Loved the chill atmosphere, awesome drinks, and great service. Ordered the Gin and Hisbiscus Tonic , and the Root beer and Rum (homemade Root Beer) for my friend and I. Chris, the bartender was super cool and gave us some special apple brandy/frenet/?? shots to top off the night. Very creative cocktails, good music and low key. I am going to plan to meet up with friends at Subject more often. In fact, Chris if you read this, expect a bunch of folks next Thursday night. read more

I had my birthday party here back in November and I'm so happy with my choice. I contacted the owner beforehand to reserve the space. He was prompt and professional and greeted me at the door when I showed up. He was upfront about needing to rearrange the tables part way through the night to accommodate a later reservation and even when we stayed past our intended reservation time, he did not put a damper on the party and push us out. All in all, a fantastic experience working with management in a city where there are divas galore. The house cocktails were also deelicious. I had a lemon-y cocktail (actually I had four of them) whose name I no longer remember, unfortunately. Do note: A number of my male friends commented that they couldn't taste the liquor in their drinks (I can't vouch for that because I'm sensitive to these things). I also had a number of friends who don't drink alcohol and for that, Subject came through with some amazing housemade sodas that were a hit. all in all, an ace in the hole. read more

This bar is way too small for the number of people they allow in. It's set up pretty horribly too. I was there for a birthday and luckily we had the area in the back but later in the night it was just TOO packed. I appreciated the semi-cheap Abita. I did NOT appreciate that the bartenders basically lost my card had I not looked down and right on the floor in front of them, there it was! It's safe to say that I was pissed. The bartenders were extremely sorry but come on, keep track of the credit cards. I will NOT be back to this place as it's too small and crowded with not really anything special to offer. And I don't want to chance my card being lost again too.... read more

Had a great time every time that I've gone, The bartender Brian mixed me some interesting concoctions when I didn't know what to order. I will keep coming back! read more

My fav quiet lil' cozy LES bar. Doesn't get too crowded/crazy like other bars in LES. Drinks are good, music is good. It's a block away from where I live, yay! read more

This is a well managed cocktail bar with great energy and a good crowd. There is a guy by the door who helps to get you situated and is on top of the seating - very helpful in a popular spot that can get crowded. The bar is very well staffed so you aren't vying for a bartenders attention and they are a friendly group that seem happy to be there. Good place! read more

A few friends and I stopped in Christmas Eve to begin our traditional trek through some bars and dinner in Manhattan. This was our first stop and felt a good choice was made. Nice, comfortable visit, to get things started. The owner was in house and was a complete joy in sharing some small talk and some great cookies! Could have stayed all night, but the evening invited us to continue on. We'll be back! read more

I love this bar. Amazing cocktails and food. Homemade sodas. Low-key, good music, good people. Relatively new so its never jam packed. Perfectly under the radar in an otherwise cramped LES. read more

Such a cute spot! It has an intimate feel but can accommodate a decent group. The bartenders here are great and make you feel very welcome. They explained they make everything in house. The boozy slushies are small but SO GOOD! Brain freeze worthy! read more

I love this little bar, and Brian is the best bartender! SO thoughtful and attentive, and whips up just the right drinks - drinks that I couldn't even imagine existed! Darn good, too. I had such a great time spending time with him. They also play great music - love the ambiance! read more

Good cocktails and low key atmosphere. A bit overpriced however. Also no beer on tap is a huge negative.

This was such a great place to have a birthday party. I told a friend before that I wanted a bar with cool cocktails that also had something cheap for anyone who didn't want to spend a ton on each drink. And Subject was perfect! The bar owner is incredibly nice and even created a delicious mixed drink for the occasion. Plus they have delicious homemade sodas for the nondrinkers too. The vibe was great -- not too packed, but nicely crowded. We all took over the back half of the bar. I look forward to going back and sampling a few more of their cocktails! And if you're looking for a birthday party spot, this is a great choice. :) read more

Great cocktails and even better staff. This has become one of my favorite bars in the LES. Be sure to try the Chai Old Fashioned, it is awesome. read more

My wife and I had our birthday party at Subject last Saturday and it was fantastic! The venue is great, the bartending was fast and efficient, and the cocktails were delicious. We even had our own signature cocktail created by the bar and all our guests loved it! Matt, the owner, is extremely responsive, flexible, and genuinely cares about his customers. For our beer-loving friends, the selections of craft beers was solid. I very strongly recommend Subject if you're in the neighborhood, or even just in NYC and wanna have a great time. read more

It's a good place to go have some beer and spend time with your friends because they have some really good products !

