The ambiance drew me to this place and I ended up liking the cocktails however I was not a fan of their limited menu. There were only two entrees to chose from; steak or fish. I would return for drinks. read more

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

Amazing speak easy, fantastic cocktails and a great ambience. The bartender went off menu as well when we had specific requests on the type of cocktail that we preferred. Jacob and the other bartender (we missed asking the name) also took time to explain about the drinks and the service was excellent. Without wanting to give away too much, would highly recommend for a classic NYC speakeasy experience! read more

Banzarbar - Russels reserve bourbon straight up - apparently this was a select batch that these guys bought over so wanted to try it, was brilliant! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is a new hidden gem. Not sure when this place will blow up but enjoy the short wait while you still can! The cocktails are beautifully served and taste delicious. Definitely worth a visit. Ambiance is great and perfect for a date spot. Feels like you time traveled and on a Journey during the old English times. The blue booklet menu is amazingly unique, and real candles really add on to the experience. Place comes with a free complimentary glass of wine! But it might be due to the $20 cocktails. A bit too pricey for my daily take. read more

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This was a really fun speakeasy and has quite the journey to get to the actual room. Definitely a fun thing to do to impress a date or have a fun night out with friends. Bartender was super friendly and mixed up a mean drink--the one I ordered had a chocolate pairing, which was cool. While the drink prices are steep--it is worth it for the ambiance and experience that Banzarbar provides. read more

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

VERY VERY cool find and why you should always walk down dark alley's in NYC. Think Freeman restaurant and you are there. It was great we could make a reservation which is not common for "speak easy" spots. But, walking into Freeman is cool in and of itself. The walk to second floor, sliding doors, waiting your turn to go in the top secret doorways is part of the schtick. Mixologists are well educated in their craft and skills. cocktail list is as expected. If you are a Gin drinker the Shackleton's Urn is one of the smoothest, floral Gin drinks you will experience. The topping of the dried fennel flower was incredible. VERY nice touch to the nose and palate. Get your pre cocktails here in advance of dinner but remember, you may never leave Banzarbar! read more

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This business is run by unprofessional people. Children obviously. My husband and I frequented this bar and always got along well with the bartenders etc. I went with a friend one night way back in December. We had horrible service by a bartender I had never had before. And sent a complaint. My compliant was warranted. It was a horrible experience. Never had a reply. My husband and I went back maybe 2 months after And had drinks and food Now...... He makes a reservation tonight and it was canceled ? With a reply the last time we were there we made someone in the staff uncomfortable? This is some grade school reaction made up because I had bad service that time beforehand That's sad. Loll. We def didn't make anyone uncomfortable upon our last visit. And I def had horrible service the time prior. read more

Hidden bar. You get there through an alley way. Then you go upstairs to a small room w a bartender that can seat a max 15 ppl. Flights and tasting menus are available w small eats. Bartender was very accommodating and tailored the drink to your likings. Good selection of cocktails! Everyone had an avant bouche tasting too! Love the music- jazzy laid back. Pretty empty on sunday nights though read more

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

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Chelsea is magical. As are the drinks she explains, mixes, and serves. Her knowledge is vast and invaluable. This place is one-of-a-kind. As are the cocktails themselves. read more

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

The cocktails were great but I was a bit annoyed of how obnoxious and rude they were over the phone. I tried adding a 5th person to my 7pm reservation and got extreme attitude. I then mentioned that I would cancel and go elsewhere. The person over the phone let me know that My card would be charged $20 per person for doing do. I was shocked because I'm canceling at noon for a 7pm resy. I was willing to go elsewhere but my friend still wanted this bar. So I uninvited a friend and sucked up my pride and still went. We each had 2 rounds of drinks and order the sweet potato appetizer, which was delicious but you get 4 bite size pieces for $13..... at that price I would expect to at least get the whole potato ‍ ! After that I was ready to go elsewhere for the evening. Not to mention the bar was empty, so they could have accommodated a 5th person. It's a cool spot and I'm glad I experienced it, but I probably will never go back. read more

