Earlier today, Eater posted a depressing item about Soho mainstay Milady’s impending closure. Sadly, the downtown dive bar will close tomorrow night after operating in the ever-changing neighborhood for over 50 years. The blog EV Grieve was the first to report the sad, sad news.
For a long as we can remember, Milady’s has been one of the top destinations for good ol’ no-frills drinking in a city with more and more fancy cocktail joints popping up all the time. Don’t get us wrong – sometimes we absolutely love having a top mixologist make a really inventive, creative drink with bourbon and farm raised organic egg whites and artisanal bitters and gourmet garnishes.
But sometimes we just want a watery Bud Lite, an order of gooey, cheesy Potato Skins, a juke box with classic rock and a pool table. And of course, the requisite curmudgeon bartenders, who added the perfect character to the already perfectly worn in drinking spot.
The bathroom was treacherously small, the tables were rickety and they would laugh if you ordered a Cosmo. And that was exactly why we loved Milady’s. Whether we were looking for a low key place to unwind on weekends, or somewhere to get “one last drink” on the way home, Milady’s never disappointed.
The closing of this downtown favorite is just the latest in a string of recent closures, signifying just how much the landscape of the NYC hospitality scene is changing – and how bars without the money for climbing rents will soon be priced out.
But while we are mourning this terrible loss for the nightlife community, we are just happy that we got to enjoy so many memorable nights (and days) out at this beloved Soho bar.
Milady’s – we will miss you.
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