Tucked inside Hue House near Grand Central, 929 is a Taiwanese-inspired cocktail bar with serious nostalgia vibes. The menu comes in a CD sleeve -- yes, an actual CD sleeve -- and all the drinks are named after Mandopop and Cantopop songs. If you grew up on 80s/90s Chinese music, your DNA will be activated. The cocktails are creative and well-executed. Tried the 紅茶館 (whiskey-based, osmanthus notes) and 過完冬季 (gin with a savory twist from cucumber vinegar and bacon). Food leans playful Taiwanese bar snacks -- the 鳳梨蝦球 with colored rice puffs and the 三杯章魚 were standouts. They also do occasional live music nights. Went to a Jazz Cantopop session -- classic Canto hits reimagined with jazz arrangements. Atmosphere is intimate and moody. Service is friendly, shoutout to Edward behind the bar! Great spot for a date night or catching up with friends who appreciate a good throwback.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

929 gives off a fun Taiwanese street-style vibe right away. When you walk in, there are non-alcoholic drinks available for tasting and a Coke-can-sized arcade game to keep you entertained while waiting. We checked out the second-floor lounge before dinner -- it felt like a speakeasy, intimate and relaxed, a great place to unwind. The space was playing '90s and early 2000 Cantonese and Mandarin oldies-but-goodies, which really set the mood. I loved the creative touch of putting the drink menu on classic CDs, and I was pleasantly surprised to find one of my favorite CoCo songs in the collection. The drinks leaned on the sweeter side and came in smaller portions, and they didn't allow substitutions or modifications. That said, the Basil Cream Popcorn Chicken and Pineapple Shrimp Youtiao were really tasty, recommended. The space was quiet enough that we could actually have a conversation and hear each other. Service was attentive, with staff consistently refilling our water and drinks. Afterward, the host escorted us back down to the first floor for beef noodles and Taiwanese fried rice. While the food itself was more on the mediocre side, the overall vibe, convenience, and unique concept definitely made up for it. I'd still come back for the atmosphere and experience. read more

Although I haven't been to their prior LIC location, as a kid who grew up listening to 80s and 90s Canto/Mando pop, I'm glad I got a chance to check out their new location and new drinks at Hue House on 41st. I love the concept of naming cocktails after certain songs and see how the specific ingredients play into the inspiration. Flipping through CDs to see their drinks was also very cute and fitting. --Shanghai Summer Flight: delicious with the prominent jasmine green tea and subtle lychee flavors. The soy milk foam paired well with the green tea. Loved how it wasn't too alcohol-forward and not too sweet either! --Spring of Life: super interesting!! The flavors that hit me were: truffle, brown butter, pu'er milk tea, then whisky. The truffle taste was prominent but not overpowering because the other flavors started coming in. It almost tasted like brown sugar milk tea because of the milk and tea combo but I'm glad the pu'er specific aroma came through. --Eyes, Smoke, Magic: I never knew that smoked plum and roselle tea meshed well together! The fruity and bright flavors from both were prominent and then the alcohol hits towards the end. Loved the tea cup it is served in. --Memoir in a Team House: the shaoxing and vermouth were a little too strong for me but I liked the osmathus fragrant amongst the black tea flavors. --For food: The popcorn chicken was solid with tender pieces and a light batter. The basil cream grew on me towards the end. The sanbei octopus was executed pretty well. The sanbei sauce had enough ginger and basil. Marinated octopus is not easy to work with; while I wish it was more tender, I think it was able to successfully serve as a vehicle for the sanbei flavors/sauce. I love the showcase of the vinyls, CDs, and VCR tapes, as well as the red velvet couches with the dim lighting. I enjoyed how they played certain less popular songs from popular artists like Jolin Tsai and Eva Hsiao, so it felt familiar yet new. Apparently you could request certain songs with the DJ? Overall, I liked the fusion concept and enjoyed my time there. I look forward to trying other drinks and snacks next time! read more

