The Campbell -- Grand Central Terminal I attended a work event at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central and decided to take the elevator up to The Campbell for a nightcap. I've been a patron for decades, but this was my first visit in about two years, so I was curious to see what had changed. Quite a bit, apparently. The place was bustling, filled with a lively crowd of mostly Gen Zers, along with a sprinkling of commuters and after-work drinkers. I was served promptly and, as luck would have it, scored a coveted seat at the bar. My Negroni was excellent--properly balanced, well chilled, and exactly what I wanted at the end of the evening. Then came the check: $24 for one Negroni. I understand paying a premium for the setting. The Campbell is one of those uniquely New York bars where you're quite literally having a cocktail inside a piece of history. But $24 for a Negroni feels excessive. At that price, I'm not sure you're paying for the cocktail as much as you're paying admission to the room. And what a room it is. The Campbell dates to 1923, when railroad executive and financier John W. Campbell transformed the space into a lavish private office and entertaining suite. Despite the name, it was never actually an apartment. Campbell's office was designed to resemble a 13th-century Florentine palace, complete with a 25-foot ceiling, hand-painted details, leaded-glass windows, a mahogany balcony, and an imposing stone fireplace. The space has had quite the New York life: Railroad tycoon's private office broadcasting studio police holding area forgotten space legendary cocktail bar. After Campbell's death in 1957, the room fell into disrepair and went through several decidedly less glamorous incarnations before being restored and reopened as the Campbell Apartment cocktail lounge in 1999. It became a Midtown institution, particularly during the 2000s and early 2010s. Following a lease dispute, it closed in 2016 and reopened as The Campbell in 2017. Today, the historic architecture remains the star of the show. There is no denying that sitting at the bar in this magnificent room, tucked inside Grand Central, is a quintessential New York experience. Great atmosphere. Great history. Excellent Negroni. Prompt service. But $24 for a cocktail is a tough sell, even in Manhattan and even in a room this spectacular. For me, it was one and done. read more

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Went to the Campbell on Friday night with a friend- it feels like a jazz club and a Time Machine had a baby! Scott the bartender was amazing to watch, and funny to talk to. We were planning on just a cocktail and ended up trusting him with our life choices!!! This place is CLASS. read more

I've been wanting to try this bar for a long time! It was absolutely stunning and delivered everything I wanted. I got a Bloody Mary but didn't take a picture of it because it was dark inside the bar and I didn't want to turn on my flash and disturb people! But the Bloody Mary was good! The bartender was really friendly, as well. My friends and I walked in and couldn't get a table because they were all reserved, so we stood at the bar. I cannot emphasize enough how beautiful this place is! I highly highly recommend going, and I plan on bringing people there in the near future, especially out-of-town visitors! read more

The Campbell - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

It was so cool being in the gossip girl bar! We ordered an old fashioned and grilled cheese with caviar haha it was life changing. The service was surprisingly good considering how unbelievably packed it was. If I lived in New York, I would totally be here all the time. read more

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It's just as beautiful as you imagine and the drinks are so good. A little pricy but that was to be expected for the location. I thought what stood out most was the service. The host brook especially was so helpful in recommending a drink based on what I had previously ordered at the bar and even thoughwe didn't have a reservation she got us a seat as soon as she could ! read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

ABSOLUTELY!!!! This is the perfect spot in the perfect location to come to enjoy a great time with family and friends! The ambiance is great! The food is AMAZING!! Especially meatball sliders! Many drink options and made with the best ingredients! The service is on point! The staff is very attentive and service is prompt. If you're into Gossip Girl and want to feel like you're on scene, then this stop is a MUST! Grand Central Station is so impressive on its own but to walk to the end of the station and enter this establishment , you won't be disappointed with this great find Definitely worth the 5 Stars!!! read more

