The Russian Vodka Room
Like my friend and 365 Bars co-pilot, Al Rizo, I’m a fan of dark bars. And the less TV sets, the better. I found a bar on my 365 Bar Crawl that not only has no TV sets, there’s not even any windows in the joint! It’s like it’s midnight at all hours in there. The bar is the Russian Vodka Room and I’ve never been back since my happy hour. Today changes all that as I’ve chosen it for my happy hour bar of the week.
The bar is in midtown, about ten blocks from Times Square, so we'll take the subway there.
And here we are amongst the tourist madness in Times Square.
Jesus Christ, I need a drink! Let's get to the bar, pronto!
And here we are at the Russian Vodka Room. Even though it's daylight outside...
It always feels like night time in here!
The bartender was shy and didn't want her picture taken, but she wanted to take one of me, so why not? Cheers! I got a martini in here instead of my usual Budweiser, as they're just five bucks during happy hour.
Archy the manager of the bar isn't shy about photos and posed with a bottle of what the bar is named after.
And here he is pouring bottles of vodka into a glass vat filled with cranberries.
Once the vodka fills the vats, they sit up here and age and make the flavor-infused vodkas that are served at the bar.
Here's the view of the bar from my perch.
Martini glasses are chilled with ice on top of the bar.
There's a lounge area in the back of the bar.
A framed piece of Russian art hangs on the dark-wooden wall.
A shot of the bar from the opposite end.
Peter and Kalbir were seated nearby and told me that they're visiting New York and live in the U.K. They wanted to know of a decent jazz bar, so I suggested Arthur's Tavern in Greenwich Village. I hope they enjoyed it!
Glen was enjoying a Russian dinner at the bar. Archy told me he eats there every single night.
And speaking of eating, Archy presented me with a pierogi sampler on the house. The four pierogis were filed with meat, spinach, cheese and potato and were delicious!
As the evening wears on, the bar is starting to fill up.
And the piano man begins playing his tunes for the crowd.
This painting hangs beside him.
And as I head home, day time had turned to night time in New York City. See you all tomorrow!
Russian Vodka Room
265 W. 52nd St. (Near Broadway)
212-307-5835
Happy Hour Specials: Five dollar flavored martinis and beers from 4 PM to 7 PM.
Further Reading: CBS New York, Time Out New York and Black Book.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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Bonus Photos From Danny The Freelancer!
After yesterday's toilet post,TWM commenter, Danny the Freelancer sent in a couple of his own toilet photos, taken on vacation. Here's what he wrote to me: "Here are two photos that I took at the Ancient Roman city of Ephesus in Turkey in 2008. The Toilets were only for Roman's. Their would be a slave on hand to wipe and wash your ass when you were done." That's Danny's girlfriend Donna, posing on the toilet. Very cool, Thanks Danny!
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Bonus Video From The Duncester!
The Duncester sent in this Russian flavored clip from one of my favorite movies, Dr. Strangelove, great scene! Thanks, Duncester!
Happy Hour, Midtown, Russian Vodka Room Posted on Friday, April 20, 2012 at 10:00AM
Reader Comments (26)
The pianist is named Alexandr Ibitzer (Sasha) and is a very good friend of mine. He plays there and also across the street at the Samovar, which is a place you ought to check out. Anyways, Sasha is one of the most talented pianists I have ever run across. Glad you had a good time.
A near perfect bar today. You know it looks like its right out of the sixties, people sitting in a dark, cool bar and the piano man,,,,its just fabulous. Glad you ordered a martini,,, like they did in all those old movies. Must be a real pleasure going in there and getting out of that freak show outside.
Corrected myself, Sasha's last name is spelled Izbitser http://www.izbitser.info/english/?dir=Literature%2FReviews%2FEvtushenko
да comrade!!!
I agree with Mike, Russian Samovar is also amazing!!! And I second Arthur's Tavern as well. Nice to remember that there are still some amazing places left in the city. I'm certainly going to have to check this place out, though!!! The pierogi look amazing!! Glad the KGB did not take you away! Love it, Marty!!
I want to go there.. and eat...
I don't drink but when i do i am a sucker for a vodka martini.. (proof i was born in the wrong time..)
not gin though.. gin smells like barf.
I fished a first time gin drinker out of the toilet in my younger days..
I didn't drink gin before that and certainly wasn't going to after.
he is actually quasi famous now so i have to hold this memory till the day i can blackmail him:)
it's really neet to see how they infuse the vodka.
this was fun:)
I'm a big fan of the Russian Vodka Room and their happy hour is great. Whenever I see a show at Roseland I stop in before and after. It's been awhile since I've been, I must go back as soon as I can!
