Barcelona Bar — Restaurant in New York

Oh Barcelona Bar, let me counteth the ways...

Came here recently on a Thursday afternoon with one of my best friends because she had been wanting to try this place for quite some time. One of her co-workers had promised her that this bar was a haven of creatively named and interestingly made shots.

In short. Her co-worker was RIGHT.

There are precisely 3 really, really large black boards (about maybe 3 or 4ft high - I took pics and posted em', go look!) with 2 columns on each of nothing but shots. Most are $5, some are $7 and more deluxe ones are about $9-10. Shots with names like Fordham Rams (my alma mater ya'll!), S'more, "I'm Not A Whore", "Slow Steady Screw", "Strawberry Blonde Tease, "Derek Jeter", "Orgasm", "Screaming Orgasm", "Honey Boo Boo" and some traditional ones like "Baby Guinness", "Red-Headed Slut" and "Dirty Girl Scout" also make it into their Shot menu.

I was also a big fan of movie-inspired ones such as "Full Metal Jacket" and my friend was enthralled with their Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings themed shots. They even had The Simson's legendary "Flaming Moe" (curious if they use Krusty's Cough Syrup in it, lol).

This bar has a full line-up of alcohol in virtually any flavor from salty caramel Smirnoff, jazzy Pinacle Vodka flavors to Stoli, Absolutes (blech!) and everything in between. I'm sure they make great cocktails here, but you'd be silly if you didn't try this place for their shots.

Service-wise I thought their bartender was a peach. I feel awful that I don't remember his name...but he was a peach nonetheless in that tough-love, "I'm a dick, get over it", tough love kinda way. I like that, I find it charming and refreshing in a sea of bars where bartenders like to hit on their patrons or be awkwardly chummy chummy.

Surely this guy knew why my friend and I were there. We were there for SHOTS. We each only had 2 because we were on our way to a mutual friend's house to cook dinner with overpriced Whole Foods ingredients (whole other story...) and didn't want to be drunk.

We will come back here again because we are always down for shots...good shots, not shitty ones or regular ones you can get anywhere (I like Jameson shots at most places, thanks!). I highly recommend the "S'more" and the "Strawberry Blonde Tease". My friend got the "Fordham Ram" - tasted a bit like Cherry Cough Syrup and Fruit Punch's fat, older cousin and the "Slow Steady Screw" tasted a bit like Lychee...not a complaint, simply an observation.

5 stars for being a pretty unique bar that caters to an interesting crowd in Hell's Kitchen and kinda feels like it should be on LES...10 years ago, before things got lame.

Now, I leave you with some intellectual speak from 2 wise men who formerly went by the moniker LMFAO - "So cups in the air, everybody let's take...

First of all, this bar is pretty cool at first glance. Our complete experience was less than that, sadly. We went to drink and play darts. The bartender was nice and originally eager to help us.

We waited for an hour or more for the employees of the bar to finish playing their game of darts, only to have them eventually put us on a "list".

We waited and drank. While we waited we received exponentially worse service as time went on, which started as OKAY to AWFUL. The bartender went out to have a smoke for 20 MINUTES, while we sat thirsty and wanting of cold beverages, one of the friends(frustrated to say the least) in our party decided to send a funny message by setting our glasses behind the bar, which was regrettably a mistake. Regardless of our mistake, now the dart player "employees" decided to now start WORKING. They took our message as an insult and told us to LEAVE.

After they commanded us to leave, we decided as a respect of our time and initial experience with our bartender to pay our bill even though we didn't need to, as they were urgent about our departure.

If you want a pure dart experience, do not go here. There are far better bars in NYC with better dart environments.

TLDR: Employees hog single dart board, bartender leaves for 20 minutes, and we are out of luck sitting thirsty and wanting...

Narrow, themed, unique dive bar. Come here preferably after filling your stomach elsewhere with some food, just so you don't puke by the end of it. It's a place known for shots and people often get carried away and get into a shot-marathon!

Shots here come with accessories you get to don - aviator sunglasses for the Top Gun, Indiana Jones hat, Crown and an ancient goblet for the 'Return Of the King', all this with with a soundtrack from the movie/TV show. Wait! It doesn't end here. For most of these shots, the bartender has something interesting to do or say or enact while he's making the shot! Btw, remember to return the accessories, once you're done with the shots. No, you don't get to keep them.

This place boasts of 100+ shots to choose from but my all-time favorites are 'The Return Of the King' and "Indiana Jones'. There's apparently a 'Monica Lewinsky' shot which involves donning a black wig and doing a BJ on the glass! Sounds eccentric, never tried that one.

They have $5 and $7 shots from what I last remember. A small fun place with loud music, themed shots, engaging bartenders, dim lighting, just perfect for letting your hair down...