Great bar and Matt the owner is off the charts nice.He tells me they are getting a pinball machine( star trek) Oct 10th

I finally made it to Subject a few weeks back. Friendly owner, great atmosphere and I dig the vibe. Looking forward to my next visit.

great neighborhood gem and the drinks were amazing. they will host your group of 6 or more and hold the back space. the bartenders were super nice and will order your food for delivery. read more

Awesome bar to grab a drink to kick off the night. Drinks were delicious and the price was as right at $10 per drink from 6-8 pm. I will definitely be back next time I'm in the neighborhood!! read more

Great cocktails and the perfect atmosphere. Very chill and very fun. The bartenders give a hoot and there's enough space to be comfortable. Get escape hatch! read more

I cannot sing enough praise for this bar. I went with a group of about 20 people last night for my birthday and had a wonderful experience. The cocktails are unique (chai old fashioned is a MUST) and has something for every kind of taste. Aside from the cocktails ($10-$15ish) they offer beer and shot specials along with a solid beer selection. The bartender, Patrick, went above and beyond my expectations when I left my cocktail choice in his capable hands. The ambiance is cozy and laid back so you won't have to scream to have a conversation, but D'angelo and Frank Ocean set a great soundtrack to a birthday I'll never forget. read more

I will say that I miss the days when Subject would live-stream Phish shows, but I do love what Brian has turned the place into. Serving upscale cocktails in a friendly neighborhood bar, this is, in all honesty, my favorite bar in the city. Brian who owns the place was a bartender there back in the Phish days. When the owner died, he took it over and turned it around. Man, does he know his business. When bartenders and business owners from the surrounding places start going to a particular place after work, you know that place is going to be good. The cocktails are on point. The atmosphere is great. And everyone who tends bar comes from a long background of cocktail wizardry. You can find Brian most nights working the door and greeting people as they come in, which I think says a lot about him and how much he cares about the experience you get when you come in for a drink. read more

Really like this place, very cute, was quiet on a Wednesday night, drinks are good and they have a happy hour special that includes cocktails. read more

I hit them up on a Tuesday trying to bring 12+ people there on a Wednesday for a birthday hang. They responded super quick, put up some reserved seating signs for us, and even provided some yummy cupcakes! One of the bartenders on duty, Katie, was super awesome and she can make a damn drink! Everyone (including the Birthday Boy) had a blast and while they do have some snacks, outside food is acceptable here. Such a great spot. read more

I was looking to have an intimate birthday celebration in the LES and found this highly rated bar with yelp reviews. It sounded like the perfect place - neighborhood kind of place (I don't live here but I always have an affinity for local spots), interesting craft cocktails (Chai Old-Fashioned? sold), and a non-pretentious, low key, divey atmosphere (I like to sit when I am drinking and I do not like being surrounded by loud idiots whilst doing so). I can only hope my friends forgive me for starting our night in such a terrible place. First of all, right when you walk in you can tell that something's off. For example, why was it so hot in such a sparsely populated bar? Why did the guy checking IDs give me the creeps? Why did everyone give off such an aura of self-satisfaction? Maybe this was my fault, considering a "neighborhood" bar will invariably bring in people from the neighborhood, and I definitely do not fit the archetype of the LES. But still, you'd think at least some of the reviews would reflect that this place feels like a stuffy sweat-box of hipster garbage. Second of all, the lovingly hand-crafted, in-house ingrediented, inventive and unique cocktails that we tried all sucked. I can appreciate a great cocktail. I can appreciate a good cocktail. I can definitely appreciate a STRONG cocktail. I cannot appreciate something poured into a glass that apparently no one has ever tasted before. Maybe it was an off night, maybe the bartender was new, maybe there were some other excuses we could list. But a cocktail bar should do this one thing right, if nothing else. They didn't. It wasn't even close. The hand-picked ice was a nice touch though, and one of my friends actually resorted to sucking on his fancy ice cube rather than finishing his drink. The drinks that three of us tried were the Wealthy and Wise, the Chai Old Fashioned, and the Not the Mermaid. We all tasted eachother's to confirm how bad they were. Confirmed. My two less adventurous friends saw our reactions and opted for 6 dollar blue moons in a can, and were the smartest of the bunch. My friend as we left: "Thank god you didn't actually like this place, because I was seriously beginning to think that I couldn't hang out with you anymore." Couldn't agree with her more. read more

