The Bad Old Days
Ridgewood, New York City
Bar in New York City, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
The Bad Old Days is a useful Ridgewood pick for casual drinks, late plans, small groups that do not need a formal dinner setup. Choose it for a low-pressure date or loose group night; pick Decades Pizza | Bar and Restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens - NYC or Gottscheer Hall instead if food or a more defined setting matters more.
About The Bad Old Days
The Bad Old Days is a New York City venue with late hours and a casual dress code. Its schedule runs until 4 AM every day, with openings at 5 PM Monday through Thursday and 3 PM Friday through Sunday. That makes it useful to consider when timing is the main planning need and the group wants an informal option rather than a formal, dress-up setting.
Do not build a plan around details such as a specific food program, cuisine, reservation format, seating setup, price point, or service style without checking directly with the venue. The clearest takeaways are practical: casual dress and late operating hours in New York City.
Use it for flexible plans, not a high-stakes meal
The strongest case for The Bad Old Days is flexibility around timing. It is open into the early morning every day, which can make it easier to consider after other plans or when the evening may run late. The casual dress code also points toward a lower-pressure visit rather than a formal occasion.
For dates, groups, or meetups, keep expectations practical and confirm any details that matter directly with the venue before going. If the occasion requires a particular cuisine, menu structure, booking policy, or seating arrangement, check those details in advance.
Where it fits in a New York City night
The better decision is to compare The Bad Old Days against the kind of evening you are planning. If you are weighing other options, names to consider include Decades Pizza | Bar and Restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens - NYC, Gottscheer Hall, Cypress Cafe & Bar, Julia's, Norma's Corner Shoppe. The Bad Old Days is the option here with daily hours extending to 4 AM and a casual dress code.
Planning details
- Location
- 16-84 Woodbine St, Ridgewood, NY 11385
- Phone
- +1 347 696 0612
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Bad Old Days reads like a neighborhood cocktail room that borrows downtown seriousness without the showy polish. It sits on the Queens–Brooklyn fringe and absorbs Ridgewood’s working‑class, early twentieth‑century and light‑industrial character rather than polishing it away. The writing positions the bar among operators who bring downtown credentials to more modest rents, so the room feels deliberately considered and quietly sophisticated—intimate in scale and focused on craft rather than spectacle. Regulars and cross‑borough visitors alike encounter a low‑key but rigorous drinking environment that privileges thoughtful sourcing and restraint over flash.
Best For
This is a place built for after‑work drinks and casual hangouts that reward a short transit for a serious cocktail. The description emphasizes easy access via the L and M trains and a commute from Midtown under forty minutes on a reliable line, which explains the mix of locals and cross‑borough visitors. It’s not pitched as a destination for spectacle; instead it’s a neighborhood room where people linger over well‑crafted drinks, making it ideal for small groups, pairs and solo visits in the evening rather than large tourist parties.
Ordering Tips
The profile foregrounds a sustainability frame in the bar’s approach to drinks—sourcing from distilleries with grain‑to‑glass transparency, traceable citrus suppliers, and menus designed to reduce waste by using whole ingredients across multiple cocktails. When ordering, ask the bartender about the provenance of spirits and how ingredients are reused; expect staff to be able to explain sourcing decisions and waste‑minimizing techniques. Prioritize cocktails that showcase that transparency and ask for recommendations that highlight the bar’s conscious‑drinking approach.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, down-to-earth living room atmosphere with comfy seating and a dorm-like common area feel.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
Planning details
Location
16-84 Woodbine St, Ridgewood, NY 11385 · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the fit
Pick Decades Pizza | Bar and Restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens - NYC if the group needs a clearer food plan. Pick Gottscheer Hall if the priority is a larger, more defined gathering space.
Bar context
How it compares in Ridgewood
Decades Pizza | Bar and Restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens - NYC is the stronger choice when food is central to the plan. The Bad Old Days makes more sense for a drinks-led night where flexibility matters more than a defined meal. For groups, that difference is useful: Decades is easier to justify when everyone wants to eat, while The Bad Old Days is easier when people may arrive at different times.
Julia's, Norma's Corner Shoppe, Cypress Cafe & Bar read better for daytime or food-adjacent plans, depending on the occasion. Choose those when the group wants a clearer cafe or dining rhythm. Choose The Bad Old Days when the night is bar-first and less scheduled.
Gottscheer Hall is the better pick for a larger group that wants a more established hall-style atmosphere. The Bad Old Days is better for a smaller, looser group or a casual date that may turn into a longer night. On value, the smarter choice depends on the plan: pay for food focus at Decades, atmosphere and scale at Gottscheer Hall, or flexibility here.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Bad Old Days guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Bad Old Days
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Bad Old Days | New York City | No published awards |
| Decades Pizza | Bar and Restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens - NYC | New York City | No published awards |
| Julia's | New York City | No published awards |
| Norma's Corner Shoppe | New York City | No published awards |
| Gottscheer Hall | New York City | No published awards |
| Cypress Cafe & Bar | New York City | No published awards |
How The Bad Old Days compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Bad Old Days good for a date?
It may suit a low-pressure date if the timing and casual dress code fit what you want. It is in New York City, has a casual dress code, stays open until 4 AM daily.
Is The Bad Old Days good for groups?
It may work for a casual group plan, especially when late hours matter. For details such as seating capacity, reservation policy, or group accommodations, confirm directly with the venue if those points are important.
What's the best time to go to The Bad Old Days?
The hours are 5 PM to 4 AM Monday through Thursday and 3 PM to 4 AM Friday through Sunday. Choose a time based on whether you want an earlier start on the weekend or a later stop any day of the week.
Is The Bad Old Days open late?
Yes. The Bad Old Days is open until 4 AM every day: Monday through Thursday from 5 PM to 4 AM, Friday through Sunday from 3 PM to 4 AM.
Is the food good at The Bad Old Days?
If food is central to the plan, check the current cuisine, menu format, dishes, prices directly with the venue. You can also compare The Bad Old Days with other options such as Decades Pizza | Bar and Restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens - NYC or Cypress Cafe & Bar.
