Went to Center Bar on a weeknight with friends visiting from out of town. We initially tried Ascent Lounge (same owners, also on the fourth floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle), but it was closed for a private event. We were getting dinner in the area and looking for something a bit more upscale afterward. The layout at Center Bar isn't ideal, the bar itself blocks what would otherwise be a nice view of Columbus Circle. We were a group of five and ended up at two small tables near the entrance. A few of us ordered the prickly pear margaritas ($20). They leaned sweet but not overly so, with a nice balance from the cayenne salt rim that added a subtle spice. Flavor-wise, they were very enjoyable. It was not too crowded when we went, and it feels like more of a happy hour or post-work spot. They also offer a small food and dessert menu, and service was attentive throughout. Overall, this is a good option if you are already in Columbus Circle, but probably not somewhere I would go out of my way to visit. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

10 out of ten! What an incredible first experience at Center Bar inside The Shops at Columbus Circle! I came here for the very first time to celebrate my good friend's birthday, and everything--from the cocktails to the food to the service--was absolutely exceptional. The cocktails were beautifully crafted , the small bites were delicious, and the overall service truly stood out. Monica, the lead cocktail waiter, is phenomenal--full of genuine hospitality, kindness, and compassion. She made us feel like true VIPs from start to finish . A special shoutout as well to the hostess who kindly offered to check our winter coats so we could relax and fully enjoy the space--such a thoughtful touch that made us feel instantly comfortable. The bar's location on the 4th floor is perfect: elegant, cozy, and with just the right noise level. We were able to enjoy great conversation, share small bites, and fully unwind in a beautiful setting. We were also lucky enough to meet Carrie, one of the managing partners--such a pleasure and a wonderful representation of the team and culture here. I've been to their sister bar Ascent next door, but somehow never tried Center Bar before... and now I'm so glad I did! Highly recommend trying their tacos , mini crab cakes , and of course, don't skip dessert . This place is a gem and perfect for celebrations or a relaxed, elevated night out. Can't wait to be back! #CenterBarNYC #ColumbusCircle #TheShopsAtColumbusCircle #NYCBars #NYCCocktails #BirthdayCelebration #HospitalityDoneRight #VIPVibes #CocktailLovers #SmallBitesBigFlavor #AscentNYC #NYCNightOut read more

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What a wonderful elegant experience. This restaurant is on the 4th floor of 10 columbus circle sharing the space with another restaurant. My wife and I love the burger and fries me just a little bit more. I sometimes call it the piano bar because there is a piano player there at times . The bartenders show thier skills and great customer service at the bar and the drinks are great . There was a time we noticed actor kelsy grammar of cheers and Frasier unfortunately we both chicken out and did not get a autograph. read more

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Perfect after hours place for drinks Good vibe great music And the bartender are great! read more

This is a small bar on the 4th floor that is open to the rest of the building (meaning no walls or ceiling). It was a nice place to have desert and a nightcap after dinner nearby. We made a reservation through OpenTable and there were plenty of tables on a Saturday night. We entered at 8:30pm and were given a table next to the railing, overlooking Columbus Circle. The tables are not right next to the windows, they are on a balcony set back and overlooking the building's main entrance. We had a couple of cocktails and some desert. Nothing on the menu is cheap but the food portions were large and the drinks were good. There's a piano player in the background and it's a nice ambience, quiet enough to talk. Service was a little disorganized but everyone was nice enough. Also they close at 9:30pm and are not shy about shooing you out. Worth a visit. read more

So glad we found Center Bar. We've passed it a ton of times but decided to finally try it out and so glad we did. Brittany the bartender was absolutely amazing. She was so attentive and knows her craft well. The Happy Hour menu for a Columbus Circle location isn't bad at all. Fantastic light bites and nice prices. While it's part of the mall and sister bar to the Porter House we truly enjoyed our visit and will be back. Oysters, rice balls, onion rings and tuna tartare was incredible! Thanks Brittany! read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

