Business of the Month: Art Bar, 52 Eighth Avenue

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What do you get if you cross rowdy biker gangs with fine art? We don’t suggest you try to find out at home; but in at least one case, it led to one of the most beloved and enduring bars in the Village, Art Bar at 52 Eighth Avenue (btw. Jane and Horatio Sts.). This multipurpose venue has been, at once, an inclusive happy hour spot, an unorthodox art gallery, a tourist destination for the nightlife cognoscenti, and a living room away from home. This is its story.

The story of Art Bar begins in 1989, but the history of the site as a watering hole goes back much further. This was the address of Sea Colony, a well known working-class lesbian bar during the 1950s and 1960s. During the intervening years, it was occupied by the hot dog restaurant Hot Diggity. Its relaunch as a bar came at the hands of Abraham Merchant, who, after a few years working in the restaurant industry, opened the place with one of his coworkers. True to its name, Art Bar displayed art throughout the establishment from the outset. Otherwise, however, the initial iteration of the venue had a different vibe and focus. It was a games bar with a pool table in the back. Drawn either by the games, the 4:00 am closing time, or, who knows, maybe the artwork, motorcycle gangs made it a regular hangout. Eventually, though, things started getting a little too out of hand for the management’s taste; and the games were taken out, leaving as their legacy only the eight ball that adorns the bar’s menus and signs. The art, however, stayed.

Some of the most prominent pieces on permanent display at Art Bar were commissioned by Merchant early on. The most noteworthy of these might be the mural in the backroom, a kitschy depiction of the Last Supper by Marco Sincoegui that features Jim Morrison as Jesus and Richard Nixon as Judas, among others. But additional eye-catching work can be found all throughout, including  Keith Haring’s smiley face or Kimberly Kae’s classic drink paintings, which reimagine above the bar a dozen or so concoctions that you might order from right where you’re standing.

But that’s only what’s on permanent display. Art Bar also famously puts on seasonal shows that cover its walls with artwork, by a featured artist (currently it’s the work of Helene Ruiz and her photographer son-in-law Gilbert Laforestrie).

This practice has continued to this day and is currently spearheaded by the bar’s longtime manager, Alexis El Sayed, who explains that it’s a win-win proposition. The bar gets temporary artwork and the satisfaction of supporting artists, and artists get to display their work before patrons from all walks of life, because the art, after all, is just one of the many reasons behind the bar’s widespread appeal.

Alexis explains when asked that the Art Bar is, depending on your perspective, either the gayest straight bar or the straightest gay bar around, and is all the better for it. This explanation captures the remarkably inviting ambiance of the place. It also accounts for the eclectic clientele that, to Alexis’ delight, typically gathers at the bar.

We have such a mix of people. People can come in here with black tie or sweatpants, and nobody will bat an eyelash. We get tons of celebrities, we get students, we get people who work in the area, people who live in the area, tourists. I’ve had people come here straight from the airport with their luggage, from Europe because they’d be like, “I heard you had a great happy hour!”

It is easy to see why such a hodge podge of people would gravitate toward Art Bar. The place offers no shortage of reasons to visit.

The cozy, plush-couched backroom is popular for private parties and book clubs;

the late night comfort food draws post-shift restaurant industry workers;

the surprisingly affordable 7-day happy hour democratizes after-work socializing;

the blazing fireplace is great for dates (and circulation maladies);

and the extensive selection of jello shots is great for… well, we all know what those are great for. Finding love. Alexis reports that hardly a week goes by that a couple doesn’t tell her that Art Bar is where they had their first date and that they have been together for 25 years.

And if things don’t work out, you could do far worse than ordering a stiff drink from among the bar’s extensive cocktail selection and turning to one of their friendly bartenders for a sympathetic ear.

For over three decades of rendering our art appreciation more social and of enriching our social lives with art we are thrilled to name Art Bar our October 2026 Business of the Month.

What special small business would you like to see featured next? Just click here to nominate our next one. Thank you! #shoplocalnyc

Here is a map of all our Businesses of the in Month: