You would be totally surprise that you are downtown Manhattan (time square). This place is fly and cozy. The drinks are not over priced for downtown and they were right on point. The lighting and seating was perfect. This place is truly a hidden gem. read more

Does the world need a $15 Cocktail? My guess is yes, if you believe in the long and rich tradition of the Blue Bar at the Algonquin Hotel. Sure, it's a bit of a tourist trap, but wouldn't you take advantage of the mythos of Dorothy Parker and her literary cohorts? I was in NYC this weekend, staying at the City Club, which right next door, so stopped in with some friends for a post dinner drink. The bar was busy, but not overly so, and we managed to find a table at the front. Our server was gracious, not obtrusive, with a seeming respect for our desire for quiet conversation and potent beverages. Me, I went with a perfect Negroni that made me realize why I liked the concoction so much in the first place. My comrades went with vodka-based cocktails, all made with a nod to excellence. The Blue Bar is not where you're going to get raucous. It's not where you're doing body shots. It's not even where I'd recommend going for a beer. But it is for that sophisticated time when you're out with good friends, or someone special, and want to soak up the ghosts of Gotham's past while you're at it. read more

On first blush, it looked great. Despite being attached to the Algonquin, which would imply some degree of austerity, the place seemed pretty down to earth and homey. The bartender was boisterous and welcomed me and my friend in a very demonstrative fashion. He came over to the table and told us about the "specials," one of which was hot mulled cider. It was cold out, and it seemed like the perfect warmer-upper, so we decided to go for it. It was delivered by a strange looking man with shaky hands. It tasted very unlike any other mulled cider I'd ever had. I passed this off as being some unique recipe. Overall it was acceptable, but I wouldn't rave about it by any means and I definitely wouldn't order it again. As it turns out, it's a good thing we didn't get another round because we were in for a surprise (and not the fun kind like, you know, fifty of your closest friends shouting "happy birthday!"). No, the surprise in the form of a bill: Two mulled ciders=$40. Let me repeat that: $40. Let me write it out: FORTY DOLLARS FOR TWO MULLED CIDERS. Like, you have GOT to be kidding me, rIght? No, they were not kidding. We had just come from the Royalton across the street, which, as anyone knows who's been there, is no bargain, but this place made it look like one. There's no excuse for this sort of egregious price gouging. If they wanted to make it so I'd never come back, they did a great job. This place was a complete ripoff. I feel used. read more

Legendary for a reason. Drinks here are actually a bargain. Steeped in this atmosphere, it's the once place where your conversation improves with every sip. read more

My favorite bar in New York City... Hands down... and I'm a bartender. This isn't a regular neighborhood bar, it's expensive, but it's a great place to relax and get a drink if you're in Midtown, the service is superior! I'm friends with the bartender, Christian who works at the Blue Bar weekday nights, he is absolutely the best bartender I've ever met in my life... he makes drinks the way they are supposed to be made... i.e. Order a whiskey sour, he uses fresh squeezed lemon juice, superfine sugar and egg white... and their well whiskey is Seagram's V.O. If you go, say hi to Mr. Hoy, the oldest bartender anywhere, he's 90 years old (as of this writing), and he has made drinks for dignitaries such as the Duke of Windsor. Blue Bar is the best. read more

If you're feeling pompous, pretentious and upscale, Blue Bar is a fantastic place to be. Part of the Algonquin Hotel, Blue will most likely be one of the priciest bars you have ever visited. Swanky, plush with nothing but blue LEDs lighting the place, the bartenders are experts, and as such, do not ask them silly questions. Do not come here if your go to drink involves Red Bull or a Midori sour. This is a bar's bar that caters to the high powered crowd in the area. The cocktails are strong and crafted by experienced bartenders, and you will only feel slightly depressed when you see the prices. Manhattan, Gin and Tonic, Macallan neat. What else does one need to order? I removed one star because you can either have a couple of drinks, or buy dinner for a family of 6. Otherwise, it's a great place. read more

How dark is it inside the Blue Bar? So dark that even in the afternoon they hand you a mini flashlight when they give you the menu and the bill. Blue Bar is old New York City; where people would dress up for cocktails and a handshake would suffice until the third date, then you got a kiss on the check. The Blue Bar has a clubby feel, with deep blue walls, dark wood accents and extremely comfortable chairs. It's a quiet place to unwind and relax after hectic day. read more

There should be flakes of gold in every drink here, cause after you pay your tab you'll be panning your pee for gold to afford a cab ride home. If every drink was delivered on a velvet cloth by a guy riding a horse reciting Shakespeare...it might be worth it, but this place looks like you are sitting in a stable inside your uncles basement (you know, the awful uncle, not the good one). WHY IS THIS PLACE SO EXPENSIVE? Obviously if I would have known that I wouldn't have went there, but after a few drinks and a $100 tab I felt like I got robbed and raped without being able to press charges. AWFUL. read more

