A couple of hours ago, I stopped at this place as a walk-in after going to dinner with a group at the excellent Northeastern Chinese spot, Jiang's Kitchen. They have a $10 cover on weekdays for walk-ins, which I think is $20 on weekends, and the minimum was one drink per person, which is reasonable enough for a cocktail bar. The minimum goes up with reservations, which is especially the case on weekends and Wednesdays. The front bar/Bar Neat wasn't open, so I went in back. From what I see online, the band playing was Mike Ledonne Grover Trio, which was generally pretty fast jazz with a particularly good pianist, but both the drummer and bassist were excellent also. It did get a bit loud during the last composition in particular, but hey, it's fast-paced jazz. I sat at the bar, and I perused the drink and food menu. In terms of food, it is Japanese-influenced with dishes you'll find in either izakaya or yoshoku/Western-style Japanese spots, which included some interesting spins, such as a scallop menchi-katsu, which I was very tempted by, but I was full. For my cocktail, I went with the $24 Roasted Corn & Hoji Manhattan with Sato Shiki Single Grain, Nixta, Averna, kokuto, and bitters. The drink had some subtle sweetness, bitterness, and roasted flavors primarily, with a hint of nuttiness. While not the biggest drink, it was a delicious sipper, and I would recommend it. I thought of getting another drink, but as I had already spent around $40 including the cover fee, I decided not to. I slightly prefer Musiquarium as a listening experience, but the cocktails were better here. Next time, I'd go here when I could sit in front and skip the cover charge, as I wouldn't mind trying some of their other food, or another drink or two. read more

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As a craft cocktail afficionado, satisfied patron of sister property Martiny's, and jazz fan - I was eager to try Midnight Blue. It did not disappoint. We arrived at 7 PM on a Friday night and were able to be seated inside the jazz club ($20 cover charge). Optionally, we could have stayed in the small area in the front to enjoy cocktails and food. The cocktail menu was super creative. I started off with the "Midnight Blue" martini. It was super clean with citrus notes, and a light blue tint. My wife commenced with the Mango Custard Sour, a very pretty gin cocktail with a thick yogurt-like consistency and mango taste profile. We paired our cocktails with some light bites - the pork gyoza was our favorite - made fresh in-house! Next to more cocktails - the Roasted Corn & Hoji Manhattan (excellent), the Strawberry & Cacao Martini #2 (amazing), and the Wabi-Sabi Sour (sublime). I wish that I could have tried the entire drink menu! All the while, I jazz trio (piano, bass, and drums) provided the musical vibes. The musicians were excellent. Service was warm, attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. The portion sizes of the food and cocktails are moderate. I don't have any issue with this - as Midnight Blue is a space to relax, nibble, sip and enjoy in an elegant atmosphere. Our visit to Midnight Blue completes the Takuma Watanabe Gramercy Park tri-fecta - Martiny's, L'Americana, and Midnight Blue. I love them all. Tip - check-in first at Martiny's (you'll probably get waitlisted), and in the meantime grab a cocktail at L'Americana or Midnight Blue which are all within 2 minutes away. Most likely, seats will become available at Martiny's and you can end your evening there. This strategy has worked twice for us. read more

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We made a reservation and got a nice seat in the middle of the bar. When you make the reservation it says that if you are seated during a performance you have to pay the music cover fee, which is why I deliberately booked between the sets. But we still got charged the cover fee so I guess it's just any time they have performers scheduled. The jazz was good (although I can't say I know much about jazz). Our server was new and we were given the wrong drink at first for my sister, and then later my husband had a drink spilled on him (they made him another one and offered an apology but nothing more than that). We ordered some snacks that were tasty as well, like the edamame and karaage. read more

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The Strawberry Cacao cocktail was one of the best I've had in quite a while! Don't be fooled by the name - it's not a colorful, fruity drink... I liked it more than the Matcha Pina Colada, which was a tad sour for my taste. The jazz band started around 9pm, and really lit the place up. Great relaxing atmosphere - not stuffy. read more

Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Jazz club in the back. The vibes are pretty nice but the cocktails were just okay. The whiskey menu is pretty extensive. read more

Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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What a fun, cozy, little speakeasy! Midnight Blue is a Japanese-themed speakeasy, with live jazz music. Everything about this place is fantastic - from their cozy vibe, expertly-crafted cocktails, and delicious small bites! The house-made Gyoza is the star of the food - we liked it so much we ordered it twice - they offer $2 off your second order, so it made it hard not to. We also enjoyed the Karaage chicken, and the Uni Ikura Ocha-Zuke (Dashi broth with rice). The Ocha-Zuke was comforting bowl of heaven! They have nice selection of cocktails to choose from with Japanese whiskey, and other liquors, but also obliged when I asked if they could do something off-menu - the Clover Club! I enjoyed everything I imbibed here! This is a must in the Manhattan area! What's not to like - food, drinks, and a show! read more

