Fat Black Pussycat

The drinks are pricey--but if you're in the mood for a martini and you're in the neighborhood this is the place to be. There's a regular bar in the front, and a very nice sized room in the back for a more loungey experience. Service borders on so-so, but they do get very busy on weekends. Great place during the week--nice and cheap happy hour at the bar.

Posted 05/06/03

This is the place to go for happy hour. Everything is half price, and the drinks are big. They even have a DJ for happy hour!

Pros: Music

Cons: Bathrooms

Posted 04/14/03

This is the best bar in the city - only where's that really cute bartender Ori? Really fun place, friendly mixed crowd, GREAT MARTINIS.

Pros: Ori

Cons: No Ori

Posted 04/12/03

This is a welcome change from the other West Village bars. More sophisticated and diverse in crowd and decor. More East Village hip. I wouldn't go anywhere else in the neighborhood.

Pros: Good DJ, Beautiful lounge

Cons: Bartender Chris

Posted 04/12/03

Just adding my two cents to endorse what's already been written about this great bar. I was early to see a band next door, so I hung out for an hour. A really nice place!

Posted 04/11/03

Best happy hour I've ever seen! Everything is half price even their huge martinis. So much better than those get drunk and puke bars in the neighborhood. This bar has a little class.

Pros: Friendly, Friendly, Friendly

Posted 04/02/03

Beautiful, romatic lounge, Pool, D.J. and REALLY BIG DRINKS. Seems to have a little of everything. Really cute sassy asian waitress!

Pros: Cool D.J., Big Drinks

Posted 04/02/03

This is by far the friendliest bar in the Village - and the coolest. If they were lighting candles it probably means their lounge wasn't open yet. Check this place out.

Pros: Nice mixed crowd, Good music, Huge martinis

Posted 03/03/03

Very cool place when I first walked in, but then the ridiculous attitude of the staff made it so not worthwhile!

Our group was rudely kicked out of the back room so a waitress could light the candles on the tables... although nobody was clear why.

Then, magically, at 8pm, selected men had to remove their caps....but only some people were told to remove them by a holier-than-thou bouncer. The bouncer also had issues with people who were standing and forced them to sit!!!

It is too bad such a cool space had people with so much attitude...it just detracted from the whole evening

Pros: Atmosphere

Cons: Attitude, Pompous

Posted 02/16/03

I love this place. Nobody bothers you, the staff are all nice, and the beer is cheap! It's my regular spot for meeting some of my girlfriends for a ladies night out!

Pros: easy to get to

Cons: no cover

Posted 01/17/03

I was getting together (elsewhere)with work friends later in the evening but decided 2 check this place out given the information from this site. Arrivd at 5pm and the bar was full (good sign) of after work & regulars. Hip, Young and the Young at Heart. In the back are tables, small pool table, and dart board if that's your thing. The walls along the ceiling are covered with 8 X 10 black & white photos (some centered most purposely not)of famous faces and people you haven't the slightest clue who they are. Although the lounge room was not yet opened..I peeked in and it was a huge, dim-lit, brick-faced room with what seem like nice couches, pillows, fireplace, etc. The drinks were very reasonable since it was Happy Hour..

Pros: Pool Table, Lounge, Good happy hour

Cons: small restroom, lil' pool table space

Posted 01/06/03

Went on a Saturday night and the front areas were packed. Typical bar scene. The back room, however, like the review below says, was "gothic." Lots of couches (we were able to snag one). Cool place. Would make for a good coffee shop in Amsterdam.

Pros: back room very cool, great place to chill

Cons: front rooms boring, crowded

Posted 12/30/02

I was amazed at the length and specials of happy hour. This bar puts other happy hours to shame. The bartenders will make you anything you like...even the wine is on the happy hour specials... You can't beat that with a Fat Black Bat!

Pros: Inexpensive, Good Jukebox, Location

Cons: Crowded, No Happy Hour Food, Location

Posted 12/28/02

Wonderfu, trendy atmosphere if you plan on bringing A FEW friends but don't count on going "casual". The bar does not appear to have a dress code from first glace, but we were told by a snotty bouncer there is a "no hats" rule. After entering, we noticed lots of people were wearing hats. ?????

Also be prepared to takes your clothers to the dry cleaners the day after...they will REEK OF CIGARETTE SMOKE, as this place does not have a great ventillation system and the smoke is absoulutely intolerable. (I am a smoker, and it was awful...)

To end on a positive note though, great martinis!!!!!!!!

Pros: Great Martinis, Romantic lighting, Comfortable couches

Cons: Heavy cigarette smoke, Small bathrooms, Over crowded

Posted 11/26/02

Alright place.. waitress service is great and quick. Snack food is also great here. Having only 1 bar is the drawback so you need to rely on the waitress. The "velvet" room is nice to relax and chill in.

Posted 11/15/02

I love the atmosphere in the back room at FBP. It reminds me of a Gothic Church. It's dimly lit, and very cool. The drinks are amazing too!

Pros: good drinks, good service

Cons: crowded

Posted 11/15/02

I went to the FBP and couldn't take my eyes off of the hot bartender with dreds. He is definitely an attraction to check out in NYC. The drinks were great and the people were better. I hadn't had that much fun in a while.

Pros: bartenders, drinks

Cons: crowded

Posted 11/04/02

FBP is a place I'm rather familiar place. It's a great place to hang out with a group. It's a little weird sometimes, if you're hanging out by the pool table, which area is usually littered with groups of students, but I've met a few guys there. I also like the fact that there's a computer handy. It's a popular hang-out, so be prepared to wait for a table in their "velvet" room.

Posted 09/27/02

this place is pretty cool. it's a bit pricey for me, but it still is generally worth it. they have all kinds of perks, movies, tvs, darts, pool, a back room, pretty okay music, nice staff, and quick bartenders. i would recommend this place to anyone.

Pros: great staff, cool perks, good crowd

Cons: a bit expensive, so so music

Posted 09/26/02

This place has everything. The front room is a cozy neighborhood bar. The second room has pool, darts, internet access, and plenty of tables and chairs so you can actually sit with your friends. The back room (the hidden one) is a beautiful Moroccan style lounge filled with velvet couches. The drinks are huge, and the DJ's are friendly.

Posted 06/21/02

Not being from NY, we happened to find this place after turning off Bleeker St. where we had been told to go to find the bars. The bartenders at the FBP were cool (hey guys! great woo woos!!) and the dj that was there Sat night played great tunes, old and new, had us dancing at the bar. Very cool room in the back for the "not so rowdy" folks. We're definately going back!

The girls from Houston.

Posted 06/11/02

I love this place. It's so layed back and cozy! The bouncers are friendly and the waitresses are great! The atmosphere is wonderful! Couches to lounge on and chairs that fell like ur floating on cloud nine. The drinks are great and interesting. I recommend the hous drink! They even have back lounge to chill in and the front lounge ismore festive! U WON'T BE DISSAPPOINTED!!!!!! I PROMISE!

Posted 06/07/02

although the entrance is tight and seems to force the customers a little friendly, there is plenty of room to hold people once you make your way through. Nothin' beats couches, especially at a bar, call it a lounge. "People are strange..." but isn't that why we live in New York.

Pros: seating, atmosphere, cheap pitchers

Cons: narrow enterance, big bouncers

Posted 06/01/02