The food here goes beyond what you expect from a restaurant. The staff performs with absolute precision. Hidden find offering excellence only. Their kitchen staff knows what they're doing. Center Bar delivers an experience I've missed for too long. read more

Had to go to Central Park for an event, stopped for 1 drink. Ordered a Basil Hayden Old Fashioned and a side of soda water. The Old Fashion was 30$, it did not come with any garnish, no orange no cherries zero no extra love but 30$. The soda water straight out of a bar gun $5.50. The service was awful and a complete waste of money not even a spot to kill time or enjoy a cocktail. read more

Incendiary intimate center stage, boasts this Central park hidden gem- helm bed by Petraske trained, the flowing robes- the Grace - head bartender Brittany. Bespoke cocktails-will leave you whale tail on your pelvic bone. Every small morsel of food--will melt, that is perfection, only to be left impaled on a lance of tongues. read more

When is a Bar not a Bar? Much like the question that bedeviled Alice when she was in Wonderland, I was left muttering this retort to myself after leaving Center Bar. Situated above the din of the Shops at Columbus Circle, Center Bar and the other high end dining establishments like Per Se, make up a rarefied 4th floor of high class and dining excellence. However, this doesn't seem to extend to Center Bar: not only were the bites I tried sub par (especially for the price), the service was also lacking. I ordered the Red Queen and an order of Sicilian Arancini balls, given the menu isn't designed for a full sit down meal (light bites and drinks meant to whet the appetite before plunging into one of the other restaurants perhaps?). My drink was brought with minimal haste, and the arancini balls soon followed. The Red Queen is poorly balanced as a drink, tasting more like Cranberry juice with some dry seltzer spritzed through it. While the arancini balls were tasty, especially with the use of arborio rice, they weren't anything more mind blowing than I would have gotten from the frozen foods section of the Whole Foods downstairs (which, come to think of it, makes me wonder how they were able to make these with little to no kitchen space). To top it all off, service was very light touch, not stopping by to check in and taking a while to come close out. read more

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Omg! They didn't have even CRACKER(forget the bread)for tuna tartare, service was VERY unfriendly! Very sad-it's could of been a nice experience, but..Brandy was Horrible!! How could such person be hired for this job?? read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

Just a little gem that is fabulous for New Yorkers and tourists. The few times that I've been there I can never get tired or bored of the beautiful view of Central Park South and its surrounding areas of Manhattan. Their menu is small for food and I'm not really crazy about that so don't go in if your hungry. But they have a gorgeous array of wines and Champagnes, Spirits and Specialty drinks. It's right next-door to Per Se Restaurant so the service, the cuisine the atmosphere is impeccable five stars all the way around. When I go there I have their dessert. the last time I had a lemon tart with fresh berries on the top. it was just wonderful. Everything is made fresh and at the facility. For anyone who's never been here you must check it out and if you're a regular you always know you'll be back. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

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Contrary to what this page says, The Center Bar is not closed: I was just there last week and it is very much open! As a place to unwind and take in the City, this place is one of the best. Here, I had a cocktail while listening to piano music on a rainy afternoon and it was a nice, calming experience in the middle of the hustle/bustle of Columbus Circle. The service was nice, friendly, efficient, and the martini was one of the best I'd had in awhile. Perfect! read more

Improperly made drinks, weak service (slow, not knowledgeable). High prices. This location is open. Not sure why Yelp reports it as closed. read more