The Campbell - Pumpkin Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My first time at The Campbell did not disappoint. I made a reservation in advance and we sat at the high top table. Service was attentive and pretty fast. I had the chai society espresso martini and a French 75. Both drinks were good but the chai society was a stand out. We shared a snack trio and pretzels to eat. Great portion sizes. The food is fairly priced while the drinks are expensive - most are over $22. Espresso martinis are even more. The bar was pretty loud and they were playing pop music. Kind of an odd choice for this venue. I expected more of a jazzy vibe. I think sometimes they may have live music which is a much better vibe than playing pop music in here. Moody interiors that are gorgeous. There's an upstairs as well. One bathroom downstairs that is ADA friendly. There is a coat and bag check before you go in. You are required to check backpacks. read more

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Dimly lit bar, pretty crowded around 4 p.m. I only spotted two open seats near the bar--otherwise, it was standing room only. It felt a bit warm since we were bundled up for the cold, and holding my coat and bag definitely took away from the experience. Service was surprisingly fast once we got the bartender's attention, and the drinks were delicious and refreshing. I can see myself coming back once it's warmer and I have less to carry. read more

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Beautiful as always, was here July 3rd and brought my sister and brother in law to visit with me of my favorite spots- they were as taken as I was when I first discovered it decades ago :) xoxoxox the Campbell read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Being a gossip girl fan, it was iconic being in the same spot that episode one takes place in. Aside from the fun TV show highlight, this bar is gorgeous and serves delicious drinks. It's located inside Grand Central Station and tucked away from all the noise. The spot is beautiful with dim lighting, lovely decor, and intimate vibes. The cocktails are expertly crafted and each drink was delicious. Highly recommend having a reservation or coming at non peak hours if you don't. The staff here are friendly. read more

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Have I found the perfect place for drinks after work hours? I THINK SO!!!!! This gem is hidden right in Grand Central station & the decor inside aligns with the architectural uniqueness of the entire building. Stunning bar area- my friend and I were glad to get seats at the bar on a Friday afternoon. Cocktails are expertly crafted and each round of drinks felt special. We got a paloma + old fashioned, then switched to a full-bodied Malbec. We got some apps in (not pictured) and they were great. Could have honestly stayed for 3 more rounds and just hang here for a lot longer. The bartender was always attentive & his recommendations were right in point. read more

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Came here for an afternoon birthday drink and it was perfect! Ambience, service & vibe 10/10. Great hidden jem in Grand Central Station

We had a reservation and the staff was uninterested in seating us, once seated it took forever to get service. The architecture and drinks were good but wouldn't revisit. read more

I had a confirmed reservation for 6 people at 8:30pm, which was clearly confirmed by email. When we arrived, they told me my reservation was at 8:00pm instead, which was simply not true. Rather than trying to resolve the issue, the staff gave me a rude attitude and acted like I was the one who made the mistake. Very disappointing experience, especially when the confirmation clearly showed 8:30pm. Poor service and no accountability. I would not recommend relying on their reservation system. read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Very New York, hard to find also. Really nice crowd and good cocktail list. Fun if you're in the city to meet someone off a train. read more

The Campbell - The bar vibe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Kinda hard to find - take marble stairs from the grand concourse towards Vanderbilt and literally go outside, as if you're leaving the station. Entrance is to the left. Very cool inside - dark but historic and cool inside. There's standing room and tables on one floor, some tables upstairs too. Service is always good. Good speciality drink menu but really great classic cocktails too - love the old fashioned. They have some light bites that looked good but have not ordered. Expensive but worth it. read more

Having watched Gossip Girl, The Campbell was always on my bucket list of cocktail bars to visit and it did not disappoint! Nestled right next to Grand Central, you are transported to a 1920's aesthetic with gorgeous high ceilings, moody lighting and friendly staff. Limited seating without a reservation, but decent space to stand by the bar. Had the French 75 and it was worth every penny (approx $20+ per cocktail). Not a place you would regularly visit due to the high price tag, but worth trying nonetheless. read more

The Campbell - Cosmo, French 75 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Definitely a hidden gem. We visited just after Christmas and it was decorated festively. I have been here multiple times, but this time it was especially packed. We did not have a reservation and got drinks at the bar while we waited for a table to open up. Tables were tight and we ended up making friends with the table next to us. We were informed that this bar was featured on Gossip Girl - and it was the reason they had stopped. We ordered cocktails which were all very good - what I would expect from an upscale cocktail bar - and small plates. The vibe at this bar is a bit cheery with lots of different kinds of people - tourists, some localish people meeting friends at the train station. The decor is moody and dark; they had good music on. Really a great stop if you are in the area. Even for NYC, I think that the drinks were a little pricey. read more

