Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 Time: 8pm Party of: 4 Reservation Made Thru: Resy about 2 weeks prior Accolades: No.18 North America's 50 Best Bars 2025, No.95 The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 *Amelia ($20) *Besos Calientes ($20) *Isabella ($20) *Henry AM Coffee ($23) *Bone Marrow Poppers ($18) *Burrata & Kale ($23) *Truffle Grilled Cheese ($29) - Add Tomato, Truffle Fries ($5) *Trout ($35) *Manhattan Cocktail ($20) *Yankee Notions ($23) *Belvedere ($20) - Tonic My group goes to NYC every year. This time, we decided to try and plan a little earlier by making rezzies wherever we could. I thought EO didn't offer drinks only slots, but my girlfriend said they do offer them as lounge reservations so she booked it. Unfortunately she didn't read the fine print and we ended up with food rez. We had a dinner reservation right after, so oops! Oh well. At least sales tax is included in all their pricing. And I'm always down to try food items. Honestly, it was a rainy cold Tues night, so we probably just coulda walked in. But we've failed in the past so better safe than sorry. I initially went to their Singapore location about 7ish years ago. I dragged the hubby on a cocktail crawl. I remember this spot being one of my favs so I wanted to visit it when in NYC. Just like last time, I thoroughly enjoyed the Manhattan, spirit forward and balanced. Food wise, I thought everything was fine. Nothing was too large to share between the four of us. I especially enjoyed the truffle grilled cheese. I was pescatarian at the time so didn't try the marrow, but everyone seemed to really enjoy that dish. Glad I finally got to come here. Just don't make a reservation if you only want drinks. REVIEW #4009 read more

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As a regular at Employees Only, I've always enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks. However, my recent visit was disappointing. The security staff was quite rude at the entrance and didn't let me in, which led my friends inside to leave as well. It was a frustrating experience, and I hope the staff can improve their hospitality moving forward. There are so many bars in the area where guests are treated much better. I'm really disappointed read more

Had an interesting experience at employees only. The service seemed a bit strange. I am not sure since it is a busy spot maybe they rush a bit, but I don't know it felt off from the start. I got a clarified drink that was on special. It was good. Nothing I would rush back for. Bartender was free pouring which surprised me for such an institution. But, they are professionals. When you have places that are so storied you wonder if the quality begins to slip because the name makes up for it. Overall, a bit disappointed given how frequently it is recommended. read more

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This bar/speakeasy is a nice spot for a date or to go to with friends! Super cool vibe with clothes in the back if you want to do some shopping. Great drinks menu and cocktails. read more

Employees Only - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Second visit to this hot spot and so impressed with every aspect. Lucky enough to get a great seat at the bar with the kindest of souls, Niel. He was so personable and made the best drinks for our group. We had so much fun and ended up hanging out with the CEO Eric and one of the GMs Patrick. Just really a great group of people who obviously are service minded. NY gets a bad rap for being unfriendly but places like EO proves how wrong that reputation is. These guys have a great bar and I plan to head back soon so I can try the food out too. read more

Employees Only - Old Fashioned! - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Went back to this spot after 11 years and it still lived up to the hype! Enter through a speakeasy-style fortune teller's storefront to instantly be transported into an intimate, art deco bar and restaurant that feels timeless and trendy in the best way. For our meal, we started with the Reuben croquettes, which uses pastrami from Katz Deli. Crispy, rich, perfectly seasoned, and honestly one of those appetizers you think about long after the table is cleared. The arugula salad with shaved fennel, hazelnuts, and lemon vinaigrette was bright and refreshing and a perfect counterbalance to what followed. The ribeye with fleur de sel was absolutely to die for. Perfectly cooked, deeply flavorful, and simple in a way that lets the quality of the meat shine. For dessert, the mascarpone cheesecake is a must, and their famous espresso martini absolutely lives up to the hype. End on that note. Trust me. Huge shoutout to Jasmine, one of the most attentive and warm servers I've encountered. She elevated the entire experience and made the night truly unforgettable. read more

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Absolutely loved this bar. The line to get in wasn't too long maybe it took 30 minutes to get in on a Friday night. It's lively inside but I loved the music and I can still have a conversation although you do have to talk pretty loudly. The cherry on top drink was so so good. Absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend. I don't usually go for mezcal drinks but that one was incredible. The espresso martini was good not amazing. Service was pretty good considering how crazy it is in there. A going out and young vibe that was such a good time. Would highly recommend! read more

