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    Gardenia Terrace

    3.8 (314 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Gardenia Terrace Photos

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    GARDENIA TERRACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Gardenia Terrace

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    Debbie A.

    Solid spot with great music and drinks. They have my fave drink which is a pornstar martini but their take on it is called "gardenia passion". I would recommend small bites such as the flatbread or chicken wings to have in between smoking the hookah and drinks. Again, the music is awesome and the overall ambiance is a vibe, can't wait to visit again!

    Nikita B.

    Came here for a quick night out while I'm on a work trip. Spent about an hour here and opted to sit outside. Unfortunately the wifi doesn't work outside, but the service was still great! I did get to try their espresso martini it looked very creamy and I thought it might not taste as good but I was surprised with how yummy it tasted. 10/10 recommend!

    Christina H.

    Great ambiance- came on a Friday night with friends and it's the perfect place for hookah, appetizers, and drinks with good music playing. However, the food was okay- nothing to cry about. The chicken wings were dry, but the eggplant dip, meatballs and lamb sliders were great. Keep in mind- drinks are pricey here, but it's Manhattan, what do you expect? Service could definitely improve. My waitress was always missing, and what's annoying is that tip was already included for service that definitely wasn't 20% quality. Also, they basically kicked out our party from our reserved table after we finished paying the bill which I found rude. Anyways, I'll definitely return only for drinks, hookah, and apps- not for meals.

    Lamb Slider
    Reema S.

    I went to Gardenia Terrace on a date recently and had a wonderful time. I had been wanting to check this place out for a while because I had heard they are halal and have great hookah. The hostess was super friendly and accommodating on the phone. It was busy on a Saturday but not packed. This is a beautiful dimly lit restaurant with fire music so definitely come here on a date! We ordered mocktails, hookah and lamb sliders to share. The hookah was made well, very smooth. We went with a flavor our waitress recommended and I loved it. I do wish however that the flavor would come through more. I think they probably pack their bowls lightly or are using a weak flavored tobacco. Lamb sliders were delicious, fries were perfectly crispy and fresh. I do think the bun on the sliders could be slightly less doughy, and I think toasting them more would make this dish texturally better. Other than these small improvements my overall experience was lovely and I recommend you go and try this place out.

    Ellenaj I.

    Went Friday after work with my coworker, we had a good time, but the experience was quite expensive. Drinks, food and hookah were good. As well as the service, I just wish they played more urban music. The atmosphere was pretty nice, in my opinion, it gives the vibe of a coffee shop and lounge. Between the two of us, we spent $276 on fried calamari, 2 lamb sliders, 2 lychee martinis, 2 gardenia passion, 2 vodka shots, and $40 hookah. Oh and they automatically add 20% gratuity to the bill!

    Meatballs and Humuus
    Carla O.

    I am counting down the days to go back already! Seriously best place ever! I came here with my best friend and my sister based on my sister's recommendation since she had been there before and I'm so glad we listened to her. We came for lunch and had to get a hookah (summer fling- get it you won't regret it !) - we added the fresh fruit , wow amazing ! To eat we shared the meatballs , the hummus, the white mushroom flatbread and the octopus salad - when I say everything was incredible I mean it (drooling thinking about this food) . Even my spicy margarita called "picante" was on point. The service was great and the vibe was cool. I am looking forward to coming back and hopefully for the night time which I hear is amazing and fun !

    Chicken shawarma plater
    Amy K.

    I've been coming here since 2020. Unfortunately, I've moved to Cali, so I can't visit as often. However, whenever I'm in NYC, I make sure to stop by at least once. The atmosphere is fantastic, the seating is cozy, and the place has a very modern vibe. The service is excellent--very professional. The hookah is of high quality, and the food is simply amazing. It's a great spot to chill and chat with friends before late-night hours, especially since it gets livelier later on due to the in-house DJ! Just a reminder though, they already include tips in your bill.

    Hookah
    Danielle A.

    I came here after work to meet up with a friend for some drinks and hookah. I got a peach mint hookah and it was great! I ordered three drinks and they all tasted delicious. This is a great little spot to come to during the week after work. It's a very chill and low key atmosphere and it's not too loud, so you can still enjoy a conversation with friends. The service is always great here.

