How could I not love a place with the name, Scarlet Lounge? It takes a lot to get me to venture to this part of town and I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a night out on the Upper West Side, but Scarlet has been on my list since I saw owner, Michael Imperioli's announcing the opening on Instagram. I found myself in the area on recent Friday evening and decided to meet up with two friends here. I was smitten at first sight of the beautifully-appointed room, with seductive red drapery and gold accents. All I wanted to do was curl up on one of the velvet chairs and spend my entire evening captivated by imagined past lives of this space... Dorothy Parker holding court here with her Vicious Circle, sipping on Gibsons and martinis. You're going to have a glorious time. We were welcomed by a dashing gentleman at the door who kindly found us seating in the sultry little nook by the piano. Our server never left us wanting for anything and believe me, we wanted it all. Cocktail names are well-priced, especially for Manhattan. I kept to a decent bubbly and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time here. read more

ONE BARTENDER FOR THE ENTIRE BAR -- READ BEFORE YOU GO: I've never felt more gaslit by positive reviews in my life. The people calling this place "amazing" are either Sopranos fans, personally connected to management, or grading on an unbelievably generous curve. I have absolutely nothing to gain from distorting my experience. And judging by reviews like Benny R's below, I'm clearly not the only one saying this: if you go to The Scarlet, expect to wait forever, get ignored, and leave frustrated. And the worst part? It's not even a one-off bad night. I've been to The Scarlet multiple times, and every single visit has been the exact same mess: one bartender trying to run the entire place alone while customers sit around waiting endlessly for service. Last night (May 20), there were around 20-25 people in the bar between the tables and bar seats, and a single bartender was expected to do everything: make drinks, take orders, deliver cocktails to tables, clear space at the bar, all of it. Unsurprisingly, service moved at a glacial pace. My date and I were seated when we arrived and after waiting 30 minutes without anyone coming over, I finally had to walk up to the bar and order my own drink. It was deeply uncomfortable and unprofessional. Management charging $25 per cocktail while refusing to properly staff the place is ridiculous. If you're going to price drinks like a luxury lounge, at least operate like one. MEMO TO MANAGEMENT - stop being cheap and hire another bartender. Your customers are paying enough to deserve basic service. read more

I think I might have just gone here on an off night. This place looks really cute and with a nice ambience, which is why we wanted to go. Ultimately we left before we were served because we literally just sat there. We were seated promptly....then just sat there. No one said anything to us. I had asked some other people around us how long it took them to be served and they said it took a long time. But I also looked around and there were also a lot of people with no drinks or food, so they also looked like they were waiting for something too. It seems to have a variety of seating to small tables, to communal couch areas. I might give this place a chance again if Iam back in the area, since it's highly reviewed and maybe I just came on a bad night. read more

Came on a Friday night on a whim, as my friend and I decided to get drinks after dinner. Stopping in at around 9 pm, we were able to snag two seats by the front windows. The seats were prime for people watching, but had a slightly offputting smell (maybe from the street?) so beware. The cocktails were solid, although slightly pricey. I tried the Groundskeeper which was delicious-- I could really taste the celery bitters. My friend also asked the bartender to make her a riff on a negroni and they made a fun play that we both enjoyed (also using celery bitters). Overall a cute little spot with a loungy feel that I'd go back to, but maybe choose different seats. read more

Had such a great time. Came in on Friday night around 7:30 and was able to snag some seats for the two of us. Drinks were great, super interesting would definitely recommend the Frostbite. Very well decorated, staff were so kind and attentive. I can understand why it's always so packed. Definitely put this place on your to-do list! read more

Scarlet Lounge - Frostbite (tall glass) and Sun of Solomon (coupe) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Charming little cocktail bar with old school drinks on the menu. Had the Song of Solomon, a Pomegranate Madre Espadin Mezcal with Green Chartreuse, Lime, Fire and Orange Bitters, and Edible Shimmer. LOVED IT! Service is great. Can't wait to come back! read more

