Bouche Bar

R.I.P. Bouche Bar.
I’ve loved you since the day we met. Christophe, founder; and especially Pamela, proprietor, I will always love you.

I’m very disappointed in Bouche Bar. I used to come here all the time and I remembered it to be a cute little bar, never crowded and always with a great selection of indie music playing.
I came here for an after dinner drink on Saturday and as always it was not crowded which is fine, but it felt cold and uninviting. There was a somewhat drunk/​sketchy guy situated at the bar. They had a DJ spinning house music in the corner (pardon, is this 1999?) which seemed inappropriate for a small bar with fewer than ten people inside.
To be honest, I couldn’t wait to leave. So disppointing, Bouche Bar. Adieu…

This place has been closed for a while, but recently I noticed someone repainting.
Very low-​key place on weeknights; on my first visit I was the only patron there for three drinks. It’s on my block, and nice to have a comfortble bar that’s a little less divey than the place next to Le Tableau… not that there’s anything wrong with dive bars.

lovely little bar — interesting mix of people, relaxed vibe, not too crowded. my friends and I walked in and snagged a little couch on a saturday night around 11. i only wish the bartender (who was brand new) had said up front that he couldn’t make the drink i wanted, instead of valiantly trying but coming up with something rather sick. nevertheless, I’d definitely go back.

This cozy little place never seems to get (thank god) swept up in the super-​trendy wave that has been inundating the Village for the past couple of years. This place is completely unpretentious, the bartenders are always sweethearts and the music is always awesome, never too loud. It has managed to keep intact that cozy «locals only» vibe that so many places in this area have lost entirely.

I had moved out of NY, and came back for a 3 – 4 day trip. I never went to this place before, but after seeing what’s become of Ace bar, i spent pretty much every end of night here. Bartenders are very friendly, the music is perfect for good conversation (read: not too loud), and there’s usually a place to sit.

I walked straight past this place last weekend when I tried to go, so this time I took the address with me. I LOVED this bar. There were just a couple other patrons, a friendly, cute bartender and good music. Perfect place to catch up with friends or have a first date. The only thing I’d change is more comfortable seating. But, I recommend the nook in the back — it’s cozy and intimate.

The bartender and drinks were great, and so was the non-​existent crowd (I hate crowds).
I went back on Saturday around 6pm hoping to catch happy hour but was disappointed upon finding out that they open at 8.
edit: Went back again around 9 pm on a Saturday. Is Bouche closed for good?

Went here as first destination as meeting place for a birthday celebration. It was so perfect. It was empty but not sadly deserted, you know? Good vibe all around. Felt bad for taking up space at this quaint spot but was reassured that we were more than welcomed to stay the whole night.
Christmas lights on glass windows. Tiny stools. Wooden low top tables. Warm Nooks and corners. Great songs from the ultra nice and chill bartender, who made us a round of his secret shots– recipe from Jamaica. He also made his way to a painting hanging slightly crooked on the wall behind us and straightened the thing. Nice touch. As they say. It’s the little things.
I especially liked how nobody shoo-​ed away the guy who came in to sell neon flashing raver bracelets. He was a riot.
Grown a big fondness. Going to go back whenever I can.

If I lived in New York, I’d probably visit Bouche Bar frequently. As previously mentioned, the place is great if you roll up with a private party since the bar pretty much becomes yours. Out of the 20 people that were in the bar over the course of two and a half hours, 16 were from our party. So it was nice to have a small quaint setting with our group.
As for the beer, I wish there was a better selection. I almost shed a tear because I saw Carlsberg on tap and then the evil cup over the tap. NO! I was really jonesing for a Carlsberg when I saw the tap to bring back the memories of drinking it in Denmark. But alas, I stuck to the Red Stripe and Brooklyn Lager.
It definitely had a «neighborhood bar» feel to it and would probably make a great place to have a drink and chat with friends. However, I have no idea if that would hold true on the weekends since I went during the week.

It’s places like this that make New York City special. The neighborhood atmosphere is so layed back I almost felt like I was hangin’ at someone’s apartment. You never know what obscure musical selection will play next. I always have a good time here and love to bring friends from out of town to see the intimacy and unexpectedness of a bar they won’t find on any tourist’s map. I’m sure I’ll go back soon!

When my group got too big to be welcome at Burp Castle, I blazed a trail to Bouche. Greatest idea ever. There wasn’t a single person there when we arrived, but a group of 15 people can handily take over this place and have a great time. It was like a private party.
They need more/​better/​different taps. If they had a few good beer-​snob selections, I’d be all over this place.
Also, do not steal my idea of taking your entire crew to Bouche for a free private party. I call dibs, damn you.

i lived around the corner from bouche many years ago and somehow never went, now that i have finally been i will certainly return. the Unilocal party was a blast and i’m still not sure how our 2 bartenders kept up with the thirsty crowd but they did a great job and managed to stay friendly and fresh the whole night.
thanks to bouche and Unilocal for a great night in the east village!

Small intimate, little Amuse Bouche… great place to cozy up to other Unilocalers! (Ok, maybe a little too close when it gets crowded) but still a nice little bar to meet your friends, private party, etc.

I love Bouche… it’s small and intimate, cozy… a total «neighborhood» bar… if I didn’t live an hour away. So much fun, potent drinks, nice staff, great vibes… I’d say more, but I have very few memories of last night :)

awesome neighborhood bar in the l.e.s. Met a lot of awesome Unilocalers for the first time! The place was a little bit small, but the Unilocaltini’s were delicious! I will def go back again!

I’ve spent too much time here as of recent, but it’s such a casual vibe, laid back, makes you want to really spend more time in their clutches! Oh I also love the way French people say «bouche» — I melt when I hear it.

If this was my neighborhood, this would be my bar. While it is far from home, this friendly bar had me feeling like a local.

All thanks to Nish, I really loved this place. The bartenders are friendly and the crowd still neighborhoody in the midst of the too much trendiness that can be the Lower Eastside.

I’m not sure how Bouche Bar stays in business but I am so happy for it being around for so many years. It has this neighborhood feel, and somehow a Parisian feel. How do I know that? I have no idea, but ‘bouche’ in French means mouth, so maybe I am eager and hopeful? Anyhow, the last time I was at Bouche, and it was a Thursday, and I had invited about 30 friends to join me (I live in San Francisco now, was visiting). Wonderful time, great bartenders, no pretense.