It's on 2 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Cost$5
- SubwayB, C to 86 St, 3 min
- Address573 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024
- Health gradeA, city inspection
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
Bodega-turned-sports bar, Bodega 88 is a testament to turning lemons into lemonade. The result of rising rent prices in the neighborhood, the owner of the corner bodega decided to test his luck by repurposing the space into a sports bar and locals can’t seem to get enough.
The reason? Bodega 88 serves one of the most generous happy hours on the Upper West Side. Offering $5 beer, $6.50 wine & sangria, and $8.50 mojitos, margaritas, and caipirinhas (a popular Brazilian cocktail), if you’re feeling peckish, empanadas (chicken, beef and spinach) go for $2.75 a pop.
Good to Know. Bodega 88 makes an appearance on our list of the best bars on the Upper West Side.
Bodega-turned-bar, Bodega 88 is the byproduct of rising rent prices in the neighborhood. When David Arias couldn’t keep up with constant rent spikes, he decided to upgrade his bodega into a casual sports bar on the Upper West Side.
Admittedly, Bodega 88 feels a bit more step up than your traditional sports bar, largely thanks to the great Latin-inspired dishes churning out of the kitchen (the empanadas deserve a shout-out).
With a variety of options to suit everyone, the bar serves delicious cocktails and ice cold beer. Don’t miss out on the bar’s weekday happy hour from 3-7pm, when select beers go for $5 (hard to beat that!).