01Choose a bar night or a live show
For punk music and drinks, start with Clockwork on the Lower East Side or Strangelove in Midtown East. In Brooklyn, Duff's and Lucky 13 are metal-bar options. For a live band, check Arlene's Grocery, Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom or Warsaw for a specific show.
Saint Vitus has reopened at 428 Troutman Street in Bushwick. TV Eye and Trans-Pecos offer more live-music options in Ridgewood, Queens; The Broadway and Market Hotel have varied programmes in Brooklyn.
This guide was checked on 15 September 2026. A venue that books rock may also host pop, jazz, electronic music or other events. Historical clubs are listed separately below.
Check the event address
02Manhattan rock and punk bars
Clockwork Bar
21 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
Lower East Side punk bar on Essex Street. A choice for drinks and punk music; check current announcements for any special events.
Venue or event information · Clockwork Bar listing
Strangelove
229 E 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
Midtown East punk bar on East 53rd Street. Its own site describes a punk-rock music policy; check venue announcements before visiting.
Venue or event information · Strangelove listing
Otto's Shrunken Head
538 E 14th Street, New York, NY 10009
East Village tiki bar with live rock, punk and other events in its back room. Its website was unavailable during this check; confirm the current bill with the event organiser.
03Manhattan live venues
Arlene's Grocery
95 Stanton Street, New York, NY 10002
Lower East Side live-music bar on Stanton Street with rock among its bookings. The venue advertises 21-and-over entry; check its calendar for the current bill.
Venue or event information · Arlene's Grocery listing
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston Street, New York, NY
Lower East Side concert room with indie and rock among its bookings. Use the dated programme to choose a show and check admission details.
Venue or event information · Mercury Lounge listing
Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey Street, New York, NY
Lower East Side concert venue with rock, indie and roots artists in a broad programme. Check the current bill and event-specific entry conditions.
Venue or event information · Bowery Ballroom listing
Webster Hall
125 E 11th Street, New York, NY 10003
East Village venue with rock, post-punk and metal concerts alongside electronic and other club events. Concerts and late-night parties have separate listings.
Venue or event information · Webster Hall listing
Irving Plaza
17 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003
Concert venue near Union Square with rock, punk and heavier acts among its bookings. Choose a dated show and check its ticket and admission details.
Venue or event information · Irving Plaza listing
The Bitter End
147 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012
Greenwich Village live venue with rock, folk, blues, jazz and other styles. Choose a specific artist from its calendar; age conditions depend on the event.
04Brooklyn bars and live venues
Duff's Brooklyn
168 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Williamsburg heavy-metal bar with a metal jukebox and venue events. Choose it for drinks and recorded music; check its own announcements for special events.
Venue or event information · Duff's Brooklyn listing
Lucky 13 Saloon
644 Sackett Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Brooklyn metal bar and live venue with a metal jukebox. The venue requires patrons and performers to be 21 or older with physical ID; check the current event bill.
Venue or event information · Lucky 13 Saloon listing
Rocka Rolla
486 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Williamsburg rock bar on Metropolitan Avenue. A drinks-and-recorded-music option; do not assume a live band without a specific event announcement.
Venue or event information · Rocka Rolla listing
Saint Vitus Bar
428 Troutman Street, Brooklyn, NY
Heavy-music venue reopened in Bushwick in September 2026, with metal, hardcore and punk shows. Use the new Troutman Street address and check the ticket listing: Saint Vitus also promotes concerts at other rooms.
Reopening and new-address report
Venue or event information · Saint Vitus Bar listing
Warsaw
261 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Greenpoint concert venue with indie, punk and metal among a wider programme. Check the individual show listing for tickets, doors and entry conditions.
Venue or event information · Warsaw listing
The Broadway
1272 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221
Brooklyn bar and live venue with rock and heavier shows among a varied programme. Check the event listing to distinguish band performances from DJ nights and other events.
Venue or event information · The Broadway listing
Market Hotel
1140 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Upstairs Bushwick venue above Mr. Kiwi, with live rock, post-punk and heavier music alongside club nights. Check the specific event for music format and age conditions.
