Sake Bar Decibel
240 E 9th Street
(between 2nd Ave & Stuyvesant St)
New York, NY 10003 (212) 979-2733
- Nearest Transit:
Astor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
3rd Ave-14th St (L)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 8:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat 8:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m.
Sun 8:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
136 Reviews for Sake Bar Decibel
this subterranean sake den seems like a murikami-ish portal to another place. i love sitting in the booths, but you need at least four people to sit there. the sake menu is bewildering to me- so many choices. sometimes i just pick one that has a name i like, or ask the wait staff. yummy snacks- lotus root salad goes well with the sake.
Oh Brother Grant. How you impress me so.
My older sibling introduced me to Sake Bar Decibel several years back and ever since visiting, I've been itching to go back.
Sake Bar Decibel is unlike any other bar I've been to. It's this word of mouth place that serves sake in the basement of a sushi joint. It's definitely cozy, but you really don't mind when you see how much unique charm it has. The walls have all sorts of scribble on them, plus tons of Japanese writing on little pieces of paper. There's also sake bottles that line the display shelves as well.
When I had visited at the time, I remember ordering their Lychee Martini (i know, i know. Shame on me.) while my bro went w/ a selection from their sake list. Since its been so long, I honestly can't recall how good the drinks were, but all I really can remember is cool this spot was. I love how it creates the feeling that you're transported to a hole-in-the-wall in Japan!
I'll make it back one day, that's for sure.
Sidenote: They're cash only.
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I'd been hearing the raves about the "best sake bar" in NYC for months and months. It was his favorite (and only) bar that he frequented while living in the city.
Living up to it's much hyped reputation, Decibel was BEYOND perfection.
Small, but in a non-claustrophobic kinda way.
Lots of cutesy Japanese boys and girls (and one white guy, who put me to shame by knowing more about the Japanese language and culture than yours truly).
A truly incredible selection of premium sakes that range in price from $5 to $45 per glass.
Add to all of that, a dimly lit, fabulously dive bar-ish feel and you've got yourself the coolest underground sake bar in the tri-state area.
They have an assortment of Izakaya style foods to munch on while you drink. Yummy.
I will make this one of my 1st stops when I get off the plane every time in NYC. No question.
I LOVE it here.
LOVE.
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Saturday 9pm, 2 ppl
Really cool location. You see this wooden sign with stylish font and you know it's on like DK. You walk downstairs and I seriously felt like I was in Japan. Was just waiting for Lil Bow Wow to show up. And if you get that joke, sorry you had to watch that movie as well.
Inside is really sweet with sake bottles everywhere, Japanese servers wearing robes with holes in them, and a very "Ehhh whatever" kind of attitude. But not in a bad way I'm just saying they're super chill peoples.
I had a couple warm flasks of the Urakasumi. That was real nice and smooth with the kind of sake flavor I like. Paired it with some edamame and all was good. Then I ordered the scallops in garlic soy sauce.
Worst. Idea. Ever. When I've had scallops, they only came with the small, fleshy white disc we all know and love. Here, they come complete with all the other connective...goodies. I was sooooo turned off by that. It looked like I had some underwater spiral demon in my chopsticks. Had a bite and the flavor just wasn't doing it for me.
Other than the scallop, I'll be back for some good sake and cool vibes.
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This is a sweet little basement izakaya in the deepest, darkest heart of the east village. Walking down the steps and into the bar, you get the distinct feeling you've walked into the wrong place. Walls are filled with handwritten graffiti in English and Japanese and everything seems careworn. This feeling fades quickly though as you are seated and shown menus. The sake list is 2 pages and features bottles and glasses in all price ranges and styles. There is food here, but the bulk of it appears to be traditional light Japanese bar food that commonly accompanies sake.
All in all the experiences is a very pleasant one. The close tables often make for shared conversations between tables and even shared drinks and food with new friends. Overall the atmosphere is extremely friendly.
The only down side I've found is that the service and knowledge of the staff can be inconsistent. I've had amazing service from very knowledgeable staff and poor service from less knowledgeable staff within the same visit. While this was somewhat frustrating, I think this could be taken care of by more frequent visits and ordering more form the sake "geeks" among the servers.
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One really cold wintry night, my friends took me to this shady underground Japanese hole in the wall. But I love my sake! This bar has a really good selection and hot sake really hit the spot. It's really dark like a cave and seating is limited, it lends to the mysterious feel of the place but the bar food is pretty decent and sake is excellent. I would definitely go back again on some random cold night.
