sponge Bob !!! yooouhou !!!!!!!!!!
@Zioum Zioum: Have fun! Let us know when Jason gets there!
I see a great bar there,,,,and Pacifico beer from Mexico, which makes a great Michelada. Pacifico is a pilsner type mexican beer which tastes really good. Black Door is really dark and when I saw the first few pictures, like the glass door and the big window I didn't think it could be that dark,,,,wrong,,,,it is and I guess the bar sits towards the back of the room,,,either way,,,great stop,,,glad you showed the flash and again same picture without flash,,,true dark bar,,,heaven.
I like this one- pretty dark, but hey! that means I can get away with drinking more!
cba! cute bartender alert! LOL! love this place, nice, dark and relaxing! good choice! and ive gotta try a michelada!
"friendly and attitude free" That's my kind of place!
It looks like a very nice place with very nice patrons and bartenders and managers. Great job Marty...I Like it!
Great update Marty - but needed more photos of Sara. Lovely!
Please tell me what's in a Michelada!! That way when you stop in at MY bar, you know, the next time you're in Northern BC, I'll make ya one!
Canadian draft beers are on me ;)
@missmess: Scroll up, Barfly added a link to a wikipedia Michealada page.
@Brooksy: I agree.
@365: You seem to get a heap of free shots.Do they offer them up to any old boozer sitting at the bar or is it a complimentary thing because of the publicity from the 365 site?
Another random enquiry that any of the U.S local crawlers could answer...At the risk of sounding like a complete tourist, How does tipping work at the bar? is it any different than in a restaurant?
For me tipping in a bar could only mean one thing...get the drink and tip it in ya mouth.
Oops. I apologize. So annoying when people (me) don't pay attention.
@Barfly: Thanks for the link. I dare say they'll be a popular bevy around my place when the summer rolls around.
@Jason: Have a safe trip and hello to Zioum Zioum!!
@MissMess: Everyone makes them a little different, but last night's were some of the best! If I get to Canada, I will let you know!
@Tim Clack: It depends on the bartender, but doing the 365 blog doesn't hurt. One of the perks of doing this!
@David Brooks: I would've, but I didn't want Frederick to beat the shit out of me! I'm a drinker, not a fighter!
click clack click clack...comin' down or maybe up the railroad track...helll maybe it's maybe ol' tim clack from down under...dude tried to explain that i put all seriousness aside when i post on other than the bar thing (if i was a girl i might say thingy)....where the am i?...oh yea...a bar in new york city with my guide 365...damn it's dark in here...drinks on on the mirror... but i'm not and neirther is 365...oh no we are still at dusk...or it is dusk...no another great stop....hope tim clack did not take anything the wrong way....tom and his musing' s are alright w/me click clack click clack...and the higher the monkey climbs the tree...gee hope jason has a safe trip...wish i was w/him...yeah yeah yeah..and the the dude pulled the plug...oh yeah ...enough...KOC
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damn i see a red door i wanna paint it black ...paint it black,,,..paint it black.....paint it black...and to alli in 365 fashion... "Goodnight, everybody!"...KOC
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