2 By 4
68 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003 (212) 647-1170
- Nearest Transit:
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Uptown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6)
Downtown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6, B, D, F, V)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Juke Box
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Coat Check: No
27 Reviews for 2 By 4
While I generally resist ending up here after cheap Indian food night at Sonar Gao (n? w?) I can't say that I've regretted it. Yes, it's maaad divey, but it is basically what you make of it [such is life]. If, for instance, you take over the jukebox and play The Cure, you might just have a good night.
And you can't argue with $3 well drinks. They're watered down but whatevs.
Yes, I'm strangely fond of this place...
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I do not drive a Harley or drink Bud from a can. Also, despite the fact that I am a woman and therefore possess the required T&A, I feel no need to display said goods in anything short, tight, fringed, or see-through. So, it's entirely possible that I wouldn't be welcomed back to 2 by 4.
A poor man's Coyote Ugly indeed!
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Two reasons for the bad ranking.
First, this bar isn't going to be a dive bar much longer, and that makes me sad.
Village Idiot - CLOSED
Red Rock West - CLOSED
Yogi's - probably gone before the end of the year
I showed up here with some friends in town from Chicago after we had heard that a lot of Red Rock West bartenders were getting shifts here. had some trouble finding the place at first because there was no bar on the corner of 2nd and 4th called 2 x 4. Instead, there was a fancy new awning with AMBIANCE in big letters up above it. Obviously, the owners are looking to change the place because a dive bar named Ambiance just doesn't work (unless maybe they put the word shitty in small letters in front of of it).
The second and bigger problem happened when we finally realized Ambiance was 2 x 4 and walked in. If I can cross reference my Red Rock West review, the bar only gets 4 stars because of:
I don't know her name and I don't want to know her name. But every time I go here, she seems to be bartending and she appears to make it her goal to ruin my night. If you were hotter, I'd be cool with you pouring a shot of Jack into your mouth and spitting it into mine. But you're not. I'm also not so cool with a bartender refusing to give us our drinks unless I pay for them because she thinks my friend always pays, when that isn't true (I just never order from you because you frighten me).
Well, guess who was bartending at 2 x 4 on a random Thursday night when I decided to show up? What the f is this about? Not only are all the good dive bars closing, but the ones that are staying open continue to employ people who want to spit jack daniels in my mouth. Not cool.
The crowd was non-existent and the person who put money in the jukebox thought playing Abba was a good idea. I shan't be back.
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Eh, it's a dive bar that seems to have little in the way of redeeming qualities. The can of PBR I had tasted like it had seen better days 5 years ago. At least it was cheap and I didn't feel underdressed. I was also sort of disturbed by the fact that while I was only there for one drink, I managed to hear both "Don't Stop Believing'" and "Free Bird" while I was there...yeah.
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I love how people are saying it's the dive bar of dive bars like it's a bad thing. Don't go to dive bars if you don't like them and then you can't talk sh*t about how terrible they are in a review. But whatever, if you like dive bars, 2x4 is like dive bar heaven. The beer is cheap- I think $2 PBR cans, $3 well drinks. The staff is friendly, and some of the bartenders are hott. Plus, it seems like each night is a theme night- one night the bartenders will be dressed up like Brittany Spears or Pimps and Hoes, the next cowboys. If you're a girl, it works in your benefit- if you dance on the bar or give them your bra to hang up they give you free shots- which is always a plus. And, it's not some cheap pre-mixed shot- my gf danced on the bar and the bartenders dumped stoli o down all our throats! My friends and I always end up going in a big group, so we kinda end up taking over the place- the juke box, pool table, etc... but it's always a great time. We drink, we dance, we go crazy, and it's never anything short of a crazy night!
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An okay dive bar. Went in by chance and my group were the only ones there [apparently not many people drink on Tuesday nights]. Decent beer selection although several people got skunked beer which is less than enjoyable. Service was fast and prices were cheap which is in its favor. Perhaps if there were more people there it would have seemed more interesting.
dive bar of dive bars. & I love dive bars, but really, it's a dive bar.
in addition to the oh-so-elegant collection of suspended lingerie, ladies should be prepared for battle.....you will be ambushed (think relatively creepy, stranger-danger, where's the door?). order a shot if you get cornered, that way you can make a quick exit.
or better yet, don't even go inside....there are plenty of fun places down there that are not named after a piece of lumber.
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Such crap. If I had the ability to review this place with zero stars, I would. Its only redeeming quality was the fact that it holds a liquor license, and little else.
To be quite honest, we only came here after I was trying to relate the story of visiting NYC years ago as a tourist and being dragged to a "poor man's Coyote Ugly where a lesbian bartender hit on me hardcore". Oh, nostalgia. My friends immediately recognized this as being 2 by 4 and so we absconded from KGB to head here.