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Imagine crawling into a tiny cave that happens to be overflowing with beautiful sake bottles, odd masks, worn wood, and flickering candles. Japanese and English mix into a din that conjures Blade Runner. The man behind the bar deliberately overflows your glass and the runoff collects in a box.
You're free to drink from that box once your glass has been emptied.
You smack a $10 down, slightly woozy from the generously poured delicious drink, and that includes tip.
How much more of a 5 star experience can there be?
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jesus this place is cool.
It's quasi-hidden, like sakagura, and is this perfect, slightly musky cave-world.
Extensive menu, good portions, and good prices. And really f*ing cool.
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The fact that I can almost never remember exactly where to find this place adds to its mystery for me. The point is that I will still take the time to wander around until I find it again. Truly a cultural experience from the covert entryway to the waitstaff to the sake (of course) and the Japanese bar food.
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My review for Decibel is long overdue, I almost feel I don't need to write one because of how damn good this place is, but I will do it anyway, keeping it short and sweet.
Decibel is my favorite sake establishment at the moment. Its somehow cozy and cramped at the same time, and feels like a big secret if you've never been there. But I assure you, this is no secret, and you should absolutely be prepared to wait a long time during the peak hours of the evening/night. I have never been to japan, but I felt that this must be what it would be like to walk into a Tokyo basement bar, and I mean that in best way possible. I just immediately wished I could speak japanese. Everybody there was having so much fun, it was loud, but appropriate, and I just wished I could be on the same level as the many asian patrons in the place. Decibel is so good that it makes me yearn for a life of japanese existence. The sake selection is absolutely amazing, and only a few spots, like sakagura, offer better selection. There were many unpasteurized sakes, or namazakes, available, and they were oh-so-good. I loved the Rihaku and the Otuoko namas. Also notable was a ceadar-aged sake, which, much like wine, was not as pure with the flavor of wood walking on the flavor of sake. But as it opened up with air and time, the flavors melted together and evolved, making this a beautiful pairing with my green tea over rice. Which brings me to the food. Awesome. One thing to skip - fried stuff. I think its microwaved because it wasn't so crisp. But everything else was TOP NOTCH. Just absolutely top notch. Great sashimi, soba noodles, green tea over rice, etc. My advice? Roll up at midnight or a little before for a quick late night bottle of sake and some sashimi. You won't regret it. And if you're lucky. you might just forget where you are - don't be too shocked when you realize after walking out the door that you are still on east 9th street in NYC - unfortunately you were only dreaming of japan...
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I went to decibel with a big group of friends a little while ago and I have to say it really made my night.
The cool thing about this place is that you really can't find it unless you know the exact address. You feel pretty special when you finally get it and it feels as if you've been transported to an underground Japanese hotspot.
Sake was delicious. Tequila shots were awesome (They bring you a plate of salt and limes per tequila shot!) We must have ordered 10 plates of edamame which are great drinking munchies.
I can't wait to go back!
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Uhhh this place is very very very very very cool... I wish I could give it 6 stars. I've been here twice and found the Hamachi sashimi to be the most fresh, delicious, tender, raw fish I've had anywhere.
The restaurant barely advertises itself- the sign out front is tiny and the place is down a flight of inconspicuous stairs. Graffiti on the walls, excellent groovy electronic music, and very dark lighting combine to create the lowest of profiles for Decibel.
Also, the service is quite good and honorable. When the waiter discovered a crack in my sake glass, he brought out an entire extra bottle for us, gratis.
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Don't be frightened by the crack-laden "IRASSHAIMASE!" you may hear when you first enter this place. That just means you picked a good night to go. But beware of not-so-kawaii women and their scathing laughter.
Good sake, prices could be a little less, but $1 shrimp fries ftw.
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Quickly becoming one of my favorite places to meet up with an old friend after work and get soused on sake (and sundry Japanese cocktails, too).
Voted "Best Bar to Make You Feel Like You Wandered Into a Sonny Chiba Movie!!!"
When you can find the entrance (and, later on, the exit) to this place without getting completely lost, then you know you're a regular.
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what an awesome hole in the wall! my friend had randomly turned into this shady, narrow staircase, which led me to decibel, and completely reminded me of the izakayas i loved when i went to japan. it was super crowded on a friday night, but we only waited about 5 minutes.
we got seated at the bar and it was hilarious watching the waiters and bartenders interact with each other. for the most part everyone was either japanese or at least spoke it.
an amazing selection of sake (pronounced sah-keh) from all over the country. i convinced my friends to drink an entire bottle (they were huge bottles) of akita sake (it was quite smooth and very tasty) while i sipped on the quintessential japanese chick drink--umeshu with soda. we also ordered shrimp chips and a bowl of lychee which paired well.
it was a perfect place to end up drinking after dinner. the atmosphere was super fun and it was hopping.
