Cannot praise Subject enough! A local spot in my neighborhood that has become a classic go to. Subject offers cocktails that are delicious, unique, and well-made in a very unpretentious space. The staff is friendly and quick with their service, and make you feel at home throughout your stay. I have used Subject for dates, friend hangouts, parents in town, a small group, and of course as a casual local spot, and each time my friends are impressed. Could not recommend this bar more! read more

I honestly can't believe I haven't rated Subject yet, it's my favorite cocktail bar. But... maybe I haven't rated it because I want to keep it to myself for a bit longer? Subject is great! One of my biggest gripes with cocktail bars are they're overpriced, the cocktails aren't that good, are packed to the gills. Ok, ok, so maybe I have several gripes. Subject seems to hit a perfect sweet spot on all things though. They're busy, but never so busy that you won't be comfortable; the cocktails are straightforward, but delicious; the prices aren't low, but they aren't insane. My favorite drink here is the Legal Requirements, formerly known as ****** ** ******. I won't divulge what it used to be called cause I don't want them to get in trouble. Person of Interest and the Pomp and Circumstance are my runners-up. All the cocktails are great, but I usually won't leave until I've had one of each of my fav three. Other things to know about Subject: it's not a huge place. The bar is a typical small bar size, you've got some high-tops and a couple of booths, but you'll want to get there before the rush if you want to sit down. The bathroom is always clean and comfortable, but its' also dark. In the background is a large screen where movies are usually playing. It's not unusual for a violent movie to be playing (think Tarantino) so if you're squeamish, or your date is, then you might want to sit facing away from the back. Subject rises above the usual low-effort cocktail bars to give you the chill experience we're all desiring. Don't tell too many people though ;) read more

Yummy drinks, super friendly service, ambiance is super cute. Came here on a Wednesday and it was pretty packed around 10pm.

This bar has quickly climbed to one of the top spots for me in the area. The vibe is great and I like that it is intimate but can still accommodate a large group. You can also make a reservation, which I really appreciate! The cocktails are top notch and worth the price. Service is great, everyone is super friendly! I highly recommend trying this bar out! 4.9/5 read more

Excellent cocktails, but they took a long time to arrive. They did not start our order until the DoorDash person arrived to pickup the order. This isn't fair to the delivery person. read more

Drinks are really quite good and most of the servers were really nice. I only love gin cocktails with no added juice or sugar and one server knew exactly what I was looking for and made me a delicious gin drink that I had multiple rounds of. I was in town for 3 nights and seeing a bunch of friends and my sis that I hadn't seen for almost 2 years. We made a reservation for around 9:30 pm on a Friday but the place was almost completely empty when we got there. They were initially really accommodating to my larger group and helped us set up tables and chairs but the relationship went a bit sour and they decided we weren't "drinking enough" and needed to leave. Admittedly, some of my group was not drinking as much as I'm sure they'd hoped (although everyone there had an average of two drinks over maybe 2 hours and we bought a round of shots for the group when they told us we weren't drinking enough) and 2-3 in my group of 10 were doing other things that annoyed them (walking down the block and drinking beer they bought from a liquor store?? Why though???) Ultimately I think we just overstayed our welcome so we left shortly after the round of shots. Maybe it's unfair to knock off a star but I'd say it was overall a 4 star experience which is not bad in my book at all. I just didn't love that 23 drinks (literally have the receipt) over less than 2 hours wasn't enough to be allowed to stay. They said the had too many new reservations coming in (there was no time limit to reservations as far as I remember) but it was pretty empty when we left. I would love to go back with a much smaller group and sit at their cute little outdoor cubbies (which were closed that night). I don't recall if there was music or ambience (there was at least one or two TVs) but the drinks were good and shockingly reasonably priced. Overall if you have a reservation and you go with a small enough group I think you'd have a nice, relaxed time. You get to sit (which is gold) and the service is good and the vibe is pretty chill. Good place to stop on your way out to other places but depending on what you're looking for, maybe not where you want to spend your whole night. read more