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Cocktails were delicious. I got the Shanghai Summer Fling and it was very refreshing and aromatic. I like the mando-canto pop theme. The CD menu was so cute and unique. One star off because the seating arrangement was a bit odd for a group of 5. We weren't able to sit around one table-- just one straight row along the couch. read more

929 - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Walking thru the unmarked door from Gulp into this speakeasy, you feel transported to a totally different vibe--dim, intimate with a retro 80s feel--wide wood-paneled walls, 80s and 90s Asian music album covers and media framed and hanging as decor. A sleek bar setup, with rectangular lighting haloing the bar shelves. A stash of 80s and 90s music - vinyl, cassette tapes, LPs hanging out in the back corner with an in-house DJ curating throwback hits mixed in with some of today's grooves. The menu is accessible via QR code printed on a cassette tape. There are about two dozen signature drinks, a handful of snacks, and a 1.5 hour time limit for each table listed. They are quite strict with the turnover time though also polite about it. We ordered the following, inspired by Mando and Canto-pop songs, $18 each. We enjoyed them all! 1) BKK HKG 曼谷瑪利亞 (secondary translation: Bangkok Maria) Light Rum Infused Thai Tea, Canerock Jamaican Rum, Dry Curacao, Pistachio Orgeat, Lemon, Orange Blossom - citrusy, refreshing, lightly sweet, like a breezy spring afternoon. 2) Cat's Eye 貓眼 Guilder's Red Oolong Gin, Coffee Vermouth, Cocchi Americano Rosa, Italicus - a Negroni with herbally tea and coffee notes, well-balanced. 3) The Most Familiar Stranger 最熟悉的陌生人 Basil-Infused Gin, Scotch Whisky, Ginger Honey, Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice, Lime Juice, Soy Milk + Soy Sauce Maple Foam, Sesame Oil - smooth foam on top, subtly savory, dry and creamy at the same time. 4) Not the Melon You Know 幻聽 (secondary translation: Auditory Hallucination/Imagined Sound) Four Season Green Tea-Infused Vodka, Winter Melon + Osmanthus Syrup, Lime Juice - fragrantly floral, sweet, very lightly grassy and bright. 5) Sweet Guilty Pleasure 甜秘密 (secondary translation: Sweet Secret) Earl Grey-Infused Brandy, Passionfruit Juice, Orange Juice, Lime Juice, Honey - tangy and citrusy, the evening version of a morning smoothie. For finger foods we got two orders of sweet potato fries with plum seasoning, I'm a fan of plum seasoning in general and thought it was a creative use; flavor-wise it added an unexpected sweet and tart punch to the sweet potato. Though the fries themselves were pretty standard. It's hard to maintain a crisp on these given the water content. Would definitely come back and try some of the other drinks! Staff was friendly. The bartender put on a show pouring drinks from impressive heights. Until next time! Side note: YAAYY Yelp milestone - review number 1000! read more

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the shots were excellent and really unique. the service was incredible and they really helped us pick cocktails. The mine all mine was my personal favorite read more

We were here in the window of 8 pm to 9:30 pm on April 25 (just last night). Our server was a slim male (maybe 5 ft 8 in) with black long hair and wore glasses - he was very unprofessional and rude. We took our time to decide on an order, as our two friends were showing up late. But this did not warrant telling us Three Times within the first ten minutes of our seating the curt message: "I am communicating to you that your seating is until 9:30, and you will need to leave at that time." He then told us again at 9 pm that we would need to leave at 9:30 pm. Then at 9:22, that we had 5 minutes left. And finally at 9:28, he came again to tell us we needed to leave. A total of 6 times he reminded us of our 9:30 pm end time. What he did not do a single time is give us a drink recommendation. No exchange of pleasantries. Nothing. The venue was beautiful, and we had a great meal downstairs, but I haven't experienced service this poor in at least 10 or 20 years. read more