Must call in advance- but a 5:45pm call for a 6:30pm reservation on a Tuesday evening was totally acceptable. We wandered down Freeman's alley in the dark, barely seeing the art on the walls, and dodging a photo shoot before entering Freeman's and letting the host attendant know we had reservations at Banzabar. She escorted us upstairs and then put us on a time out bench in the hallway before we were greeted and brought into the bar. We scored 2 of the 10 seats at the bar- get those if you're a small group that likes to chat up the bartender- and four people were already on the other side, a drink or two ahead of us. The bartender was great at describing the drinks and their flavor profiles, as well as accommodating my desire to have him do-over the pyro-show in the drink for instagram-worthiness. Next time we'll plan ahead with empty tummies to try the Kraken... but for now... drinks and a good chat at the bar were nice. read more

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Walked in on a Friday night around 11:30. The hostess told us there'd be a 10-15 minute wait. They don't take call back numbers so we waited by the regular bar. Soon enough we were walked upstairs through an unmarked door and asked to wait at the benches. A couple minutes passed before we were escorted into Banzabar. The room is small and packed tightly but they manage to seat quite a few people (probably around 20) inside without it feeling uncomfortable. They started us off with complimentary vermouth that was sweet and dry. Meanwhile, we flipped through the menu as they dedicate each page to a cocktail. I ended up choosing the Road to kerla and enjoyed it. Drinks are around $20 each. read more

Great atmosphere! Loved the ambience from the olden ages and the vibes were on point as well, just a beer drinker here and had minimal options for that, but we'll worth it as a tourist or even someone who lives nearby read more

Amazing atmosphere...you feel like you've stepped back in time from the moment you walk in...Great bartender and Fantastic (strong!!!) drinks. And the "Kraken" is one of the most unique eats we've had in a long while...it's a whole Tempura Fried Octopus with Potatoes, Pickled Onions, Pickles, And Aioli. And it was as good as it sounds...really well seasoned and well executed. The place is a total hidden gem! read more

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

It's not too often that you get the full package in a cocktail bar like you do at Banzarbar. Carefully and beautifully curated cocktail program, wonderfully paired dishes in and out of the tasting menu, cozy-warm-homey atmosphere, and super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Absolutely cannot wait to become a regular at this new spot. read more

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

We had a great experience here and look forward to going back to try more of the food. Really phenomenal cocktails in wonderful and cozy atmosphere. The staff was super knowledgeable and welcoming.(My friend would not stop talking about how handsome the bartender was) read more

While I was in NYC for a quick weekend trip away from the great wastelands of Evanston, I stopped at FSC to do some clothes-shopping. The gentlemen there suggested I try out the new-to-me bar upstairs above Freemans. So glad I did! Going in I had high expectations for the atmosphere, and they were exceeded. The room is beautiful. The bartender that night was Natasha, and she was super friendly and amazing. Not only was she fun to talk to, she served up some tasty drinks. My first cocktail from the menu was delicious. And for a second I asked if she would make me a boulevardier. She brought out a bourbon for me to taste -- I'd never seen nor had it before. The drink she then made was really nice. I can be a total snob about cocktails and bars (I'm old and I'm set in my ways, whether it be a fancy place or a dive!), and Banzarbar is so good I'll be sure to stop in the next time I'm in town. I should mention that she started me out with a shot-sized sipper of a very nice sherry. And after my boulevardier, I wasn't quite ready to leave, so I ordered a beer. And then she and I did a shot of I don't know what. And then I went to 375 and had fries and a chicken sandwich. read more

A Let me tell you I love this bar I cannot wait till it opens up full indoor , the drinks are on point especially that Shackleton drink. Beyond beautiful blend of crafted drinks Carlos is a good bartender I went 2 days straight because I love the dam drinks. Much respect to the staff read more

One of the best places I've been to. It is a hidden gem! The cocktails are excellent and the whole experience here is incredible! It is a cozy place hidden inside Freeman's. We got a few skewers as well which were very tasty. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a good atmosphere with brilliant cocktails. read more