Came by on a cold night in December with a party of 4 -- we were SO impressed with the cozy outdoor space and the wonderful service. The BEST outdoor seating design we've experienced during COVID! They really put so much thought into the design and construction of the seating area, complete with enough heaters and "windows" that you can slide open or closed (depending on how much ventilation you're needing). Delicious cocktails, fab service, and a cozy spot to hang out safely with your loved ones on a cold winter night?? YES! We will definitely be back :) read more

- awesome cocktails - very cute outdoor space that's actually what drew me in - the bartenders are true craftsmen (and ladies) - I loved the pear apparently its lightest by their standards, but it packed a wallop on me read more

Definitely coming back to this bar! Great service and hospitality. Worth trying everything on the cocktail menu and they have a small food menu as well. Decor is nice for a date or catching up with a friend. read more

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

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Great bar off of Houston Street! My friend and I were looking for an early HH in the neighborhood and Subject met all our expectations. They offer HH EVERYDAY (Weekdays 5-8 PM & 2-4 AM / Weekends 2-8 PM & 2-4 AM), which includes $11 House cocktails, $10 classics, and $9 Daiquiris & Margaritas. It's a really laid back vibe, great for catching up with friends. Bartender's were also super attentive - she checked on us several times to ensure everything was alright. Drinks were definitely on the stronger side but who's complaining?? read more

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It's a small intimate bar that takes you back in time. There was a black and white film being projected onto the wall and it emphasized the old school effect. They have both booths, bar seating and high tops. I was here for a group happy hour and the bartenders were attentive and kind. read more

Subject - Margarita with Pueblo Viejo (female-founded) tequila! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped in for drinks while we waited for a table at a ramen joint around the corner. We had two craft cocktails a piece and they were all very well made, tasty and served with a smile. They were, in no particular order, Winter Is Coming, Accidental Tourist, Hot Not Cray and Society Street. Great neighborhood bar. read more

I really enjoy coming to this bar. The staff is super friendly, the music is always chill, and it's a general good vibes place where you don't feel like other patrons are on top of you. Great cocktails. Projector for movies and shows. We were watching the simpsons the other night :) read more

I listened to a lot of Phish in high school.* It's one of many things that I used to do in high school, that I no longer do. While I may have outgrown Phish, I have friends that haven't outgrown...anything, really. I'm mentioning all this because for a long time, I knew Subject as the Phish bar. They livestreamed shows, played a lot of Phish, and generally loved Phish, and catered to other Phish-lovers that may have dragged me in here a few times. I honestly don't know if they still do any of that, but when I came by the other night, I found that they are definitely not just the Phish bar. This is a just a good cocktail bar with a gratifyingly laid-back vibe. I imagine it'd be great for dates, small gatherings of any kind (free cupcakes if it's your birthday!), and really any time you'd want to drink and relax. Which is all the time, for me. _____________ *No, of course I never did drugs. I don't know why you're asking. read more

This place is an absolute gem on the LES! Their Accidental Tourist is one of the best cocktails we've had since a really long time. It has the perfect blend of whiskies and tastes spectacular! We were seated in a nice little booth and the host (who was also one of the bartenders) created a cocktail that was not listed on the menu based on our preferences. The service, ambience and the drinks were great, would definitely go back! read more

Subject - Accidental Tourist (drink on the right) was special and is a must have! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Loved the ambiance here! Straightforward cocktail bar. It's close to home so my partner and I will definitely be back. The reason I gave it four stars is because we asked if cocktails were considering ordering were sweet (we are not fans of sweet drinks) and were told they were not but when cocktails arrived one was sweet and the other one was really sweet. Not a deal breaker- just will not order same drinks again. Aside from this customer service is great and didn't mind the 20% gratuity added to the bill. read more

We ended up here as part of a cocktail tour we were taking while in town. If I lived in the area, I could definitely see this becoming a regular hangout. The current owners have been there just shy of 2 years and have recently made upgrades, and it looks great! Compared to a lot of spaces, this place feels huge! It has darts, pinball, and books so it has really great vibes and feels like a friendly space to hangout. Couches also make for great conversational space. Leslie, one of the owners, is starting a business (currently taking online orders) for cocktail-infused mini cupcakes, and you should definitely keep an eye out for those! The cocktail menu here is spot on. Our group tried the Hot Not Cray and (I think) the Winter is Coming cocktail. Both were superb! I so wanted to make another trip here before we had to leave town, but we didn't get to. This one goes on my list to visit again on our next trip! read more