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Upon check in, a bit awkward vibe with the host. Food we ordered was in general horrible. - Gyoza - so saucy, thick layer of sauce on top. Not edible. - kaarage - it was okay. - Eggplant - also so so saucy, like wth? Not edible with that amount of sauce on top. Strawberry Cacao cocktail was exquisite but everything else we tried didn't stand out as much besides super boozy. Waitress was cold and unfriendly throughout the night. For $30 min. a drink, i would stick with Martiny's and L'americana for better experience. read more

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Vibey jazz bar, run by ex-Angel Share manager Takuma Watanabe. We had a reservation for 6:30pm. The band came on from 7-7:45 and were really fun to watch! There's a QR code on the table with an option to tip them as well. I'd highly recommend the floor tables if you can. The bar area is a little cramped. DRINKS -- Strawbery & cacao martini -- this sounded juicy, but in reality was a martini with a strawberry on the rim LOL. It was pretty smooth, and definitely packed a punch. Lemon Custard -- a sour drink with a brulee'd foam on top. The combo of the two truly made it taste like custard! Armoury #2 -- I saw one of the servers walking around with a leather pouch, just like the one in Martiny's. So I HAD to have this, since the Armoury at Martiny's is fantastic. This one is quite different -- super sweet initially, but gets more balanced as the ice melts. 4 drinks ended up being $ read more

Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Funny story I live in NYC but never know this jazz club but a client of my friend from CA suggested us to go to this club. We always look over something too close. This place is amazing. We got a high table so we can see the live music very well. We enjoy drinks and food a lot, vegetables gyoza is good, truffle French fry is my favorite. Midnight Blue, Ricky Seven and Wabi-Sabi Sour are great cocktail drinks. Music here is so stand out and full of energy. read more

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$10 cover, mid $20s drinks, ok-quality drinks, the music is a bit loud, the environment is sterile. It's strange, I'm not sure why but the place feels very awkward. You have to stay silent during performances, there is some chatter in between, and back to silence. The drinks are just ok, the service is pretty slow to get around. I know Takuma Watanabe has done great things for Martiny's but I just don't see it here. This has all the ingredients of being a good jazz bar, but somehow it feels very disjointed. read more

Another kick ass cocktail bar from Takuma Watanabe and his team. With Martiny's and L'Americana a few hundred feet away, I didn't think we could get any more spoiled in the neighborhood with these outstanding cocktail bar options. Midnight Blue offers a small bar / waiting area upon entrance. Behind this area is the main room which consists of a long bar, a section of tables and the stage for the live jazz. You are asked if you prefer bar or table seating (as long as both are available options). We opted for the bar and had a nice view of the stage.The jazz starts around 8:00pm and a $10 per person fee will be added to your bill once the music starts. Right now Midnight Blue is walk-in only which seems to work well. We got there at 7:30pm to snag a spot on a Saturday and we were fine. I am not sure if that will be the case in the future though since we visited on their second open night. Seatings are limited to 90 minutes per reservation once the music starts. I can't comment if this is strictly enforced since we left before we would have theoretically gotten the boot. As for the cocktails, they are all amazing. Between my husband and I, we were able to try four of them and loved them all. The bartenders are also super nice and will help you decide what to order if you need some nudges. I can't wait to come back to keep exploring the menu. We did not try any food but they do offer a few small plates. Overall I would highly recommend Midnight Blue for both the jazz and the cocktails. Even if you aren't super into jazz, you should stop by here for the cocktail program. read more

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a genuine first: food borne illness from an alcoholic beverage!!!! as someone who only got the mango custard sour, you couldn't believe how absolutely sick i got 4-6 hours later. that custard must've been left out. the food poisoning only lasted 24 hours thankfully but would've gotten more stars if i didn't get absolutely wrecked read more

Midnight Blue - mango custard sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Quaint jazz club with an intimate atmosphere. The wait staff were very friendly and optimistic. The drinks were a little pricy and ranged from $21-33, but overall had a great time read more

Didn't expect a jazz bar to also have such good food! The izakaya menu is delicious -- especially the grilled skewers and tuna tartare. Add smooth jazz and great service, and you've got the ideal night out. Can't wait to come back this winter! read more

Midnight Blue - Chicken Karaage and Skewers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This place has such a vibe. Between the live jazz, the smooth Japanese whiskey selection, and the cozy, modern interior, it feels like you've been transported straight to Tokyo. The food was delicious--small plates done perfectly, especially the sashimi and grilled items. You can tell the quality is top-notch. The bartenders are true artists; every cocktail looked and tasted incredible. It's the kind of bar where you lose track of time because the music, lighting, and atmosphere all blend together so well. Perfect for both a chill night solo at the bar or a fun outing with friends. Highly recommend checking it out, especially now after the renovation--it's even better than before! read more

Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Fun little jazz club in the Gramercy Park area! Midnight Blue has three different live jazz set times a night, though I'm not so sure they stick to the set times so strictly. The menu features light bar bites as well as cocktails/wines. There's definitely an emphasis on Japanese ingredients, and to note, the Japanese whiskey selection is fantastic. During jazz sets there's a $10/person cover as well as a $25/person minimum, which I thought was fairly reasonable. Midnight Blue makes for a pretty great and relaxed night out. Reservations are easier to come by than some of its rivals. read more

Excellent jazz bar. Sat at the bar, but would have been much better in the floor tables. They had an excellent performing band for the weekend. $10 cover $25 min/person 2 hour limit Drinks were delicious. Tried the highball and martinis. Highball was reasonably priced $18. Other drinks can be higher end in the $25-30s. Food was delicious as well. Fried chicken and fries were my favorite. Tartar was fresh. Oysters were a bit too sweet and overpowered with additions. They forgot an item in the order but quickly corrected it. If you're looking for a great jazz bar with good drinks, this is your spot! read more

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Unique innovative drinks. Loved the ambiance and jazz set when I went. The music is loud, so don't expect to be able to have a conversation well during it. Just immerse yourself in the music and enjoy your drink. The waiter that helped us was nice and recommended drinks. The staff also dropped the cover charge when they found out we came for a graduation celebration. read more

Midnight Blue - Drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Super cozy ambiance, great for listening to jazz at the tables, or drinks at the gorgeous bar. The tapas style and overall food were super tasty, and service was great even though we were walk ins it was pretty quick to get a table. read more

If you're going to charge $39 for a cocktail, make sure it's truly worth it, Midnight Blue. The Osmanthus cocktail might use Hiniki Harmony, but there's no harmony in that drink. Day and Night is a joke and an insult for $39, plus 22% tips and tax. Charging such high prices for a cocktail poured from a tiny desktop barrel with no explanation is outrageous. The front room is much better than the back. In the front room( no reservations needed), the bartender is knowledgeable and makes decent cocktails. In the back room, the bartender was chatting with his friend and didn't bother to explain anything about the overpriced cocktail ($29+ tip and tax) he spent five seconds pouring from a desktop toy barrel. Don't think we are stupid, Mr. Watanabe. read more

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Lovely music. Great ambiance . Solid cocktail list. Definitely recommend for a relaxed night out

We went on a Friday night around 10:30 and didn't have to wait for seats at the bar. We ordered two cocktails and truffle fries. The fries were a little overcooked but still tasty, the cocktails were both very good. I tried the salty sour lemon cocktail and it was exactly as described and delicious. read more

We planned to come in for a late nightcap and live jazz. Booked for 11pm, I didn't realize that live jazz ended at 10:45 which is no where to be found on Resy or the official website. Emailed to see if we can change the reservation for 10pm, all they said is you can come in at 6pm and they will update the website soon. Confused and annoyed by it, my friend who's celebrating her birthday still wanted to go for their drinks. So we kept the reservation and went at 11pm. Guess what, live jazz 11:30-12:30. We ended up having a good time but it was so confusing and our emotion was kinda roller coaster for the whole live jazz situation. No acknowledge for my friend celebrating her birthday which was stated in the reservation. read more

A new jazz bar open near Flatiron. I've been here several times and fell in love! To enter they changed you $10/head for entrance fee. I believe it's for the jazz band like other jazz places. Nice and well balm crafted cocktails selections. I like that Bartender is very knowledgeable about liquor and recommends you perfectly from your preference. Only one thing was they're not really give you a heads up about the shows of the day. Sometimes, they have an event and shows end earlier than scheduled. So, it's quiet unfair for customers who go in for shows. read more

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$20 cover at midnight is crazy, especially when the kitchen is closed and the main bar in the back is empty. They keep the front bar full of people so it looks like an exclusive spot. Then the hostess stuffs me in between people at the far end of the bar when the other half is wide open. "But then why did you pay the cover?" Great question. Very charming and convincing hostess/salesperson, attentive staff, and the oregano cocktail smells and tastes like oregano. As for the jazz... pretty darn jazzy. read more

Cozy vibes, great live jazz, and seriously good drinks. The cocktails and whiskey selection are top-notch, the izakaya food is delicious, and the service is always friendly. A great spot for dates or low-key hangs. read more