Early Saturday evening, I came in to The Center Bar for a drink and a light bite prior to a Jazz performance in the building. You can't miss the location of the bar as it's directly in the center of the 4th floor of the Time Warner Building. The bar area is small. Table seating is available. The place is decorated with very chic lighting. I've walked by here many times in the past and saw a wonderful pianist perform in the evening. The drink menu was quite extensive with cocktails, wine by the glass and bottle. Ordered a Mighty Servant Cocktail $17.00. This flavorful and refreshing drink included Grey Goose, Strawberries, Basil and Framboise. The bartender Mary really made this drink beautifully. Mary had a very warm friendly personality. The other servers in the restaurant were very friendly to me. The food menu is not extensive. However, it's tapas style. For a light bite, I had a small platter of thinly sliced prime aged steak ($21.00) (medium). The steak was prepared beautifully and was delicious. Pricewise, the place is not cheap but this is NYC. The dessert menu had some wonderful items, but I was a little pressed for time. That being said, I would definitely come back another time for a dessert. (Will definitely update everyone on dessert :) The Center Bar is a nice upscale, elegant and convenient place to stop in if you want to have a drink, a light bite and or dessert before or after a jazz performance or while shopping in the area. read more

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I went to Center Bar the other night with a colleague to have a drink and talk shop. It seems a bit odd at first to have a bar in the middle of a walkway in a mall, especially when you are sandwiched between Masa and Per Se. That said, the furniture and décor were very upscale and after a while it seemed pretty normal. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately at a table overlooking the city and Columbus Circle. This would be a good date spot table, IMO. We ordered drinks, which came quickly and since we were catching up and chatting, we took forever to get through our drinks, but our server never came by to bug us about another round or if we wanted food, or did we need anything else. However, the people there were quick to refill our waters, so it wasn't like we were being ignored. It was very nice to be able to sit and enjoy a drink, have conversation and not be rushed and pressured by the staff. I definitely recommend this place if you are meeting someone after work for a drink or for a business meeting. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

This place seems upscale at first, and it definitely isn't your run of the mill bar, but it's a nice place to stop and have a drink if your significant other decides to do some shopping on the levels below. I originally stopped here out of curiosity, but decided to stick around for the delicious brew and unmatchable view. The bartender was exceptional at reading the room. And let me drink in peace without the expectation of small talk although I was the only one at the bar at the time. Something small, but very respected in my opinion. I did overhear him chatting with another patron after awhile about how Adam Sandler has stopped by earlier in the week and showed photographic proof to both the patron and I. So who knows? Stop in for a quick day-drink and possibly meet Adam Sandler. Definitely worth the cost for the drink alone. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

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3.5 stars. Super cute place but the ambiance does come at a steep price of $15-17 for their cocktails. Wine glasses are $9-13 and beer isn't very marked up. it's located conveniently inside the mall and overlooks the Columbus Circle buildings so it's a nice place to wind down. There's also a man playing the piano and the waitstaff is quite courteous. read more

Center Bar - Drinks with a view - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

Mediocre. I came here for an afterwork drink and I thought my drink was mediocre and so was the service. My drink of choice was the strawberry mojito but it tasted nothing like a mojito but rather a sugary fruit juice out of a bottle with no trace of alcohol. For a $17 cocktail this to me is unacceptable. As for the service it was very unimpressive. Besides taking the initial order he made absolutely no eye contact, no thank you, no nothing. Very odd. This place is in a nice location but no place that I would choose to come back to. read more

The ambience here is so nice! Didn't even realize this was located within the Columbus Circle Mall. So easily accessible by the subway too! We had ordered the red queen cocktail along with rosé wine, as well as some cheese platters. The surrounding was very relaxing and peaceful with an amazing view of the Columbus Circle. I would recommend this place as a nice hangout for drinks. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

If it wasn't so incredibly pricey, I would give this place 5 stars. It definitely is not somewhere I would be be able to frequent. The ambiance is neat - especially if you can snag a spot with a window view of Columbus circle. They also had a man playing the piano while I was there. I particularly liked the "low calorie" drink options. I opted for a strawberry rum drink which was tasty and well presented. My favorite here was the avocado toast! They serve it with radishes and crispy bread and it actually is a pretty decent portion- enough for two or three people. The service was attentive but a seemed a little judge-y that I wasn't going to drop a couple hundred bucks on a few drinks. Overall, I think this is a very nice place to relax with a glass of wine after shopping. Try the avocado toast! read more