The Campbell - Pearito and Old Fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I love The Campbell, it's a hidden speakeasy style gem in Grand Central Terminal. Staff and service is always great. Dimly lit atmosphere and beautiful architecture. My go to place for small bites and cocktails while waiting for the Metro North railroad. This place is definitely a vibe. read more

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The Campbell is an amazing speakeasy bar located near Grand Central. They serve well-crafted cocktails that range from classic to creative ones. I tried the Manhattan, of course, and loved how strong it was. I feel like you can't go wrong with any of the choices here. If you're unsure what to order, the staff here is quite helpful. They also offer a couple bar bites, if you're feeling peckish. The spinach artichoke dip is great. There's a decent amount of seating, but I highly recommend making a reservation to fully experience the amazing ambiance of this bar. read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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{Overall: 4; Drinks: 3.5} Ambiance: 5; Service: 3.5 The Campbell is one of the most beautiful, intimate bar spaces in NYC. It's dark, gothic, and mysterious. Tucked into a corner of Grand Central Station, I'd definitely recommend a visit if you're looking for a bar with a stunning ambiance. The bar can get very crowded on weekends, often making it standing room only. On weekdays, it's much easier to grab a table and enjoy the space more comfortably. read more

Such an iconic and beautiful bar in the city. Definitely was a smaller space than I thought. Drinks are pricey and not super interesting. Taste was fine. Service was good but a little slow but it was super busy. Definitely loud as well and not the best place for a conversation. Would definitely recommend a visit at least once. read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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When in NYC, do yourself a favor and search for this bar. It had been on my list to try for yrs. Even though the entrance was a bit confusing to find, once we were inside it was all a great experience. We sat upstairs and had the perfect blend of a bit more privacy and a nice view of the bar below us. The restrooms upstairs are also very convenient. My friends tried a few signatures drinks while I tried a very delicious and refreshing Zero Proof option. Our waitress was fun and cheerful (sorry, I do not remember her name), but everyone was wonderful. This place is a gem in the middle of this amazing concrete jungle. read more

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Came back to this bar after a work event recalling having a pretty decent experience the last time I was here. Well that memory got wiped away pretty quickly. I came with a group of people, but was planning on ordering drinks for myself. The bartender saw that I walked in with a group forced everyone in the group to order drinks or demanded us to leave. I did not want to be responsible for everyone's drinks, especially since some of the people I don't even know, but I ended up fronting the cost as they took my card to keep a tab open. He didn't even ask if I wanted a tab open which was disrespectful because I never keep an open tab ever. So they will be hearing from my credit card company of the various drinks on my tab I did not order that you decided to slap on my card that I did not authorize. read more

Visited The Campbell on a recent trip to NYC with my wife. It is famous for a lot of reasons, but we came because it's famous in a TV show we both have watched, Gossip Girl. We didn't have a reservation, as we were just coming here for a drink before our dinner. We walked in, and were able to find a spot at the bar. It's pretty open all behind the bar, but we stayed close to the bar, so we could rest our drink. The Campbell is still pretty small though. There are some tables for people to sit at all around the bar, but you have to make a reservation. The Campbell is located basically right inside Grand Central station. The vibe is very swanky and upscale, and the drink prices definitely show that. Drinks are quite expensive, so keep that in mind. They do have a nice cocktail list though. I would definitely come back. read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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good drinks and small plates, nice ambiance and not too crowded. service for food and drinks is pretty quick and they check in on you often, which is a plus. was a little hard to find inside grand central station, but the folks at the station are super helpful and guided us well. read more

The Campbell - cosmopolitan and espresso martini with spinach and artichoke dip and bruschetta - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I finally had the chance to visit The Campbell this past winter. It has a swanky, old vibe - perfect for a bar tucked in Grand Central. My friend and I perched at the bar. It was a nice way to take in the ambiance. The clientele were mostly later-night happy hour goers and people waiting for the train. The cocktail list is robust. I enjoyed my boubon-based cocktail and GC-area prices. In many ways, coming here on a weekend is a more reasonable time to visit. You should check it out either way. read more