Love this place. I've been coming since last summer for the Phish webcasts and have been a regular ever since. The drinks are incredible - I love the Chai Old Fashioned. Last night I tried the new food menu and it did not disappoint! My boyfriend and I tried the fluke, pork belly, and the asparagus sandwich. Everything was on point and the service was impeccable (as always). I highly recommend this spot as a chill place to eat and drink, and if you're a Phish fan the Monday night webcast series is a blast! I'm definitely looking forward to catching a few live webcasts this summer - there is always a crowd of cool people looking to connect with other fans. read more

I haven't been here in a few months but Subject is by far my favorite bar on the LES. In a neighborhood that can become filled with the bridge and tunnel crowd and a bunch of obnoxious sorts, it's a down to earth and unpretentious haven. There is a bartender named Chris who is absolutely fantastic, lovely and makes the some stellar drinks. I always find their service to be incredibly accommodating and the crowd is always a good mix of locals. I've had a lot of good nights here. I would have to agree that the grilled cheese is the best bet if you actually want to eat something with your drinks (which are decidedly POTENT). Love the atmoshpere too, it's everything I want in a bar and actually makes me more inclined to hang in the neighborhood. I was a little hesitant to review this place because I don't want to let the cat out of the bag but every time I go here it represents what a good NYC bar should be. Great drinks, great service. Try anything with Hibiscus in it. read more

First time checking this place out , yet I've lived a few blocks away for years. Only had wine but would certainly go back, the bartenders were absolutely delightful. read more

Had a few drinks with friends. I don't say this lightly, but Blake is the greatest bartender of all time. Treated us with more courtesy than one could expect. Very patient and had a spectacular knack of knowing what would be the best drinks. read more

Stopped by here and had an "Accidental Tourist" off the happy hour menu...one of the best drinks I've ever had and decent price! Will definitely come back to try the rest of the cocktails and Ivan Ramen nibbles read more

I'd parked citibikes down the block from this welcoming looking place for a year without realizing that what goes on inside is some seriously good cocktail making. Not only that, but the house made ingredients and house takes on well known drinks are both excellent and interesting. Also, the music playing is both good and not too loud. Great place to actually have conversations and enjoy real drinks. read more

love the grilled cheese (esp the berry + sirracha catsup), the chai old fashion was awesome as well, loved that you could really taste the chai seeping through read more

Good cocktails, rarely to corwded, a nice casual spot to stop for a drink in the LES.

This place is so great! I made a reservation for my birthday on a Saturday, they reserved a spot for me in the back and let us bring in a cake, gave us plates, forks, free shots, and cleaned up the rest of the cake, plus changed the music at my request and put on old school hip hop even though the bar was packed. The bartender (Mike? Matt? I honestly can't remember but he's amazing) chased down my birthday presents that some jerk had stolen! This place is great - very chill and relaxing and the perfect 29th birthday. read more

Came here for happy hour after an early dinner. The drinks were great (Chai Old Fashion) and bartenders friendly. There was a question about the bill for whether it was happy hour pricing and the owner fixed it without a second thought. Very grateful and refreshing to see that kind of customer service. The owner was also there the entire night helping out! Would come back again even without the Happy Hour pricing next time. read more

Walking down East Houston and ducked into this tavern. Warm cozy atmosphere good tunes playing. Stayed for a few drinks cocktails for my wife and beers for me. My wife thought the cocktails were awesome. We had a real nice time and will definitely return for a longer stay next time we are in the city. read more

My friends and I stopped by the bar over the summer. Very relaxed, very chill bar. There wasn't a lot of people but enough to make it a cool scene. The soda machine was a neat thing to see and the cocktail list looked pretty creative. I'm a beer guy myself and I enjoyed the beer that I had that night. The bartenders were pretty friendly and helpful too. If you want to go to a laid back bar where you actually converse with your friends then this is the place for you. Worth checking out.. read more

ask for katie.... simply the best. the most competent bartender in nyc. hands down the best hospitality in nyc.