Center Bar - Avocado toast - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

Bar: 5 star Service/waiver: 1 star The waiter was very rude came multiple time to pick up the check when it wasn't ready and we wanted to order more. Then he told us to get up and that the bar was closing. We were the only guest that was told to get up. Everyone else were still sitting. We had not left him a tip and he said we need to leave him a tip. NY labor law does not require me to leave a tip. You provide bad service with an attitude you don't get any tip. Common sense. He didn't pick up my check cause I didn't leave him a tip and had asked him to call his manager he did not. Manager: 3.5/5 star. He could have been professional by offering a gratitude apology by offering 2 drinks at the bar on our next visit rather than saying I am sorry. I am sorry too for not coming back. Does this help your business? I am sorry I am not referring people here. Would this help you? A simple offer to show a real apologize would bring me back and others. read more

Center Bar - The waiter you should avoid when coming here - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

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Sexy drinks at soaring prices? Sit and sip at the Center Bar. Need an afterwork beverage at a decent price? Nope, not here. Need to tipple in luxury, perhaps after an exhausting shopping excursion in the pricey Columbus Place Mall? Ch-ching! Winner! Not sure why this facility needs a seating hostess. And matches? Spare us from encouraging the nasty smoking habit & splurge on some bar accompaniments like chips. Enjoyed an after work beverage here at 6pm on a Thursday. Was glad I was a guest, as cannot imagine the price of my bitters n soda when there were cocktails at $16+ Wow! Small bites choices were quite strange - not enough consideration to finger nibbles and too many bulky bites like steak sammie etc. Prices for those noshes were a bit much, too. Pleasant piano playing (with a live pianist!) was quietly upscale. Everyone was respectably dressed too ~ no tacky tourists on the eve I enjoyed (though they swam the mall). You pay for what you get, quite often, and this was no exception. Flaws about, however, so -1 star: Service was not rhythmic - water brought quickly as was a first ask for drinks; later it took multiple hand waves to get the check. No restroom nearby - a hike to the common mall area to wash up is a downer Lack of bar snacks - especially in light of pricey drinks - made us choose to not linger Pretty great but could easily be aces! read more

Definitely a cool spot with a great view of central park west. Stopped by with the wife & little one (18month old) around 3pm. Wife had a apple martini & I had a bullet rye old fashion. Price will run you about $17-$20 per drink. Drinks are definitely good and worth it in my opinion. If you're in the area stop by and check it out. 4th floor in the Time Warner building. read more

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Drinks & Service are so-so. The place is nice & the mall & view are good. A nice meeting place.

Great drinks, good food, and a glorious view Around 5:00 I was feeling a little peckish and decided to give the Center Bar a try. The Hemingway Daiquiri was spectacular - probably the best drink I've had this year. And the Cucumber Smash wasn't bad either. The burger (medium rare) was cooked perfectly and was really quite delicious. The vibe was relaxed and the service excellent. Sipping a drink, reading my book, and occasionally glancing up to take in the view along Central Park South was just a wonderful experience. read more

Hands down the best bar service in the area. Our waitress was so nice and had gotten the mixologist come to our table to help my husband get a custom drink ( mezcal with habanero and ginger ) which was out of this world and smoky. If you are just in the area shopping or want to relax to a gorgeous view of Central Park south all the way down, this is a must check out !!! And with a live piano player, it was just the perfect way to end the evening. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

First things first! Brian the bartender is super amazing! Very personable and made us feel at home on a totally different coast. Drinks are standard for NY, 14$ a glass of Pinot. The wine was good and the glasses were well filled. The scene is pretty swanky which is expected for this part of town. I will be back next time I'm in town. They take cash and credit Cheers! read more

It's my favorite place in the city. Why? It has great view on Columbus circle and Central park Nice crowd, Columbia professors, lawyers Variety of champagne cocktails, which I love (they use Veuve Clicquot), They have piano guy around 6 pm-10 I would recommend cocktail Sonora and a little duck salad. The only minus, I wish they had more food choices, not only appetizers. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