Employees Only - New American Near Me - New York, New York

This place is hard to get into. Finally made it. It's very patty like happening at the bar area. Atmosphere and vibe is def of hang out spot with friends and drinking. Nice younger crowd. I had to eat. So. We bypassed the line and luckily got a sit for dinner. Service was great. Food i absolutely loved Had burger. Was fantastic fries reminded me of McDonald's kind. I had beef tartar. Mild spicy. Was amazing. Will return read more

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We came by for drinks after dinner as walk-ins on a weeknight. The bouncer checked our ID's and told us that only standing room is available. Once inside the dark room with ambiant lighting, it was quite cramped with the crowd even on a Wednesday. Since the bar was full, it took awhile to find a gap to order drinks with a bartender. When I did, the bartenders were generous and friendly though. I had the Almost Normal ($20) while my friend had the Isabella ($20). The drinks are unique with cocktails you don't see everyday. Eventually, we were able to grab a seat at the bar to finish our drink. The bartender brought us both a glass water without our request, which was much appreciated. Aside from the crowd I experienced on my visit, it's a cool bar with good service and nice cocktails. It was definitely loud, so can be tough to make conversation. If you're able to make reservations, it'd probably be a better experience though. read more

Employees Only - Almost Normal. - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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The place looks very cool. Drinks were very tasty, I had the Amelia and the Isabella. Both were fresh/sweet. The food definitely left more to be desired specially given how hyped this restaurant is. We shared the steak tartare (probably the best dish we had), the ricotta gnocchi, burrata and kale salad, cavatelli, and the truffle grilled cheese. The steak tartare was solid as was the burrata and kale salad and the cavatelli. The truffle grilled cheese barely had any truffle on it and it was almost dry. It lacked truffle and cheese. We also added the truffle fries. Overall drinks were great, food is definitely over hyped. read more

I had the most horrible encounter with the manager and a waitress last night, it ruined our experience.We sat down and ordered two old fashioned and sparkling water for my fiend who wasnt drinking. We ordered croquettes, lamb chops, the burrata and tuna. We proceeded to order a second round of drinks, cant remember the name but something with Makers Mark they had on the menu (one for me and another for my friend) but my friend didnt like it, and because of the language barrier he asked me to order him something neat. So I ordered him a Macallan 18. HE had his macallan, and I proceeded to finish the drink he didnt like. We ordered another round of Macallan to end the night (one for him and another for me) and asked for the bill. When we received the bill, I noticed they charged us an extra Macallan so I politely called over the waitress and let her know there was an extra Macallan that we did not order (keep in mind each drink was $168.00) to which she rudely said that we DID have those 4 macallans. I go back to recount the drinks we had and the order so she could see im not making anything up and she goes yes you did and im going to bring my manager. The manager comes and immediately gives me attitude, he goes: "sweetie you have to pay the bill". I tell him again I had no issue paying the bill, and tell him theres one drink in there that we did not have. He starts saying yes you did have it, its on your bill we wouldnt charge it if you didnt have it. I tell him there must be a mistake beause i certainly didnt. I say: You can go ahead and check the cameras, "THE MANAGER" said: "I wont check anything, look at you embarrassing your friends, theyre quiet not saying anything because of you." So i told him theyre not saying anything because they dont speak English! So he then proceeded to tell me that I needed to pay for the bill and HE WAS LITERALLY TRYNG TO SNATCH THE CC OFF MY HANDS. I refused to give it to him so at this time my friends are saying he is not supposed to be trying to DO THIS! THIS MAN (about 5'7, dark skin) then tells me he was going to call the cops and I told him to go right ahead. At this point is not about the $168.00 for that one drink, but the principle, the attitude, the rudeness I was coming across for simply saying I did not consume this said drink. After about 10 minutes waiting (because I stayed right where I was seated waiting for this problem to be solved, I couldve very well left and not pay) some random patron comes over to my table to ask if he could take care of the bill as if that was the real issue. So we declined and decided to go find the manager to speak to this man again. When i find him, while i was standing in front of him trying to explain the situation again, he is ignoring me and looking to the ceiling so i touched his arm to tell him can you at least look at me so we can talk this through, and their giant bouncer (that was so nice to me when we arrived) started yelling at me "DO NOT TOUCH HIM, DONT PUT YOUR HANDS ON HIM" as if I was trying to hurt him. So, the cops come, I tell the cops everything that happened and the cop tells me that they called and said I didnt want to pay, so once I cleared AGAIN is not that I didnt want to pay, but that they were charging me for something I did not have, he goes to tell the manager the same thing but the manager refused to cooperate. I told the cop to please check the cameras at the bar and my table so he can see I did not have this and the cop told me that they would have to arrest me while the matter was being resolved which to me was unbelieveable to say the least, I was so bent on the injustice and the mistreatment that I was willing to get arrested over it just to prove my point and then sue them. At the end, the cop agreed this situation shouldnt have escalated and to just "pay the bill" so we could put it all behind. We obviously at that point ended up paying it, leaving this place not only embarrassed, but dissapointed in the way the staff treated us for no reason whatsoever, for something that could have been easily solved. read more