Cute little cocktail lounge with bar around and spare sit down room. Very cute aesthetic and great place to grab a cocktail with small group or for date night. Enjoyed a leeched and earl great martini. Location is small but service and cocktails were great- really recommend! read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

It was a local find. I was at another bar down the street. When you walk-in you are transformed back to the 1920s era of velvet drapes and great Gatsby style environment and music. There is a center bar with tables behind the velvet drapes. Great for groups of 4 to come and try the drinks. They did have a robust menu from cocktails to beer and wine to food that would fill anyone's appetite. I found the place on Google and would come again. The drinks: Green velvet, matcha margarita very tasty and refreshing Purple haze, classic egg white foam drink that was balanced read more

Scarlet Lounge - Green velvet - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Swanky bar with good drinks. Service was good as well, didn't feel rushed at all. Great place to hang out with friends or even go solo!

Excellent cocktails. We really like Scarlet. The small space, decore and vibe are great. But we had a range of experiences getting in making it a little unreliable as a destination - Early was great with wonderful staff. Next we came an hour before closing to be roughly told they did last call and were done early. A Friday we came at 11pm to a 45 min wait. read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The vibe was so nice in here! Both cocktails we got were delicious, the staff was so nice and we really enjoyed hanging out and chatting. It's not too loud either, though I'd love to come back for the live music and try more drinks. A gem in UWS! read more

Scarlet Lounge - Espresso martini, Mezcal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Well I finally found a new hang spot that's NOT in midtown. I LOVED Scarlett because its inviting, small, has a great staff, great (live) music and interesting drinks. Didn't get to eat there but I saw some leftovers and I'm looking forward to THAT part next time. Dylan, our bartender and waiter was AWESOME!!! Can't wait to go back but next time I'll bring MORE peeps with me. read more

Scarlet Lounge - What a great place to meet and create exciting new friends!!! New York, Denver, Vegas and LA in da house! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place was so cute. I love how small and intimate the space was. I love the all red and the performance was good! I love how they have classic cocktails on the menu. The drinks we got were super good. Service is good too! Love coming here read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Great vibe!! The cozy bar is decked out in nostalgia, down to the music! The two bartenders were very kind and attentive, you could tell plenty of the people in the bar frequent the spot due to the relationships they have with staff -- it made me feel even more welcome! I had one cocktail and tasted my sister's, both were incredibly balanced. Will be back! read more

Scarlet Lounge - two signature cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The Scarlet is a charming little gem in Amsterdam, draped in the opulence of art deco elegance. The bartenders......Oh, they're welcoming, warm, and know their craft. And the cocktails......creative and enjoyable. Cheers! read more

Scarlet Lounge - Wish Upon A Star - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Nice local UWS cocktail bar. Wouldn't call it quite a speakeasy since we were crammed like sardines together on a Friday night. Drinks were creative and tasty. I can't remember the name of my drink but it was light in taste but booze filled for the buzz. Smoked old fashion like drink was also great Server did his best to explain all the drinks despite yelling over everyone. Great addition to the UWS. PS you can also wait at Fred's bar while you wait for your seat read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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The decor in here is absolutely stunning! They are not taking reservations so it's first come first served. We showed up at 5:30pm and sat at the bar. As we left around 8:30pm, it had gotten much more crowded. The lounge is pretty small but there's bar seating and a separate little room for additional lounge seating. There are some other seats around the bar too. They had live music on a Monday night which was a fun surprise. Charlie Roman was the performer that evening. I've seen him before at St Mazie in Williamsburg and he definitely nails the vibe of Scarlet both in his looks and performance. Service at the bar was inattentive to start with. Another patron actually pointed out to one of the servers that my friend and I had been waiting a while with no server coming to us, so shout out to this nice gentleman for doing that. Once we got served initially, we didn't have an issue after that. Though I did have to ask for water. My friend and I both had the Lavender Haze and classic gin and tonic. Both were very good. This is one of the best gin and tonics I've had. It seems like they have a rotating list of seasonal drinks in addition to some classics. We ordered the cheese plate, fries and chocolate cake to share. Cheese plate is pretty small but the bread crisps they serve with it are delicious. Overall, a lovely little cocktail lounge. I'll definitely be back. read more

