Anthony Bourdain's Favorite Bar 'On Earth' Was An Underground Neon Haven In NYC

Perhaps no one has ever had better, more uncompromising taste in bars and restaurants than Anthony Bourdain. It's why millions of people tuned in to watch him travel the world visiting eateries and drinkeries of all kinds on his TV shows. Bourdain embraced authentic spots free of bells, whistles, or anything else that would take away from quality food and beverage in a space where one can rub shoulders with regular people. A seal of approval from this expert is all you need to know you've got to check a place out. And few of these spots better represent the chef and writer's overall preferences than his favorite bar, Siberia Bar, in the city he called home, New York.

Siberia was the quintessential dive, absolutely frills-free, a little debaucherous, and somewhere people from all walks of life would gather. The usual crowd consisted of rockers, blue-collar workers, and service industry members. And, apart from himself, there were other famous faces, too, like Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien, and Christy Turlington. The melting pot of regulars was like a microcosm of New York itself.

Siberia originally opened in 1996 inside a subway station in midtown Manhattan. It was tiny and rowdy, but owner Tracy Westmoreland aimed to keep things communal with rules like no cursing. In 2001, the bar moved to 40th Street and Ninth Avenue. Six years later, Siberia had to close because of a fire, leaving a crowd of misfits missing their gathering place.

On Reddit, one user calls Siberia "the best bar in NYC hands down." It's little wonder this bar was one of Anthony Bourdain's most beloved spots in the U.S. The options may have been limited, but one of Bourdain's favorite drinks would have definitely been on offer: no-fuss beer.

In fall 2025, Westmoreland revived Siberia. It's back underground, at the Columbus Circle subway station. People are torn: It's exciting that the bar is back, and with the original owner at the helm, it's sure to retain a lot of the attitude that made it a favorite. But, it's now part of a trendy food hall and there are new rules that don't quite jibe with the former atmosphere — like no talking politics.

"Bourdain would have ~loved~ a dive bar in a food hall where you can't discuss current events," quipped a commenter on an Instagram post about the new location. "Now this place will be all over IG with a bunch of tourists wanting a pic to show they're cool," says another. "'Oh, the irony,' I can hear Bourdain now..."