New York City bars frequently provide complimentary food items to patrons who purchase beverages, ranging from simple snacks like popcorn and peanuts to more substantial offerings such as pizza, wings, and bagels. These "freebies" serve as promotional incentives to attract customers and enhance the drinking experience. The availability of these items varies by location, day of the week, and time of day. The following is a comprehensive list of bars in New York City and their associated complimentary food offers, based on verified sources.
Manhattan Bars with Complimentary Food
Several establishments in Manhattan offer free food during specific hours or with drink purchases.
- Blind Tiger (281 Bleecker St., West Village): This beer haven provides free cheese and baguettes on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM. The cheese is sourced from Murray's, a gourmet shop located across the street. The offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Croxley Ales (28 Ave. B, East Village): This atmospheric sports bar offers complimentary boneless chicken wings on Fridays from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This offering is part of their daily happy hour specials.
- Machiavelli (519 Columbus Ave., Upper West Side): This Italian eatery offers an Italian aperitivo and a personal pizza on weekdays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Any beverage purchased at the bar during these hours qualifies for the free food, which includes a selection of finger foods such as olives, salami, and skewers of tomato and mozzarella.
- Rudy’s (627 Ninth Ave., Hell’s Kitchen): A dive bar established in 1933, Rudy’s provides free hot dogs daily with each drink purchase. The hot dogs are cooked on a gas-station-style roller grill behind the bar.
- Ryan Maguire’s (28 Cliff St., Lower Manhattan): This Irish-American bar features a free happy hour buffet on weekdays from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The specific dish varies nightly and may include items such as pasta, sausage, or stew.
- The Dead Poet (Upper West Side): This literary-themed bar offers free hot and buttery popcorn to accompany its curated selection of brews.
- Waverly Inn (3rd St., Greenwich Village): An upscale Italian eatery, the Waverly Inn offers free truffle potato chips and fried zucchini at the bar daily.
Brooklyn Bars with Complimentary Food
Brooklyn hosts a variety of bars that provide free food, including pizza, cheese puffs, and bagels.
- 4th Avenue Pub (76 Fourth Ave., Park Slope): This beer garden offers free popcorn daily. It features nearly 30 draft beers and 60 bottled varieties.
- Alligator Lounge (600 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg): For a purchase of any drink, customers receive a free personal pizza. The bar also has a sister location in Manhattan with the same special.
- Brazen Head (228 Atlantic Ave., Boerum Hill): This bar offers a rotating schedule of free food items: chicken wings on Mondays, cheese on Wednesdays, and bagels on Sundays. Additionally, free pizza is available each afternoon and late night.
- The Levee (212 Berry St., Williamsburg): Known for its communal cheese puffs, this dive bar also features board games, a pool table, and a grungy '90s soundtrack.
- Matt Torrey’s (46 Bushwick Ave., Williamsburg): On Saturdays and Sundays starting at noon (until supplies run out), this venue offers complimentary bagels and fixings. This is in addition to their $4 bloody marys and mimosas, creating a budget-friendly brunch option.
- Offside Tavern (Chelsea): This sports bar is noted for its secretly excellent pub grub, though specific items are not detailed in the source material.
Queens and Staten Island Bars with Complimentary Food
Establishments in Queens and Staten Island also participate in offering free food to customers.
- Mad Donkey Beer Bar & Grill (32-07 36th Ave., Astoria): This dive bar provides free peanuts daily. Patrons are encouraged to throw the shells on the floor. The bar also serves a "Donkey Fish bowl" cocktail.
- The RoadHouse (1400 Clove Rd., Staten Island): During happy hour on weekdays from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, this Staten Island establishment offers free pizza samples with any beer order.
NYC Marathon Freebies and Discounts
While the primary focus is on bar food, the provided sources also include a list of freebies and discounts available during the New York City Marathon period. These offers are available to runners with a bib or medal.
- Food and Drink:
- Central Park Boat House: 10% off at the Cafe on November 3.
- The Stand: Free Peroni with pizza purchase on November 2.
- Threes Brewing: Free pint of All or Nothing beer on November 2 (Gowanus and Greenpoint locations).
- VUE180 Rooftop Bar: Free cocktail on November 2–3.
- Bananas NYC: Free sake shot or banana milkshake through November 10.
- Pret A Manger: 50% off any hot or iced organic coffee through November 4.
- Experiences:
- EDGE & Vessel: Free admission from October 30–November 6. Friends and family get 20% off with code MARATHON20.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art: Free Marathon Monday breakfast and private gallery tours.
- Whitney Museum of American Art: Free admission and before-hours private tour on November 3.
- American Museum of Natural History: Free general admission.
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt: 20% discounted admission and a Marathon Monday sunrise event.
- Top of the Rock: Free admission plus 25% off for up to three guests.
- The Outsiders: A New Musical: 26.2% off select performances from October 31–November.
- Other Offers:
- Housing Works Cannabis Co.: 15% off in-store on November 2.
- Citizens: Rebate for the first MTA subway or bus ride paid with a Citizens Mastercard during marathon weekend (Nov. 1–3).
- CookUnity: 50% off the first week and 20% off the next three weeks with code MARATHONMEALS.
- Mastercard: $10 off the first two Lyft rides for new users signing up with an eligible World or World Elite Mastercard.
- Runna: Free shakeout runs, pop-up shop, recovery breakfast, post-race portraits.
- Saucony x Ludlow Coffee Supply: "Run as One Cafe" with shakeout runs, customizations, food features, and DJ sets.
- Samsung x Soft Bar: Free recovery event on November 3 with wellness experiences and mocktails.
Conclusion
New York City offers a diverse array of complimentary food items at bars across its boroughs, with options ranging from simple snacks to full personal pizzas. These offers typically require the purchase of a beverage and are often tied to specific days or happy hour periods. Additionally, the annual NYC Marathon brings a wave of discounts and freebies for participants, extending across food, drink, cultural institutions, and services.