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It's a nice, cute, intimate space with good cocktails, but there was a line at the door for seats, which helped explain why I was rushed out to leave after I finished my second drink and didn't order another. It was a nice experience, but I don't plan on returning because I don't like feeling rushed. read more

Such a cool spot for a good vibe and live music! I came here with a friend on a sunday night, so we were able to see a piano player live, which was really great and created a nice calm ambience! The place is super tiny, so I definitely recommend getting there early. We were able to snag two seats at the bar by the door, so we weren't facing the music, but since the place is small-you can still hear the music no matter where you sit! The cocktails here are great too! I would come back for the live jazz band on monday! Would be cool to see them add additional nights of live music in the future! read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great new cocktail lounge by Michael Imperioli and Jeremy Wladis. They will not seat you until your whole party is there, but make space for you to wait next door at Fred's (or supposedly outside if there's a longer line). We arrived maybe 20min after they opened and did not have to wait but there were already several parties there. Both of my mezcal cocktails were great (Hell's Kitchen and the Paloma Rosa). Bartenders were friendly but not overbearing. The vibe was definitely 10/10. read more

Special gem on the UWS. The cocktail menu changes seasonally but they always have 1920s classic cocktails. The Art Deco design is stunning. They sometimes have live jazz. The food menu is small but hits the spot with a cocktail or two. read more

Scarlet Lounge - The bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Beautiful lounge the aesthetic really took me back. I'm a big fan of Michael and love some of his personal touches like the Buddha statue . The staff was very friendly very welcoming. This really felt like a top notch. First class lounge the drinks very good amazing I had the espresso martini loved it. I could honestly say one of the best ones I've had in New York City. we visited from Los Angeles and definitely will be back. read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Exactly what the neighborhood needed. A swanky, classy cocktail bar is something we have been missing. This checks off all the boxes. It is very small which has its pros and cons - pro: limited people are allowed inside (they keep people waiting on line outside if it's maxed out). So naturally you don't have anyone hovering over you trying to get a drink or waiting to steal your seat (HUGE plus!!). The noise level is also fantastic since you can't have an over crowded bar. You can actually have a conversation! Con: if you don't get there at the right time you can wait outside to get in. Honestly, the wait is really worth it. The he ambiance is incredible. Something that feels like it should be downtown but it's UWS - it's such a great feel. I sat at the bar (there are couches that people can sit at) - but highly recommend the bar. The bartenders are great. Very personable. Know their cocktails very well. Great advice when asking about the cocktails. 10/10 recommend going to. The cocktails are a bit pricey but typical for a midtown level. read more

Scarlet Lounge - two cocktails on a table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Cool, sophisticated, and chill vibe .. Bartender were some the best. The drinks are custom and the live music is great read more

One of the best bar in the city. Swanky vibe, amazing drinks, and talented bartenders !

Love Scarlet! The UWS needs more cocktail bars like it. It's Michael Imperioli's bar -- and you can tell. From all of the beautiful ornate details, to the drink ware, and the excellent service. The drink menu has something for everyone. They have live music some nights earlier on. Drinks are worth the price and the bartenders are really nice. Great for a date night, or a drink after a show. read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Loving finding places like this. The service was great. Being from Miami I didn't know what to expect.... The vibes were so cool and chill, perfect way to unwind from my day of sightseeing. Grabbed a bit to eat and was so happy I skipped on the street hotdog. Will definitely return when I come visit my cousin again. Samantha helped my group and she was able to tell us about the shows we must watch while in town. Wish I had pics but my phone died..... Next time! read more