Located behind a noodle shop in LIC, this speakeasy is a fun spot inspired by Canto and Mando pop. The interior of the speakeasy is vibrant, dim, and laid-back. Service was alright. We got the Beijing and the mango sticky rice cocktails. Both were amazing, but I HIGHLY recommend their mango sticky rice cocktail. It was such a fun twist on a favorite dessert, and was absolutely delicious. Their fried foods bite was also delicious. Would love to come back here to try their other foods and drinks! read more

929 - Mango sticky rice cocktail & Beijing cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I almost couldn't get my hopes up for another bar that promised to live up to my platonic ideal of one only to fall short in reality. But 929 was different. They promised a Mandarin & Cantonese pop music inspired bar with cocktails to match and curated every detail to perfection. The space is tiny, and really popular, so expect a little wait--but it'll be well worth it. Drink breakdown: Not the Melon You Know-- came highly recommended by friends who visited. If you like tea, the flavor comes out strong from both the green tea infused vodka and osmanthus and winter melon syrup. Smooth and balanced. Leslie's Sleepless Night- this drink is a bit sweeter than the others I tried because of the condensed milk foam but the bitterness from the coffee infused sweet vermouth countered it nicely. Sweet Guilty Pleasure- the earl grey brandy paired with the orange juice and passionfruit juice is a combination I wouldn't expect to go well, but as with all the other drinks the mixologists know how to mix a drink. I'm drinking a lot less these days but would make an exception without hesitation to return to 929. Their mango sticky rice mocktail sounds so good it could have the placebo effect of giving me a pleasant buzz while I admire their vinyl collection of old Mandarin pop songs so I think I know how I'm spending an upcoming weekend in dry January. read more

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The decor was very thoughtful and aesthetic. I loved the red seats and Mando-pop and Canto-pop theme. The menu was unique, it was a CD case with each drink on a CD, and I liked that the drinks were in order from least to most strong for your picking. I got the Shanghai Summer Fling and my partner got a Very Tipsy Poet. Both drinks were tasty with a fresh tea flavor. I also loved the foam on top of our drinks, I especially enjoyed the salted soy milk foam on the top of my Shanghai Summer Fling. We got Pineapple Shrimp Youtiao and were surprised by the presentation. It had the sprinkles and white sauce, we didn't realize it would look like a dessert! But it was tasty, it kind of reminded me of honey walnut shrimp and the sprinkles surprisingly went well with it. Would definitely come back to try more of their food items and drinks! read more

929 - Pineapple Shrimp Youtiao - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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great food and amazing fun cocktails! the atmosphere was great and the specialty cocktails were fantastic.

An amazing experience all around! Even more impressive since this part of LIC lacks character, and this adds a dimension of mystery, classiness and fun. As good as the drinks are, The food is top notch! Make sure to try some of the rice dishes. Drinks: 5/5. The drinks are strong, balanced, and innovative. The Mandarin Chinese flavors are detectable but not overpowering. Def worth trying 2-3 while you are there! Food: 5/5. OmG. The fries and chicken over rice were amaaaaaazing. Truly a standout party of the place Ambiance: 4/5. Very very dark, but if you look around closely you will see pop culture swag: posters and vinyl records and even VHS tapes of Chinese pop stars. Lots of Chinese pop music in the background too. Service: 4/5. Very functional and fast, although the waitress was not the most friendly. Still, nothing wrong with the service Value: 4/5. Most cocktails are around $17-20 per drinks. While not cheap they are worth it! The food is affordable, and soooo tasty. read more

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The cocktails and food are so wonderful here, but the main reason we come back is Chae! She's the best woman in the entire world. read more