First time last night. I keep an ear to the jazz club scene and had no idea this existed. Very cool spot, not too small, not too big. Was solo and sat at the bar which is a comfortable distance to the stage. Did not eat but drinks were good. George Papageorge and his groove organ trio were fantastic. Also, was impressed by the lady who saw to me at the hostess podium and sat me (Chloe? Zoe? sorry couldn't quite hear her name). She had poise, was professional, friendly and capable. read more

My new go-to bar in NYC! I'd been eager to check it out ever since hearing all the buzz about the grand opening, and it definitely lived up to the hype. I walked in around 7:30pm on a weekday and got seats at the bar just in time before the live jazz started. We ordered a few drinks and small bites and everything was great! Matcha Pina Colada was the standout for me. It was incredibly smooth and perfectly balanced, blending the best aspects of a matcha latte and a pina colada in the most delightful way. The drink menu is extensive, offering something for every palate, with a strong focus on tea and botanicals, which I personally adore. We also tried a variety of dishes like the gyoza, truffle fries, and tuna poke, all of which were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this spot for a date night, a fun evening with friends, or even a solo outing to enjoy some jazz. read more

Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The best new jazz bar in town. The front is a whiskey bar, where I ordered the Potato Head & from there, I already knew I would love this place. I also went on a night that the band played Duke Ellington songs, so automatic 5. In their main room, we ordered some light appetizers and several rounds of cocktails. My favorite was the Mona Lisa martini, one of the best martinis I've ever had. Definitely will be back read more

Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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The drink menu was eclectic and unusual, the music was great. We didn't eat, but the service provided was also excellent.

Wonderful intimate jazz club. $10 music charge & $50 minimum per person. 3 sets a night. The food was good. read more

Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Wonderful music + cozy ambience. The truffle fries were definitely me favorite part of the menu and worked well with the whiskey, which is a bit pricey but worth it read more

The jazz trio Greg Lewis Organ Monk was top shelf as were the elegantly crafted cocktails and Japanese bar bites. Downbeat's Rising star Greg Lewis performed Thelonious Monk classics as well as lesser known works in an energetic and innovative fusion style on a Hammond B3 organ. Great date place or a night out with your besties. Can't wait to return. read more

Centrally located and spacious for a jazz bar. The place seems sort of thrown together, meaning some areas still need a bit of work to look nice. Hwowevr, as a jazz bar it passes well. Drinks are curated by the Martiny's bartenders so they are above average. Interestingly there are some old classics from the Angel's Share menu (if you know you know). read more

music is loud, so hard to talk I got the midnight blue and they only filled up like half the glass so it was basically 3 sips the lychee drink wasn't much better and was also very small also the minimum spend is 25 but the drinks are slightly under 25 so you have to either get two drinks or share food read more

A unique addition to Gramercy! Great ambiance and love the live jazz music program here curated by Vito. The cocktails are beautifully-crafted by Takuma and the plates are delicious! The gyozas are made in-house and fries are a must-get. This place is suitable for dates and spending time with friends and family. There are two bars, Bar Neat (one in the front) and the main bar in the back with music. Highly recommend this place! read more

Visited after work on a weekday and was able to get seated right away. I wanted something light and the waitress recommended the Matcha Pina Colada and a tomato appetizer. Together with the live jazz music it was a nice way to spend an evening to unwind! read more

Midnight Blue - Tomato mozzarella appetizer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm a big jazz fan, and have gone to jazz clubs since the 1970's. I've been several times to the Blue Note, Birdland, Small's, and Dizzy's, and am old enough remember the Village Gate and Fat Tuesday's, even Paul's Mall and the Jazz Workshop in Boston. This place has a jazz vibe, without being a real jazz club. It seems geared toward foreign tourists. The protocol in a jazz club is to not talk during the band's set, but everyone here, including the waitstaff, was chattering away during the show. There's a ten-dollar music charge, as well as a $25 table minimum per person, which is in line with other clubs. The thing is, most of the drinks are $19-24, so a person has to order more, unless you get the one that's $39. Got to admit, the drinks looked great, and the bartender put great care into making each one, but I got a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne because, at $26, it was the best bargain, lol. I had had dinner and dessert before coming, so didn't try any food. Oh, the music! It was a quintet consisting of a trumpeter/singer, guitar, drums, tenor sax, and Hammond organ. They were young and pretty good. The trumpet player was nervous and forgot the words to the classic song "Our Love is Here to Stay," but generally a fine show. read more

My wife and I were treated terribly by the hostess and management. Clearly not service oriented. Overpriced drinks. Loud room. Not a serious jazz venue. read more

Seriously mismanaged. Ended up leaving early. Friendly hostesses, rude bartenders and disappointing drinks. This place looks nice but is completely disorganized. read more