Half Lounge

LGBTQ/Queer-friendly, tiny bar with space for maybe 30 people if you pack it in. The night I was there (a Thursday), there was house music that was fun, loud enough to get lost in, and yet quiet enough to have a conversation over. I'd like to know how they managed that. Great bartender, extremely friendly and welcoming people. My guess is that at least 1/3 of the people there the night I stopped in were somewhere in the QUILTBAG spectrum, and the people there who appeared to be straight were also very cool. Youngish crowd, but it doesn't have the feel of a college bar or a twentysomethings-only hangout. Oh, and to give you an idea of what a friendly place I found this to be, at about 11:00 someone came out with a birthday cake and candles for the DJ's birthday, and the music stopped for a few minutes for us to sing and have some free cake. I walked in expecting to have a quiet drink and left having made new friends or at least friendly acquaintances, which isn't something that normally happens to me a bar. Drink prices were (as an example), $5 for a pint of Heady Topper, $11 for a cosmo.

Loved it! Ross, the bartender, was so accommodating. He served us great drinks, made sure we were comfortable, and played the best music for us (Rihanna, Beyonce, etc). I tried their signature "velvet" drink with champagne and it was sweet, fruity, and got the night going! The Dj was also bumping around 11:00pm, before we left to meet up with some other friends. Totally would visit again because Ross was so amazing and it felt POC friendly!

I went there last night with a group of four of my friends. We are all of age & had our ID's to prove so. Unfortunately, the bouncer we came across was very poorly trained & gave my friend whom is 22 years old a problem. He took his New York State ID, mind you the three of us were also from New York, and cracked his ID in half. Not only did he crack it but also insisted it was fake even after we spoke to the police at the end of the street. Now, not only does my friend have a broken ID but he is the one stuck with paying for a new one. Very disappointed & cant even find a phone number to speak to a manager.

Half Lounge is a smaller version of most clubs in the area. Better than Red Square because there aren't cover charges (to my knowledge).

I just went here Saturday early evening and the company I was with was great, but unfortunately there was no music playing for the first hour I was there, not even an iPod player. Strange, for a lounge.

The bouncer made sexist jokes towards my friends and I. We called him out for it and then he wouldn't let is in the bar. If this is the kind of people you hire I can't imagine the kind of people who frequent this bar.

Great spot, perfect for happy hour starters or late night shindig. Solid bar selection and great bartenders makes for awesome cocktails.

Cute little bar on Church Street, nice drink specials throughout the week and a good mix of music. Try the local spin on a Manhattan with Maple Syrup!