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They told me I needed to leave from the bar because someone was waiting. But wait, that's weird... because I was told 1) there's no reservations for bar seats. 2) there was no one waiting, and 3) the person who asked me to leave might be the owner. If you are going to discriminate, don't do it to my face. I paid for and tipped for all of my drinks. Next time I'll know better not to ever return. read more

It's a nice for hop in and hop out bar in the neighborhood and we got the aval cider beer so good will recommend read more

Subject - Aval Cider 6% - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The cocktails are okay, but the sandwich pairing isn't so great during covid. Also a little on the lighter side and lacking . The outdoor dining with heating is cute :) read more

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

I LOVE the vibes here and the drinks are stellar! This is a spicy yet chill spot to take your woman... or manz! It's empty and unseemly at 8:45pm but when 10pm hits, the crowd starts rolling in and it gets litttttt. I loved the flowers in the attic - got 2 of them and the good citizen is tropically but not too much flavor. It feels light and not too alcohol-ly, everything was just right. Winter is coming is apparently their most popular drink and I LOVED it. It had a tinge of ginger flavor that almost reminded you of cinnamon. Feel like it would be perfect for.. yep, winter! The bartenders were very aware of how much water we were drinking and how far along we were with drinks - minor detail, but it made me happy haha. The guy I was with - I DID NOT LIKE AT ALL - but it still doesn't change how I feel about this place so that says a lot. Anyways, will be back soon but with better company hopefully! :) read more

Woohoo to stumbling on this place during happy hour! I never knew this place existed but then again, I'm not as well-versed in the lower east side as I would like to be. This place is relatively quiet, dimly lit with a great rustic vibe. They have happy hour 5-8 everyday. It wasn't clear what was part of the happy hour deal but our cocktails were less than what was stated on the menu, about $11 compared to its usual $14. As a cocktail bar, the bartenders sure know how to make a good cocktail. The drinks were really yummy, mixed well. I got the crazy/hot scale which sure was spicy. Acidic, mellowed out by the spice and agave. I really liked the drink. I also got the On with the Season to try something unique. It had corn in it! I felt like this drink was more subtle than the other but still good. The sake and corn mixed well together I felt, giving it a slightly creamy texture. The sake toned down the brandy and the acid from the lemon helped round out the drink. The service could be slightly slow because the bar tenders are essentially serving everyone but they were super kind and tried to accommodate all the patrons as quick as possible. I would definitely come back here for happy hour. The fact their cocktails are a part of the deal, not just crappy beers and well drinks, is a huge hit for me. read more

Subject has been my neighborhood bar for as long as I can remember, this is a place where locals, business people, beauty industry types and tourists can all come together and feel at home. Brian and his staff make the best mixology drinks around, feel free to let them be creative you will not be disappointed, and if you havent been here in a while you might want to come see where new. read more

Good drinks, nice servers, very nice indoors setting, no more happy hour though. Empty on a Friday afternoon, great for last minute walk ins. read more

Went here with a group of 8 on a Saturday night during COVID Times - establishment had outdoor seating with plexiglass, QR code menus, and mask requirements. Definitely make a reservation. Tried the Margarita and Ghost Memo - the Margarita was definitely the better. Food options (as required by state) are hot dogs or PBJ sandwiches. Great service, would come back. read more