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

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Went here on a Saturday at 6pm to celebrate my husband's bday after an early dinner. I was able to call in the mid-afternoon and booked 2 seats for 6pm same day was not a problem; they did require a credit card to hold the reservation. Entering in down Freeman's Alley and through the restaurant was interesting since we've never been. We were escorted upstairs and then asked to wait a minute before we were escorted in through a door leading to a small funky cocktail lounge with a semi-round bar and about 4 tables (we were seated at a table; within 20 minutes or so the place filled up considerably). We had a total of 6 drinks, I don't normally drink Gin but after tasting my husbands "Deception Island" I had two of them (after the Arctic Willow which was sort of like an semi-frozen old fashioned). Both waitresses were great, checking on us frequently, asking if we needed anything etc; My husband went off menu for the last drink and asked if they could make a Corpse Reviver #2, which they did wonderfully, not having to even look up any ingredients (it's not a very common drink to request these days!) While it is pricey ($20 per drink for most of the cocktails) and not a place you'd go every day, it was just perfect for a special occasion or would be a great date spot, etc. read more

The drinks are really amazing! They have rare liquors if you want to do some exploring. Outdoor dinning space is beautiful! Our server was the sweetest. One of my favorite speakeasy in East village. read more

A few people who have written in reviews here have had the displeasure of meeting Eryn, Banzabar's resident rude bartender. Drinks were great but she definitely put a downer on our night with her attitude. Wished I didn't waste my time and won't be returning. read more

Very poor service and rude host. The speakeasy isn't worth it. And very inflexible seating arrangements.

This place wish it could be as cool as the music they play but it's just appropriation. We were the only people of color coming to this place and was treated as we didn't belong there or the "crowd" they wanted there. When we first arrived to the place we checked into our reservation and was quickly taken to our table to later be turned around because our whole party wasn't there. Silly but we understand restaurants do this ridiculous rule because a person just can wait for their party at their table they reserved. Then while we waited back down the entrance we were told that we could get a drink at the bar. Cool. My husband did so and was chaperoned to make sure he paid by the hostess. Tacky. Then later into the night we were told by the manager that we were being too loud and that she had to turn the music up louder because of us. Passive aggressive much. This is not a library it's a bar and one of my friends was just laughing loud. Relax lady. The music they are playing is hip hop and r&b . Not a quite whisper genre of music. you want a quiet speakeasy vibe With stuffy people then don't play music you have no business playing. The vibe doesn't match. How about play jazz or classical music if you want stiff place. We also spent a good amount of money and was not treated with respect. And when we confronted the manager / bartender she gave us the typical corporate bull smile with a fake apology. Of courses you want to Be the police Karen and tell us how to act at a bar. read more

So I heard about this new speakeasy that opened on the 2nd floor at Freeman's. Naturally I had to give it a try. Let me just say. This place is amazing!!! The atmosphere is perfect. They really give you that English explorer feel. The furniture is rustic amd they have real candles that give the place unique charm.The drinks are delicious and perfectly balanced. The presentation is amazing as well. I would recommend Message In A Bottle or if you want a hot drink Fortune and Glory. I had already eaten,however, they also have a 5 course seafood and cocktail tasting menu for 95. I will definitely be back to try that. They have a dish called The Kraken. It is a whole Octopus that is marinated in wine and tempura fried. Somebody else ordered it and it looked amazing. The bartenders were really friendly and knowledgeable. They made the experiance really awesome. The one warning I would give is the place is not to big. They have 3 tables currently. A 4 seater and several seaters. Of course this may change. The bar does have many seats at it which is really nice. I counted 10-12. So this is not a spot to roll in 8 deep. Overall I gotta say that I'm going to add this to my goto cocktail speakeasy list. A must try!! read more

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This is my favorite spot for a well prepared and flavorful cocktail, also don't leave without trying the tempura fried vegetables which rotate seasonally. Eryn is the best :) some of my favorite cocktails are the raspberry ripple snow, and the even keel read more

