Came here for lunch a couple weeks back. Place was absolutely empty for lunch. Ambiance was a little lackluster as a result. For lunch, we were seated upstairs to the right. Because you can't see it from the ground floor, the place looked closed as you walk in. Food was fine. We split a shrimp Caesar and a pan roasted salmon dish. The salmon was better than the Caesar as it came with this flavorful butternut squash puree. Service wasn't great to be honest. They sat us in the corner of an otherwise empty room. We probably had 3 different waiters assisting us. A lot of contact in a short period of time. Interrupted our conversation like 4 times I personally wouldn't go back. Seems there are better midtown options read more

This visit was literally 3 years in the making!! I first attempted to visit in 2022 but was unfortunately postponed, tried again in 2023 and it was closed for a private event, 2024 and it was too early. Now 2025 and we made it in. For those who do not know, during the holiday season there are no reservations. It is first come first serve. There are two lines, 1 for dining and another for standing/bar. The dining of course was wrapped around the corner. The Bar line was only 5 people deep. The restaurant opens at 1230pm, i came up around 12:55. Earlier the better people! Waited about 20 min before we were allowed in. First and foremost, gorgeous, it looks like Christmas threw up inside. Every wall, ceiling, nook and cranny was decorated. We went upstairs and it was a bit cramped so we walked downstairs. We had to standby about 10min for a barstool till we were seated. Menus were brought out promptly. Your basic american food selection. Burgers, salad, pasta, etc. We had just eaten so we ordered cocktails. Delicious. They have an assortment of holiday drinks or just wine or beer. Service was good. Overall no complaints. Just really packed. Try and get here early. Would definitely come back. read more

Back here for pre theatre brunch. I was hoping the holiday decor was up, but not yet *sniffle*. We got there early, and it started to fill up. Service was a bit slow. My smoked Bourbon sat at the bar too long and wasn't smoked. Oh well. Other than that food was great. Pricey, but it's NYC! Go when decor is Up. read more

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The interior of this place is gorgeous--I really loved how it looked! The service was quick, but our waiter was just... meh. The food and drinks were fairly average, nothing special. Cute spot, but probably a one-time visit for me. read more

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Ambiance is 10 out of 10!! Decor for Christmas is 10! Food is probably a 2. Nothing great or special. They ran out of seasonal vegetables. My side salad was just lettuce. No basil on capresse salad. Just ehh. Service was a 3. Understaffed. read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - Caprese salad - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Always a solid spot - used to come here for happy hour, but stopped by for a late lunch. It was quiet so service was quick. Food is always good - had the salmon, it was cooked perfectly! read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - French Near Me - New York, New York

Brought my wife here for a Halloween birthday luncheon, and what an experience! Firstly, the Halloween-themed ambiance was just amazing! Service was just as spectacular: the hostess put us up at a nice table upstairs with the rest of the diners (I made reservations via OpenTable for lunch at the bar section, not realizing it). Our server, Romeo was just as pleasant, professional and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious, as were the drinks (my wife had a mocktail!). Truly, we were so very pleased with the entire experience we plan on making this a regular spot for special occasions! See you there! read more

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The wait was very long. We arrived at noon and waited on line until 1:30--they opened at 1. It was December and they don't offer reservations during the holiday season. The inside was filled from floor to ceiling with beautiful Christmas decor. The space is very tight with very little room between tables. So close that diners at the nextctable started a conversation with us. I had the steak sandwich which was delicious, with a cocktail. read more

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This place earns stars for their Christmas decorations. It is certainly festive. The food is ok, but there are not standouts. It is multilevel with a friendly vibe. The upper floor closes after a certain time. read more

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Found this place by accident after walking around Times Square and Rockefeller Center. Heavily decorated for Christmas, it was warm and festive inside. Got a table quickly and the food and drinks soon followed. The place was packed but service was unaffected. read more

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I came for the holiday décor, and it did not disappoint! The decorations, service, cocktails, and music were everything I needed. Such a perfect way to celebrate my birthday while in NY.Cheers! Until the next time!! read more

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Drinks were good here and the Halloween decor was great! Why 3 stars? The service left a lot to be desired. They were so so sooooo slow with our drinks. I waited close to 30 minutes. The worst part was that we felt completely ignored and then there was an automatic 20% til added to our bill! read more

Food was great! Customer service ok-ish but slow. The table reservation process stole money from me and there's no easy contact to recover it (try calling open table, tells me to call the restaurant, call the restaurant, tells me to email them and has no one at the phone). read more