929 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

It is hard to write a negative review for such a unique atmosphere and idea behind the restaurant/bar, but a few things dropped the score drastically. First off, we already dined and paid for our bill at the sister restaurant right below, Travellers, indicating to the workers that we'd first eat/drink there until the upstairs opened and waited for a table. However, they insisted on splitting up our party of 10 into two smaller entities, claiming they had the seats reserved but the same seats next to them were fit for the same party size and table size. It ruined the experience because we were there to celebrate a friends birthday and had to keep walking across the whole bar to talk to different people in our party. The waitress was extremely nice explaining her recommendations on the drink menu, but seemed pushy when we took a little longer to decide from the larger menu. Following that experience, we ordered two appetizers to share, the mala beef tartare and the Yu Tao with pineapple (sweet and savory goodness). However, when giving us the dishes for the food, 3/5 of the dishes we got at first were visibly dirty with specks of food that weren't properly washed/cleaned on it, and the other two had oil marks. The waitress seemed to scoff when we brought it up and asked for a new set of plates, and they even discussed it with their coworkers at the bar, not 5 feet from our table. Our table did not expect that at all, especially for the "fancy" vibe the bar was going for (it was just not professional at all). What made it worse was they brought us 6 new plates, and 2 of them also had visible specks of food remains, but at that we had given up and just shared a plate. read more

This is a speakeasy located inside a small restaurant! When you walk through the door on the right, it brings you into this cozy space full of seating and bar! We were seated at the bar within 15minutes for two people, so we were very happy about the fast seating! We each ordered the Sweet guilty pleasure & mystical composer. The drinks are fantastic and well made. You can't really go wrong with any of the options since majority are all well made and carefully curated to each person. I really enjoyed the intimate space and the aesthetic of this place! I would recommend to anyone in the area looking for a nice cozy intimate settings with good vibes and drinks! read more

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Such a cool spot! Decor, drinks and menu are all thoughtfully designed and curated. Big fan of the Shanghai Summer Fling. All of the cocktails were beautiful and tastefully impressive. Reservations are strongly encouraged. read more

Wish I came here sooner. Sad that they are closing but so glad we came to experience Jay Chou night and it was everything. We'll miss you 929! read more

929 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This bar loses a star because the waiter dude with the "gods fav" hat was not a good experience to be around. Rushed, rude and could use more customer service training. Our drinks were taken away before we finished them and we had sat down for less than 45mins. He didn't care to check how we were doing or how were the drinks. The dill drink tasted like pickle water. I want this place to do well and support the owner! read more

Unique cocktail bar above Traveller in the Hue House. Cocktails are pricey, but all really creative and worth the price. Vibe is cool too and fits the cocktail prices. Not many good bars in midtown so definitely check it out if you're in the area and want a nice drink! read more

natsu no breeze Chinese style cocktail bar hidden behind a Taiwanese eatery. This place was at the top of my list for LIC bars/restaurants, and it definitely did not disappoint. I came here with a part of 8 on a Saturday afternoon, and got a Natsu no Breeze. The drink (along with the other ones) were all delicious and unique! The bar itself has a nice, dim ambience that makes it good for dates or catching up with friends. (They also have live musics on weekends) Service was friendly and well-versed in their drinks and giving out recommendations. The only downside of this place is that it's near impossible to get a walk- in on a weekend night because of it's popularity; the two times I've tried to come on a weekend night with friends resulted in a wait time of over two hours (!!) Would highly recommend coming here and placing a reservation; the drinks and experience is definitely worth it. read more

929 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

We loved the variety in cocktails and the ambiance of this place. My girl friend and I felt so cozy and enjoyed the music and dedication to the theme as well. Food was also amazing - I'd love to come back and try everything else on the menu! read more

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A new favorite bar in the area! Located inside Gulp, 929 is an excellent spot for Chinese cocktails. I walked in twice over a few weekends; first time there was a 40 min wait for bar seats at around 8:30 but no wait the second time when we came at 7:30. They do take reservations in case you want to plan ahead. I've tried these drinks so far: + Remember summer days + Mango sticky rice - highlight #1 + BKK - HKG - highlight #2 + Love is like a bad cold + Shanghai Morning Dew (special) + She's spicy Just a great vibe - and friendly bartenders! read more

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Great speakeasy ! Will come back again. Come try this place out. Really cool music and vibe read more