The most perfect place for pre-theatre drinks is by far Blue Bar. There is such a dearth of places to go in the Times Square area, but this place seems to be void of tourists...thank god. This is my go to place for a classy stop in--and they make the most luscious Hendrick's Martini. I haven't tried any of their signature cocktails, but everyone I have spoken to has raved about them. It's small and cozy but they have a decent amount of booths and a couple seats by the window. But I much prefer sitting at the bar--their staff is very friendly. read more

The Blue Bar is what New York City is all about for me. I try and make it there every time I'm in town. It's like an old friend with good yet slightly outdated taste. The scene is dark, blue and subdued. The wait staff is friendly, yet discreet. The martini's are sublime! I know this review is rather run of the mill, but the Algonquinn is my favorite place in Manhattan. I pretend I'm Edie Sedgewick and my crazy father has brought me here to complain about all the money I'm spending hanging out with that crazy artist, while I'm living with my rich granny in her Park Avenue mansion. My father insists on the Algonquinn cause it's old school, but it's edgy for someone like him. Anyway, back to the present, it's a perfect New York haunt. read more

Definitely a good place for a quiet drink with an older relative, or a romantic drink (this review is for the bar only.) I've never been in a place with that was quiet enough for an easy conversation but had just enough music (bass and piano playing some mellow jazz) and conversational din to make nearby conversations inaudible. Really, it was like a magic trick. Even though the nearly perfect ambiance made paying $14 for a cocktail (relatively) acceptable, we were nearly forgotten by our waiter. Waiting with empty glasses for 15 minutes for our second round, and then another 30 for the check (which had an extra drink on it the first time 'round) sucked some of the fun out of what was on the way to being an unequivocally wonderful experience. read more

Came for afternoon drinks on business. Music came with big enough variation, both in themes and in volume - some space in between for a breather. Lighting was blue - as the name suggests - a bit too blue maybe. Drinks - I ordered a negroni that was on the sweeter side with a nice gin. The rest of the table seemed to have enjoyed their orders, cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks etc. read more

It's not that dark in here I have a thing for somewhat dark bars.. But then again I'm a girl I would come here with my dad to talk and chill.. Not a good place to meet people. It's a pretty small bar overall.. Try not to sit by the entrance because it's pretty drafty. THE DRINKS ARE AMAZING.. get the blue lemonade YUM! LOVE IT! read more

I would like to start by saying I think Otto is the sweetest man - professional, kind and attentive. Thank you Otto for being the one star I am giving to this review. I'm sad to know that so many people have had really positive experiences with Christian (bartender) and I was the unlucky patron who left in tears. I was at Blue Bar on Wednesday night with co-workers and while Christian seemed a slightly over-friendly bartender at first, it crossed the line when he offered to show me to the restroom and then escorted me to the second floor of the hotel (cleaner bathrooms apparently - yes, I agree they were clean) and kissed me. Completely inappropriate and despite a filed complaint, the bar HR department has dismissed the claim without so much as a phone call to me. I don't write many reviews and I am not a confrontational person. But I am sad that an otherwise nice evening with friends had to end with such a sour taste. Ladies - please be smart and use the restroom downstairs. read more

I have a new friend and hes the bartender at The Blue Bar. He makes a great Sangria and a nice martini. He also made me a special Bloody Mary with pickles in it. No shit! Its expensive, though. Lounge lizard type joint, but really convenient to my room. read more

Blue Bar is an institution, but that doesn't make it good. Apparently the bar has obnoxious blue lighting throughout because an old playwright and famous patron felt that blue made women appear prettier than they are. I can't really describe how awful it is in execution: - One, the lighting makes you feel like you are in a cheap strip club - Two, the decor is about as nice as a strip club - Three, the drinks are priced about the same as a strip club (i.e. overpriced) - Four, you're surrounded by old men and tourists (I guess that is sort of like a strip club also) To sum it up, the bar has really no redeeming quality whatsoever other than the popcorn they serve. It is way overpriced and really I can't imagine ever going back in there unless you told me that they had strippers. Even then it is a stretch. In addition when you get back into the light of day (or night) the world has this weird pigmentation...like if you were all of the sudden in the movie Vanilla Sky chilling with Tom Cruise. It is trippy. read more

Stopped by for a drink and Cristian the bar tender is on point with his drinks!!! I've been to a lot of places and he has been one of the best bar tenders ever! Super professional and nice, made me feel welcomed in New York love this place read more