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Excellent food! Everything I ate here was delicious. The place is very old school and beautiful architecture. This place is known for their seasonal decor however, since Halloween just happened, they weren't quite ready for Christmas. This just means I'll have to come back. Stopped in for a quick lunch. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. There wasn't a huge lunch rush since we arrived a few minutes before noon. We were seated upstairs with an excellent view of the surrounding blocks and buildings near us. The calamari was amazing, for salad I had the Papillon salad and it was tasty, and then I shared french fries with my sister, and they tasted so yummy... But the star of the restaurant in our meal, where the muscles in white garlic wine broth. They were the absolutely bestest, if that is a word, muscles I have ever had. They were even better than ones. I've had in Belgium!! I am definitely going back to have the muscles again. This place was great for a quick lunch. There are many tables and it is cozy and a great place to chat with friends and family. All around a must in New York! ps. I forgot to take pictures of our food... Next time! read more

I visited Papillon in NYC after searching for Christmas-themed bars, and it was such a fun experience. I went for a holiday cocktail and, even with the busy holiday season, I didn't have to wait in line too long. Entry is free, and the space is much bigger than I expected -- there's a standing bar area downstairs and additional bars upstairs, so there's plenty of room to explore. I ordered the mulled wine, which was absolutely delicious. So many warm, cozy flavors packed into one glass. I do wish it had been served a little hotter, but the flavor made up for it. The place was definitely packed, which can feel overwhelming, but I went specifically to get into the Christmas spirit -- and it delivered. The entire restaurant is decked out with lights, ornaments, garland... everywhere you look there's something festive. I caught myself turning my head in every direction just taking it all in. My server was helpful and patient despite the high-energy, high-stress vibe of the crowd. I didn't order any food, but all the cocktails I saw being brought out looked delicious and super festive. If you're in NYC during the holidays, definitely add Papillon to your bucket list! read more

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Why is this place so expensive for lunch time Two salads and a glass of wine for 100 dollars. read more

Alright I knew there was going to be a long wait, but do they have to have it so you literally have to stand online the entire time? Take some tips from horsefeathers in Tarrytown, just as crowded and just as appealing around holidays. You wait on a line then once you give your name and they say how long, you can go stroll around. If you aren't around when your name is called, they go to the next person but you are still on the list so when you do show up you're getting the next available table. Still filling up the restaurant, and instead of making people stand on a line for 2 hours they can go shop and spend money elsewhere! :P seriously NYC I expect you to be on top of these things. Tarrytown shouldn't have a better set up lol. Anyway the wait was worth it, food was amazing which I was surprised about and the decor was absolutely amazing. I did get to stroll around btw, but that's because my amazing husband and son sat on the line for 2 hours for me :P not sure if we'd ever do it again but possibly for Halloween season. I still wish they had a different waiting system. I want to go walk around 5th avenue when I'm in this area lol. read more

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The sandwich was good, but the price wasn't worth it. The service was good, but their signature beer tasted like water. Probably won't be going back. read more

This place looks amazing! It's so festive and amazing photo potential. However the service is completely terrible. Coming in the hostess was cold about the seating. They offer standing at the bar but there was no room at all. As we looked for seating there's was several tables open. So we sat down at an available clean non reserved table. The menu is a QR code, they have Christmas cocktails listed but they're not available. The waiter informed us but took too long to return so we left. Such a shame that this festive bar doesn't have a cheery staff. read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Absolutely stunning Xmas decor , we didn't eat because we were just bar hoping and looking for Xmas decor , they certainly had a beautiful one and the staff is super friendly . read more

If you ever read my reviews, you might be aware that I rarely review anyone lower than 3 stars. But I think the service of this place is terrible. Came here for their Halloween decorations. Their decorations for the holidays is top notch! The first time I came I just got my order and that's it. There was no friendliness, no engagement, just nothing from the servers. I dismissed it though. The second time I came with a friend who wanted to see the decorations. This time around there were parties with private areas for themselves. I had asked an employee who was standing behind the hostess stand what areas I could go to-- and she replied with a dismissive attitude : "There is a hostess standing behind you." Like somehow I was supposed to know that the employee standing behind a hostess stand was not a hostess! And even though she was an employee, she somehow couldn't answer my question of what areas we were allow to be in. She could but didn't wanted to. Moreover, I had no clue there was someone standing behind me. Luckily, this person (the hostess) standing behind me was kind enough to direct me where I needed to go. We sat at the bar, got our orders, but again not great service. And again no friendliness, no engagement, just nothing for the servers. This is just a place where you come for the photo ops. read more

