Very much the neighborhood place...I would bet anything it has regulars who feel they own the place--yes, one person in fact complains violently about this
Not bad reviews though, overall, --one review, a long one about the history of the place, seems to me to be an obvious "plant"
Obviously some people will like this place and others ..NOT like it! But it is a classic of the type.
Reif's Tavern
302 E 92nd St Frnt
New York, NY 10128
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 426-0519
New York, NY 10128
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 426-0519
- Nearest Transit Station:
-
96 St. (4, 6, 6X)86 St. (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
- Mon-Sun 12 pm - 4:30 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
- $
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Divey
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for Reif's Tavern
Review Highlights What's this?
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"...are laid back, there is a pool table/darts in the backroom, and..." In 4 reviews -
"This is a great neighborhood bar." In 2 reviews
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"Reif's" was founded by John Reif Sr." In 1 review
Rating Distribution | Trend
30 reviews in English
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Review from Rohita L.
Feels like a dive bar but you go to the back and there is a nice patio area. I like it...fees like a great place to go and feel at home! -
Review from Matt E.
3.5 stars...
If it wasn't for their dirty lines making all the tap beers taste gross, not fresh, and not even that cold, I would have given them a higher rating. Prices for most beers on tap are $6, a little much for such a divey place but well within reason for the city. Bud Light drafts are $4 and $3 during Yankee games. After three attempts at draft beers I switched to bottles of which the selection is fairly slim but at least it's fresh and cold. There's no food but I'm sure they don't mind if you bring some in.
The positive sides of Reif's is that it's a real neighborhood pub, low key, and old school. What other pub have you ever seen put together a fishing trip and open it up to anyone in the neighborhood who wants to go? The music playing when I was there was amazing and the best two features is their pool table ($1.50), and a surprisingly clean and large back yard patio (which closes at 10pm). This might be the most underrated outdoor patio in the city and hopefully it stays that way. -
Review from Ranita C.
Yorkville, Manhattan, NYDO NOT GO HERE ! It's a creepy bar. A sausage fest of old men and the owners daughter is equally as weird ! If someone harasses you there ...Do not expect support from her ! Creeeeeeeepy. Bars of the Rails is around the corner and is much more fun ! Better crowd and the manager hugged me and bought me a drink after my bad experience at reifs ! This is the 3rd time I gave them a chance . Doesn't even deserve 1 star -
Review from Ninja h.
New York, NYGreat neighbor hood bar. Friendly bartender with friendly regulars. -
Review from Kent W.
San Francisco, CA"Reif's Tavern" is a part of old Yorkville. Established in 1942 and still owned by the Reif family, this friendly neighborhood tavern on E. 92nd St. has a long history and with the exception of the bar at the "Heidelberg" on 2nd Ave, is the only bar left in Yorkville with "German roots". True, there is not very much that is still German about this tavern - except of course its name. The history here however goes back to the days when this part of "Germantown" was a center for the brewing industry in Manhattan.
"Reif's" was founded by John Reif Sr. and his wife Lillian 70 years ago. The tavern was latter taken over by their sons Bobby and John Jr. and today the third generation of the Reif family owns and operates this establishment. Current owner of the tavern is Taryn Reif, granddaughter of the original founders.
"Reif's" today is more or less a "sports bar". They have a total of 7 flat screen TV's (including a 60 incher). There are also at least 5 beers on tap, darts, a pool table and a happy jukebox that plays mostly classic rock. There is also a nice outdoor "patio" area (actually a deck) in the back where they have two grills. If you call ahead you can reserve a grill and bring your own meat to BBQ for yourself and your friends.
"Reif's" has "movie nights" during the summer and also several theme party's during the year like OKTOBERFEST, 4th of July, Halloween and a Christmas party.
"Reif's" is not a trendy, yuppified kind of place. You'll meet the locals here from all around the neighborhood. Prices are not over the top and the bartenders are nice too. FYI - it's cash only here!
The area of Yorkville that "Reif's" is located in had at one time a number of small taverns and tap rooms associated closely with what was then the nearby breweries .
Not all the German beer halls and taverns in Yorkville were located on E.86th, the area from E.90th to E.94th between 3rd and 1st was at one time home to a number of "Bier Stube's" as well as home to two very large and popular breweries; "Ehret's" and "Ruppert's".
"Reif's" is the last hold out from the days when the largest employer in "Germantown" was the "Jacob Ruppert Brewery" which brewed the now long gone "Knickerbocker Beer" that competed directly against the "Rheingold Brewing Co." of (Bushwick) Brooklyn.
George Ehret (born in Baden) and Jacob Ruppert Sr. (son of a Bavarian immigrant) both set up breweries in Yorkville starting in the 1860's (on E. 92nd St.). George Ehret originally went to work for the Hupfel brewery before he established the "Ehret Brewery" in 1866.This brewery was latter known as "Hell Gate Brewery".
Yorkville's "Germantown" had actually developed in the late 19th century around the establishment in Yorkville of a number of German churches and these two German owned breweries (isn't there just something very German about that!).