I had my sister's birthday party here last Friday and it was great! Reserving the spot was *shockingly* easy -- especially after dealing with nearby bars that had crazy minimum spends, cake plating charges, time restrictions, etc etc. I just sent a reservation request via the online form and Brian sent an email back being like -- see you soon! It was really that simple. They gave us a lounge-like spot in the back that had low couches, tables. I was nervous about it being a small space (we had about 15 people there) but that was no problem at all--everyone had plenty of space to mingle. The bartenders/hosts were friendly and super accommodating. They offered to keep our cake in their fridge, but I didn't end up needing that (Hot tip for party planners: We got a delicious cake from nearby bakery Sugar Sweet Sunshine which didn't need to be refrigerated). Drinks were nice, but a bit $$$ ($16 for a cocktail) and seemed watered down, but hey, that's NYC. The vibe was really chill and flexible -- classy enough that we didn't feel out of place dressing up and wearing heels, even though most other customers were wearing casual clothes. Walking distance to the DL, Delancey, in case your party people want to dance afterwards. Overall, really loved this place and would highly recommend it to folks looking for nice space to hold a party on the LES, without all the hassle that usually comes with these sorts of things! read more

Subject is a no frills bar with well made cocktails, nice bartenders, and great prices. Also, if you're a Phish fan, they stream live webcasts and project them on one of the walls. I'm not very familiar with the band other than by name, but it kind of felt like being at a concert, or at least at a bar at a concert so that was pretty cool. Despite my not liking sweet drinks, I am a lover of Nutella and of bourbon so I had to try their Nutella bourbon shot. It was not as glorious as I'd imagined it had the potential to be, but it was good and is worth a try. I then got their "Double L" cocktail which consisted of three of my favorite things Rye whiskey, Campari, and Amaro Montenegró. It was great. Come here for a cozy vibe, tasty cocktails without any pretension or hefty price tag and some really nice bartenders. I'll definitely be back. read more

Subject - Nutella Bourbon shot - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Love the atmosphere, vibe and whole overall feel of this place! This place is on the smaller side but not to crowded where you feel cramped. The drinks are out of this world! The bartender really takes their time to make sure the drinks are perfect. There is a good variety of different cocktails and the basics. The cupcakes are bite-size but a great hit of flavor and the perfect snack. They do have other small munches on the menu but not big food items. read more

Ended up here waiting to get into Ivan Ramen. The service is super friendly and unpretentious. Had a great negroni and really enjoyed chilling at the bar. Overall a great neighborhood bar that I would heartily recommend. read more

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

I really wanted to like this place! Which is unusual because my default mood is to hate everything instantly. But I'd been thinking about booking a large group at Subject for a while because the whole vibe seems perfect, and I finally found the right opportunity and jumped on it. I made a reservation for 12 people at 9:30 pm. We made the first mistake - we ran late, and that's our fault. I called Subject at 9:36 to let them know we were on our way, but no one picked up. Most places will hold a reservation for 15 minutes, so we rushed over. We made it there at 9:48, at which point a staffmember (a manager? bouncer?) greeted us outside with a very smug and condescending, "Wow well you guys got here SUPER late, so we HAD to give your tables away." There's nothing wrong with giving the table away, but he seemed to be enjoying this... Alright alright we got some attitude but that's okay you know what we were late, I'm all about personal responsibility! Sure we were just 3 minutes past the hold period and I had tried to call them to let them know we were coming but cool cool it's all good, rudeness might not be a great business strategy but it's a useful coping mechanism for the chronically sad and smug so I get it. He then told us that he had already seated people at our tables, but we could feel free to hover over them and grab the tables if/when they leave. I mean, duh? Now at this point we obviously wanted to figure out if we still wanted to go in as we basically lost our reservation, which I communicated to Captain Power-Trip, who gave me a dirty look and muttered, "That's really weird..." like I just asked him if he could lick the inside of my ear pretty please. He then proceeded to hover (this guy loves hovering), oozing his bad energy as we tried to decide our plans, and naturally, we just went in to get away from this dude and figure things out. Lo and behold, we spot the two tables we had reserved for 12 people - tiny and crammed by the wall, barely enough space for 9 people. And only 2 people were seated there, despite the front door dictator acting like he'd had to fill them at 9:45. We tried to cram in to the remaining room at the table, but ended up just leaving because we didn't fit and none of us felt like spending money here after the bad vibes at the door. The guy at the front of course had to get the last word as we left, dripping with condescension, as he told us he recommended we try other venues in the area. I would have liked to recommend that he eat shit, but as a man of high character I just passive-aggressively thought about writing this Yelp review and went on my way. This was all a shame, because Subject really did have a nice vibe, and bad personnel shouldn't detract from that. I do want to wander back in some time, and hopefully can update this review with a better experience. But if I do see this guy I'm gonna wander right back out. And I won't be making reservations here, because I don't think the space promised is really the space you'll get. read more