929 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Have been wanting to try 929 for a while! We were able to walk in on a Saturday around 7:30 PM with no wait! I ordered the Not the melon you know which was a nice subtle drink - not too strong of an alcoholic flavor! My friends ordered the most familiar stranger, BKK to HKG, and mango sticky rice. The familiar stranger was stronger and was an interesting flavor with the soy sauce and sesame oil - I probably wouldn't get it if I went back but it was interesting to try a sip of my friend's! The mango sticky rice mocktail was also super yummy although a little more sour than expected but in a good way. I didn't try the BKKK to HKG one but my friend said it was pretty strong. I also got the braised pork over rice which was quite tasty but I think the portion is a little smaller / comes with less stuff versus when you order from Gulp directly (the restaurant in front of 929). We also got the sweet potato fries with plum seasoning which was quite tasty! Love the music and the aesthetic - the QR code for the menu is on a cassette tape! Keep in mind there's a 90 minute limit and a 1 drink minimum per person! read more

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Such a cool Taiwanese bar with Cantonese music playing inside! The drinks were fun, my favorite was "not the melon you know". A little sweet and really refreshing with the tea notes. It's a great ambiance inside and you're also able to order food from Gulp (Taiwanese restaurant upstairs). We got the Braised Pork Rice ($12 for a small bowl, no veggies) and fried platter, which also felt overpriced at $23, but it did taste very authentic like how it is in Taiwan. I would recommend for a date or small group hang! Note that they have a 90 minute time limit. They're pretty strict about leaving in that time frame which is totally fine but just don't expect to be able to stay long here! read more

929 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Really yummy cocktail!! Honestly one of the best I've ever had. I got the shanghai summer fling. Great vibes and service.

Came here on a weekend night and the wait time wasn't long, maybe 10 minutes max. The entrance is really interesting it's a speakeasy so when you enter it looks like a regular takeout spot but there's a door that takes you inside to the speakeasy. The space itself is pretty small but there's enough seats to fit a good amount of people. Their drinks are pretty good, nothing bad but nothing extraordinary. They have a good selection of food and snacks to order as well which is nice. It's kind of like a hidden spot but the surrounding area is nice and easily accessible by train and bus. read more

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I came back to enjoy cocktails with different friends visiting from out of town on a Thursday night, and would say the experience on a weekday night was even better. There was more attentive service and not as loud, that we could have an inclusive conversation. The cocktails we tried this time were even better too, so I'm updating my review to 5 stars! My favorites were the "sweet guilty pleasure", the "blueberry cheesecake", and the "not the melon you know". read more

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Tucked inside of a small street food spot is a beautiful Taiwanese speakeasy. There's bar and lounge seating, as well as a back corner for a vinyl DJ on weekends. The vibe here is elegant and exclusive, yet somehow stays relaxed and comfortable. The greeter welcomed us warmly, and we were able to quickly catch a couple seats at the bar- otherwise the wait is about 45-60 min on weekend nights. Every dish was delicious and affordable- the fried chicken in the Fried Platter was crispy and juicy. They didn't skimp on seasoning or meat for the braised pork over rice. As for drinks, the menu is overwhelmingly extensive and creative. Cocktails are on the pricier side, but the bartenders are truly superb at their craft (see pic). Leslie's Sleepless Nights is a great coffee pick-me-up, although served in a rather small glass. They put just as much creativity and effort into their mocktails, as well, if you're doing a Dry January. Our favorite cocktail was the BKK-HKG which had an incredible blend of flavors. The thai tea and rum dominated at first sip, but the aftertaste gave way to the pistachio and citrus top notes. We will definitely be back for special occasions. read more

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I usually don't go to the same speakeasy twice because there are so many bars on my list I have yet to visit, but I've been to 929 a couple times and really enjoyed my experience every time. I love their Mando/Canto pop theme, and their drinks are pretty creative as well. My favorite drinks from here were probably the Midnight Pretender and Remember Summer Days. Their popcorn chicken also hits! read more

