Double Down Saloon

New York, New York

Field Note

Rare is a “chain” in the world of dive bars, but the two-stop Double Down Saloon may be as close as it gets, operating locations in Las Vegas and New York. The NYC version, nestled in dive bar hotbed the Lower East Side, opened in 2006 with all the calling cards of the Las Vegas version, complete with a signature, memorably-named shot and a slight obsession with bacon.

There is a lot to love about the Double Down Saloon formula, but the enigmatic “Ass Juice” shot may be the reason at the top of the list. While the New York dive bar’s staff points to secrecy as a reason not to divulge the precise ingredients in the concoction, past interviews have pointed to only vague guidelines rather than any set recipe. Those guidelines dictate the elixir must be strong, sweet and vaguely brown, allowing for a bit of leeway that adds a bit of variety to repeat visits.

Also ported over the Las Vegas version is a fondness for bacon, found here in the form of bacon martinis that serve as one of the bar’s calling cards. Double Down Saloon’s bloody marys come with a side of Slim Jim nestled in the glass, another unique twist on a bar that is itself a unique twist on an East Village dive bar. Those seeking something a bit more standard in their drinking options will be happy to know that classic dive bar beer Genessee is only $2 before 8 PM.

Cocktails and concoctions aside, Double Down Saloon looks every bit the part of a downtown dive bar, complete with rampant stickers, graffiti and post-punk jukebox-driven soundtrack. Often overlooked are the epic murals that can be found along the bar’s walls peeking out from behind bits of spray paint. The mural in the rear of the space inscribed with “The Happiest Place on Earth” is particularly memorable, featuring depictions of drinkers in various stages of a typical dive bar evening.

Beneath black painted ceiling tiles, two signs certainly catch the eye, one reading “You Puke You Clean” and the other “Shut Up And Drink” above the bar’s interior front door. The vibe here is not a mystery, everything about the Double Down Saloon space intended to stir up a bit of energy underneath all of that drinking. Looking up to find the words “Ass Juice” plainly written on a wooden board beneath the bar’s ceiling-mounted beer menu feels very much in line with the bar set by the rest of Double Down Saloon’s decor.

Often overlooked are the window bays on either side of the bar’s recessed front door entrance, beer ledges offering prime view of Avenue A outside. Short beer ledges jut out from the Double Down Saloon walls opposite the bar counter itself, carving out a bit more space than typically available at a Manhattan dive. A handful of black booths toward the front of the space complement a set of red, plush booths in back. The bar’s pool table looks about as worn as the rest of the space and sits under the “Happiest Place on Earth” mural.

Affectionately referred to as a beer garden by the bar, Double Down Saloon does feature a patio in back often used by smokers. All told, the scene is certainly intentionally pulled together and has the potential to draw a tourist or two, but the vibe is unquestionably in line with true dive bar drinking. For better or worse, the Double Down Saloon setting is so intriguing that a Dua Lipa / Miley Cyrus music video made use of the space.