Not terrible for what it is...a unabashedly overpriced bar attached to a restaurant where the "professional" waitstaff run around you like little penguins in tuxes (anyone seen "Mary Poppins"?). Here's why this place gets 3 stars, rather than 4 or 5. If the average drink on the menu rounds up to a Jackson and not a Hamilton, you BETTER know what you're talking about. So I asked the waiter about the house merlot, which at $55 for a bottle best not be Franzia! He gave me a very glib run on it, but was really trying to get me to go for the "Super Tuscany"! Excuse me?! Did you just misspeak the name of your wine at a professional establishment?! Not that I am at all an expert on wines, but I am quite sure the wine is a Super Tuscan. Normally, I wouldn't think this is that big a deal, but when the waitstaff is probably rolling 6 figures, they freakin' better be epicures of this stuff!! Then the bartender approaches us, letting us know that they actually crush real blueberries in their blueberry lemonade cocktail. My internal response, "Um, who doesn't?!" Sorry guys, for $19 you better be giving me a couple packs of blueberries to take home. And no, you're not special for putting "real" blueberries in your cocktail; the Whisper Lounge in LA has been doing that for 10 years and $7 less. So, like I said, this place wasn't horrible, but they were trying to justify their absurdly high prices for qualities that ain't that special. Oh, and don't make the mistake that I did when I went there: Dress up! read more

If your going to do Manhattans in Manhattan this is the place It's part of the Algonquin hotel. The Manhattans are fantastic and potent. Three had me 6 sheets to the wind. Thankfully I didn't try a fourth. Had great fun with the bar help trying get them to figure out the other Indian Tribes in the original six nations. Algonquin, Iroquois, ... I had 5 of them the help staff got one. Nice comfortable seats and centrally located, nice place for a Sunday afternoon cocktail. read more

Met a friend here after work to catch up on a weeknight and it was not crowded. Excellent drinks, fun atmosphere, comfortable booths. Good food, although pricey. Service was good, did not have the negative service experience others here have said. Love the history behind it. We did not see the resident kitty, alas. :( Everyone looks good in blue light! read more

Two friends and I went to the Blue Bar because we'd wanted to check out the famous Algonquin and area. Waiters were rude - we sat down and continued our conversation. Perhaps we'd been talking for 5 minutes when we were pointed out to the menu on out table "that's the menu" (ie-order a drink now)....fair enough - we are not lingerers, but the place was hardly busy and we'd just sat down. Average Pinot Grigio - why is it the "special wine of the month" when it is acutely unremarkable? Waiter also gave us the bill before we asked for it and just after we drained our drinks. History is cool and all, but there's better places in the city to buy 3 drinks for $50. read more

True To name It is blue. Poor beer list and Overpriced cocktails. Nostalgia can't save. read more

Visited Blue Bar with my boyfriend and father last night. My dad was visiting for a UN meeting and was staying at the Sofitel with colleagues. (Thank god we did not invite them for drinks here) Horrible experience. Staff lack refinement and are completely unprofessional. I should have known I was dealing with a 1-star bar when the waiter did not know what a vegan was. (This is midtown - you should know that) Of course, he proceeded to lie about a vegan offering - later stating that it 'might' have dairy after I had already consumed it. (I'm already feeling stomach pains this morning). It gets worse...unbeknownst to our waiter...my father (a wine connoisseur and taster) spotted the obvious switch up of a cheap wine v. the specific Bordeaux that he ordered. We grabbed another waiter to spot the difference - this waiter AGREED with my father upon further review of the bottle served and proceeded to pour a new glass from the correct bottle. It was a clear attempt to serve my father a cheapened wine for a higher price. (color, taste and dryness were huge indicating factors - my bf doesn't even drink wine and this was an obvious switch) A manager should have stepped into this situation considering the present and future business reputation of the bar. Very disappointing experience. read more

[3.6 Stars] Pros: Service, Table Snacks, Ambiance, Cocktails Cons: Cost, Size, Cocktails only read more

More classy than sassy - it's actually the authentic type of sophisticated cocktail lounge after which so many downtown places have tried to model themselves! Christian, Rocky and the rest of the team here are professional barmen and waiters. They treat you right and for the price of a drink you get the entertainment of their swank and style. It's dark and sophisticated and whether you decide it's your cup of tea or not it's a NYC experience not to be missed. Especially if you are with your rich uncle! read more

If you want a good dry martini, do not go to the Blue Bar. I ordered one tonight, and it came out in a modest glass. The taste was overwhelmingly one of vermouth with a little gin added to it. And for that, I paid $19. If I pay that much, I expect a good dry martini with a strong taste of gin, not vermouth. In my opinion, of the ingredients of a good martini, the gin should be predominant. it was not predominant at the Blue Bar. read more

