"If you've been to Iggy's on the Upper East Side then you already have a pretty good idea of how things work at the Keltic: non-pretentious crowd, reasonably priced drinks, cozy-yet-shabby surroundings and amiable bartenders (our favorite one here is the bearded Aussie fellow). The space is small and dim, with a handful of booths and couches for lounging. The exposed brick walls are dotted with framed black-and-white sketches, and ...

"If you've been to Iggy's on the Upper East Side then you already have a pretty good idea of how things work at the Keltic: non-pretentious crowd, reasonably priced drinks, cozy-yet-shabby surroundings and amiable bartenders (our favorite one here is the bearded Aussie fellow). The space is small and dim, with a handful of booths and couches for lounging. The exposed brick walls are dotted with framed black-and-white sketches, and bright pink Christmas lights sparkle behind the bar. There's a cramped stage in the back that plays host to local musicians each week, with the strongest showcase occurring on the third Thursday of each month. Arrive early to check out singer/songwriter Lara Ewen, whose scratchy, heartfelt folk rock will get you in a decidedly downtown mood. If you come on an off night, however, all is not lost. You could always break out one of the joint's strategically placed board games and take a drunk stranger for all he's worth." -- Michelle Pepe