This place was recommended to me, so i booked for dinner with a co-worker. We came at 6:30 - it was empty. A bit too dark - more ligh ing would make the place friendlier. We ordered house prosecco. IT was good. My friend ordered trout. She liked it. My chicken was unappetizing: multiple chicken pieces cut up, finger potatoes not smashed, parsnip sauce looked like a strange mass. Very disappointing - tasteless. It looked like random pieces of chicken from multiple sources. Expensive at that. Food doesn't appear to be their strength. Maybe pass on it. Go for drinks. read more

(Overall: D) - Employees Only is a top rated bar in the world in which I was eager to try; unfortunately, I felt that the vibes fell quite below expectation. Specifically, while a standing only bar is fine, there was so many people in that area that it was difficult to manuever, even for the staff. Paired with an actual fireplace that requires frequent refills in timber, this lowkey may be a fire hazard. For such a prestigious bar, I was frankly surprised by the reception of the staff as I felt it ranged from coldly dismissive to indifferent at best, which is a shame because vibes are even moreso important at a bar. As for the drinks, I tried the Flying Solo, which was quite pleasantly banana forward, giving strong notes of the tart banana aftertaste of a slightly underripe banana. If the ambience, vibe, and staff matched the quality of their drinks, this bar would be a home run Food: +1 Presentation: E Price: E Atmosphere: -2 Service: -1 Menu: +1 Overall: 2 stars Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

Employees Only - Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats - New American Near Me - New York, New York

I liked the charcuterie board which had a good amount of meat and pate. The Fraise sauvage cocktail was strawberry and good too. The truffled grilled cheese was good and truffle-y with lots of fries. We didn't have a reservation so we were seated at tables across from the bar. I wouldn't recommend sitting there because you eat your meal while facing everyone's behinds as they stand around with their drinks. read more

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Nice bar and very friendly workers. We didn't have a reservation, but the bouncer still kindly let us in and the host was able to squeeze us at a table. Our server was super nice and gave really good recs. I wanted a sweet and fruity drink and she recommended the Yuzita and Fraise Sauvage which were both perfect. read more

Employees Only - Fraise Sauvage - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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It seems hard to get a reservation here but I kept stalking their Resy until a time opened up that worked for my friend and I. Super packed on a Thursday evening. The space is pretty small, but love the vibe. Dimly lit and pretty. There's bar seating and minimal tables open for dinner. If you want to reserve a table, you must purchase food. The website said you can't have a table and just order appetizers and drinks. Not sure how strictly that is enforced. The table next to us ordered one hamburger for 3 people. Tables are really packed close together. Initially they wanted to seat us in a table crammed less than an inch from the next one on both ends. We asked if we could have a table off in the corner that was less claustrophobic. They obliged with the corner table but then we had to move after about a half hour or so. During the middle of our meal, they asked us to move, as there's a hidden door behind the back of the room apparently and they needed to get things out of that back area. They moved us to a table at the end of the row which wasn't so bad as there wasn't anyone crammed next to us on one side. They comped us two small cocktails for the hassle. Service was nice and checked on us frequently. They were happy to suggest drinks and food. I had the Ginger Smash and my friend had a Paper Plane. The drink they comped us was After Midnight which was interesting as it tasted slightly of coffee. We split a cheese board, beet salad and a small tortelloni. They shave the black truffle on the tortelloni on the table in front of you. All of the food was good. Portions are small though so if you're ravenous, I recommend eating a full meal before coming here. They do have a coat check available if needed. The noise level in the space was pretty loud, but I didn't have trouble hearing my friend talk in front of me. We sat in the back room which is where a bulk of the tables are. They have a sun roof in that space which is nice. There's a few tiny tables across from the bar but the bar area gets so packed that you'll wind up sitting there staring at peoples legs the whole time. I would not accept a table there. The place was very crowded even early in the night. Walking out meant weaving through people and occasionally bumping into them, but it comes with the territory. They had a tarot card reader at the front entrance but we did not visit her. There's a bouncer in the front and I noticed when we left around 10pm, a line had started to build up quite a bit outside. Highly recommend a reservation here if you want to sit. I'd come back. The drinks were very good and inventive. I wouldn't say this place is in my top 5 speakeasies but maybe top 10. read more

