Focus here seems to be on well made cocktails. Which is delightful unless you are in a line behind a bunch of people. But I liked the place, the staff was great. My only complaint, which is admittedly weird, is that the toilet in the bathroom is placed at a very strange angle that causes anxiety. Even with the door locked I imagined a scenario where someone would rush through and get a full beaver shot. I'm not even saying they need to fix it, just that that's my takeaway from that place over the fancy drinks - "oh yeah, that place with the weirdly positioned toilet". read more

My friend said, "This is like any dive bar, only nicer." We then proceeded to have a discussion about how dive bars look like hipster bars in the Lower East Side just by virtue of being in that neighborhood. Anyhow, this space is rather cavernous looking, with wooden shelf tables lining the wall and a bar but I don't recall any tables in between. They were having a special deal where you'd get a tapas dish with every cocktail order. I think they were testing out some food dishes. They let us sample a grilled asparagus and cheese panini, as well as some braised pork belly. I thought the panini was slightly too difficult to eat given that the asparagus was included in whole stalks. The pork belly tasted good but could be more tender. The drinks were just alright. I got a Wealthy and Wise, which is a bacon and maple syrup flavored old-fashioned. A combination that doesn't fail, although the cocktail lacked smoothness. Despite the average showing of the drinks and victuals here, I think this place has a laid back, easy-going vibe that would make for relaxing times and fun conversation. read more

Subject will be a subject of conversation when friends ask for a great bar in the Lower East Side. What makes it so great? For some reason, you're not subjected to the mindless hoards that come out of the woodworks on a Saturday night. It was primetime bar hours, and after trying many other establishments, Subject was the only bar with room to accommodate my three friends and I (and with CHAIRS mind you). They make their own soda's (yum), and have a nice selection of cocktails and beers. I, of course, had the Chai Old Fashioned. I wasn't disappointed. My second visit also was consistent with the first. I also learned the many different types of shaking techniques (japanese, english, brooklyn, wtf?) In short, Subject... Keep on impressing and I vow to be your loyal subject. read more

Subject! I was very excited to try this place for after dinner drinks on a Sunday night. The drink menu was very interesting , particularly the cocktail list. My wife got the chai old fashioned which was very unique, quite delicious, and potent to boot! I got the white negroni, which didn't have quite enough bitters for my taste. It may have been the drink (and to be fair I didn't ask the bar tender to alter / fix it), but wasn't one of my favorites. It was veryyyyyyyy sleepy on Sunday night , and while the look of the place was awesome, the atmosphere was just kinda of a dead bar. Drinks were $12-14, and all were intriguing looking. Beer selection was pretty good as wel (only a couple drafts) but a wide bottle selection. I would come back, but think a little more lively / different music selection might have mAde it a more enjoyable experience. I went with 4 stars because I didn't feel it was fair to dock them an additional one because I didn't ask to get the negroni fixed ( my wife liked it ok). read more

This might be my new favorite bar. All the cocktails are delicious and creative. Prices are reasonable, especially with 7 day HH, and love not having to elbow my way around to get a drink. Favorite drink is the mercury retrograde- effervescent but creamy mouth feel, lots of herbal notes. We've tried almost all the cocktails on their menu now and there's something for everyone. Only wish the spiced nuts came warm but they were a nice candied snack that wasn't too sweet. Service is great- quick, nice, and not pushy. No problem getting seats pre-dinner Friday and Saturday nights we've been here. Looks like they take reservations too! read more

I encourage you to try the bathroom here. NO BUT RLY U GUYZ. If you're a girl, the joke's definitely on you. In a good way. And what a mixed crowd! Everyone from Old Fashioned-slinging suits to beanie-donned PBR enthusiasts. Surprisingly, everyone got along just fine. They've got everything from $12 cocktails to $6 PBR and shot specials, which may explain this. read more

