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Cherry Tavern

441 East 6th St (1st Ave and Avenue A) Transit: F, M to 2nd Ave; L to 1st Ave

(212) 777-1448

I have been to dozens of East Village dive bars, and I find Cherry Tavern to be the horniest. (Doc Holliday’s is a close second.) Everyone here seems to have come for the express purpose of hooking up, or finding someone to hook up with. The ceiling is covered with soundproofing foam, probably because the upstairs neighbors were complaining about the moaning. Red bulbs dangle from above, and cheesy early-‘00s radio rock of the Three Doors Down, Puddle of Mud variety plays on the jukebox. (This, unfortunately, is the closest thing white folks have to baby-making R&B.) People who don’t have any idea how to play pool are doing so simply for the opportunity to goose their partner when she bends over, and even the bartender seems to be making eyes.

If you’re not interested in finding romance, Cherry Tavern offers cocktails like Che’s Iced Tea, which is mint iced tea and bourbon, and Moscow Lemonade, which is cherry vodka and lemonade. But other than those concoctions I couldn’t find any traces of a Communist influence; I mean, they also offer an Old Glory special, which is a PBR and a shot of whiskey for $4.

Other than the sex pheromones in the air, the atmosphere ain’t much: Wood paneling, double-exposed photos of drunk people, a plastic orange gun hanging from the coat hook. Monday night is iPod night, says a sign: if you bring yours in, they’ll play it. But folks here clearly aren’t much into music appreciation. (Hence the aught rock.) They’re more into the appreciation of a nice round behind, particularly one shaped by a tight pair of jeans.

Dive Bar Rating