This place gets 5 for service , food, and the view! Stopped by for a drink and what a great find! I had the Cliff Dweller cocktail and the Mighty Servant - both amazing, but equally different. We ordered the the duck kale salad- a wonderful combination of flavors. The grilled cheese was amazing and supposed to be an award winner ? It was made with fontina cheese and black truffle butter on country bread. To make it more interesting - it was accompanied by a tomato bisque read more

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This bar is well located and has a great view of Columbus circle. The ambience along with the live piano gave it a romantic atmosphere. The only problem was the service - both the hostess and the waiter were rude and moody. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

Chill place for a drink after a day of shopping. Nice cocktails and piano player when I was there Friday night. read more

Center Bar - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

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Piano man, champagne, pretty views and GREAT service. What more could we ask for? Loved my experience here. Our server was almost as impeccable the company. read more

Center Bar - Cool - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

This bar is on the top level of the "mall". Level 4. Phillip was friendly at the bar and drinks are good Cocktails are $12-$18. Their "snacks" they give at the bar are addicting. The wasabi nuts ;) but it makes you want to keep drinking. Smart of their part. Menu looked are those there was really yummy dessert. Didn't do food, just cocktails so didn't even look at that menu. read more

Center Bar - Mighty Servant - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

I stumbled upon Center Bar after going to Empire, a few blocks up. Center Bar is located in the heart of a Columbus Circle in the Shops at Columbus Circles. Honestly, I have no complaints. There was a pianist playing Elton John while I sipped my cocktail and ate cheese. I topped it off with the gelato, which was delicious. Center Bar is more on the pricey side but it is made up in the good cocktails, food, service and ambience! read more

Wow! This bar isn't in my usual price range. There's no happy hour and cocktails can be a little pricey. I'm really glad I treated myself. We were lucky enough to have Taylor as our bartender. He is fantastic and knows how to make a cocktail!! The Shiraz was perfect and my custom made Manhattan was one I will never forget. The burger was perfectly cooked too. Just a really perfect evening. FYI- The place fills up fast, you're better to get there on the early side if you want a table. read more

Center Bar - My custom made Manhattan! Perfection!! - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

I work by here so sometimes I stop in for a drink after work, or I'll bring friends here for drinks. My out of town friends love Columbus Circle as it's very scenic and overall it's a nice vibe. The bartenders are friendly, the drinks are tasteful and well balanced, and I love the fact that they list the classics on their menu. It's Columbus Circle so obviously expect the prices to reflect that (this isn't a negative, just stating the fact of). The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because, for the 2nd of maybe 100 times, I decided to seat my friends at a table because there were about 7 of us. The host was a little rude to a friend who had just purchased tea from downstairs - we understood that she couldn't bring it in, but she could have been a little nicer about it instead of making a snarky face at her. The service was slow and inattentive, I had to flag down a busser (who was actually very attentive and polite). The food was good for what it is overall, especially the duck confit salad, that was amazing and possibly some of the best duck confit I've ever had. It's a little pricey but again, that comes with the territory and honestly $21 for what I got wasn't even that bad. I'll be back here for sure, but I'll probably just stick to the bar. read more