@Mike Hunt Too cool that you know Alexander! He’s a wonderul piano player! And thanks for the link to his website!
@Al: It is a near perfect place to escape the midtown madness. Just about as dark of a bar as you can get, you'd love it!
@Lindsay: You should definitely check it out and try the pierogi when you do! And I didn't see any KGB in there, so it's safe!
@Gidget: You'd love the flavored vodka in there, very delicious, but very strong too! I had to switch to beer after two of them or I never would've made it home! Any hint to the quasi-famous gin drinker?
@Spike: Glad you're a fan of the RVR too! I think it's one of the best bars in midtown.
Did you stagger home not know where you were going? How many of my nights were like that, drinking my fill of vodka, oh God! I'm still hung over. Nah sdorovia! Russian for To your health!
I've heard of this place, but have never been. As I'm a big fan of vodka, I'll have to check it out. The lounge looks like my kind of place.
My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes.
~Ronald Reagan
No hints...people only know him by name .. and you have to be a nerd to know him by name...
like convention going nerd...
he's still a very good friend so I cant divulge... YET...
after i fished him out on his first really being drunk experience.. he groped me.. and then added.. wait you're not my girlfriend.. HA!
@Mykola Mick Dementiuk: I switched over to beer after two martinis so I didn't stagger home! Cheers and to your health as well!
@Goggla: Check it out for sure, you'll love it!
@GENE: Ronald Reagan always knew how to kill a party! Nyet to him!
@Gidget: Maybe you'll reveal it on a "Flashback Friday" memory at your blog! That's a funny groping story!
funny quote from gene! lol!! this looks like a really cool place. do you know how long its been there, looks like an old time nyc bar for sure! cool toilet photos by danny the freelancer, he's got a pretty girlfriend!
Believe it or not, the horseradish infused vodka is sublime.
Cold and crappy out here today, perfect for a dark bar day.
Wow I really like the Russian Vodka Room. What a very cool place indeed. Do you happen to know what the food is like?
I spent two months traveling through Russia in 1991, I visited Mink, Moscow, Lenningrad (now and again St. Petersburg) Kiev and many other interesting places. We were there in June and in St Petersburg it was light until 4 am and then the sun rose again at 6:00 am. Interesting times there. The Land of the Midnight Sun.
Where was Patrick, Squidward and Mr. Crab?
Сын сука! This post has got me flashing on the famous scene from Patton where George C Scott calls the Russian general a son of a bitch. Looked for it on You Tube and couldn't find it. Back in the day, the National Lampoon published some illustrations of some Russian marital aids...a gasoline powered dildo for one, and a Russian Army issue love doll. Couldn't find any of those on the net. Pity. They were absolutely hilarious!
@Bobby D: According to their website, they've been there since 1997, so they've been on the block awhile.
@Mike Hunt: I'll have to try that on my next visit, thanks for the tip!
@MikeyC: Stop by Mike's and tell them I send my greetings!
@Tiki Bar Susie: I've only had the pierogi's and those were great, I'll have to go back and have a full dinner there! That sounds like a cool trip you took!
@Terry: Ha! They were in the kitchen, they made the pierogies!
@Jaws: I remember that National Lampoon article, hilarious! I wish they still published that magazine!
Mmm MMM! I do love me some pierogi!
If you could open a resort that included the Russian Vodka Room, the Roman Toilet Room, and a Turkish Bath; you could put Epcot Center out of business.
Marty, great post. I love pierogies as well, great scene in the original Men In Back movie when two Arquillians got pierogies for lunch. Too bad they didn’t get a chance to eat them (bad bug, bad bug). До встречи
Marty, A bar with no TV's, that's a keeper. That pierogi sampler looks good, I love pierogi's. I love dark bars.
Thank's for posting the pic's, Donna is a TWM Star
@Biff: Then you'd love the pierogi at RVR. Stop number 445,498 on your list!
@csp: Ha ha ha! I'm working on it now!
@Duncester: Thanks! I've never seen Men in Black, now I have to watch it! Thanks for the Dr. Strangelove clip! I need to watch that again too!
@Danny the Freelancer: And don't forget there's no windows either! Thanks for the photos, you always send in great shots and you have one good looking girlfriend! To Donna!
This looks perfect!! Love the lounge with all the Reserved signs. Thanks, Marty - will definitely check it out. Drank too much vodka as a teenager, but this place definitely could tempt me back into the habit!
@onemorefoldedsunset: You're welcome! This is one of the few places that is worth taking a trip to midtown for!