33 Taps: A Slice of New York in Silver Lake
On a typical evening at 33 Taps in Silver Lake, the ambience aligns with what you’d expect from a Los Angeles sports bar. Beer flows from the taps, Lakers highlights flash on the screens, and half the patrons are chatting while sporting Dodgers hats, sharing boneless wings.
However, things changed on Tuesday during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals featuring the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It felt less like Los Angeles and more like Madison Square Garden—if only the weather cooperated.
Rumors swirled about a group of New Yorkers transforming this local watering hole into a haven for Knicks fans during playoff season, and, well, they weren’t wrong!
As you approach the bar, it’s clear it’s packed with Knicks enthusiasts enjoying the outdoor seating. The queue to get in wraps around the block and into adjacent shops. Walking through the door, you’re met with an electrifying energy, reminiscent of a subway train rushing into Times Square during peak hours.
Orange and blue jerseys fill the bar—Ewing, Starks, Canby, and more. From vintage to current players, these are dedicated Knicks fans. One guy at the bar wore a classic Knicks bomber jacket, displaying pride as if it were armor.
When the Cavaliers took an early lead, a fan in a Knicks cap shouted at the screen while gripping his beer, his New York accent unmistakable.
It didn’t matter where they had settled—they were undeniably New Yorkers.
During chats with fans, many shared that they moved west seeking acting opportunities, writing gigs, or perhaps just sunshine and clean beaches. Yet, regardless of their motivations, all paths seem to circle back to Manhattan.
Previous to its transformation, 32nd Street and 7th Avenue in NYC was squeezed between a taco stand and a sushi restaurant.
“This is definitely the Knicks bar,” stated one fan who’s been in LA for over a decade.
Another fan from the Bronx recounted his first visit to 33 Taps in 2023. “Back then, there were only five or six of us. Now, look at the crowd,” he said, motioning to the sea of fans tightly packed at the communal table, all eyes glued to the massive TV at the back.
The rise of this gathering revolves around Peter Agoston, a self-declared Knicks superfan who discovered 33 Taps while watching summer league games in 2021.
For decades, following the Knicks felt like enduring a childhood trauma cloaked in sports loyalty. With no championship since 1973, fans saw coaches come and go, yet the losses stack. Between 2001 and 2022, the team missed the playoffs 15 times.
Then came 2023.
The Knicks won against the Cavaliers in the first round but were later knocked out by the Miami Heat. Still, the team’s postseason performance drew more fans to Agoston’s gatherings. He encouraged them to return for the next season. They did.
This led to the creation of the Left Coast Knicks Instagram account, notifying fans of upcoming watch parties.
“It went viral,” Agoston remarked, “When the Knicks are doing well, the energy among the fans is unmatched.”
Additionally, 33 Taps now has its own version of “Celebrity Row.” One of its newcomers, Desus Nice—a comedian known for his sharp wit and former host of “Desus vs Mero”—started frequenting the bar to avoid solitary game nights in his apartment.
Actor Jerry O’Connell, a lifelong Knicks supporter, even documented his visits to 33 Taps last playoffs. He witnessed the Knicks upset the reigning champion Boston Celtics before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“We’re one community now,” remarked a fan who arrived two hours early just to secure a table. “Some folks moved here 20 years ago; others just came two months back. But this has become home.”
And nothing epitomized that sentiment more than the season’s first game. Following eight days of rest after defeating the 76ers, the Knicks orchestrated a historical comeback, erasing a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, ultimately winning 115-104 in overtime.
The response inside 33 Taps? Pure chaos. Beverages flew; fans jumped, shouted, and high-fived each other as if caught in a euphoric frenzy.
Perhaps they were. For one night in Silver Lake, it was indeed a quintessential New York experience.