I came to Subject after a dinner around the corner at Gaia. What I really enjoyed that the location is fairly sequestered from the heart of LES, and that even though we came in a fairly large group, and meeting more people, that there wasn't too much of a crowd, even on a Saturday night. There were a few open tables with bar stools, so we put our jackets down and immediately headed to the bar for drinks, and regretfully, shots. The vibe is considerably more laid back and casual that most cocktail bars, but don't let that make you think that the cocktails weren't well-made or overly simple. The bartenders know their stuff, and they were really friendly and helpful when it came to recommendations. The shelves were well-stocked with a lot of lesser-known ingredients, like gentian or burdock root. Not too shabby. I didn't actually try anything with those ingredients, but the fact that they're experimenting with those flavors is quite impressive. I went with my typical old-fashioned, which packed quite a punch. Not only did we try the cocktails, but we also tried just about every shot they had on the menu. The Nutella bourbon shots we took were pretty darn strong, yet the creamy hazelnut flavor really came through, which was pretty awesome. I can understand if that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it, and I don't typically enjoy shots that are on the sweeter side. We also got their version of "Fireball" shots, which I'm guessing was cinnamon mixed with a maple-syrup type taste. Not bad at all, but there was a reason I was hurting the next day, and I'm guessing it was the sugar from those shots. Woof. Prices are fairly standard, perhaps even on the cheaper side at $10-12 for a cocktail, and the booze in general is pretty inventive, and not something you can really find anywhere else, so it's a pretty good deal. Plus, the cocktails are also just delicious, so there's that. It should be worth noting that they do have a $8 beer and a shot special, which ain't half bad. The service in general was excellent, and the friendliness of the staff really made the experience that much better. I'll be back, no doubt, and I can easily see this becoming one of my go-to bars in LES. read more

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

Phew, I can breath again. That's how I felt as I walked into Subject after traversing the LES via Stanton St. on Friday night. It's not that I dislike the LES--it just gets absolutely insane on the weekends. I've had Subject bookmarked for months now simply because I had seen the cocktail menu, which is very enticing. What I didn't know beforehand, though, is that Subject is quite removed from the heart of the LES (there's pretty much nothing else on this block). So when we finally arrived here, I was pleasantly surprised by how laid back the place was. It's got a bit of a divey vibe but considerably nicer than a true dive. Just more down to earth than your average cocktail bar. So, not only is Subject free of the pretentiousness that you can easily find at other cocktail bars in the city, but the cocktails here are refreshingly affordable (relatively--you're not going to find super creative/tasty drinks in the city for under 10 bucks). All drinks range from $10-$13 as opposed to the usual $15 concoctions you'll find at comparable spots. And the lower price does NOT mean lower quality. The drink menu here is vast, interesting and creative--and the bar setup is quite impressive as well. I came here on a chilly fall night, so the Chai Old Fashioned (Weller Special Reserve Bourbon, Laird's Applejack, Chai-Rooibos Spice and Subject Aromatic & Orange Bitters) seemed like the perfect drink for this avid whiskey drinker. Made me get allllll of the warm and fuzzies inside. Sweet but not overwhelmingly so, rich and wonderfully balanced. The perfect fall drink, in my opinion (I suppose something pumpkin-flavored might rival this for some people but I've been a chai fan for years). If you want to explore the LES but would prefer to avoid that whole dancing/clubbing/stiletto-ing/woo girl-ing vibe, definitely give Subject a try. It doesn't look like much, but if I had to pick a cliche to describe this place, it would be "more than meets the eye". read more

