Bleecker Heights Tavern

A very standard, boring sports bar with the additional novelty of a hidden entrance.

Sports bars just really are not my thing. I love to cheer during the Super Bowl, and sometimes I’ll get into the World Series, but other than that, unless its a live sporting event, it’s hard to hold my attention.
I asked my brother to meet me here because it had reviews that boasted decent beers (for him!) and a Five Guys downstairs (for me!) and it was a little hidden… you know I just can’t stay away. Plus, it was a cold Friday and I just wanted something divey in this area.
This might be my favorite new sports bar. It was really empty, which is perfect when you just want to chat and hang. The music was a little loud, but I’m sure it’s a million times louder when a game is on. Probably also a million times more crowded. My brother and I ordered some Brooklyn Lager on tap and settled into our seats. The bartender couldn’t have been more friendly, and was great at chatting with us just enough to make us feel like regulars, but knew when to back off so we could just talk with each other. It’s a rare skill and a fine line between being overly friendly and distant and weird, and this guy knew his stuff.
We sat there for a couple beers before my husband joined us. We ordered some Five Guys and ate it at the bar. The bartender explained that we can bring any food at all up to them, since they don’t have a kitchen. Good to know! He even cleaned up our wrappers and brown bags which I would have done but he insisted. Cool.
We must have been there about two hours or so, and the bartender bought us a round of drinks, which I always really appreciate. I loved how casual it was, and it has a pretty nice view of seventh avenue off of Bleecker, since it’s on the second floor. All the exposed brick and simple wooden furniture was very classic bar-​next-​door, and exactly what we wanted for our Friday night.
I will definitely be back and maybe to even watch a game (!!)…you know, if the mood strikes me. Burgers and Beers for the win.
And good luck finding this place without a little help. Walk through Five Guys and up the stairs in the back by the bathrooms… yeah. The bar is up there.

Let me break down the charm behind Bleecker Heights, as I see it.
First, the search. It matters that there are no signs anywhere, and that if you walk into the Five Guys confused as hell, the people behind the counter don’t look twice or bother to help, when they know damn well why you’re confused. Even if you’re reading this Unilocal review, dangit, you gotta walk into that Five Guys and let yourself be confused for a second. Look around at how weird of a concept it is to stash an entire bar in a Five Guys. Consider getting fries. Consider whether this is just a dumb New Yorker thing that’s overrated. Then find the stairs.
Be weirded out at how quickly everything changed from florescent lights and sizzling burger fat… to dim pub lighting in a bar that is, as it turns out, regular as hell. You are tempted to be let down, but then you remember how irritating it would be if this bar had tried to go out of its way to be different – some over-​the-​top «speakeasy» spot with pinup girl posters turning its nose up at its own burger joint. That would be rude. (There’s already a hidden speakeasy spot two blocks from here anyway — see Little Branch.)
Finally, make this bar what you want it to be. Come here at different times for totally different experiences. On game nights, it’s a sports bar, so go for the game or sip a cold one with someone who makes good conversation. If you can handle beer sneaking up on you, get Delirium Tremens (maybe you’ll land the bartender who threw some free ones at me for knocking em back like a champ). On non-​game nights, ask the bartender to switch to the jukebox and play 90’s classics, just because you can. Or go right after work on a Monday when it’s still empty and talk to the bartender about how much your weekend sucked. He’ll have a shot with you and sympathize.
Feel a little proud when you bring someone here who’s never heard of it before. Dig how much more comforting it is the second time around. As far as hidden bars go, this is the «Cheers» of the West Village. I’m ashamed to say that’s my second Cheers reference in a week, but the shoe fits.

The definition of a 3.5, but its über random location and getaway from the stupidity on the street makes it a 4 in my book.
It is nothing special — pretty small, decent beers on draft, 1 unisex bathroom, televisions rocking sports, decent music playing, all in all a good local neighborhood bar. Where it does win is if you need a getaway from the silliness which can and does happen in the Village, like I just did with my crew on Halloween.
Taking a bunch of people through a packed Five Guys, promising them a non-​overpacked bar and alcohol is always a nice thing. The view from the windows if it’s nuts outside is even better.
No frills, average pricing for the neighborhood, and decent beer options makes this a quality option in the bar rolodex for the village.

Sooooo, when we were walking on the street, we could see the bar on the second level above the Five Guys, but there was no door to enter. No signs pointing us anywhere… nothing. So, I’m trying all the doors that look like they would lead to the bar and this sweet old lady walking her dogs says to me, «Hey fuck head, don’t open those doors or else you’ll shut down the place.»
I said, «What now? Come again?»
«The entrance is on Bleecker»
Mind you I just came from Bleecker and the only entrance that was open was Five Guys. So I said back to her, «Where on Bleecker??»
«Through the door!», she exclaimed.
«Through Five Guys?»
«Yea, that’s what I said!»
«Why didn’t you just say Five Guys?», I asked.
«You should have known that since you were looking for the fucking place!»
«You should’ve just said Five Guys, so fuck you… but thank you»
«Fuck you too and you’re welcome.»
And that’s why I love New York City. You can talk shit and get cursed at by sweet old ladies and curse at them back, but in the end, it’s all love.
So, back to the place, it’s a dive bar with TVs to watch some football. They have Delirium on tap. What more can you ask for?