It was a Friday night. Very crowded at literally every bar we went to visit on the LES, and then, alas, one bar actually had open seating...sort of tucked away from the madness and very chill. Excellent cocktails!!! I got the Subject Rum and Root beer (root beer on tap is delightful) as well as some other Bourbon drink I can't remember, but both were sooooo good :) My friend had the chicken tacos and said they were awesome, so there's also grub if you are in need. Some mid-20 something frat douches started harassing us as it got closer to midnight, but other than that it was a great night stumbling upon this unique bar. read more

Had a birthday party here last night and it was a blast! Matthew, Logan & team were a pleasure to work with and I couldn't have asked for a better night. The drinks are amazing, the staff are so nice and ambience equates to the nicest relaxed bar you've ever been to. John H. says it best: this bar is " a great combination of an unpretentious casual bar and a top-notch cocktail lounge". In a neighborhood that I avoid Fri & Sat, this bar is a great refuge. In addition to cool tunes, great drinks, and good vibes, the owners & staff are so nice and take care of their guests! read more

When to spot on the coldest day of the year for my friend's birthday! THE DRINKS WERE SOOOOOO GOOD! Drinks I Had (in order of preference): - Remember The Alamo (tequila/mezcal with spicy goodness!!) - Smoke Signal (whiskey/mezcal) - Chai Old-Fashion (bourbon/apple liqueur w/ chai) - Monk's Heart (Gin base drink that is very rosy in color and taste) The bar tenders were EXTREMELY FRIENDLY and I do plan on returning for another night of fun! read more

I came here due to the high reviews of the place for drinks to catch up with friends. Subject was in a convenient place off of East Houston and relatively quiet, though things got louder as the night went on. I had a refreshing gin cocktail and a whiskey cocktail, both of which were strong drinks with great mixing of bitters that complemented the taste (rather than overpowering) of the liquor. My main issue is that service is very slow compared to many of the other bars of the same price range (~$40 per person for two drinks). Also, they evidently gave me back the wrong credit card after I had paid! (Though the strong drinks may have impacted my ability to recognize this at the time I paid) read more

Thanks Katie!!!! I love this bar and I'm always in here having a drink but this night was not what I'm used to. There was a group that was being extremely loud (way beyond bar standards), and several people including us were complaining about their volume. We told our bartender that they were being loud and she went over and asked them not to yell and they were very rude and condescending. It's unfortunate that malicious humans still exist and would go out of their way to leave a bad review just because they were asked to act like adults. Not cool!! This place is awesome and I think if you find yourself in the neighborhood you should definitely stop in, you won't be disappointed. Our bartender was the real MVP! read more

This bar is awesome! It's a great combination of an unpretentious casual bar and a top-notch cocktail lounge. The space is great with fun but unobtrusive music and an excellent cocktail list. The bartenders will also make any classics that you request and are very friendly and willing to chat with you. One of the best things about this bar is that it's never too crowded, but it also bums me out because I want these guys to make lots of money. Go to Subject now. read more

This place is great. I went there to check out the awesome cocktails. I liked the vibe so much (very low key towards the beginning of the night and a little more rowdy towards the end) that I decided to have my birthday gathering there. It was the perfect venue for what I wanted and reserving a table was very easy. The owner was there the night of my party and he was super nice. If I lived closer I would definitely make it my local neighborhood bar! read more

Low key bar with great cocktails. The bartender was awesome, he made great suggestions based on what I like and made great drinks. Music was great, and they played these old movies on the screen. I definetly recomend this place. read more

Intimate setting and ambiance. Went on a rainy Wednesday night for a first date and it was relatively quiet which was great for conversation. We didn't get any cocktails but the beers (although a small selection) we had were enjoyable. I'll definitely be back! read more

Cocktails are amazing and very well thought out. The space isn't pretentious, and is just comfortable and nice. They also got beer shot combos which are perfect after a couple cocktails. Bring people here if you actually like hearing your conversation and having damn good drinks read more

