The Cock

An iconic cruising bar in the East Village, open since 1998: first on Avenue A, then at 29 2nd Ave, and since 2015 at its current location (formerly home to Lit Lounge). The venue has two levels: upstairs is a dark lounge with a stage, DJ booth, and go-go dancers, while the basement houses a darkroom. It describes itself as a “rock and sleaze fag bar”: grungy punk aesthetics, a crowd of artists, musicians, and tourists, and very little pretension. The street entrance is marked only by a red neon rooster. Cash only; on weekends, there is usually a cover charge after midnight, when it can get very crowded. It closed temporarily during the pandemic and reopened in 2021. Nearest subway stations: F — Lower East Side–2nd Av, 6 — Astor Place.