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GORGEOUS Holiday set up and a must for everyone !!! We enjoyed our cocktails in their bar area because you DO NEED RESERVATIONS to get a table, even tho their Instagram page says only walk ins The drinks were delicious and strong, which was kind of perfect for a date night out! In the bar you can always order other stuff like food so if they have seating there, you should stay! Definitely recommended, fast service, delicious cocktails and beautiful place! read more

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We went during Christmas around December 18th. There was available seating at the bar downstairs and it did not disappoint. We ordered classic drinks from the bar and the service was good considering how jam packed the place was with people. It's decorated floor To ceiling with Christmas decor and the vibes are probably everything you're looking for especially to snag that perfect Instagram shot read more

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Reviewing this place i am stuck between a 3 and a 4 (so 3.5 is my real review) The decor for the holidays was amazing and very detailed. Really enjoyed looking at, but not really any spots to take pictures, they should really have some photo op or at least some guiding the staircase. The stairs are the best spot for pictures but it being so busy, it was a mess. The service to have us seated was quick and un like other reviews i did get water refills and my order taken quick. Now my issue which is always a red flag to me is that drinks do not have any prices on the menu(instant 1 star off)... so everyone knows the drinks were ok and cost 17$ each. The food also was pretty good and no complaints there, I went with the steak sandwich and was full of flavor. My issue with everything was also trying to leave, for about 30 mins no one came to our table after all plates were gone. Finally flagged someone down and was able to pay on a mobile machine. read more

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First time here on a whim. The decor alone is beautiful ! It was pretty empty when we went so the service was quick not sure if that may be different on a busy day. The steak and eggs were great it came with arugula salad and some potatoes. The steak was cooked the way i wanted and it was a decent size plus it included a mimosa :). My bf had a steak sandwich and truffle fries which he enjoyed ! I def plan to come back now that I know they have a whiskey speakeasy! Check it out def worth a shot. Ill be back soon read more

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Well decorated for the holidays but they were a bit overwhelmed on a busy Sunday evening. Food was okay - we all had the Pasta Spaghetti which was not bad. The desserts (Apple Crumble Pie and Cheesecake) were a little better as were the drinks (James Dean and Blood & Sand) Service was friendly but stretched thin (I.e. our water glasses were not refilled even once though a couple were empty) Go basically for the holiday decor. read more

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Our 5th year Christmas Bar Crawl!! Beautiful decorations & very friendly bartender! Alex was our bartender. He recommended the best holiday drink...the Bad Santa, if you're a mezcal fan...highly recommend!! read more

Really I'd give it like a 3.5 but since I can't do that. The drinks were fine but nothing special. The Christmas drink menu isn't out yet but the place is decked to the nines for Christmas. The Christmas vibe is definitely what earned the most points with me. Food was not great. We ordered the steak sandwich, steak frites, burger, calamari, truffle fries, and chicken bites so I feel that we got a good feel of the menu. The desserts were better tho. Overall, I would say this place was the tourist stop it advertised itself to be but if you were looking for more than ok drinks and vibes I'd recommend other places in the city read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - Crispy Calamari Truffle Fries lychee martini espresso martini - French Near Me - New York, New York

Very disappointing experience. We had a confirmed reservation for Christmas Eve, which the restaurant acknowledged. At the last minute, they canceled our reservation, explaining that they needed to accommodate a bus tour instead. We were then told to line up as walk-ins on Christmas Eve, which is completely unreasonable--especially after having a confirmed booking. This was meant to be a special family experience. Poor planning and lack of respect for customers who reserved in advance. I would not recommend this restaurant to any one. Stay away if you value your time and plans. read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - French Near Me - New York, New York

Halloween decoration in this place is amazing, both inside and outside! It's such an eye catcher. It's a big bar with 2 floors. Dinner celebration for my friend's birthday took place on the second floor, it was just as packed as first floor but smaller space therefore a little more quiet. Food was good, drinks too. Service was good, waiter was laid back. Will definitely come back in another season just to see how they decorate. read more

My friends and I made a reservation for Saturday, January 4th at 2:30 so we wouldn't have to wait in line in December, when they don't take reservations. We were there at an "off" time, not lunch/brunch or dinner, it was not that busy. By the time we left about 2 hours later, there was a line of people waiting to be seated. Of course the decorations are over the top! We sat in the lower level in an area tucked behind the bar. They have an elevator since it's a 2-floor restaurant. The food was better than we thought. Going in, I expected it to be subpar because you're there more for the decor. My friends loved the crispy chicken sandwich! They kept talking about it on the way home. I had the croque madame (added the egg to the monsieur). I rather enjoyed it. The prices for the food weren't terrible. The only unfortunate thing was that the menu they have posted online is not what's always offered. There were very limited appetizers on the menu. We asked about the bar bites menu which has about 10 items on it. Our waiter said they didn't offer the whole menu and nabbed off 2-3 items that they had at the bar. None of them interested us though. I would definitely be up for going back as an annual holiday gathering! read more