Let's start with the positive here. The drinks are delightful in taste and beautiful in presentation that I can't deny. The atmosphere is nice and private as well with only about 20 seats in a small room. The reason I am taking off two stars though, is because of how WEIRD their policies are and the service. I don't really have any words for it other than just wildly uncomfortable and odd in an irritatingly snooty kind of way. So a friend and I get there for after work drinks at 6pm on a Wednesday, the place had just opened and was completely empty except for the two of us. We sit down and place an order for our first drink and I receive a phone call from my brother asking where I was and if I wanted to grab drinks. I let him know over the phone that we were at this bar and told him to come join us as there is MORE than enough room for one additional person. Following the phone call the server/bartender asks me what that was about (clearly having been listening in) and I told her. She then proceeded to tell me that if they had known we were a party of 3 instead of 2 they would not have seated us as it will affect the 'experience', and that they cannot seat or accommodate an additional arrival? Then I was literally like "uh....well.... should i tell him to not come then...?" and she proceeded to indicate that so i had to awkwardly message my brother and tell him not to come here anymore to meet us. That was potentially the weirdest and snobbiest interaction i've had with an establishment. A couple of things to note here, I am by no means an unreasonable person. Of course if the place was fully booked with reservations or if it was extremely crowded with no room I would have exercised better judgement but keep in mind the ENTIRE SPACE was EMPTY except for the 2 of us for the first hour and a half, and only around 7:30 was there another party of 4 that showed up. We left around 8:30 and NO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED within that time. So they were completely NOT hard pressed for space. Another note that just doesn't make SENSE is this: think to yourself, if he had come alone as say, a party of 1, and just HAPPENED to sit next to us at the bar and we started chatting, then would that be okay? Would that not ruin the 'experience' they claim to provide then since he is his own party? There is no LOGICAL reason as to why they were listening to my conversation and proceeded to forbid someone from joining us other than the fact that they wanted to be all 'uppity' about it while charging 20-30$ PER drink. (another thing to note is that the drinks are extremely expensive here even by NYC standards). lol also just from a smart business sense/practice perspective it would have been wiser for her to just say "for future reference we don't do this" and allow it to happen for the one-time, thus ensuring a much greater likelihood for us to appreciate the one-time gesture and make a return visit. Rather than uncomfortably indicating I should tell him to NOT come here anymore even while he is already on his way, and while there is again MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE to accommodate another person as the entire place was EMPTY. Now, not only did this result in a negative review of the experience, but also you've lost many potential returning visitors. So to finish, the drinks were good for sure, but they are good in a lot of bars in NYC. Would I come back here? Absolutely not, due to the high prices and uncomfortable incident. read more

I am a total cocktail snob, and this place exceeded my expectation. Erin the bartender is extraordinary. Almost everything on the menu was sublime. Highlights included the corn, steak skewer, Shackelton's Urn, For Queen and Country, and Sons of Neptune. Enjoy! read more

Our bartender, Eryn, was disgustingly rude to us. Having travelled all over the world trying the world's best cocktails, we knew exactly what we wanted to order. When we tried to order a custom cocktail, she assumed we did not know what we talking about and lashed out on us. She kept telling us she will not change our drink since she just "knew" we wouldn't like it. She made us feel like we weren't knowledgeable enough to decide what we wanted to order. Very disappointed in her behavior. My advice to her: Don't judge a book by it's cover, people come in many different shapes and walks of life. If someone decides they want their drinks a certain way, consider the fact that the person is at a craft cocktail bar because they have "some" understanding of what the craft entails, and lightly confirm with them then execute. Never demean them by assuming you are an expert just because you are behind the bar table. Hopefully she sees this message and learns from it. read more