By 1877 Ehret's "Hell Gate Brewery" was the largest brewery in the U.S.. During WWI the brewery was taken over by the government as "enemy alien property" and after the war Ehret faced Prohibition laws that also hurt his business. When prohibition was ordered, George started brewing near-beer and kept the factory going. Two years after his death in 1927 his family closed the brewery. They sold the brewery to Jacob Ruppert in 1935 as Ruppert continued to expand after Prohibition.
"Ruppert's" would fair much better. By 1913 Jacob Ruppert Sr. had expanded the brewery and was employing over 1000 workers. In 1915 when Ruppert Sr. died his son Jacob Jr. took over. Despite the difficulties of post war Prohibition, "Ruppert's" was able to survive and continued to brew beer in Yorkville until competition with larger nationally distributed beer brands forced the brewery to finally close its doors in 1965.
Jacob Jr. had passed away in 1939, and since that time the brewery had seen a slow decline in sales for several years before the brewery finally closed down permanently.
The two old breweries were eventually torn down in the late 60s, and the Ruppert Towers as well as Ruppert Park are today the only reminders of Yorkville's bygone fame as an important center for brewing during the 19th and 20th centuries.
From the NY Times 3/22/12: "Ehret and Ruppert competed for the same customers through saloons -- in those days, most beer was sold on tap or in buckets and jugs. Both men lent saloon keepers start-up money and even owned saloons outright to assure an outlet. In 1899, The New York World called Ehret the "King of Beer Corners," with 42 saloons in New York, and mortgages on others"
The little taverns and tap rooms that once dotted German Yorkville are all gone now. "Reif's Tavern" on E. 92nd is the last link to this legacy - a history largely unknown and forgotten, even by those today who live in Yorkville.-
John Reif Sr -
John Reif Sr -
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Review from Katie M.
There is something so inherently awesome about this place. Beer is cheap ($5 whattttt??!?!), the backyard is open and airy, and the people/staff are super chill. It's dive-y in all of the right ways.
I used to live a few doors down from Dorrian's. Luckily, that era has ended, and I am more than happy to deem Reif's my local bar of choice. -
Review from H L.
Bronx, NYCool place- great patio out back where you can BYOF and rent a grill for around $50. They played great music he whole time we were there. Perfect place for a relaxed get together -
Review from E C.
New York, NYThis little hole in the wall I happened to stumble into and the first words i said to myself was...."I'm home F**K YeaH!" -
Review from Dave S.
New York, NYA great, utterly unheralded dive behind a non-descript doorfront on 92nd tucked just inside the horror that is the Second Ave Subway construction.
When you want a legit, non-douche dive this is the spot.
4 stars + 1 star for $10 buckets of six Budweiser nips. Who'da thunk it? -
Review from Maggie F.
New York, NYI was at Reif's for the July 4th BBQ. There are two grills in the backyard.
The grill used to be first come first serve. But, now you have to call to reserve your spot. Come to Reif's you'll be drinking with senior citizens and I think this is one of the bars in New York City that is only locals to hangout.
To me there's one thing special about this place, that is the history of this old bar.
I might l visit again if I am in the neighborhood. -
Review from Phil H.
Nice little divey kind of bar a few blocks from where I live. Place has been around since the 1940's and still has that look and feel. Mostly locals seem to patronize this little watering hole. Pool table, big buck hunter game, darts, cheap drinks, decent jukebox, and an outdoor patio area with a grill that you can use to bbq your own meats (need a reservation with bartender).
They also have some annual events like a Crawfish boil and fishing trip. You can also bring in some pizza from Delizia next door. A small selection of beers on tap and enough flat screens to catch the game on an afternoon. Definitely a throwback to the past kind of pub. -
Review from Shawn F.
New York, NYBeer is a bit expensive, but the bring your own meat to grill policy is great. It also has a cool patio for outdoor gatherings.
Shawn -
Review from Stephen W.
Bethesda, MDI may be biased because I've been lucky enough to live right next door to Reif's for the past year, but without a doubt, I love me some Reif's. More often than not, I'll stumble into the bar for one last beer (ok of course it never ends up being just one) before the night is done.
The bartenders are great, and there is a constant stream of locals from the neighborhood that you will likely run into most nights here. It has photohunt and a solid classic-rock filled jukebox that will easily entertain you and your dollar bills for hours.
If you live in the neighborhood, make it a point to come by. Grab a slice next door from Delizia's Pizza (you won't be disappointed), take it over to the bar next door, and pull up a stool and enjoy a tasty beverage. -
Review from Andrew K.
Manhattan, NYSuch an odd bar. Without the backyard this place is probably a 3-star kind if joint but that patio and grill is awesome. Beers are fairly priced for NYC and the vibe inside is warm in it's own unique way (but kind of vanilla). All around a decent place to grab a drink - especially in the summer. -
Review from Alex R.
Belmont, CAAwesome Bar! My girlfriend and I went here after dinner for our anniversary, we ended up staying there till 4 in the morning. The bartender, Elia, was super cool and down to earth. Everyone at the bar was really friendly. A great little bar that will be visited again. -
Review from David H.
New York, NYThere is no real reason to go if you're not a local, but if you live nearby and don't go, you're no local. -
Review from Jonathan N.
New Orleans, LAStill awesome after all these years.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/7/2010
Reif's is THE BEST! I try to stop by at least once a week. The bartenders are awesome (hi Michelle;… Read more »
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6/7/2010
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