The Half King
The rating scale of 0 to 100 reflects our editors’ appraisals of all the tangible and intangible factors that make a restaurant or bar great — or terrible — regardless of price.
Read more about the new ratingsLocation
505 W. 23rd St., New York, NY, 10011
212-462-4300
Known For
The lowdown
Chances are you’re not one of the three people unaware that Half King is the pet project of Sebastian Junger, of Perfect Storm renown. But just in case: Yes, this is the pub the author has dumped a chunk of his royalties into, and it is as popular as Junger’s book and the movie it inspired. Inside, the Half King is divided, with about two thirds devoted to diners, the rest to drinkers, bar-food nibblers and literary types brandishing notebooks, with weekly readings for authors and slideshows showcasing the works of photojournalists. The food is surprisingly good and the mellow bar scene has attracted an amiable neighborhood crowd.
What you need to know
DrinksFull Bar
Noise LevelCivilized