05Ridgewood, Queens
TV Eye
1647 Weirfield Street, Ridgewood, NY
Ridgewood bar and live venue near the Bushwick border, with punk, hardcore and alternative shows alongside DJs and other events. Check the dated calendar before choosing a night.
Venue or event information · TV Eye listing
Trans-Pecos
915 Wyckoff Avenue, Ridgewood, NY
All-ages Ridgewood music venue with experimental, rock and electronic events. Choose a specific show from its calendar and check the entry arrangements.
06A broader music option in the Bronx
Bronx Music Hall
438 E 163rd Street, Bronx, NY 10451
Bronx performing-arts venue with blues, jazz and other music. Choose by artist: its broad cultural programme does not make it a dedicated rock bar. The venue is cashless.
07Check before planning a visit
The Library
East Village rock bar known for its jukebox. Current visitor details could not be fully confirmed from primary sources in this audit; check with the venue before planning a visit.
08Historical venues
These entries document former clubs, not current nights out. A later business or event using the same name does not reopen the original venue. Historical descriptions do not establish the present use of a building.
CBGB
Former Bowery club central to New York punk and new wave. Later festivals using the CBGB name do not reopen the original room. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · CBGB listing
L'Amour
Former Brooklyn club associated with hard rock and heavy metal, distinct from the Queens branch. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · L'Amour listing
Max's Kansas City
Former Manhattan restaurant and club associated with art, rock and punk scenes. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Max's Kansas City listing
Fillmore East
Former Bill Graham concert venue in the East Village, associated with late-1960s and early-1970s rock. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Fillmore East listing
The Bottom Line
Former Greenwich Village concert club with rock, folk, jazz and other music. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · The Bottom Line listing
Mudd Club
Former Tribeca club associated with no wave, post-punk and performance art. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Mudd Club listing
Tier 3
Former Tribeca venue associated with no wave, post-punk and experimental music. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Tier 3 listing
Danceteria
Former nightclub with several New York incarnations, including its Chelsea location. Its history spans live bands and dance music. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Danceteria listing
The Limelight
Historical Chelsea nightclub in a former church, with rock, goth, industrial and dance music in its different phases. This entry concerns the former nightclub, not the current use of the building. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · The Limelight listing
Glasslands Gallery
Former Williamsburg art space and live venue associated with independent music. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Glasslands Gallery listing
Death By Audio
Former Williamsburg live venue associated with noise and independent music. This listing concerns the closed performance space, not the continuing effects-pedal business. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Death By Audio listing
Peppermint Lounge
The 1980s revival of the Peppermint Lounge hosted alternative rock and other music before closing. It was a different phase from the earlier Twist-era club. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Peppermint Lounge listing
The Paradise Theater
Historical Bronx movie palace that also hosted concerts. This entry documents its entertainment history and does not establish a current rock programme or the present use of the building. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · The Paradise Theater listing
Club 57
Former East Village club combining music, performance and art. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Club 57 listing
Coney Island High
Former punk and glam-rock venue on St. Marks Place in Manhattan, despite its Coney Island name. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Coney Island High listing
Scrap Bar
Former Greenwich Village bar associated with heavy metal and owner Steve Trimboli. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Scrap Bar listing
The Cat Club
Former East 13th Street rock club, later known as the Grand. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · The Cat Club listing
Lismar Lounge
Former First Avenue bar and basement venue associated with punk and metal. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Lismar Lounge listing
L'Amour East
Former Queens heavy-rock club in Elmhurst, separate from the Brooklyn L’Amour. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · L'Amour East listing
The Coventry
Former Sunnyside glam-rock club commemorated by a local mural and plaque. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
09Before you go
Check the dated listing for tickets, door times and age limits. Arlene's Grocery and Lucky 13 advertise 21-and-over entry. Trans-Pecos is an all-ages venue; other rooms and parties set conditions by event. Bring the ID required by the venue.
Bronx Music Hall is cashless. Check payment arrangements elsewhere directly. Prices, hours and recurring nights can change, so use the current programme instead of an old event listing.
Choose a show first, then plan your journey using current transport information. These venues span several boroughs and do not form one walking route. For step-free access, seating or other accommodations, ask about the specific room before buying a ticket.