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Super cozy speakeasy bar in west village! We went around 6pm on a Thursday and it was still pretty crowded. Cocktails were pretty good-- I got an espresso martini, which was good but definitely on the stronger side. read more

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Vibe 10/10 this speakeasy bar was the place to be at night. The food was delicious, our steak was perfectly cooked. Our drinks were fun to try new interesting drinks instead of traditional cocktails. We had such a great time. Make sure to have a reservation because it's a super tiny location read more

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Absolutely gorgeous bar with some tiny seating inside. They also allow standing so it makes a pretty lively atmosphere. The drinks were pretty good and the bartenders are really efficient. read more

Employees Only - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Came here with my boyfriend as we were visiting NYC. we came in with a reservation and had dinner and drinks. The food was good, and the drinks amazing. This is a great place for a date or to hang out with friends. The light is dark and the music is good, that night they played many 2000s songs and it was great. The bartenders would sometimes have lights, bubbled etc to vibe with the crowd. Definitely worth a try! read more

Employees Only - Isabelle and Yankee Notions - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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I was fooled into thinking this would be a good place to go because it was on the world's best top bar list. I'm 100% positive they paid this website to put them on there. There is nothing special about this bar. The drinks were just average. It's so packed that I had people shoving into me the whole time that I only got about 1/2 of my cocktail because the rest spilled on the floor. read more

Toooo packed couldn't even walk to exit without having drinks spilled on you. Also our waiter was a sweetheart but not sure who the other one was if she was a hostess,busser or manager but she was very rude I stood up to leave but like I said it was overly crowded she was impatient and said if your not leaving I need you to sit down so I can get by. Don't waste your time! Other cutie speakeasy's around with better staff. read more

Employees Only - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent atmosphere! Food is amazing. Great for date night or out with friends for drinks. Cant go wrong.

Came here on a Friday evening to grab a drink with a friend. Did not expect this place to have crowd control as we ended up waiting about 15 minutes before the bouncer let us in. For a speakeasy bar, it didn't really feel that way, but the interior design is really nice and their stock of liquor is quite impressive. As this place is crowded and busy, everyone crowds around the bar. It's a bit of a pain as you'll have to order over people's shoulder that were lucky enough to grab a bar seat. We both ordered the After Midnight ($19). If you like Espresso Martinis, you should try this as it's essentially the same thing, but with a different flavor profile. read more

All right, you have to go to this speakeasy. It was so cool. The vibes in there and the people were just great. And let me tell you do they know how to make an amazing old fashion. We came here after going to a comedy show and showed up here like at 1:00 AM. We had no reservation but The person at the door said it was fine and allowed us to go in. There is no seating at first, but we did want something to eat so they sat us in the little dining area in the back and we had ordered a couple of appetizers to share. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo but I will say the french fries were delicious and the little croquettes were bomb. Definitely go if you are in New York and enjoy your night there we ended up going home like at 3:00 AM and just had an amazing time there. read more

Stumbled upon this awesome spot as we casually parked right in front of it with a line out the door on a Thursday night. We just wanted some pizza from around the corner and this place caught our eye. Reese was so inviting and hospitable. We told him we'd be back after dinner for some drinks and so we did! He kindly got us in and we were transported to another world. This is exactly what I love about NYC, you just don't know until you know. This place isn't for the cocktail snobs. You're going to order a cocktail, pay NYC prices for it, you're going to shut up, sip it and enjoy the experience. I ordered besos calientes but with mezcal and it of course hit different. The energetic mixologists are the stars of the show. They're excited, they set the tone and they make your experience for sure be an enjoyable one. The small room is pretty packed, but it's fun just to swing by for a drink. The dark and cozy atmosphere with the elegant quirk is a place that doesn't really make you want to leave. It's technically a speakeasy but everyone knows about it? Either way, great spot for drinks and a good time. read more

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Hands down the best lowkey but still lively cocktail bar. This has been my go to for years because of the incredible drinks, great music and delicious food! Pro tip! Get there on the earlier side to get a seat at the bar! read more

Amazing cocktail bar! The drinks are always delicious and expertly crafted. Had the EO martini which was delicious. West side was also a nice refreshing cocktail. Happened to get seats at the bar, didn't stay for food. Always gets crowded and there's a reason, everything is phenomenal. The staff is fantastic and it's a very cool cocktail bar. read more