    I recently visited this restaurant and overall had a mixed experience. Food & Drinks: The food was good - tasty, decent portions, maybe a little overpriced but nothing outrageous. The shisha was excellent and definitely the highlight of the night. Atmosphere: The vibes, music, and overall atmosphere were great, and honestly the main reason I'd come back. Service: This is where things really need improvement. Our server rarely checked on the table, so we often had to flag down bussers just to get her attention. I wanted a refill for a long time, and since we were never given water to start with, I ended up sitting there without anything to drink for a while. When we finished eating, no one cleared the plates even though we were still staying for another 40-60 minutes with our drinks and hookah. Sitting with dirty plates in front of us wasn't pleasant, so eventually we bussed the table ourselves. I know servers usually dislike when patrons do that, but we didn't have a choice. To be clear, I'm not trying to be a Karen--every time our server did come over, we were kind, thankful, and appreciative. The Big Issue - Tipping: Let me be absolutely clear: this has nothing to do with tipping culture. I always tip, and I fully intended to leave 20% here. What I cannot stand is being manipulated and deceived. The way this place handles tips is not just shady, it feels borderline fraudulent. They automatically add a 20% gratuity without telling you, hidden in tiny print on the itemized bill that's almost impossible to see in the dark. Then, when they bring the card slip, there's a brand-new tip line with a "tip guide" that calculates percentages on top of the 20% they already took. Nowhere on that slip does it state gratuity has already been included. That means the "suggested tips" are completely bogus and inflated, and in that dim atmosphere, most people would unknowingly double tip. That's not an accident--that's a system designed to trick and exploit customers. It's manipulative, deceitful, and honestly disgusting. Restaurants that pull this stunt aren't being clever, they're being con artists. Bottom Line: Great vibes, good food, amazing shisha - but the service was sloppy, and the tipping system is outright dishonest. I'd only return for the atmosphere, and I'd warn anyone thinking of going: watch your bill closely, because this place is actively trying to scam you.

    Gardenia Passion (~$17)
    Aya E.

    Ordered: Gardenia Passion (~$17): Tanqueray, fresh lime juice, passion fruit pureé, Monin vanilla syrup, topped with Prosecco Social Butterfly (~$19): Empress 1908 Gin, lime juice, simple syrup, aquafaba, peach mist Summer Fling Hookah (~$60): Love 66 (passion fruit, honeydew melon, watermelon, mint), blueberry, lemon and orange base Gardenia Sampler (~$14): baba ganoush, tzatziki, olive tapenade, with warm pita White Mushroom Flatbread (~$16): mozzarella, garlic, wild mushrooms Parmesan Truffle Fries (~$10) Aya's take: Gardenia Terrace has been on my list for a while and I finally got to try it when we were out for a friend's birthday. There aren't many places in the city that offer food, drinks, and hookah so this place is great for celebrations or just a fun night out. Both cocktails I got were beautifully crafted, sweet, fruity, and well-balanced; the Social Butterfly was my favorite of the two. I was pleasantly surprised with the food. Everything was well-made and well-priced! Since we were a large party, getting a bunch of shareables was the way to go. The major disappointment was the hookah. As a Middle Eastern person, I've had my fair share of hookahs and also make it myself usually, the flavors just didn't mesh together well and ~$60 for a hookah is actually insane. I appreciated that they rotated the coals often when we asked, but the flavors weren't potent and barely came through during the 2-3 hours we were there. The other disappointment was the music. They had a DJ who plays a lot of electronic/European-esque music and it was way too loud. Some hip-hop or R&B would've made the vibe a whole lot better. All in all, it was a good time with many hits and some misses. Glad I finally tried it!

    Shay G.

    Came here on our last night in the city. Best hookah we had during our trip by far! Ambiance and music was on point. Music wasn't too loud to hold a conversation like the other places we tried. Hookah came out quick and lasted the entire time we were there. Also tried the grape leaves, which were very good! Definitely try this place out if you're searching for quality hookah with good food, drinks and music.