This place wouldn't serve me. I had a two week expired license showing I am 31 years old, with multiple credit cards under my name and a work ID. There was proof beyond reasonable doubt that I was over 21 and the person on the license, but the doorman took it upon himself to shut me out. This was also 6:30pm. F this place. Not coming back. Every other bar in the area checked my license and credit cards and served me. read more

I changed up birthday plans really last minute and needed a space for me plus 15 friends on a Friday night. I called them Thursday and they were extremely accommodating and got me a spot for my friends to hang out. They also threw in boozy birthday cupcakes which was a nice touch. The drinks were creative and delicious as well. Great spot for bigger groups! read more

Keeping it sweet an simple, this place has a surprisingly good and creative cocktail menu. Bourbon infused with bacon. Frozen drinks. Just good libations. A little pricey, but I'd come back here for a drink for sure. And oh yeah, they have a pinball machine in the back. Awesome. read more

This place is awesome! Very good craft cocktails ( I had the chronic misbehavior). Very friendly bartender and atmosphere. Recommended for anyone in town or as a regular place to go for good vibes and drinks read more

Awful place. Bartender refused to serve us for no apparent reason. Claimed we were too intoxicated even though we walked in completely sober. No clue what his reasoning was and don't want to speculate but have never been treated that poorly anywhere else. The white person with us was served but bartender refused to serve me and my two Asian American friends... read more

Such a cozy cocktail bar. We were looking for a chill place for HH before dinner. Came on a Friday between 5:30-7 for a friends bday and it was perfect. Really low key, guests could come and go. And the bartenders were so nice and accommodating! Since I told them it was for a bday, they gave us free mini cupcakes that were delish! I'm sold. read more

The Manhattan I ordered was incredibly bitter, and the bar was really dark. While the bartender was nice, this isn't my speed.

Cocktails were innovative and delicious. The staff was super service-oriented and friendly. Great cocktail bar!

One of the hippier pubs in east village.... nice atmosphere, good drinks...., had a Manhattan with peach flavor..... nice take on age old drink read more

Subject - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Brian was amazing!!! So attentive and knowledgable and an all around amazing mixologist!!!! He's great and I highly recommend this bar :) read more

Subject - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Was there for a lecture given by a former professor of mine. Nice and somewhat student-y atmosphere. Great service- I was teetotaling that night, and the bartender mixed up a fantastic ginger mocktail (off the menu) for me. Cozy inside. Would return. read more

Great cocktails, great vibe and amazing service from Matt the owner. Had my birthday party here, was able to reserve space for my group without a problem, LOVED that Matt let me pick a cocktail to be featured on the menu for the night and named after me. Thanks so much! read more

Bryan and team run an unpretentious bar with a great program. I keep coming back here. For the drinks and hospitality.

What a great cocktail bar! I stumbled on this place last year when they had the "bartender special" where you told the bartender what flavors/spices you're interested in and they generated an original concoction for you. Drinks were strong but delicious, and I was hooked but never got a chance to come back until a few Friday's ago. Thankfully, it wasn't obnoxiously crowded for a Friday night (don't get me wrong- it was pleasantly crowded but not packed, which I appreciated). This time, unfortunately, they didn't have the special I mentioned before but their current selection was just as good! Cocktail prices ranged between $14-16 which is quite affordable for Manhattan. Had the thyme drink, which was amazing. Def love its vibe and flavors. Highly recommend if you're in the neighborhood! read more

Wow. Wow. Wow. Where to begin? I guess with Matt, the owner. I was looking at places to hold a casual birthday get together and wanted to check out Subject. I got there early on a Thursday and he was behind the bar. He made me and my boyfriend a couple of great drinks and we talked about me having a bunch of folks in the following Friday. What made this great? 1. No credit card needed 2. No minimum to put down 3. He asked me what I liked in cocktails, made me a custom one, and let me name it. 4. Constant communication - super friendly and fast beforehand. 5. Told me a great pizza place to order in/ When I got there we had the tables reserved, he immediately brought me my cocktail to be sure I liked it (I LOVED IT) and continued to be amazingly nice and attentive for the 5 (yes 5) hours I was there. All the cocktails were great, my friends loved the place, apparently the beer/shot combos were great and reasonably priced. Comfortable, kind service all around. Thanks so much, Subject! Cannot wait to be back soon! read more

