Great cocktails - extremely innovative choices. Lots of use with liquid nitrogen also…read more Loved the pecan nuts. Chips were good with the dip. The Japanese whiskey prices are quite high on the markup but the selection is good.

Date: Thursday, March 5th, 2026 Time: 9:30pm…read moreParty of: 5 Reservation Made Thru: Resy about 1.5 weeks prior Accolades: No.77 North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, No.90 North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 *Middle Ground ($28) *Honeypenny ($22) *Tropicana ($36) *Latte Martini ($29) x2 *Hot Cold Toddy ($12) *Tax ($13.82) My group was on a mission to try as many bars as possible while in NYC. ON our last night, we hit up Shinji's after dinner. We were originally a party of 4, but they let us add ab extra person after we arrived. We sat at a book. I of course had to get the orange drink! it was very fun. And the way they crafted it and made it look like an actual orange was impressive. The vibe is kinda underground tiki but in an unleash the kraken kinda way. Fun in a kitschy kinda way. Good for the novelty of the tropicana. But for me, it's not an everyday kinda bar. Glad I checked this off my list. REVIEW #4022

Date: Thursday, March 5th, 2026 Time: around 5:30pm…read moreParty of: 3 *Green Dino Jump ($25) *Raining in The Woods ($23) *Yawning Abyss ($24) *New York, New York - 10012 ($6.39) We had some time to kill and decided to drop by this bar. It was a rainy random weekday, so we were actually the first patrons here. The space is below ground, so it's one long dark bar. Walking in, you see the bar seating on the right and the table seating on the left. We ended up at a table. I adore matcha so when I saw there were three options, i decided to try the green dino. It combined some of my favs - scotch, egg white, and a macaron. I was afraid this might end up too sweet or even milky, but it wasn't. Great for sipping if you adore matcha like me. The owner / bartender / server was awesome. Talked to us for a bit. Even started us with some complimentary shots. I cannot recall what they were, but I think something along the lines of soju or shochu? It was a nice little amuse into the cocktails. Glad we stumbled upon this bar. I had a great time. REVIEW #4020

Came for some after dinner drinks on a Friday night! The entrance is very unassuming, there's a…read moresmall sign above some stairs that go to a basement. Seems a little creepy at first but inside is very vibey and moody. It's a good place to take a date or catch up with a friend. We arrived around 9pm without a reservation and were able to snag counter seats. All the other seats were reserved. Definitely recommend making a reservation if you can. They start you off with a little cup of hot dashi as a palette cleanser which is a nice touch. The menu is full of creative cocktails. I landed on the Not So Zen which was a gin based cocktail with jasmine tea, lemon, and soda. It was light and refreshing! Had a great time here and would come back.

Seems can't really go wrong with any cocktails. Just pick one with your favorite liquor base…read more Drinks were inventive but not overly so; could still enjoy the liquor and ingredients are recognizable. Not a large downstairs or upstairs but it is a cozy spot like a comfortable living room (i.e., not swanky nor too modern). Should be in a cocktail bars rotation if one cannot be a regular. A reservation is highly suggested though you might be able to walk-in if just a couple people. Even with their popularity and time limit the staff never rushed us and are friendly. * 2026 North America's Best Bars #23 (2025 World's Best Bars #75) ranked by "The World's 50 Best Bars Academy comprising more than 800 drinks experts, including renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists."

We got lucky and snagged reservations at Martiny's and absolutely loved it. The house is beautiful…read moreinside and out, though it's a small space, which probably explains why reservations are so hard to get. The staff was fantastic and did an amazing job walking us through the menu and explaining the flavor profiles of the cocktails. One thing to note: there is a time limit for your reservation and they do enforce it, so just be mindful of that when planning your visit. We tried four cocktails: the Porcini Risotto, Grand Martiny's, Tea Ceremony, and the Olive Oil Vesper. Watching the bartenders work was a gem in itself they're clearly masters of their craft. Every cocktail was unique and very well executed. I definitely recommend ordering a variety to experience different flavors. My personal favorite was the Olive Oil Vesper. The real surprise, though, was the food -- wow. While it's on the pricey side and the portions are small, every single bite was delicious. It's probably not the place for a full dinner unless you're ready to spend quite a bit, but I wouldn't skip on the food. It's perfect to share as a snack alongside the cocktails. Overall, I loved this place -- the vibe, the drinks, the food, everything. I'll definitely be coming back.

