2A — Restaurant in New York

I bookmarked this place weeks ago and finally got a chance to check out the place myself.

Sadly, I came AFTER Happy Hour but you know I'm coming back here on another day to take advantage of their cheap beers.

You already know.

I'm not sure if they check IDs all the time but for weekends they do have a bouncer that does just that.

First floor is much more chillax almost like a dive-y speakeasy if you can even call it that.

Second floor is the party floor where they be spinning those classic Hip-Hop beats and ones that only your momma would know. I didn't really care for the tunes to be honest but the vibe was good. It is also an excellent spot to grab a drink and people watch mostly on the second floor but the windows on the first floor is wide and clear enough to do people watching as well.

Service - Drinks were being pumped out like a club by the upstairs bartender so you know you getting your drink promptly. It was more packed at the bar upstairs versus downstairs or any other area of this 2 floor space for that matter.

For a Saturday night it was just the right amount of people and I easily found a seat and just watched sexy people walk by. For some reason that ignited my creative side and I pretty much starting memo-ing down stories to write later.

Good stuff.

Clientele - were very mixed. I don't just mean racially, but also type. You can find anyone from single mom to Wall Street dirt bag to sexy hipster.

If the first floor cracks up to be a good time as well then this might very well be a new regular...

This is for the bar upstairs and not downstairs. I have not tried the downstairs yet so cannot comment.

Sorry 2A but your not a bar I will be picking again. Sure you have a nice outdoor space. Sure you have a nice bar. But your service was terrible, ordering drinks was a slow and painful drag that never really worked out. Some drinks where missed on multiple occasions, before we even finished our drinks they where removed from us during a ninja sneak attack. The only way to reliable get anything was to go inside and order but even then mostly we where told the waiter would be out, putting us back to the beginning problem. Hopefully if I do end up here again this problem will be fixed but with all the competition in the area it's hard to justify...

With its unmarked and non-descript exterior, 2A might be easily overlooked upon passing by. The neighborhood dive bar offers a cozy and intimate atmosphere with a distinctive Alphabet City charm. What sets 2A apart from other local bars, however, is its second floor, which unexpectedly turns into an eclectic lounge with sofa and ottoman-style seating, unique floor-to-ceiling window paneling providing a great view, and a film projector which plays classic black and white films on a brick wall across the street. Friendly staff, reasonable prices, and the occasional DJ upstairs make this my favorite bar...