The Monster
Dancing · Piano Bar · New York, NY
About
A West Village institution since 1982, The Monster is a two-floor gay bar with a piano bar upstairs and a basement disco downstairs. The street level has a 360-degree oval bar, piano, and lounge seating; go downstairs for a hardwood dance floor, drag shows, and go-go dancers. The crowd is mixed—bears, twinks, drag queens, locals, travelers—and skews 30s to 50s. Original murals from the 1929 predecessor, El Chico, still hang on the walls.
"Downstairs has a large dance floor area with a long bar, a stage for go-go dancers, and a DJ booth."
Full bar and happy hour specials run nightly, with the strongest drinks in the Village. Cover charges vary, usually around $9–$10 on busy nights. Thursday through Saturday are the best nights to go. The single unisex bathroom can be a bottleneck. Pull up a stool and the friendly crowd will sell you on the place.
Located in the West Village, across from the Stonewall Inn and Sheridan Square park, The Monster sits at the heart of NYC's historic gay district.
Features
- ✓Two full bars across street-level piano bar and basement disco
- ✓Original 1929 El Chico murals still on display
- ✓Go-go dancers and drag shows most nights
- ✓Mixed crowd: bears, twinks, queens, locals, travelers
- ✓Happy hour specials and famously potent drinks
Cuisine & style
Good for
Practical
Best nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
What people say
Rated from 240 reviews on Yelp · 1,779 community ratings — we don’t host Yelp’s review text; read the full reviews there.
From the community
Names are kept private and text is lightly edited for clarity.
“A Monster of a Bar :-)”
The Monster bar is located across from the Stonewall Inn on Sheridan Square. It features an oval bar with muscular bartenders, an open lounge, and a piano bar upstairs. Downstairs has a large dance floor area with a long bar, a stage for go-go dancers, and a DJ booth. The crowd includes bears, drag queens, women, queer punks, and muscular men, but mostly men. During a visit in the early hours of May 18, 2014, I paid $7 for a rum and coke and about $9 cover. Two muscular dancers were on the go-go stage. The main drawback is only one unisex bathroom. I think Monster could replace the now-closed Splash Bar and I would return. I revisited on June 21, 2022, paying $10 cover and $10-$12 for a small rum and coke. It was crowded, especially downstairs with the stage, plinths, dance floor, and lap dance area. The piano karaoke was fun and unique. The 'Spunk' go-go dancers were a diverse group of muscular men. I got a lap dance from a short but very solidly built Latino man for $70, which was well worth it. He was amazing. I will definitely return on my next trip to New York City.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Unwelcoming bartenders”
Some bartenders are extremely rude. I stood at the bar holding my money, clearly wanting to order a drink, but they ignored me and kept chatting with each other. I asked a customer for their names (Patrick and Rodrigo). They shouldn't work in customer service. I left and went to another gay bar where the staff were welcoming. If Monster doesn't want my business, I'll take it elsewhere—simple as that.
A guest · Over a year ago
More than a year ago. Nothing.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“TERRIBLE PLACE”
Aggressive people! Stay away!!
A local visitor · Over a year ago
Over a year ago, on Thursday, August 29th! SAINTHOOD in the basement disco with DJs Lorant, Chauncey D, and Anjyl, plus a live performance by Sir Charles! Starts at 10pm with no cover!
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Monster have a cover charge? +
Yes, cover charges apply on some nights. Recent reports show $9–$10 on busy weekends, but special events may have no cover.
What's the dress code? +
We don't have confirmed dress code details. Casual attire seems standard based on reviews. Claim this listing to add confirmed info.
Is food served? +
The Monster does not have a kitchen. They serve drinks only, with happy hour specials nightly.
Is there dancing? +
Yes, the basement disco has a hardwood dance floor, DJ booth, and a stage for go-go dancers. Dancing happens most nights.
More Bars in New York
Please Don't Tell
Bars · $$$
Monarch Rooftop
Bars · $$$
The Skylark
Bars · $$$
The Lambda Lounge
Bars · $$