I just had a glass of Pinot Grigio after the most sublime evening at Appel Room: Michael Feinstein's Mel Torme tribute with Billy Stritch and Catherine Russell. But I had to write about the female bartender because in all my life on two coasts, I have NEVER met a more horrible human being tending bar. As I wrote on Facebook, rude is whatever. It happens. This lady, like 4/10, is epically obnoxious (she's the one using enough eyeliner to paint over graffiti on the side of a building in East New York). So here's what happened. Having just recovered from a stomach flu, I'm not drinking red wine or hard liquor. I just wanted a glass of white wine and my friend came with me because he had time to kill before a show downtown. (He's a major music critic and sees multiple shows a night often. He always wears a suit and bowtie and I was in a long dress. I mention this because we did not look like hoodlums or homeless people.) I asked for club soda *from the fountain.* In a minute, she comes back with the wine and a bottle of Fever Tree. I knew very well that this 8 oz bottle of club soda would be 5 bucks and I never would have ordered a bottle if they didn't have club soda from the tap. I said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I mean from a fountain." This toxic little woman sneers at me, with a roll of the eye, "We don't have a fountain." I was so blissed out, I was a bit slow with the comeback. I just said, "Oh, I see." Now I could have said, "Please take it back. I don't want it." I just was so stunned by her tone, which communicated, "This isn't McDonald's lady. We don't serve club soda from a fountain." This is of course precisely what she meant. So instead of fight with her to take it off the bill, I just said to my friend, "This is Fever Tree. They make the best ginger ale and tonic on the market and I am sure this will be 5 dollars." I was right: it was precisely $5.00. She rolled her eyes so much over the next 30 minutes, I thought they'd get stuck (which wouldn't be so bad because then she'd be unable to see and bump into shit at the bar, precipitating her firing--which would be utterly appropriate). This woman has NO business in customer service. It got worse. She was eavesdropping and anything I said triggered this eye-rolling tick of hers. I finally said, "Wow she doesn't like me, does she?" It was beyond anything I have experienced in a bar or restaurant. If there were a hall of fame for horrible people working in restaurants, this woman would be an inductee. She's the Meryl Streep of bad bartenders. I hope very much that the manager of the restaurant sees this. But given I go out as much as I do and have bartender and server friends all over, I think I have some credibility here in saying she needs some therapy. Or she needs some hard-ass restaurant group executive to give her a talking to. I have no idea if the food is good. It's a pretty place to drink or get a bite but I would never go back to eat. I'd go to Bouchon if it were open (it had closed by the end of our show) or Landmarc. But Landmarc serves only bottles of wine. read more

Good spot. My brothers got my finance and I a gift certificate here for Christmas. We came here after seeing a Sunday matinee. Great cocktail option in Hell's Kitchen. The bar is on the 4th floor of the Time Warner building with an almost eye level view of the Columbus statue. We got there just before 6:00pm on Sunday. We had a reservation for 6 and it was empty when we got there but within the next half hour the majority of tables were filled. If you have plans to go I would recommend making a reservation. There was only one waitress and what looked like 3 bar tenders but it took forever to get drinks. We had 2 drinks each and split a sandwich over the course of an hour and a half but there was no way we could have ordered any more. That is my only complaint. I ordered the Peacock Tonic and a blackberry gin drink that was more like a slushy than a cocktail. I highly recommend the Peacock Tonic for those who like a refreshing cocktail without it being too sweet. The blackberry drink (the Bramble?) was just ok. My fiance the Bow Street Special and second drink we cannot remember the name of but is a spicy whiskey drink. He recommends the Bow Street Special. We also ordered a grilled cheese which was pretty great. Served with chips, a fig dip, and a very small tomato soup. It was the perfect dish to tie us over to dinner. Overall - it was a nice cocktail bar with good drinks, ok service (not the waitresses fault) and a good grilled cheese. I'd go back. It's a good place to keep in mind when in the area. read more

Center Bar - Two drinks I recommend - the Peacock Tonic and the Bow Street Special - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

How can you beat a pianist playing Gershwin while you eat some of New York's top rated food. If the ambiance and gorgeous views didn't win me over, then the delicious food certainly did. For once, a top ten New York item lived up to its rating. Although skeptical after my last "World's Best Pizza" slice, the famous grill cheese sandwich certainly is one of New York's finest. The dipping sauce of tomato soup with basil made the dish even more savory. The portions are gourmet size, but the tastes will leave you satisfied. The lamb was seasoned perfectly, and was great surprisingly filling. But that grill cheese blows everything else away. A must try spot for every New Yorker. read more

Center Bar - Top Ten is an understatement for the grill cheese. - Lounges Near Me - New York, New York

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