Tried the smoked boulevardier. I've never had such a Smokey drink before. I don't know how they managed to put so much smoke in the glass and have it stay there. The flavor of the drink was great and I loved the smoke it was impressive. Service was good and I loved the ambiance and the smell of the bar. read more

Love it! Fantastic cocktails and the bartenders are super nice. Ask for a bartender special they will make you off menu cocktails that are outstanding read more

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A very classic-looking cocktail lounge on the UWS. It's a shame that I came on a Friday night and the live jazz band only plays on Monday nights. Seems like a cute date spot since many people looked like they were on dates when I went. The only thing to mind is that drinks are $20+. I first had the Pisco Pink Panther, which had an initial floral taste from the rose water but then ended very pleasantly sweet. I wanted the espresso martini next and the bartender offered multiple options! I was so excited! I opted for the Matcha Espresso Martini. It reminded me of a matcha espresso latte from a popular cafe I had on a recent trip to Tokyo. The earthy matcha, bitter espresso, and sweet liqueur... what a lovely balance. He also was doing some espresso martini alterations with fruit, which I am very interested in trying when I return next. read more

Scarlet Lounge - Pisco Pink Panther - Pisco, Raspberry, Disarrono Amaretto, Orgeat, Lemon, Rose Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing place cozy and fun the drinks were magnificent made of top quality. The service was great we really enjoyed our evening.

This place has amazing Ambiance and Service! Drinks were delicious too, didn't try the food but it looked good !

This bar is brought to you by Michael ImperioliI. I want to give this place more stars but to me it deserves 3 stars. The vibes were a bit odd, music was a bit loud, this place is smaller than I expected. I know it just opened and some stuff to iron out but there were a few things that just rubbed me the wrong way at first glance. When we got to the bar the door was locked. There was a couple in front of us also confused why the door would be locked. We then decided maybe it was because the bar was full and at capacity. There was a couple who came out and so we went inside and we were told it was a 45 min wait and we can put our names down on waitlist, so we did. Meanwhile, no one said anything about the door being locked or told us why. The guy took my name down but that is all he writes, no phone number to reach us when our table is ready. This bar is connected to Freds Restaurant, like literally connected it has a door as you may see in one of my pics. So, the guy who wrote my name down for waitlist then brought us into Freds, we didn't feel like we really had a choice to go or not. We were sat at a table where service was slow and drink was not that good. I'll spare you my thoughts on Freds as this is a review for scarlet. When we finally got seated at Scarlet, we were sat by the door on a couch with a very small table, which is also in my pictures. We had to share the couch with two other people so it was a bit of a tight squeeze. We both ordered a drink and an app. My friend ordered the The White Lotus drink and I got the strawberry fields one ( Drinks are on the pricy side for what they are) We didn't find our drinks that wonderful. For food I had the mushroom and cheese tart and my friend had the truffle fries. To be honest the food was better than the drinks. The staff here were nice and helpful. Our waitress was in training mode but she still was of help, helping me decide what drink to get. She also wrote down all my food allergies so she took them into consideration. I would come back to try out their French 75 cocktail and the espresso martini. The drink I got was a popular one as we saw it being ordered by the people around us. I would also come to this bar right when it opens so I would hopefully not have to wait. read more

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Came here for a pre dinner drink and wanted to support the hood. Very swanky, NY sexy bar. Keith our bartender was top notch. Explained his many bitters used and was an amazing craftsman. Have patience here as it's new but small so they aren't over crowding. Small bites as well which we didn't try but looked good! Will be back. Beautifully done! read more