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Pretty sweet, hole-in-the-wall sake bar. I can't say that my southern white self has much experience with sake bars, but the underground, cramped atmosphere was pretty cool and the sake was delicious. Plus, I hear it was mentioned on Gossip Girl, whatever that tells you...
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Best sushi experience in the city! My friend Ry took me to this underground cave of a sake bar for delicious food and drinks. There were scrawlings on the wall from a myriad of passers-through, waitresses that were attentive and prompt, portions of food that were tasty and filling. Perhaps it's just my liking, but I completely enjoyed the experience of being ushered into what felt like a secret hideaway, full of culinary and visual thrills! Unique and yummy and memorable and authentic and reasonably-priced, I continue to return here every opportunity I get to visit.
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Ambience: for people that love an experience, dining + more, should pay a visit. Underground. Unique. Its like going to someones house, or rather that backroom that I have always wanted to be led into when I am watching any 'movies on the underground world' or the room where the 'deals happen'.
In this bar, as you are led into the small room filled with interesting wall decor and rustic furniture you feel special. Then you realize its just a place that makes all its guests feel special and very soon it will be swarming with tons of youngish people gulping down their sake and munching on delicious small plates.
Must order:
Dried squid, a dish I havent never eaten before, but it really is yummy. Its like strings of coconut coir (in white!).
Steamed eel was also good. Cooked well and in a nice sauce.
Shumai - V. good
The sake is very good, but for me the place decor and feel clinched the deal of my bond with Sake Bar Decibel.
Keywords: Relaxed, unique, small, not superficial, great staff and service, not too expensive, good easygoing and fun crowd that loves to talk.
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This is another sexy underground sake cavern where you can take a date and never be seen. With a hefty selection of sake, even the good unfiltered bottles like Shirakawago (my fav, you need to try it). Tucked away on a quiet strip of 9th street between 3rd and 2nd ave, it's barely marked, you could walk by it and never know it was there. Heading down the stairs you'll find yourself transported into a strange world like some sort of set from the film Bladerunner. Drink up.
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If you can find it you will love it. Decibel is a small hole in the wall Sake Bar that could be overlooked even by a local. Once you find it (its easy once you know its there), you will adapt to its cramped basement space. The small space is always crowded, and for a good reason. Excellent drinks, great dating spot and a cool Japanese vibe make Decibel a destination for all that know its around. Although the finger food is just ok, and it always disappoints me that they do not have Sushi, the reason you come here is for its excellent quality and selection of Sake, and fabulous mixed Japanese drinks. Enjoy the exciting atmosphere, and make sure to get there early or else a table will be hard to come by.
Tip: Don't be fooled by its cheap hole in the wall decor, the prices are fair, however its not as cheap as it looks.
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My friend might kill me for yelping this place. But he brought a bunch of us here on Friday at 2 am. And I really liked it. The sake was good, and the food was decent. But oh my, the sake was good.
Yes, it's small and dark, but that makes for a more intimate atmosphere, right?
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this place bring me so much memories of the past. the fun we had, the moment ! i wish i can bring the good time back. when we use to play drinking game of half lemon, lemon and one lemon. this is place is really fun with a group of people. sitting down in a crowd small area with just the few of us drinking the best tasting sake ever. this area is quite secretive, if no one show me i might even have just past it already. Yeah, please bring the good time back ! im here for a summer more .....
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Yeah, this place was ok. The decor was pretty cool and reminded me a lot of the izakayas I used to frequent in Tokyo.
The food on the other hand....my god I can't believe I actually ate what they served me. Most of the food tasted like microwavable snacks they bought at the near by Sunrise Mart or JAS Mart. I kid you not, the yaki onigiri at Decibel tasted just like a yaki onigiri I bought from "Hot Foods" vending machine at a game center in Japan. blah! Come on! Does this place even have a proper kitchen?
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Decibel seems like that perfect hideway bar. Well, it's not really a hideaway bar because it's so popular, but it's one my favorite places to take a date because you can achieve some privacy there and you (oddly enough) never seem to run into anyone you know. The sake's excellent, of course, but they've also got great nibbles, including stellar edamame. I love the wood decor and atmosphere. Definitely perfect for a more quiet evening getting really drunk on great rice wine.