We really ought to have just remained where we were, in retrospect. The bartenders were trashy and rude, the regulars at the bar were assholes, and defended by the bartenders, the internet jukebox wasn't even turned on, so money was wasted on that, and then the fun cherry on top was when someone sneaked my friend's wallet from her coat pocket. The latter-- hey, that can happen anywhere. But we were kind of already waaaay over 2 by 4 and it was just that moment where you just go right over the edge into outright disgust and hatred of a place. But at least I found out where that crappy bar I visited 5 years ago was. No more wondering. Yay.
*short version: Worst place everrr
not such a great place.but it does serve absinthe,and the bartenders are hot and do tend do dance on the bar.but hey,if the main appeal of a bar is tits and ass...why not just go to a strip club? the only reason i went to this place is cuz i was pretty wrecked already,was in the area,and knew it was on 2nd and 4th. so if for some weird reason you have an urge to go here,think of all these reviews,and for the love of god...don't go.
Reasons you should go to this bar:
1.) Cheap beer.
2.) you enjoy dive bars
3.) friendly staff
4.) yes, even the bouncers are friendly (unless you're a jerk)
5.) people dance on the bar
and 6, and maybe the most likely reason you go to this bar:
6.) if you remember the name, you know how to get there
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A fun time to go and dance, smoke and drink. I went there on St. Patrick's day and it was a riot. Pool tables and fun times. People dance on the bars every now and then.They have the electronic juke box, so you can look up pretty much any music you want to hear on it. A good place that's rather divey.
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Eh. Meh. This is bottom of the barrel. Which is exactly why some of my friends like it. I've had decent times here. A long time ago. Now I know better. At least they have PBR. but, yeah there's just not much to say. Its a square room, the bathroom probably shouldn't be used, and its the same boring classic rock (don't get me wrong, I love certain classic rock bands like AC/DC who kick everyone's ass at bars, but you can only play sweet home alabama so many times before you want to kill the remaining members of Skynard, even if they aren't touring) and classic rock posers (read: Jet) blasting through the stereo.
Oh no women. Except the drunk ones behind the bar. And they do the whole dance on the bar thing, like in every other divey-almost roadhouse bar in the city. And its boring. Because most of them can't dance. And you have all those nasty old guys just drooling away.
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A total dive bar and it's fabulous. Cheap beer and booze in a dark, bare bones atmosphere. There's writing scrawled on the walls, cheap 80s hair metal playing the jukebox, rickety tables, high tops, stools and some chairs. And not to mention, tons and tons of bras hung up around the bar. The Patriot does this too, I believe both bars are owned by the same people.
The bartenders are the kind of gals that will pour shots and dance on the counter. Last night they were dressed like Britney Spears with fake blonde wigs, baseball caps and short shorts. But, my favorite thing about this bar? It's smoker friendly. Yes, that right folks. There are still some bars you can smoke inside New York. And that makes it twice as nice.
Though, I was here early on a Friday night (around 11:30/midnight on a Saturday) so, the crowd wasn't really picking up yet. It seemed when I was leaving, more people were filtering in. I would definitely include this as part of the bar crawl.
A dive feeling for sure but I think the Budweiser was around 5 bucks when I went. Really should've gone all out and done PBR, but my friend got the round so here we are. While due to that I can't say I'm an expert at their prices until I go back.
This was a kinda nice dive in terms of it resembles places like The Patriot in Tribeca and Yogi's on the Upper West Side but instead of country? 80's Rock and Metal.
The feeling of this bar was the movie Road House but without the action, excitement, or Patrick Swayze. Also if you're into bartenders who stuff their bras so obviously you can see the toilet paper -- hit it up.
I think the reason to go here is for a dive bar that isn't country. A better dive that isn't country would be Rudy's way up in Hell's Kitchen (which even has a back area for smoking.)
My friends offered me $50 to dance on the bar after the discussion about how I was probably the only person ever in 2 by 4 in a suit. That's 25 PBRs people.
Alas, I could not do it.
This bar is ok, but a little too... dirty? trashy? I don't know, those are normally things I like...
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Thanks for playing loud, shitty music under my window every damn night, 2 by 4. Thanks so much.
Assholes.
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Remember when you were in college and there was that frat dude who wore that white hat with the American flag on it? Yes, THAT dude. Well, this is where that dude hangs out at to gawk at girls.
And the girls who go there to gawk at, wow. They all seem to dress like catholic school girls and dance on the bar wearing white socks. Normally, that's kind of hot, but its just really REALLY sketchy in this place.