When I headed over to NYC last year, I wanted a taste of the old school on our first night. Yelp led me to the Algonquin, and the Blue Bar that sits beside it. Boring? Never. This is the place that Dorothy Parker used to frequent. It's historic, steeped in a bit of theatrical drama, and is definitely an appropriate place for tourists to sip a few martinis. We were served quickly and with huge drinks (that you'll certainly pay for the size of mind). The waiter was attentive but not overpowering, and I relished sinking into the leather booths while letting the dark atmosphere sooth my jetlagged head. Great fun all round. read more

Small little hotel bar where they make fancy-pants drinks. I wasn't in love with the 10 thyme smash, but it was pretty decent. I went during the day on a weekday, so I've got no idea what this place is like at night, but I can say that it was a nice place to stop by after lunch at the 44 in the Royalton during a special day I'd set up for my girlfriend turning 30. Pros: good drinks, nice atmosphere, good service, interesting menu. Cons: $15 for a drink (tax NOT included) does seem a bit high so yeah, 4 stars, pretty good, but not a WOW, YOU MUST GO NOWNOWNOW place. If you're in the neighborhood and need a pricy drink, though, certainly stop in! read more

I work about half a block away from here and this is our go-to place for post-work shenanigans. It can get crowded early, so run over and snag some seats at the bar because the bartender (i forget his name but he is pictured on here somewhere) is super awesome. Even though I'm not sure if he actually remembers me every time, he always at least pretends to, and sometimes that comes with a glass of Prosecco on the house. Cocktails aren't cheap but this is a super awkward area of midtown so I guess they get away with it. Tell the bartender what you like and he'll make you something good. read more

My old fashioned was magenta and tasted like they used a whole bottle of bitters. Cannot recommend. Though the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel is very nice. read more

Blue Bar - That's the old fashioned - very bad. Skip this place. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is blue, everything looks blue. If you take a date there you will look... blue. The wine is very expensive, $18 a glass, martinis are ok and $12, and good beer is limited. And this is during happy hour! Service is friendly, though. However, too many other good bars nearby, skip it. read more

Stopped in after another lovely visit to Rockefeller center. It was quite busy. The drinks were delicious . I enjoyed my amaretto sours however they messed up my friends $30 burger undercooked and poor presentation. Not a good look. Otherwise everything else was decent . read more

Well, yes, it's expensive. The cocktail list is pretty neat - though perhaps not for $17/drink... The wood paneling and New Yorker-referencing artwork is very classy. I wasn't totally impressed by the service, but I guess you go more for the ambiance. read more

Excellent place to relax, great convo with the bar men, excellent food. Today had their seafood linguini and the scallops, shrimps and clams came like straight from the sea! Super good! read more

WATCH YOUR ACTUAL BILL! Ordered wine and when my husband commented on the 16.00 glass I asked to check the menu because I ordered a 12.00 Rioja. The server argued with me and told me I was wrong. Insisted on seeing the menu and guess what? My wine was 12.00! He then said it was only 4.00 difference and that the check would remain the same and he would give us back 4.00. We asked for the bill to be changed. I think they rely on hotel guests not checking. I'm not cheap, had a 400.00 steak bill for 2 a few doors down. DON'T PUT YOUR CARD DOWN WITHOUT CHECKING YOUR BILL! Maybe pay cash or just don't come here! read more

This place is crazy expensive. But, you know, the multiple dollar signs at the top of this page already told you that. You won't find anything on the menu for less than $10, I believe. You aren't really coming to midtown Manhattan for cheap booze, though, are you friend? Ok, cool. That's what I thought. Hopefully, you're coming for the history this place is steeped in, the ambiance, and a fantastic server named Anwar. Seriously, give him my best when you see him. People simply do not get nicer. read more

Abysmal service. Waited 30 minutes one night just to get someone to order another drink. By the time they arrived I just wanted a check to get out of there. If it were just a one time occurrence I might be forgiving. But I was ignored on two different nights. Never coming back. read more

I feel like I got taken for a ride here. As an avid Manhattan drinker, I asked for one. Manhattan martini with Bullet. The bartender recommended using another whiskey and I agreed. The only thing he forgot to mention that it would go from a $14 martini to $25. When the bill came I asked why it was so high and he said its because of the whiskey I chose. It would have been nice to have known the prior! Last time going there read more

Nice atmosphere, I don't get why people come to the center of the planet and expect a cheap beer at the bar. Nice guy pouring drinks and nice chat. I've stayed at the hotel and it is first class all the way. read more

After dropping off the kids at the Majestic to watch Phantom, my wife and I ventured down W 44th for a drink at the famous Blue Bar at the Algonquin. The website mentioned it had just opened last month after refurbishment. What a wonderful place. We were greeted by Christian the bartender who offered to make us whatever we wanted to drink. My wife had a pina colada and I opted for a Manhattan. Fantastic drinks! Of course, they had better be for what we paid for them, but really you're paying for the ambience as well. If you're willing to pay a pretty penny for a smashing cocktail then the Blue Bar is for you. read more