Scarlet Lounge - Beautiful interior - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm going to be nice and give Scarlet Lounge four stars despite an inconsistent experience here. Some drinks are medicore, some are serviceable, some are fantastic. The service is slow. The vibes are odd. But Scarlet just opened a week or two ago and I have to give them the benefit of the doubt because I'm sure the kinks will be worked out eventually. There are few good cocktail bars on the Upper West Side so Scarlet's arrival was exciting to many of us who have lived up here for years with a truly barren mixology landscape. Overall, it's a pleasant experience with serviceable drinks, brought to you by the Soprano's own Michael Imperioli (sadly we did not see him there, but I spent plenty of time doing my famous Adriana impression anyway, to the chagrin of everyone around me). We came here at around 10/10:30 on a Saturday night. There were actually two parties waiting outside when we got there, the rarest of occurrences in this neighborhood. Luckily a few parties left soon after we arrived so we got in after about 10-15 minutes. The space itself is a lot smaller than I imagined, though I can't remember what was there prior to Scarlet. We were initially seated at the side counter area but put in a request for bar seats if/when they opened up, and we ultimately were able to move after about 15 minutes. The menu of original/specialty cocktails is mostly made up of shaken/lighter drinks, all around $20. A server didn't help us for quite a while so the host said he could help us with our first round of drinks. However, he couldn't really speak to the flavor profiles or give any meaningful descriptors of the drinks, so he had to go find a server to assist. She gave me a solid description of the Hell's Kitchen (Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Blackberry, Jalapeño, Lime, Blue Agave) and also said that it was her favorite drink on the menu, an endorsement I couldn't ignore. It was honestly just okay, something anyone could easily make at home. My husband got the White Lotus (Clarified Don Q Cristal Rum, Pineapple, Yuzu, Coconut Sugar, Champagne), which to me was barely drinkable. He tends to be someone who sips and savors but he finished this one pretty quickly to get it over with. For our second round, my husband got the Pisco Pink Panther (Pisco, Raspberry, Disaronno Amaretto, Orgeat, Lemon, Rose Water) and I got the Smoked Boulevardier (Barrel Aged Bourbon, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, Coconut Washed Campari, Angostura, Cherry Wood Smoke, Dark Chocolate), the only stirred/spirit-forward drink on the specialty cocktails list. His was very good (bright, fruity, nutty, floral - good combo) and mine was excellent. I knew I wanted it to be my nightcap as soon as I saw it on the menu. Rich and smoky (they smoke the glass to create an immersive experience), and still well-balanced. It reminded me of the Smoke Gets In Your Eyes from the original Angel's Share, one of the first fancy cocktails I ever tried, one that remains a favorite to this day. Good company to keep. read more

The tuna tartare was very good and our server had a great spirit. Solid cocktail and solid night. Glad to finally try this Uws gem! read more

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We went for a date night. It should've been perfect. The red decor, the lucious velvet, it all screams night time cocktails and sexiness, the geometric designs on the furniture and sconces is very art deco feel. There're heavy red velvet curtails to add to the mystique. But the drinks were really not great. The vodka tonic as well as the spicy margarita really missed the mark. The food menu is very limited and was just ok. The shrimp cocktail, while fresh and flavorful, was only 4 shrimps and our server took it away after we each had one. So pretty much half of that dish went uneaten. The tuna tartar was ok, fresh, edible but nothing over the top, nothing i would have to come back for. I want to try it again but the first impression wasn't super great. read more

Awesome vibe and great interior. Great date 3-4 date night spot. You bring your wife to be here ;) Plus the drinks are amazing! Service could use some help but it's a small place so you have to give them some leniency. read more

Ambiance + Cocktails + Live music ++ Service.. terrible The bartenders forget they're at work and their job is to make drinks, it's like you're asking for a kidney. I was there Monday 3/25. Let me say I'm a polite person, I say please and thank you. I ask for water before I left and the male bartender was so condescending and nasty about it. Sorry, I'm thirsty? This was after the love music had ended. The bar was dead. Sorry you're miserable go find a job you love. read more

Scarlet Lounge - Cute drinks, terrible service - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Espresso Martini - 2.5/5 Beautiful presentation. Fresh espresso was not available so flavor was off. Too sweet and syrupy and not enough espresso flavor. Foam was just OK. I would not order this Espresso Martini again. 3 beans. read more