Fat Cat

Music, Music venues West Village
4 out of 5 stars
(8user reviews)
Runner-up<br/>2016

Runner-up
2016
Runner-up<br/>2016

Runner-up
2016
Fat Cat
Photograph: Filip Wolak

They don’t make ‘em like this any more (probably because Health and Safety would shut ‘em down). West Village hangout the Fat Cat is a basement bar and pool hall where the sofas are scruffy, the drinks are cheap and the ambience is jovial. There’s live jazz every night, and Fridays have formidable Brooklyn soul singer Naomi Shelton playing a residency with her Gospel Queens. Closing time is 4AM.

Posted:

Venue name: Fat Cat
Contact:
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Address: 75 Christopher St
New York

Cross street: between Seventh Ave South and Bleecker St
Transport: Subway: 1 to Christopher St–Sheridan Sq
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Static map showing venue location

Average User Rating

4.3 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:3
  • 4 star:4
  • 3 star:1
  • 2 star:0
  • 1 star:0
LiveReviews|8
1 person listening
tastemaker

Fat Cat is super fun for daytime drinking when it's cold and you want to be social but don't actually want to put much effort into things. Tons of various games you can play - unfortunately you have to pay for most of them but the beers are cheap so it doesn't break the bank. 

Tastemaker

This place was a lucky stumble once we'd been kicked out of the last show at the Blue Note just around the corner. A vast underground bar that was still pretty packed despite the fact that we only arrived at around 2:30am but we quickly discovered the draw as we snaked into the depths of this place. The lush green velvet of the rows of pool tables drew us in like moths to the flame. The addition of even more live jazz floating across the hall was a nice touch, add to that the endlessly affordable drinks and you've got yourself a winner!

Tastemaker

Great spot for daytime drinking, they have lots of games and good drink prices plus a jazz bands for the evenings. Be sure to get here early though because they do start to charge a cover for entrance. I came here on a snowy day and got to play just about every game that they have despite it being a little crowded.

Definitely would recommend - although they don't have any bar food or snacks there are tons of places nearby!  

tastemaker

Fat Cat is an adult playground. Head down the stairs and you can play pool, shuffle board, ping pong, etc. all whilst enjoying beer and wine, good company and often live jazz. It's the ultimate basement party. 


It's a pretty big space, so it doesn't tend to feel crowded. They even allow reservations for a variety of tables, so it's perfect for a group outing. 


A West Village and NY institution!Avoid on weekend nights as you’ll wait forever to get on any of the games, and might have even had to line up to actually get in to the place, but on a quieter Sunday and during the week it is a great spot, pool, table tennis, shuffleboard and more in a really cool very ‘New York’ setting, made all the more enjoyable when there is live jazzing happening in the background.Definitely worth checking out!


I took think Hannah D nailed it...Fat Cat is a great place to escape the NYC scene while still being in NYC.  The beers are reasonably prices, the games are plentiful, the atmosphere laid back, and the music actually tolerable!  This is definitely a go to if I'm trying to get my friends to take a break from the meatpackings of the world.  

tastemaker

The person below explained the overall ambiance well - a dingy basement. That's not to say it's not fun - it has live music, pool tables and other fun games. It's a very low-key type of place that requires a cover to get in. The drink selection isn't very wide, so don't go in expecting to get nice cocktails or fancy wine. Fun to go if you're with a really large group or for someone's birthday.


This dingy, basement hangout may be a little rough around the edges, but its the perfect antidote to other Top 40–blaring bars in the area. Show up early in the evening to skip the cover charge and sip ice-cold PBRs while taking on your friends in games like shuffleboard, ping pong and various board games. The bartenders are a bit impatient, so know beforehand that there’s no liquor served here and have your order ready. You pay by the hour to hold down the game tables, so bring a group of people that are down for a relaxed night. Live jazz plays throughout the night, and you’ll be surprised at how much you like it.