Enter through the not so secret entrance at the back of the Five Guys. Other than that, it is pretty much your typical dive bar. This place gets very crowded so come early. I love that they have Delirium Tremens here!

A bar on top of a Five Guys – probably a great combination. You get your burger and fries, then you head on up to the tavern for a beer to watch the game. Perfect right?
Well, I guess in theory it’s a good idea, but I didn’t really like the vibe at Bleecker Heights Tavern. You’d expect plenty of noise at a sports bar, but the music was blaring so loudly that I had to shout just to talk to my friends. My throat was parched from all the yelling. Plus, for some reason, the bar decided it would be cool to play Eminem’s discography… what is this the 90’s?

Cool little bar that is a little bit hidden and tough to figure out how to enter for a first-​timer. I was in the area during a NBA Finals game and after seeing a decent rating on Unilocal I decided to check this place out.
We went to the corner of Bleecker and Barrow but could not find the place! Crossing the street, we then noticed that there seemed to be a bar above the Five Guys, so we decided to go, but we could not find a way in! Almost ready to give up, we read some of the Unilocal reviews in depth and realized that to get here, you have to enter from THE STAIRS INSIDE FIVE GUYS.
Decent prices and friendly staff, this place was pretty cool. They had the game on, and allowed us to bring up some burgers and fries at half-​time. A downside to this place is that because the entrance is tied to Five Guys, the hours are also tied to Five Guys. This means that on weekdays, last call is before midnight, and weekends don’t fare much better.
I will probably come back here when I want to watch a big game and all my other favorite spots are jam-​packed.

Hilarious that you go through Five Guys Burgers to get to this bar. Feels so wrong. Was stoked to see a new bar spot, but got less stoked when I showed up to find out their was a group of Nascar watching freaks taking over the bar. Really? People get excited about Nascar… ON TV?! Yikers.

I’m giving this place 4 stars off the bat because it is above Five Guys (one of my favorite places EVER). My best friend and I were able to drink here, go downstairs and get burgers and fries on the way out, then take a cab back to her apartment and pig out. In a way I am jealous because I can’t do that in Baltimore, but it’s probably for the best (otherwise I’d be 400 pounds).
Bleecker Heights Tavern was pretty small, and the bathroom was an absolute abomination, but the bartender was super friendly and cleared off a table for us right away. I know that if we hadn’t gotten a table, my review would most likely be less favorable, but I had a good time and it was a laid back spot. I liked the exposed brick and vaulted skylights also. If I happen to be in the neighborhood the next time I’m up in New York, I will definitely return.

Grungy little «speakeasy» above Five Guys (enter inside as mentioned). I was told about this place by someone and never would have raised my head to look at this nondescript little second-​floor bar. Upstairs there’s nothing special – just drunk twentysomethings wetting their whistlers further with mid-​table beers.
If you do park here for a few pints some meat from down yonder might be in order. Overall, not a bad little hideaway in the West Village if you just want to chew the fat with your chums for a bit.

With places like PDT, Raines Law Room, and Milk & Honey (just to name a handful) upping the ante for speakeasy type establishments, it’s a tough game to compete in when creating your own hidden oasis. But that’s not always a bad thing… sometimes the pretention that permeates from those nooks and crannies is enough to make anyone have a reversal of fortune right then and there. That said, Bleecker Heights Tavern has it’s own little gimmick going on, and it’s a fun find.
When I’d first heard of this place, I thought there was a secret door behind the Five Guys that granted you access. Well, upon my first dance with this little Betty, it turns out you have to actually walk *inside* the Five Guys, pass the registers on the right, the cut a left at the back of the fast food establishment and up a set of stairs to access a room full of loud, ravenous drunks. I’m not a history buff so I don’t know who’s the chicken and who’s the egg… but regardless, it’s a fine pairing that I’ll surely be revisiting again in the future.
Funny, I had a shot and a beer upstairs, but I’ve still yet to nosh on a Five Guy’s burger. Will have to knock boots with their meat cleavers next time around…

Not that I don’t love Village Tavern with all my heart but I needed a break this week and this place had been suggested to me for hockey games (can you tell it’s ruling my life right now?). For those that are too lazy to figure it out you have to go INSIDE Five Guys and walk to the back and walk up the stairs to get to this «speakeasy» bar. Not a speakeasy AT ALL — much more standard dive bar. Simple beers on tap, small crowd, intimate setting, dark. I liked it. I’m actually going back there today.

