Welcome to Bar of the Week, a running series from TV and City that highlights New York’s best spots for drinks, vibes, and just the right amount of chaos.
Each week, we spotlight one bar. Sometimes it’s a cozy cocktail lounge. Sometimes it’s a sprawling beer hall. Sometimes it’s a barely-marked door behind a fake hardware store. We don’t try to cover every bar in the city. Just the ones we actually go to. The ones we’d take a friend, a first date, or someone visiting who asks, “So where do you usually hang out?”
These aren’t curated for algorithms or chasing clout. They’re the bars that make up New York. One week at a time.
🍸Bar of the Week: KGB Bar
📍 Location: 85 E 4th St, East Village
🚇 Nearest Subway: Astor Place (6), 2nd Ave (F)
Vibe: Communist kitsch meets East Village grit. If you’re into divey upstairs dens with history and edge, this one’s for you.
🪑 Why We Love It
KGB Bar is the kind of spot that feels like it shouldn’t still exist, which is exactly why we love it. Hidden up a crooked red staircase that feels more like an escape route than an entrance, this Soviet-themed watering hole oozes charm. Lenin watches from one corner, faded propaganda posters cover the walls, and the lights stay dim enough that time seems to blur a bit.
It’s snug and little chaotic in the best way. You might catch a poetry reading one night, a punky cabaret the next, and regulars who seem like they’ve been holding court here since before the Cold War ended, mixed with a much younger crowd, too.
🕺 Upstairs Secrets
Above KGB sits The Red Room, a velvet-draped speakeasy-style space that hosts live music, storytelling nights, and offbeat performances. It’s the kind of venue where you might accidentally stumble into something magical after a few rounds downstairs.
🍻 What to Order
A vodka tonic somehow feels extra appropriate here, and the beer selection does the trick, even if the prices are a touch steeper than you might expect from a dive. Maybe a Moscow Mule?
🗽 Why It’s a TV and City Pick
Some bars feel curated. KGB feels curated and lived-in. It’s messy and moody, theatrical and a little mischievous. It might not be for everyone, but if you know, you know. Just maybe don’t drink too much before tackling that treacherous staircase on your way out.
TV and City 