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Large selection of cold and hot sake. Remember that cold sake is usually better quality then hot sake.
The lychee martini was really tasty too!
I loved the ambiance cuz they played good hip-hop music but it wasn't so loud that you couldn't have a conversation at your table. The only weird thing was that we had a huge wooden fish dangling in the middle of our table. It was a little awkward.
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I came here with two people and ended up leaving with 5, and mostly no one remembers leaving. Excellent. The atmosphere here is amazing. It's secretive, underground, cramped, and authentic. (I believe we tried some food...it was good but not anything special) The selection of sake is amazing and the sake itself was really good (maybe b.c we drank a lot or maybe b.c. we were lucky with the choices we made). This is an "original" spot to take a date. The only reason I wouldn't give this place 5 stars is it's kind of pricy...especially if you're a drinker.
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mmmmmmm.. there's nothing like sipping on some sake and drinking beer. the beverage menu is impressive. i recommend taking someone or some people you can have a great conversation with. the dark, low lit underground (with the help of a little boozing) creates this surreal atmosphere. the staff was cool.. the tight space was packed but they did their best to accommodate our late arriving guests! on weekday nights it can be a nice and quiet spot to drink the night away.
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This is the place for sake afficionados to get their buzz on!
Open late, Saske Bar Decibel is a former speakeasy hidden away in a dark, smallish basement. But don't let that deter you. Be adventurous and brave the lines for a pretty fun and chaotic experience. There are quite a variety of drinks on the menu, including many types of sake's and sake inspired/infused drinks. We didn't get much help in the "I don't know what to order, help me pick something out" department, but after a bunch of experimenting, we ordered enough drinks to fill our cramped table and our bellies. We also ordered some light appetizers, including pork shumai w/wasabi and okonomiyaki with donkatsu sauce, the latter of which was quite delish.
The cool thing about the place is the waitstaff is generally pretty accomodating. We kept adding people to our little table and they didn't seem to have any issues with it. This place gets cramped and the quarters are tight, but it's all part of the vibe. Also, they played some really weird music that sounded like synth pop played backwards -- kind of an odd ambiance, but when you're drinking it doesn't really matter.
Warning: the place is full of youngsters and NYU kids, so I had to get used to feeling like the "old guy" in there.
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this place was packed. the sake is good. i had the five bridges which is a fruity blend perfect for the summer. we order dumplings, shrimp and pork. yeah, skip the shrimp they were over steamed. the pork packs quite a wasabi kick. you have been warned.
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This place is a gem.
I was first introduced to this bar before their fancy sign went up. You couldn't find it unless someone pointed you exactly to it's underground entrance. These days, this trendy hole fills up on the weekends only 15 minutes after opening. Decibel's sake selection is extensive. The wait staff has always been helpful toward my party when it comes to decisions in trying new drinks. The bar food is not notable, but its overall package is so impressive that it doesn't even matter. The cramped seating and small tables make Decibel a great first date, but somewhat uncomfortable for larger parties.
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The only thing I hate about Decibel is that it's become as beloved to so many other New Yorkers. I first stumbled (literally almost fell down the front stairs) upon this gem a few years ago when I first moved to the 'hood. I fell in love. The dimly lit, cozy atmosphere, the subtle yet attentive staff, the brilliant sake, the tasty nibbles all had me hooked from that first night.
It's even more difficult to get into with a group these days due to limited seating and its popularity. My favourite seats in the house are the front bar bench, but unless you're there with a date or one friend, it's kind of hard to nab. Go with any one of their excellent cold sake because, let's face it, nothing says American like warm sake.
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The best green tea rice I've ever had. Prices are reasonable, and the selection of sake is almost overwhelming.
However, the place is almost always too crowded and you can expect to wait upwards of a half hour to be seated any day of the week, and especially on Friday and Saturday.
Expect traditional Japanese customer service. By that I mean they will not come back to your table to ask if you need anything else, or to give you the check. You have to pretty much hunt them down if you want their attention again after you've been initially served. This is not meant to be rude or aloof. They just do things differently.
Oh, and the rumours are true. If they believe that you did not leave a sufficient tip, they WILL chase you down and demand more money. I've seen it happen on at least two occasions.
It looks and feels like Japan in here. David S. and I spent $200 here last year just drinking bottles of Sake and eating a few small plates. I'm going to miss that David S and his Asiaphile ways. He can really smell out those authentic Asian experiences. The sake list was beyond extensive, it was damned impressive and I love the intimacy and the secrecy of the place. One of my favorite places in New York.
