Rudy’s Bar & Grill (Hell’s Kitchen)
Background
While most may think of dive bars as dingy and lacking charm or history, Rudy’s is far from that. As one of the most unique bars in Hell’s Kitchen, Rudy’s has a legendary history that still draws in thirsty (and hungry) customers today.
Rudy’s is a place with immense history and tales to tell from every major era of New York City. It is even rumored that it started out as a speakeasy in 1919 where infamous customers like Al Capone would frequent it during the Prohibition Era. From then on, it became a huge jazz-focused bar, drawing in enthusiasts and even winning the award for having the best jukebox by Rolling Stone in 1996.
Jazz stars aren’t the only ones who have favored Rudy’s throughout the years. Big names such as Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, John F. Kennedy, and more have been regulars at this hallowed dive bar. More recently however, Rudy’s has been in the spotlight as being one of the late Anthony Bourdain’s favorite New York City bars.
Why It’s Unique
But stardom and history aside, Rudy’s has its own unique value proposition that pretty much no other bar can offer. Order any beer and you get a free hotdog.
Yup, you read that right. Every pint of beer comes with a free hotdog of its own, whether you want it or not. And while I don’t have any pictures of them because I didn’t wanna be that guy taking flash pictures of wieners in a dark bar, they are somewhat smaller hotdogs with two thin lines of ketchup and mustard on top. Not only that, but the beers are cheap. The cheapest option called the “Rudy’s Blonde” starts at $3 for a pint and $12 for a pitcher. Nowhere else in the city- and frankly any other major city in the US that I’ve been to- will have a killer deal like this. Even their most “expensive” beer tops out at $7, which is a stark contrast to the city’s usual beer prices, which can average two to three times that amount for a single pint.
While the beers are nothing truly spectacular or “crafty”, they are good enough for what you pay for, and will certainly get you drunk at that price. The same goes for the quality of the hotdogs, but you can’t complain about a free hotdog in my opinion.
While there certainly are nicer bars with better drinks elsewhere in the city or even in Hell’s Kitchen, you probably will not find one as cheap and unique as Rudy’s. So if you happen to be both hungry and thirsty for a beer, look no further than this place. Even better, if you want to start your night out drinking with a cheap dinner, Rudy’s will certainly provide both for you and your group.