Employees Only - EO martini West Side - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Employees Only is on my return list! When you walk in be prepared for it to be dimly lit, lively, and full of character. I went on a Friday around 6pm with a group of 3 and we were able to get in right away, though it was standing room only at first. Note that they do ID people so make sure if you are brining people from out of town they bring their ID with them! It wasn't too crowded at that time, and we were eventually able to grab seats at the bar. The cocktail prices are what you'd expect from a well-known craft cocktail spot, not exactly cheap, but fair given the setting and quality. My only real complaint is the limited mocktail menu there is two choices, and they weren't willing to make any of the standard cocktails alcohol-free, which was a bit of a letdown since I was hoping for more flexibility. Most people that go to bars want alcohol, but as someone who is pregnant I still like joining friends and family on outings and enjoying a mocktail. I was very happy with the mocktail I got though! All the staff were friendly and professional, and the ambiance was definitely fun, loud, dark, and energetic. I noticed a few people enjoying food at the bar and in the back at tables, so I'll definitely have to come back and try some of the bites next time. When we left around 8:30, there was already a line forming outside, so I recommend getting there early or coming with a reservation which you can make through Resy if you want a more relaxed experience! read more

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EO is always a good time! Sundays are a must. The lamb-chops wrapped in bacon and the truffle fries are my favorite food items. I haven't had a drink here that I did not like. Shout out to Tie for taking great care of us! read more

Employees Only - After midnight - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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The hype here is totally misleading. They claim to be "Top 15 bars in the world," but honestly, every cocktail we had was poorly balanced and way too sweet to the point that we couldn't finish any of our cocktails. There wasn't even anywhere to stand comfortably with the shoulder to shoulder crowdedness. They can probably cap the capacity to be a little bit lower. read more

Employees Only - Drinks - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing vibes, so fun for a girls night or date night. The vibes are sexy, grown but still fun! There's always a line so come early and stay late ;) read more

Used to be a regular here. I opened my card for 4 of us. I had 4 drinks and was charged for 24 drinks. I was just asking my friends if they had all those drinks and the manager Frank just gets super upset and makes an entire scene for just asking my friend if they had the drinks and goes hysterical. I don't know you can get god complex for managing a bar. But hey this one proves me wrong. If you go there don't check the bill twice and pay. If you don't Frank will humiliate you. read more

Cool spot that I had been wanting to try for a while. So, one Friday evening after an early dinner in the area we wandered over. Thinking there may not be a wait since there was heavy rainfall just a bit earlier. Yet, there was a line. Luckily, we could stand under some cover for a bit. After almost a 30 min wait around 9pm we got in. The space gives a speakeasy vibe with the dim lights and intimate tables near the front by the bar. However, as you venture further in there is a step up and tables for proper dinner seating. They have Lempicka inspired art on the walls adding to the allure of the speakeasy jazz type vibe. The drinks were good. We got the Fraise Sauvage ($19) and Ready Fire Aim ($19). It was a bit cramped with how many people were inside. Many obnoxiously seated at the bar and not considerate of making space for those wanting to order. You will get a mixed crowd of casually dressed to pretentious young gals scantily clad. There were some trying to smooth talk the bouncer for entry as we left. Though he didn't fall for it. lol I'd suggest going a little earlier on a weeknight if you don't want to feel so cramped and have a chill experience there enjoying your drink and the art. read more

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There was a bartender serving free drinks to customers at the end of the bar closest to the door. This made me feel very uncomfortable. The place was bit over crowded as well which made it difficult to move around read more

Employees Only just wasn't it for us. It was way too crowded, and the door staff felt a bit unnecessarily formal -- asking about a reservation even though it didn't seem to matter. They also wouldn't let my boyfriend in because he was wearing Birkenstocks, which felt a little over the top for a packed bar. Overall, not the vibe we were hoping for, and there are plenty of other West Village spots that feel more welcoming. read more

Everything was exceptional. No wonder they've been rated one of the worlds best Cocktail Bar for over 20 years. And the food is so delicious. What a variety. Love the bacon wrapped lamb chops and the huge Ribeye. Oysters and steak tartar tableside. Cheesecake was like nothing I've ever had before. Believe me you'll agree! read more

Great drinks - awesome bar, menu is outstanding- eat outside Great drinks - awesome bar, menu is outstanding- eat outside read more

One of my favorite bar programs in the city (its LA outpost is equally good). I forget its name but had one of the most memorable cocktails I've tried in years, featuring raspberry and cream cheese. It was like sipping a raspberry filled dark chocolate in the best of ways. read more

One of the world top bar (rank 49 - 2023), we make a reservation though Resy for dinner. The dishes size is large for 2 girls, we had 4 drinks and 1 appetizer, 1 entree. Overall, the food is good, it definitely better than a lots of restaurants. Highly recommend the bone marrow pastry shell. It was very impressive. Also have the burger with truffle fries, we choice medium rare for beef but I believe it was medium. However, it still taste good. The only downside for me is the noise level really high, nice to hang out with small group friends. read more

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