The Cock Formerly: The Hole

Cruising · Dive Bars · New York, NY

$$ ·Cruising · Dive Bars · LGBTQ-owned

About

Tucked away in the East Village on E 5th Street, this dive bar is one of the few remaining cruising spaces in New York City. The two-level interior includes a dark room downstairs, while the main room hosts themed parties, go-go dancers, and DJs. A neon rooster sign marks the entrance.

The crowd spans ages, from 20-somethings to daddies, with bears and twinks mixing in. Cover is $5 to $10, and coat check costs $4. Reviews note the bar can get dark and uneven floors are a hazard, so watch your step. Regulars know the vibe is raw and unpolished, attracting a no-frills crowd.

Located in the East Village on E 5th Street, this bar is part of a nightlife-heavy area with other venues nearby.

Features

✓Two-level interior with a basement dark room
✓Go-go dancers and themed parties with DJs
✓Covers a wide age range from 20s to daddies
✓Raw, unpolished dive bar atmosphere

Cuisine & style

CruisingDive Bars

Good for

✓Backroom✓Drag Shows✓Go-Go Boys/Strippers✓Leather✓After Hours✓Live Entertainment✓Casual✓Fetish✓20 Somethings✓30 Somethings✓40 Somethings✓Bears✓Locals✓Daddies✓Twinks✓Events

Practical

✓LGBTQ Owned

What people say

397 community ratings.

From the community

Names are kept private and text is lightly edited for clarity.

It was a horrible visit. A couple of aggressive, misogynistic men harassed me for being a transgender woman, mocking my looks, and the staff didn't step in to assist.

A visitor · Over a year ago

“a nice place to go”

Though it's small, it attracts a big crowd of guys. It's easy to find attractive young men. The cover is $10, and coat check costs $4. There are usually three go-go dancers who are friendly and always smiling. Most people are nice and open to chatting with strangers rather than sticking to their own group.

A guest · Over a year ago

“What a joke”

The place smells like a sewer. Where is the health department? The darkroom is dark and is a room, but nothing happens there. Having traveled a lot, I know this isn't a real darkroom or back room. Like much of New York, it's misleading and disappointing.

A recent visitor · Over a year ago

“Worst bar I think I have ever been to.”

There was a $5 cover charge and a rude bartender from the start. The lighting is so dim that the uneven floors are likely to trip you at some point. They let in the most drunk, annoying, and ogling women, as well as men who stare at the Go Go dancers. There were two types of dancers: initially just two tiny twin-like women, but later a couple of muscular guys with their cocks sticking out of their underwear (there were inserts covering them, real or not? I wasn't willing to pay to find out). Someone asked me if the downstairs was open. There's a downstairs? It must be behind the area blocked off with traffic cones, so presumably it was closed. I gave up and left at 1 AM, even though the rather strange crowd was at its peak.

A local visitor · Over a year ago

“Hot and Fun to watch”

I love that bar. It was fun and wild. I met a hot Puerto Rican dancer with a thick 8.5-inch... He was friendly. The woman at the front door is very friendly and helpful. The black muscular bartender is extremely nice. I would definitely come back again.

A visitor · Over a year ago