Deplorable customer service. I wanted to customize my drink and have it served without ice instead of on the rocks. To my amazement, our bartender, Eryn, ended up flipping out on us claiming that the drink strictly specified that it should be served on ice. I really felt like her behavior ruined our night. We are nice people andwanted nothing more than to have a customized drink to get our evening started. We later spoke to the manager, and to our surprise, he doubled down on her statement, saying the the "experience" that we desired wasn't offered at the bar. This explanation is total nonsense. Perhaps management needs an education on what a bar "experience" entails. For one, craft cocktails are not one size fits all. They can be modified to the varying taste of the consumer. This is not to say that all extreme requests should be considered. But if someone prefers their drink up, on the rocks, or even straight, this should fall within the boundaries of the "experience". Second, when you realize that you have failed to reach a customer's expectations, never try to double down with a bogus explanation in hopes of diverting the issue. It's just wrong. Lastly, train your staff, helping them to expand their knowledge base beyond the ordinary. People will come from all walks of life and will have preferences that seem "weird" to you. Learn to build on understanding without rushing to instant judgment. Hopefully our sincere feedback will help you to see how you can better serve your patrons. read more

We were so excited to visit Banzarbar once we heard it was open, and I can honestly say this beautiful bar did not disappoint. The cocktails were delicious and paired excellent with the food we got. The staff was extra helpful in helping us select drinks to please our palates. The inside is beautiful and welcoming for such a hidden gem inside of Freemans busier restaurant. Perfect date spot or even for a small group of friends. Will definitely be back! read more

Great craft cocktails and the bartenders will explain the structure and elements of each drink. One of the best craft cocktail bars in Manhattan. read more

THIS WAS THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE! It was such a pleasant contrast from the wonderful restaurant to this very beautiful cocktail adventure. A coat check and a beautiful library vibe until being moved into a completely secluded fabulous cocktail bar very small super intimate great date spot or just great cocktails in general! read more

Freeman's as a restaurant feels like you are going to eat at a friend's house for a dinner party; and Banzarbar feels like you slipped away from the party, and went to drink in the attic with the cool people. The whole experience is exciting...walking down the alley just to get to Freeman's sets the allure of mystery; especially at night. I've been to many speakeasies here in NYC. Attaboy, Mulberry Project, Angels Share, Le Boudoir, Beatstro; even the now gone and wonderful Dinnertable. I love speakeasies. Freeman's alone is a cool place, real cool. The seating, the location of the bar, the open kitchen, private rooms...it's a dope restaurant, which makes it so fucking cool when you tell the host you going to Banzarbar and she whisk you away past everybody to the back, and up the stairs. You ever been led into the VIP section in a club/lounge? As you walk to your section you look at everybody else like...you peasants, you don't even know about this; with the most snobby attitude, well that's how I felt until I got upstairs and sat on a bench by their office and asked to wait. I was in the west bubblefuck region of their restaurant, literally I felt like where the fuck am I, and I'm from the hood b #50CentVoice Anyways keep in mind that the hospitality has been super amazing so far. After less than a minute some dude pops out of what looks like the panic room and checks my coat and duffel bag, from there I'm led to a small door with the most intimate bar I ever seen. I just smiled as I was lead to my seat cause talk about hidden. The experience didn't let up...remember I mentioned the hospitality here was superb? The bartender came to me and said hey there mother fucker...you like hospitality? Well here is some free wine to start you off. Good wine surprisingly. The menu isn't overwhelming but I clearly showed that it went to public high school because there were items on the menu that I had trouble pronouncing even in my head. The free wine helps since these drinks rightfully take some time to make and also helps justify that they cost $20 bucks!!! Does it come with a hand job as well? No, but man Garret the bartender sure holds up a great conversation (hope I got his name right, works Tuesday night) The only Only ONLY reason why I'm not giving them five stars is because I haven't tried the food...YET. I'm sure I'll be impressed, because the drinks are best described as "wow". I had a rum drink whose name I forgot, and everything about it was captivating. The aroma, presentation; the way the spiciness popped on my pallette and was relieved by the foamy egg whites and creaminess of the drink. Man I wanted to make love the that beverage. Long story short guys this place is more than wonderful. Bring a date cause this place is classified as a panty dropper read more

Finally got to visit this tiny gem of a bar. Amazing cocktails, great ambiance, and delicious food. Staff is warm, welcoming, and super knowledgeable. Can't wait to visit again! read more

Literally amazing drinks!!!! Would definitely come back in a heartbeat! The service is beyond great and the bartenders care for you and love their job. They're service oriented and is definitely meant for anyone searching for an exclusive personal spot to have a great experience! read more