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Watchlist // East Village
cocktail bar · East Village, ManhattanNO. 121 / 342

Joyface

A retro 70s-themed East Village cocktail lounge known for its disco ball, tiger paintings, plush colorful seating, and a waterbed nook, with a door that reportedly gets busy on weekend nights.

// Live lines nearby

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//Put a camera here

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//The line

Joyface is a 70s-themed cocktail bar and lounge on Avenue C in the East Village's Alphabet City, known for a spinning disco ball, tiger paintings, plush multicolor lounge furniture, and a waterbed nook — a design-forward nightlife spot that reportedly draws a capacity-controlled door on busy nights.

Reported guidance suggests arriving before roughly 10:30pm on weekend nights makes it considerably easier to get in without a wait, implying lines or door queues build later Thursday through Saturday when the bar stays open until 3am. The venue's own site framing ('Having People Over Tues–Sun') and reviewer mentions of calling ahead point to a semi-curated door rather than a strict formal line, so calling or checking the website ahead of a weekend visit is the most commonly cited strategy for skipping a wait.

//When the line peaks
Weekend nights (Thursday–Saturday), especially after 10:30pm, reportedly draw the longest waits at the door Arriving before about 10:30pm on weekends is reported to make entry noticeably easier Closed Mondays; early-week Tuesday–Wednesday nights are likely quieter with little to no wait Bar stays open until 3am Thu–Sat vs 2am other nights, so late-night crowding likely peaks well after standard dinner hours

Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.

//FAQ
How long is the wait/line at Joyface?

damnlines doesn't have a live camera at Joyface yet, so we can't show a real-time line count or wait estimate here. Reported guidance from reviews is that arriving before roughly 10:30pm on weekend nights makes it much easier to get in without a wait, suggesting a door queue can build later on Thursday through Saturday nights.

Does Joyface take reservations?

The bar's own site frames it as 'Having People Over Tues–Sun,' and reviewers mention calling ahead or checking the website, suggesting a semi-curated door/RSVP-style approach rather than a strict walk-in-only or formal reservation system. Calling ahead for a weekend visit is the most commonly cited way to avoid uncertainty at the door.

What are Joyface's hours?

Reported hours are Tuesday–Wednesday 7:00pm–2:00am, Thursday–Saturday 7:00pm–3:00am, and Sunday 7:00pm–2:00am, with the bar closed on Mondays.

What is Joyface known for?

It's known for its 70s-inspired interior: a spinning disco ball, tiger paintings, colorful plush lounge seating, and a waterbed tucked in a corner, along with its cocktail program.

What's the best time to go to Joyface to avoid a wait?

Reported guidance points to arriving before about 10:30pm on weekend nights (or visiting on a quieter early-week night like Tuesday or Wednesday) as the best bet for getting in without a long wait.

Sources: Yelp — Joyface · Joyface NYC (official site) · Time Out — Joyface

Joyface Line — How Long Is the Wait? East Village, NYC | damnlines