Awesome that you walk up through the five guys…
Aside from that its pretty standard but pretty cool nonetheless

As far as speakeasies go, this one is pretty obvious. Might have something to do with the neon «Speakeasy» sign in the window above the Five Guys.
Anyway, OK beer selection (including Delirium Tremens), lots of big TVs, bar is long with a lot of seating, bartender was super nice. Only complaint is that it’s kind of narrow, so you’ll have to get through some people if they’re standing by the tables against the windows. The bathroom is also kinda whack.
Also, I swung by on a Thursday night. I can imagine that this place would get super crowded on more busy weekend nights and the standing room/​bathroom situation would be worse.

Who would have thought there’s a bar hidden above the Five Guys restaurant on Bleecker?!
No really. This is where this bar is. As soon as you enter the Five Guys, make a bee line for the very back, turn left and go up the secret stairwell and VOILA! It’s Bleeker Heights Tavern.
I love it. Not only can I drink but I can grab as many peanuts as I want for free plus order burgers if need be! Darn it, I really should have ordered a burger now in hindsight. Now all I can think of is a juicy Little Cheeseburger!
The bartenders here are great. Personable, quick, and boy do they make a mean vodka seltzer.
I don’t usually go out on Sunday nights but I’m sure glad I did this past weekend. Having discovered Bleecker Heights Tavern and adding it to my bar repertoire has given my life new meaning.
How sad.

Definitely not much of a trendy space as so many are in NYC, but aren’t we just going to drink anyway? In fact any bar located above a Five Guys can’t be much of a bar, however it is exciting to find a secret-​hidden-​getaway watering hole that lends itself to slew of all kinds of clientele.
The first shock of the bar wasn’t actually that we walked straight through a Five Guys and up a secret, Anne Frank Annex space, but that the first thing I noticed when I walked in was an infant child. I am not sure if the ordinary décor and lack of some original flare in design or mixology deters New Yorkers from going or it’s just really that they don’t know it exists. Either way, I was happy to be able to move freely and sit when I damn well wanted to. Back to the baby… like I told you… a slew of clientele.
If you visit New York, it might not be the most memorable bar you imbibe, but it definitely is the most reasonably priced and makes for some fun people watching. Getting drunk for cheap while staring at some questionable people = awesome in my book.

I came here to meet a bunch of friends for a pre-​Christmas get-​together on a Thursday night. First impressions: it was a little crowded, and a little loud, but they played Christmas & Hanukkah music!
As we hung out a little longer, I noticed the big windows looking down on the 3-​street intersection. I loved the view! The crowd was more relaxed than I’m used to for NYC, which isn’t a bad thing at all. And once I got a seat, the crowd didn’t bother me as much (though it *was* fairly crowded in the small bar).
I didn’t enjoy walking through the burger joint downstairs, but that could’ve been because I ate dinner before going out. My friends were all really excited about it, and I haven’t actually had a meal from 5 Guys, so I shouldn’t judge until I try it. But I can’t say that I would ever enjoy unexpected burger smells while drinking.
With all that said, I’d go back. Worth a stop on your Bleecker Street crawl.

Besides the fact that this is a U of gAy (Arizona) bar (hence the subtracted star… I went to ASU), this bar is pretty awesome. Let me list the way I love you so Bleeker Heights:
1. Mike, my favorite bartender, always has a story or knows how to entertain me in some way. I literally go here JUST to see him. The guy is hilarious.
2. I love that it’s hidden and has a semi-​speak easy feel to it.
3. 5 Guys burgers downstairs!!! and FREE peanuts!?! OMD
4. Great part of town and you never see any riff raff here, unless you consider belligerents riff raff… I consider them friends I don’t know yet.
Cheers to you Bleeker

Ever been to a Five Guys and wished they had a bar? Well, look no further than the Five Guys on Bleecker Street. After you slam a burger and fries, walk past the counter towards the bathroom and turn left. You will see a set of stairs. Go up and you will find Bleecker Heights Tavern.
JACKPOT! I love saying that, sorry…
This is a great bar to come to on a lazy Saturday afternoon or after work to grab a few drinks. I have leveraged this place in both of the above situations. It is on the second floor and lots of windows, so there is plenty of light and has an airy feel. Plus, since it is somewhat hard to find (watch out Milk & Honey), it is never too crowded.
On my last visit, I went with a bunch of buddies to Five guys on a Saturday and then up to «the office» for a few drinks. We watched a football game and had some cocktails… what a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The bartender was great. The service was good and she was chatty and put up well with our lame jokes. On top of all that, the drinks were cheap. My rum and cokes were $ 7, fantastic stuff, my friend.