I wonder how many people do Yelp reviews of bars while they're still intoxicated. I tried to do this on Saturday night after having a couple of drinks at Subject. I instead wrote a few sloppy paragraphs, hit Save Now, and fell asleep. Here are a few surviving paragraphs: "Subject is one of those bars that works on a number of levels. You can stop in here randomly during a night out in the LES; it works quite well as that kind of place. But it can also be a destination bar." "My favorite drink of the evening was actually the house-made root beer mixed with rum and cinnamon-burdock bitters. It was a simple but delicious infusion, and only $11. The house-made soda and cinnamon really added something to the drink!" Wow, did those two ingredients really add something to a drink that has a total of three ingredients? Great job, drunk me. Anyway, I do generally agree with myself on both of these points. The root beer-rum-cinnamon bitters drink was indeed enjoyable and affordable. The reason we decided to try out Subject was actually the Chai Old Fashioned (bourbon, applejack, chai-rooibos spice, aromatic & orange bitters). I'm always looking for a new spin on the classic cocktail, and TimeOut recommended Subject for its riff on the drink. It was good, if understated. The Chai flavor was barely noticeable, but it was still tasty and made for an interesting variation. I also sampled my boyfriend's Remember the Alamo (Espolon Blanco Tequila, Don Amado "Rustico" Mezcal, Jalapeño-Honey, Lime, Housemade Habanero Bitters) and Trembling Bees Knees (Lavender Infused Farmers Gin, Agave Nectar, Honey, Lime, Thyme). Both were tasty but fairly standard offerings for a good cocktail bar. The Remember the Alamo was pretty spicy. Prices are on the lower end, there's not much seating except at the bar, and there's a pinball machine, so. Expect a young crowd. This is no place for hushed conversations and furtive glances. It's more of a place for yelling and looking at people right in the eye. But there's really no shame in that. read more

What a find! The bar live streams Phish so you can almost feel like you are on tour. The room got crowded by the second set, but everyone was really nice and when people are dancing around, there is always a way to find space. Great cocktail list. Highly recommend ordering the 'fuego' cocktail, which was a delicious tequila/mezcal mix. Friendly bartenders and an easy going crowd. Will definitely be back. read more

This place is absolutely amazing. It's a little bit of a trek from the train, but I'd say it was worth it. Came here for a friend's birthday and it was a lot of fun. They reserved a few tables for us and were very attentive. They have awesome beer and shot specials starting at $5. Very worth it. They have a lot of house specialty shots that you can pay extra for. I tried the nutella bourbon. Definitely can taste the nutella, but it was still quite strong. I also tried the jalapeno tequila, which I thought was quite spicy and pretty awesome. Would definitely recommend to a friend! read more

"Presentiments are such strange things!" I came here for a simple drink and easy night out and it turned out to be some odd loud Phish thing. I really don't like Phish. It's like musical masturbation. It was so weird. Want to be BK'ers in Manhattan watching a recorded concert that was literally on the volume know at "11". I couldn't even hear the person I was speaking to across the table. The drink menu was very meh too. Nothing is particularly interesting or unique about this place. I For the LES, there are so so many many many many many other place to go. Why go here? I'm giving it 2 stars because maybe it was an off night. read more

Chill neighborhood bar by LES w friendly bartender and unpretenious vibe! Great cocktails Happy hours! read more

Still amazing. Every time I get a cocktail here, it becomes the best of that cocktail I ever had. Came here for my birthday weekend and Logan was awesome enough to give us a round of house Fireballs on the house! :) Also had the best Midori Melon Ball of my life here (so creamy with the layer of foam!) They also have amazing Dark 'N' Stormys - house ginger beer is amazing in flavor! And I swear the paper straws make it taste that much better! Still strongly recommended! read more

Subject - Midori Melon Ball - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Enjoyed the hipster vibes here... however the AC was a little strong. Ordered only two drinks, both classics - the old fashioned and a vodka martini. Both were refined and strong. Pretty perfect and happy with the service. read more

Update to my earlier review: My friend was able to contact the manager at the bar and tell him what went on. The manager apologized to both of us, issued a refund to my friend, and let us know that the bartender we encountered that night was fired because of his actions - I really appreciate the followthrough with the manager and his actions to right what was wronged that night. Hoping no one has to experience what we did that night at the bar! read more