Subject is the go to bar. You can crush PBR's one night with the guys, and the next have a cocktail with your date. Bartenders are awesome, music is chill, and it ain't pricey. All walks of life, from the bankers and finance crowd, to the starving artist cohort. Cocktails are delicious and the slushies are a treat on a summer night. read more

I'm confused by this place, but I like it! I think the night we were there, there was a charity event going on which had a Saved by the Bell theme and I think there was a custom menu?! Either way, the music was on point with the theme, the bartenders were nice and it's a super cute place. Didn't try a cocktail but would be curious to in the future. Oh, and the water comes with light up ice cubes! What's not to love? read more

Great cocktails, somewhat slow service. Try the Thyme Lasts Forever cocktail!

Love this bar. Hidden away just off East Houston it's easy to miss. Solid beers and great cocktails and friendly knowledgeable bartenders. A hidden gem indeed. read more

This place was great for post-dinner drinks. Brick walls, real candles throughout the place, and good cocktails and craft beer selection. Quieter than most bars you'd find along Houston near the LES. Plenty of seating. Wish they'd had hooks under tables. read more

My friend Rose chose Subject to be the first stop of her birthday bar hopping extravaganza. I had never been here before this event, so I'm always up for trying some place new.... especially if it's for a good friend's birthday. At first we thought this was a really chill place. Rose especially loved the food, and we all felt that the drinks were pretty average priced for Manhattan and didn't completely break the bank while still tasting great! Subject is a tiny, cozy little place on the corner of E Houseton St. in LES. Although we enjoyed the drinks, and the what seemed at first to be a laid back environment, we absolutely did not enjoy the service. It was past 10 pm on a Friday, and we were the majority of the patrons that night... I believe there were only a handful of other people, while the rest was our little party. 1. It was hard to flag down the bartender. 2. When we did finally get his attention, he didn't split the bill properly... which is okay... but he turned around to the one other patron and started complaining our party and also about how we paid we credit cards. I wasn't aware that if there is no "CASH ONLY" sign that people cannot pay with credit cards... it is what, 2013 right? While we were aware that while a handful of us were on separate tabs already but somehow everyone else's stuff got lumped onto one bill. Maybe it should have been split to begin with? It's not like a majority of the people on the same bill didn't pay by cash. I guess he was just mad that there was a long line at the bathroom and we just wanted to go pee and pay for our bill and move to our next stop. Needless to say, after that episode, none of us will be back. read more

Awesome little bar with delicious cocktails. The staff here is really chill and accommodating. A great place to bring a date.

you know you've been in NY too long when someone from San Diego (San Diago?) shows up and singlehandedly tries to trash a bar's reputation because they make fine cocktails and (gasp!) they serve fresh, hot food when their patrons order it. the Horror! SUBJECT is spot on. An experienced owner/bartender, crafts superb cocktails using expertly curated ingredients and pairs with a delicious snack menu in an unpretentious setting. The grilled cheese sandwich w/ sriracha jam was awesome and the Edwards Ham and pickled tomato panini was totally righteous. Oh, this guy also makes his own soda. I tried the Cola and Root Beer, both herbaceous and unique, and just sweet enough. That Root Beer is one of the best I've had. If you find yourself on this end of Houston St and want a real drink (at a real reasonable price) do give this place a try. oh, and go f**k yourself San Diego. read more

Another great night at Subject on 12/31. It's one of those rare bars in New York that manages to merge the great service + great drinks experience of the fancy cocktail bars (the good ones), with a very chill Lower East side vibe. Love this place, will keep coming back, and highly recommend read more