The only thing more authentic than a neighborhood dive bar is one that resembles your childhood living room growing up. Fitting that description is Lower East Side’s Welcome to the Johnson’s – a 1970’s-themed bar decked out with more paraphernalia from the era than the set of That ‘70s Show. Like the hit series, in which the colorful characters reveled in an eclectic setting amid the growing pains of the transition to adulthood, the kooky getup at The Johnson’s creates a rec-room vibe that similarly allows you to remain a troubled teen. (But one with easy access to an open bar). In addition to a well-worn pool table, a vintage PacMan game, sports league trophies and a bathroom covered with more graffiti than the Williamsburg Bridge, the bar’s décor combines to create the atmosphere of hanging with friends in the local frat dorm, complete with plastic-covered shabby brown velvet couches to avoid a beer pong spill fallout.
Drinks are served from a retro chocolate-colored refrigerator and they’re as cheap as hipsters idealistically would always prefer to pay. Think $1.50 Pabst Blue Ribbon and $2 well drinks till happy hour ends at 9PM. Closing time is 4AM seven days a week. Adding to the fraternity appeal of the largely 20-something crowd is a garage-rock jukebox, while the potent margaritas in summer will have you wishing you’d been able to get a little less bang-for-your-buck upon receiving a tequila hangover the next day. Welcome to the Johnson’s is the sort of oasis where the cool crowd heads in order to avoid the sports bars of 3rd Ave and the rowdy NYU and post-grads within them.
