Strangelove

New York, New York

Field Note

Finding an actual dive bar in Manhattan is no simple feat, especially anywhere that isn’t the dive bar-friendly surroundings of the Lower East Side. Midtown East’s diamond in the dive bar rough is Strangelove, part of a triumvirate of thematically similar bars that includes Chinatown’s Clockwork Bar. The draw here is the stark contrast to the neighborhood that surrounds the bar, making Strangelove an affordably-priced oasis where few such options exist.

The beer & shot special is a staple of any good dive bar and Strangelove’s $6 entry in Midtown Manhattan is probably sufficient enough evidence to qualify the space as a true dive. Factor in even lower prices during happy hour and the appeal is easy to understand. Opened in 2018, Strangelove is a relatively new entry to New York City’s dive bar inventory, cheap Genesee an easy way to endear a business to New York locals.

Outside, a small bit of blazing red neon signals the space, the name of the bar flanked by Bud Light & Blue Point Brewery signs. Even more simply stated, Strangelove’s secondary neon sign reads “BAR” and “ATM Inside” to really drive the point home. A large black flag hangs over the bar inscribed with the Strangelove logo, fluttering just above a sticker-laden window that provides the only sliver of natural light found inside.

The vibe here is self-proclaimed punk rock-adjacent, the ambiance strikingly similar to sister bar Clockwork Bar. The front door sets the tone immediately, red paint covered in stickers, graffiti and also more stickers. What started out as blank walls in 2018 have since been endlessly swamped in vibrant graffiti. As one might expect, drinking options here are limited, a rotating set of four draft handles complementing a classic dive bar regular of old man-friendly can and bottle options.

Hanging light bulbs bathe the space in what turns out to be a largely red-tinged glow during evening hours, adding to the dim & dark feel natural to a dive bar, or old school film development space. A short bar in front offers a limited set of stools, opening up quickly into a shotgun-style footprint just wide enough to hold a few drinking ledges opposite the bar and a handful of tables in back. Grid-like woodwork supports the bar’s liquor collection, representing the exact options you are picturing right now.

Unexpectedly, the layout takes a bit of a right turn near the rear of the space, an almost hidden dive bar within a dive bar unfolding in relative seclusion. Built-in benches here flank low, very low tables supported by a handful of stout stools. A television can be found in this rear alcove, though this reviewer has never seen it operational. The graffiti only seems to intensify as the bar meanders to this back room, multi-colored light bulbs adding to the intensely intricate show.