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Service and drinks were ok. Easy location for after work meet ups. Food is mediocre at best. The location and decor are what ppl stop in for. Prices are what to be expected for the area. read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - French Near Me - New York, New York

This place has beautiful Christmas decorations and a lot more space than a lot of the other holiday bars that pop up around NYC during this time of year! read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - Upstairs - French Near Me - New York, New York

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My friends and I went to Papillon to check out the Christmas decor and ended up having the most wonderful meal and experience! They don't take reservations for dinner during Christmas time so we waited about a half hour to 45min outside. If you go directly to the bar you can just walk in but we were hungry. The inside is decorated wall to wall with Christmas! We got a table upstairs and our server Jorge was busy yet so attentive! All three of us got the roasted chicken dinner (mine without sauce, pictured) and Papillon's food definitely exceeded our expectations! The chicken was fresh and cooked perfectly and the garlicky broccoli with it was maybe the best I ever had! Jorge was the best and even made time to sing happy birthday to my friend! Overall it was a great holiday experience, I definitely will be back! read more

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The food that I ate was delicious. Calamari is one of my favorite appetizers at restaurants. The truffle fries have a tasty and crispy flavor. The chicken nuggets were fully cooked and the sauce had a sweet mustard flavor. Inside the restaurant was nicely decorated with lights all over and the outside has a nice scene with the flowers decorated around the top. The service was amazing as well. read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Just like their drinks, this place is FIRE!!! Maria was behind the bar tonight. She is a great bartender and made my night so much fun. One could say, she really "fired" up my night . The atmosphere is so nice. It is a place you can take someone when you are still trying to figure out their taste preferences. They have a variety of wines, beers, cocktails, and old fashioned. The food is also reasonably priced so you won't break the bank. The Tuna Tartare was very good. After a careful analysis between the two old fashioned James Dean (sweet smoke) If you are slowly diving into the realm of old fashioned, this is perfect for you. With a much lighter kick with the same buzz, this is that "sweet emotion" you have been looking for. This drink will be your "TNT" and rock you like AC/DC. This drink comes ON FIRE. Literally! See my attached video to see for yourself. Humphrey Bogart (Smokey) This drink is a living interpretation of the song "Highway To Hell". You know this drink will rock your world with your very first sip. Powerful, full bodied... it's as if the drink can talk. What it said to me was "Here I am, rock you like a hurricane". And that drink rocked my world. I would highly recommend this spot to all my millennials out there. This place is more of a sophisticated drink spot. I will be back. read more

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Came here with family for some drinks. Originally we were on line outside, but then the door man said we could enter if we were there just for the bar. They did a SPECTACULAR job decorating for Christmas - that is why we came here in the first place. The ambiance definitely made you feel like you were in a magical place. My family enjoyed the craft beers, a gin specialty cocktail, and some wine. Service was great, especially with it being so busy. I look forward to going back when it's not so crazy :) read more

Papillion offers a lunch, dinner, and a bar menu, as well as lunch specials on weekdays. We came here to check out their Christmas decorations, and it was nice - they had both floors decorated, and I enjoyed the decorations adorning the staircase. Definitely a popular spot for those want to have photo ops and to take selfies - so much so that the staircase area is usually blocked. I noticed that the place was extremely warm, so the heater was definitely working overdrive, making it a bit uncomfortable. The bar area is first-come, first-serve. +check out their Christmas decorations +extremely warm inside! +first-come, first-serve at the bar read more

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Attending a private holiday party! Very festive atmosphere! Delicious appetizers. Amazing bartender. Highly recommend the Ruby Cosmo! read more

Papillon Bistro & Bar - French Near Me - New York, New York

NYC Holiday Bucket List destination 100%. The decor is so fabulous that you almost feel you are in a decked out, over the top Christmas Tree!!! Be a repares to be patient for table availability. The service was magnifique! We were looked after Nicole A who was spectacular and recommended the most delish cocktail: Summer Please Come Back, which was perfect for a freezing cold day, topped with a candied pineapple ring! Our late lunch consisted of the Crispy Chicken sandwich, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, kids past and tremendous croque monsieur...rounded out by chocolate mousse and cheesecake. Perfect holiday pit stop when on the go go go. read more

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