I honestly feel dirty that I set foot inside. And its not the kind of dirty you can wash off either. :-(
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yay for dive bars!
yay for cheap drinks!
yay for barmaids who call everyone honey!
what's the deal with all the bras hanging behind the bar? not so sure i wanna be there when the answer can be demonstrated.
it was pretty quiet the one time i went here but i dug the atmosphere and we got to hog the pool table. watching the doorman (insert visual of large thuggish bald white man here) intently watch some merchant ivory film on the tv after football was over was worth the trip to the east village.
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$2 PBRs? Well done.
What is so refreshing about this place is it relaxed atmosphere. It's a dive, but I love places like this. Great music tonight and a lively crowd made this a perfect follow-up to the more proper ambience of Winebar across the way. If you're just looking to relax with some cheap beer and tequila shots, this is it.
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Disgusting, filthy, trashy. All these adjectives come to mind when I think about the good ole 2 by 4 but also somehow perfect. Two dollar PBR's are never a bad thing in my book but become somehow even better when the bar tender keeps a beer bong behind the bar. Dancing on the bar takes place from time to time(mostly by people who shoul think about never dancing on a bar. ever.) and heavy metal plays constantly. Sometimes you don't want to hang out with well coifed beautiful people in classy places; and for those times there are places like the 2 by 4.
my one friend and i went there a while back...it was a girls night out and we were bar hopping after goign out for dinner. for some reason we thought it would be a good idea to go to 2x4 (why, i dont know)...
we enter and it was filled with creepy men...and i kept hearing people shouting about naughty school girl night. we felt like we couldnt just walk in and leave...because we didnt want to look like wimps. so we both got a beer...and CHUGGED it. during our chug-fest there were girls that i think were barely 16 dancing on the bar...and they werent even good looking 16 year olds...yuck. also, some OLD guy was telling me how i looked like his niece...and he wanted to buy me drinks and kept trying to get me and my friend to play pool with him and his friend. ewww...creepy uncle. we finished our beers and got the hell out of there.
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This is a true dive bar for frat boy biker wannabees. Which kinda limits the crowd this bar will attract. The only reason I gave it an extra star was because it has a good pool table, and juke box and it's decent on a weeknight without the frat boy biker wannabees.
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The last two times I was there, the bartenders were dancing on the bar. Oh, and thier's a pole, and they danced on that also. It was almost a biker bar, but without the leather clad people, well, almost.
If cheap PBR's are you thing, along with slightly trashy bartenders pole dancing on the bar you need to be here.
Journey back to 1997, when grunge was hot and Metallica was even hotter! 2x4 may not be the classiest joint in town, but it's got its own sort of, um, charm. Here you can find all the trademarks of a dive bar: $2 PBRs, chicks dancing on bars, and sleazy guys as far as the eye can see (which luckily isn't very far... this place is quite small).
To all the chicks looking for a cheap night out- Look no further! There's a sausagefest going on in this place and, believe me, each and every one of those guys will be more than willing to shell out $2 for your beer (just keep an eye out for roofies). Also feel free to hop up on the bar and do a little pole dancing (ATTENTION: Do not wear a skirt!). Be sure to collect your free shot as you climb down into the cesspool of men waiting to make their move. This is the point at which you grab your girls and run for cover (Don't worry, the bouncer will protect you... but then again, he will also probably hit on you).
When all the shots and cheap beer start to take effect, you might think you're starting to hallucinate. "Is that Elvis I see?!" Nah, it's just that James Dean wannabe who seemingly never leaves this place. Throw on some Johnny Cash or "Jail House Rock" and watch this guy BUST A MOVE! But beware: he too will hit on you if he catches you watching.
Okay, truth be told, this bar isn't THAT bad (Would I know all this if I didn't keep going back every now and then?). On weeknights it's actually very tame and you can get those cheap drinks, play some pool, and relax. And on weekends... well, every gal's got to dance on a pole once in a while!
But if 2x4's not your scene, just hop around the corner to the Boiler Room, where the drinks are just as cheap, the men are all gay, the dance floor's always rockin, and the jukebox is sure to be playing Madonna and George Michael. (Just don't use the bathrooms there... They're worse than the ones at 2x4!)
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Fun dive bar, but they are smoker-friendly so I don't recommend it if you don't want to smell like an ashtray.
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Break out that t-shirt with the Greek letters on it and head to 2 by 4. Complete with really cheap beer and that 'crazy' feel of a spring break wet t-shirt contest, minus the girls, this place is perfect for frat gatherings. If the aforementioned isn't your scene, keep walking and find a dozen places in two square blocks that may be more your style.
the place isn't as bad as some people make it out to seem. sure, there are creepy men...but there are creepy men at really nice places too! maybe I just like the fact that there are granny bras hanging from the ceiling. or maybe i like the $2 PBRs. don't expect to meet your price charming here. just get drunk off of cheap drinks.
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