929 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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4.5 stars, but rounding it up to 5 since they have the best bar food. I honestly did not have any expectations about their food but everything we got was sooooo good. Note - if you order food from Gulp (outside the bar), you have to finish it outside. You can't bring it in. I think the portion size might be different for their fried platter, because the prices are higher inside the bar. I can't remember for sure what I got for my drink - probably The Last Emperor (50% chance based on the receipt) it was pretty good, but I love my friend's drink more LOL. I'd highly recommend Not the Melon You Know. It's so unique! I might be biased because I love winter melon, but it's so good! As for the food, they were out of a lot of things by the time we were seated (12am). Gulp was also out of a lot of things by 11:30pm (we ordered some food while waiting for our seats to be ready). From Gulp, we got the Fried Platter. It was great. Seasoning was perfect. The dough was not too thick. As for dining in, we got the sweet potato fries and the turnip cake. They were both soooooo good. Perfectly crispy. And no, it wasn't the alcohol talking. read more

LOVELY Asian bar that has drinks inspired by canto/mando pop. Try to make a reservation if you want a table seat, but we walked in on a weekday and got nice seats at the bar! Service was also great, our drinks came out quickly (after we had the fun of seeing them get made), and as we ordered a good amount for 2 ppl the hostess gave us free sake shots that were SO FRIGGIN GOOD. Their braised beef was so so good like we just ate it in silence. Great spot for a date or for a nice night out with friends :) read more

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A cocktail bar names its drinks after Chinese pop songs. Inside, posters and records of famous Chinese singers are displayed. On the walls, you'll find Sammi Cheng (鄭秀文), Faye Wong (王菲), Alan Tam (譚詠麟), Deanie Ip (葉德嫻), S.H.E, and others. Their menu is charmingly presented as a QR code on the cover of a cassette tape, featuring Anita Mui (梅艷芳). read more

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Great drinks and such a good vibe. Love the decor and attention to detail. All the drinks that they offer tips it's hot to Asian flavors and Hong Kong influence. Would definitely drop by again for a drink or two! read more

929 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is a hidden gem, a bar with good snacks, vibes in a pretty secretive location. I came first with my gf to get some food, but they actually had run out of a lot of food at night, so I got the last order of the fried mix (no picture for that sadly). It was pretty decent! We finished it really fast. The portion is a bit smaller than your favorite taiwanese boba store's snacks, but it wasn't too small either. The inside of the store has a vintage feel. There were some prop casettes. At the same time there was newer music playing in the back. The wait was something like 40 minutes to get into the bar section. All their drinks are asian themed as this is an asian themed bar. The drink I got in the picture was pretty good! All of our group's drinks were sweet but also potent so you can't go too wrong. Their taro cakes were really really good and I would definitely go for those if nothing else! read more

929 - Natsu No Breeze - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The drink was great and love the vibe too! Friendly staff will def come back again. Would love to try the bar snacks next time

Solid speakeasy in LIC serving innovative Asian drinks. I've gone here a couple of times and enjoyed my drink each time. It's a bit loud inside but the music is very aligned with the vibes (they play old Chinese music!). Outside the speakeasy, they also have a restaurant that serves really yummy Taiwanese fried chicken (restaurant is called Gulp). Would recommend for anyone looking for a cute spot for Asian inspired drinks in LIC! read more

Awesome atmosphere and service. If you're lucky you can get a free shot on the way out

Intimate and cozy mando/canto bar with delicious drinks. This spot is located in LIC and has delicious drinks. I ordered the Cyndi's Summer which is a fruity and sweet mocktail, and would love to come back and try others. I had a party of 2 and went at 830 pm on a Saturday. The host let us know that it would be about a 1 hr and 45 min wait, but we ended up only waiting about 20-30 min. Reservations are available on Resy as well, and would highly recommend to do if you're in a time sensitive schedule! read more

929 - Inside (from the entrance) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Really interesting menu. Tried four different cocktails and they were all really good. Service was a little slow and you only have 90 min for each reservation. Nice ambience read more