    Hookah

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    6 months ago

    great atmosphere, service and hookah! highly recommend this lounge. staff is very attentive and warm.

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    Gardenia Terrace Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Gardenia Terrace

    For the hookah, is it $30/person or per hookah?

    Per hookah! + 5 dollars if you want it on a pineapple.

    Do you need reservations ? I tried doing it on open table and on their website and it doesn't let me

    Not really

    Are walk-ins welcome on Saturday night?

    Yes, but more likely you will be standing by the bar.

    Is there any tobacco in hookah?

    Yes

    Is there hookah available during brunch hours?

    Yes

    How is it in on a Thursday night?

    Busy - but, not rowdy

    What kind of music do they play Friday nights?

    It varies from crowds of people that attend, they can play from classical to modern day music.

    Hi Are you serving hookah at 11am?

    Yes - they open at 11 am

    Is all the food halal or is it partially halal?

    Partially Halal.

    What's the age 18+ or 21+?

    21 for hookah & drinks. They sometimes ask for ID.

    Does anyone know if they serve halal meat options?

    Yes

    View All 13 Questions

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    Iron Bar & Lounge

    Iron Bar & Lounge

    3.3
    (623 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    This is a very fun atmosphere for watching games. It kind of feels like a club inside, especially…read morewhen you're sitting in the back. They have a great viewing area. Service is fast and friendly, and the food is pretty good too. My one complaint is that it is extremely loud! My ears actually hurt after watching one of the Knicks games. I wish they would turn the volume down for the music and the broadcast. My friends who were there had to wear earplugs, which I would have used if I had them. For that reason, I'm hesitant to come back, but if that excites you, I think you would love this place.

    Cheap (relatively speaking) booze. I had the Great Gatsby, made with tequila, peach schnapps,…read morepeach puree, agave, and lime juice. It was okay, especially for 16 dollars off Times Square. I was killing time before a show, otherwise you'd never catch me dead in this part of town. It was busy, but service was prompt. They have basics, cosmo, martinis, margarita, aviation, jack and soda, mules, and cheap wine. Food includes salads, Rubens, chicken sandwiches, pizzas (but do you really wanna get your New York style pizza from here?). Lots of shareable apps like quesadillas, wings, shrimp, mozzarella sticks, fries, sliders, nachos. They also have burgers. Again, not fancy, not mind-blowing. But an easy place to step into a chill for a while when you have some time to kill on broadway.

    Photos
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    Bar & restaurant
    Iron Bar & Lounge
    Picture of the outside

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    Picture of the outside
    Death & Co

    Death & Co

    3.9
    (1.7k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$

    I'd heard great things about this place, so I was happy to finally snag a reservation here. Death &…read moreCo give speakeasy vibes, it's extremely low-lit and pretty romantic. Their cocktail menu reads like more of a magazine than a menu, with lots of descriptions on all the cocktails they offer. I went with the "Crowd Work" cocktail, because I love melon and am a sucker for a cocktail with egg whites. It was tasty and well made, came out looking like a work of art. Service here was a bit hard to come by, which was surprising because the bar was half empty. It felt as if they didn't really want us there, and I struggled to be able to order another cocktail (I just went with a dirty martini, which was the right amount of dirty). Death & Co was cool to experience, but I'm not sure I'd come back.

    I love the mixologists at Death & Co. Every cocktail feels like a work of art. Watching them work…read morebehind the bar is almost as enjoyable as drinking the finished product. From the elixirs and aromatics to the bitters and garnishes, there's an incredible level of skill and dedication behind every drink. And the taste? Absolutely amazing. We visited once before but faced a long wait, so I was especially happy that this time we were able to sit at the bar and watch the magic happen. The attention to detail and passion for the craft are evident in every cocktail they create. If you appreciate expertly made cocktails and the artistry behind them, this place is a must-visit.

    Photos
    Achilles Last Stand
    Achilles Last Stand
    Aerial view of the Beyonder
    Aerial view of the Beyonder
    That door handle!

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    That door handle!

    Gardenia Terrace - hookah_bars - Updated July 2026

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