11/10 best cocktail bar in the city. Staff are super professional and the drinks are amazing…read more Really dim mood lighting in here. I was worried that there would be a wait, but we got there around 6 and were seated immediately.

Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 Time: around 10:15pm…read moreParty of: 4 Accolades: No.31 North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, No.43 North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 *Autumn Leaves ($27) *Smoke Gets in Your Eyes ($23) *Serenade ($23) *Flirtibird ($25) *'Round Midnight ($25) *Tax ($10.92) I know Angel's Share does not do reservations. My group decided to chance it on a Wed night. We were on vacay after all. We put our names down and the rest of my party went to another bar while I waited inside their lobby. Yes, I was on a mission and did not want to lose my place. While waiting, I noticed people who had put their names in after me were getting seated. I wasn't sure if it was due to my party size or if it was cuz rest of my group wasn't waiting with me. I had warned my friends that if they missed the seating I will go by myself, so I asked the hostess if it was due to my incomplete party. She nodded so I just said since they're at another bar drinking I can just sit at the bar by myself. This was around 45 mins later. Right when I was about to order, the boys arrived and a table had opened up, so we moved to a table. My girlfriend showed up shortly after. I am not exactly sure, but I believe I got the autumn leaves and the round midnight? I do remember thinking the cocktails were fine. I believe I liked my follow up more than the first one. The round midnight had aberfeldy 12 yr, oolong, pineau des charentes, oloroso, blue cheese. I am a blue cheese lover. Especially with liquor. I wish I recalled what was in the autumn leaves. Maybe I'd figure out why it was $27. The mural here is the centerpiece of the space. Very pretty. Vibe is dark with dim lighting. Lots of black, dark wood colors, etc. A speakeasy-ish feel to it. I'm glad I stopped by and checked this bar off my list. I'm honestly not into waiting so I wish they took rezzies. Overall, I'd say this spot is okay. Worth a try. REVIEW #4014

stumbled across this newly opened japanese bar that's right across from tomi jazz!…read morewe ordered the green grape martini, some plum wine, edamame, and sausage. their wine selection was really good, but service can be a bit slow given there's only one bartender. the space is very small and crowded so i recommend going when it's earlier. overall immaculate music and atmosphere.

Came for the drinks, stayed for the vibes. This place popped up on my Instagram and I decided to…read morecheck it out. It's tucked away in a pretty obscure location, I almost missed the entrance lol. The interior is exactly what other Yelpers say it is-- it feels like a small basement turned bar, as someone's little passion project. It's pretty small, and seats maybe only 12 with some standing room. There's only the owner making drinks, so expect to wait if it's a busy night. I came on a Saturday night, and the owner's friend was actually DJ'ing that night, always super cool to watch a DJ spin some vinyls for the night. The drinks are alright, they've got novel ingredients to make some fun craft cocktails. I'd go back if I'm ever in the area!