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My new favorite bar. The entrance is underground and a bit hard to find... and you are no longer in NYC as soon as you enter. The servers look like they all belong to the yakuza or something... which, in my giddy buzzed state, totally helped add to the atmosphere, ha. ;) That said, the staff has always been courteous and accommodating, although not very helpful if you're asking about the sake and trying to figure out what to order. DOESN'T MATTER. Be adventurous! The place has a great vibe -- you can be as drunk and obnoxious as you want (just please, do it in your own corner) or it can be as chill and low-key as you'd like.
Note that there is an $8 minimum per person. They make great lychee martinis. I wasn't too crazy about my nigori sake I got (a little too bitter for me), but there's an endless selection... Didn't try any of the food, and you're probably better off going to the cheaper joints on St. Mark's or even nearby at Village Yokocho if you're in the mood for some real noshing.
Definitely one of the coolest places I have been in a long while. I can't believe I have never ventured into this dark cave before. Tons of awesome sake, grafittied walls, little Japanese snacks and some of the freshest sashimi I've had. In the middle of winter.
The exceedingly tall emo hipster Japanese waiter was just a perk.
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Every once and a while, you stumble upon an establishment that makes you verbally exclaim, "holy crap, I feel like i'm in an movie!". This effect can take many forms, such as:
- Mars Bar (Saw II)
- Red Rock West (Saw III)
- Cielo (Night at the Roxbury)
- Times Square (Phone Booth)
- Washington Square Park (Kids)
- Anywhere in Brooklyn (Fargo)
Walking into Decibel, you feel like you're in a movie. Dim lighting, graffiti, wooden benches, and uber-cool waiters serving sake to uber-cool patrons. A mind boggling and liver scarring assortment of sakes, beers and cocktails are presented to you by a waiter who call himself "Shinji" and probably spends more money a month on his hair product than you do on your monthly unlimited metro pass.
You huddle with your drinking companions in the dark and cozy tables, your mind wavering between the conversation happening across from you and the stranger's conversations happening on either side of you.
Drunk on sake and indie music, you stumble out, startled by the maroon glow of "MAX BRENNER: CHOCOLATE BY THE BALD MAN" sign and scurry like a cockroach for Astor Place. *
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One of my absolute most favorite places in New York and a place I've been coming to regularly for years. The sakes are terrific and it is fun to work your way through the list and try new ones. This is where I found my very sake anywhere - Dassai from Yamaguchi. The decor is Tokyo cool and the service is always friendly. On top of the incredible sakes, the bar food is very good here. Just an awesome place.
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Holy Sake Batman! I've never seen such a long list for sake before, but then again, this has been my only sake bar i only frequent. It's small and quaint. Old school stools to wooden tables. Graffiti walls (my poem is up there...somewhere). Dim seating area.
Unfortunately the menu is just a list of it's japanese name and the only thing discerning each is if it's hot, cold, dry, etc. I felt like a retard asking her "what was this...and this...how about this...ok...this...". But the patient waitstaff is patient and ready to explain to you as best as they could what it is. They'll even recommend you where to start as a newbie and what is considered good if you want to step into the wild side. Immediately embarrassing thoughts of my ignorance disappear.
SAKE!! SAKE GOOD!
I was just reminded of this place and it brings back amazing memories (including stumbling down the stairs into this joint and crawling up when leaving). This is my kind of place - dark, hidden, cozy, buzzing, izakaya and sake. Oh, how I miss Decibel.
You can't but have fun when coming here. There is basically this unseen sign that says "leave your problems at the door". This is a true escape where it is all about enjoying the company of your friends/significant other.
Time to book my flight back to NYC to get my sake on.
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Oh yes!! After reading of the place on Yelp, I felt like I just had to check it out. I went on a weeknight at around 10pm. The place is easy to miss, and in fact I walked past it without noticing it even though I had the address and was looking for it specifically. You have to go down a flight of stairs, and as soon as you walk the door you enter a different world. The bar is actually quite large, and very dark. It was almost full when I went, but luckily we were able to get a table almost immediately.
The drinks and sake selection is very impressive. After a lychee martini (very strong and reasonably priced: $8), my bf and I shared a bottle of daiginjo, which was quite tasty and also really cheap ($45, though obviously there were much more expensive ones on the menu). They also sell appetizers and small plate food: we ended up getting the bowl of lychees ($4), and the mochi ice-cream sampler ($4, but very small portions). Great drinks, and a fun experience... our bill came at about $80, which is very reasonable considering the amount we drank. I'll be back!
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