Probably a 4.2 in my book though rounded up for good ambiance, inventive cocktails, and because…read morefriends were doing a live music set on a Thursday night, prompting my visit. I will say compared to the likes of other speakeasies in the city, their drinks were good 4/5 though could use a little more finessing.* Located on 53rd between Lex and 3rd, it's a street with a compact selection of restaurants and bars, meaning smallish storefronts shoulder to shoulder with each other and residential buildings. From the outside there are no large signs though there is a seasonal menu dimly lit posted at the base of the stairs leading up to the townhouse. At the top of the stairs, hallways branch off to what looks to be apartments, and Wildcard's entrance is unmarked though differentiated by the pink-red glow of their "Life is like a box of chocolates" sign. Inside the remnants of a railroad-style apartment are discernible by the large pass-thru window separating the seating closer to the bar, and a darker, more intimate seating area in what appears to have been a bedroom. Part library, part Victorian salon, it's gives plush yet comfortable while being chill and not too loud to have conversations, so I can see it being suitable for a date night or friend catchup. A Japanese theme threads itself thru the libations here, with both a selection of liquors and liqueurs from the land of the rising sun as well as cocktails drawing inspiration from Asian flavors. As they're mostly a lounge, they provide a little bowl of rice snacks for the table with several options of other finger food to order. Among the drinks we chose, I tried: - YUZU SPARKLE $23 合子の選 Tenjaku Gin, Heiwa Tsuru-Ume Yuzu, fresh lemon juice, tonic water, rosemary. Very yummy (ordered 2!) though perhaps a little generic in its citrusy bubbly temperament. - BONSAI PLUM $23 終麹プラム Ten To One White Rum, UME Plum, fresh lemon juice, pear, The Japanese Bitters Shiso, Yukari Shiso & brown sugar on the rim. This one was an interesting take on plum though I thought a little more sour than I would've liked, maybe because I had the Yuzu Sparkle first. - SWEET OLD DREAMS $22 さき甘き夢 Sato Shiki Single Grain Whisky, banana, Angostura bitters, charred cinnamon. The smell of the burnt spice was lovely, this was pretty much an old fashioned on the less sweet side, I wanted to taste the banana just a tad more though I still enjoyed it. I'd be down to try the Shiro Breeze, Suzume and Sansho Mule next time. The staff was attentive without being fussy, they were a little more lenient with letting us bounce between a few tables since we ended up being a party of 10-12 at various points including our friends performing that joined us towards the end of the evening. *Cocktails run $21-25 so for this price I'm expecting perfection in a glass.

Wildcard Bar is a hidden speakeasy serving up great vibes and creative cocktails. My friends and I…read morehad a great experience here. The atmosphere is fun and the service was excellent. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation and checking it out for yourself.

Definitely one of my new favorite bars in NYC. Incredibly creative cocktails, and much more…read more"vibe-based" than traditional cocktail bars, where there's a list of ingredients. They have a very special type of service staff here, who work with you to find the right drink for you. Was a very unique experience, and I was really happy with the drinks we had. Looking forward to returning!

Bateman's is a cozy bar tucked away off of 2nd Ave. There is bar seating and a handful of small…read moretables. We shared cheese plate (delicious) and I had a Purple Rain spritz, which was refreshing and light. My friend had the pink pony club which is a take on an espresso martini. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, offering suggestions when asked. There's many interesting drink options here and I will definitely come back to try another! Two small bathrooms in the back. The sound level in the bar was average and not too loud.

We grabbed the last-minute reservation for dinner on a weekend. We got in right when they opened…read moreand we led to our seats at the bar. Service was friendly and the gentleman behind the counter checked in occasionally to make sure we were all good and if we needed anything else. We ordered several things including omurice. kimbap, mac n cheese, karage, and a highball and suntory draft to wash it all down. Everything was quite good and the omurice was the highlight. One of the best I've had in a while. I always love suntory so glad they had it on the menu. It's a cute intimate spot perfect for a date or a small group. We were notified that the next reservation was coming so we would have to leave and while that was a little disappointing they did give us 30 minutes heads up (wished they told us at the beginning). All in all, I'd recommend it - 4.5/5 but will round up.

Recommend: Penicillin, Mentaiko Mac & Cheese…read more This place has a nice relaxed vibe. I came by on a Thursday night, the bar was full so I ended up at a table. The server had good drink recs and didn't come by too often. The mac & cheese and the sandos are popular, though I have to come back to try the sandos. Also worth noting that they do not accept parties larger than 4.