It had been a few years since I've been to The Campbell Apartment, now The Campbell. On a Friday at 4 in the afternoon recently, The Campbell and its talented bartender hit all the high notes with an espresso martini variation called "chai society." Well done. Chai lovers should enjoy this one. I got a seat at the bar, too, which is my favorite. read more

The Campbell - Chai Society, en espresso martini variation. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Great hidden gem and upscale bar in the Grand Central Station. Wonderful vibe since all seats are close by. You might and will end up chatting with folks next to you, which we did. Majority are out of towners but if you're late in the night, local will stop by. Great drinks & good services. read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I would never go back, awful experience. I'm with a super good friend at The Campbell on a Sunday afternoon, having drinks, on a rainy sunday afternoon, having a ball. New Yorkers enjoyer old NY classic. The Campbell, the old office of American financier John W. Campbell, from 1926. The waitres comes over to us, as we're ordering another round of drinks and says "this will be the last call on this table ". It's the middle of the day and there's five tables open. We look at her blinking our eyes and saying to each other WTH? This coming out of left field. We call her over and she just keeps saying over and over again "this is the last call on this table" and we say to her we don't understand, she says she'll call the manager over. Huh? The manager comes over who's very young and starts saying that it's time to leave this table. It becomes clear she wants us to move out the table because she has a party coming in and wants to include that table. Which is absolutely fine if she came over to us and said we'd like to move you and let us order you a round, and we have 2 seats for u at the bar. Totally fine totally open to that. No questions. Instead of being gracious , she tells us forcibly to pay our bill. And becomes more forceful. It was absolutely awful. Then she vasilates between telling us to pay the bill, telling us to not pay the bill and leave, just telling us to pay the bill again. Shame on whoever owns The Campbell. We New Yorkers & our friends would probably never go back there again. This beautiful NY classic legend, clearly ruined by the new owners putting it in children's hands to run their bar. The manager's picture is attached. read more

The Campbell - The manager of The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Very nice bar, felt intimate with attentive staff! Loved just popping in and having a drink and getting a table!

Love the atmosphere in here, but it has gotten so crowded (and the acoustics can't handle it). Tried a specialty cocktail (toasted marshmallow old fashioned), but it was blah so I switched to wine. Overall, the cocktails were weak. Highly recommend making a reservation (or getting a seat at the bar as early as possible) or you'll be standing around trying to avoid being jostled by the crowd and waitstaff. Pricey, but worth the experience at least once. read more

This bar is very dark and dreary!! No music and the bar tender was more concern about arranging his liquor bottles than his customers!!! Save you money and go to a nice pub. Not worth it. read more

Wonderful time here at this hidden gem in the heart of grand central. Beautiful space, great service and good drinks. Pricey, even for nyc, but worth it for a drink and the experience read more

What a tremendous place! a "hidden" gem in grand central station. The atmosphere was incredible, service was excellent and the drinks were yummy! read more

We made reservations and got there early and they were happy to accommodate us. Our service was very nice. Drinks were pricey but delicious. Food was also excellent for little sliders. The ambiance was over the top! This place is beautiful! read more

The Campbell - The stained glass behind the bar! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing service and ambiance. Dip was superb. Oyr waitress was wonderful. Very overpriced though. Most people just had one and left. I had 4 done juices and the dip. Expensive visit. $150 read more

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Drinks were great! excellent visuals with the architecture in the space and although busy bartenders stayed alert and attentive to get everyone's drink orders. Appreciate the class and tone of the space as well and conveniently located near Grand Central. Holiday special drinks were divine and worth trying and made with care and expertise. read more

The Campbell - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Absolutely loved this hidden gem! The drinks are rich and very tasty and the ambience is very sultry, historic and drenched in stories. The staff helped me pick out the spicy Paloma and it was dleici6 read more

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There was a private event in certain places, it seems. According to the hostess, that's what she stated to me. So, we couldn't go to those areas. This was a speakeasy type of place, so getting to it from the inside of Grand Central Terminal was a journey. Going from this way, there was a smell that was quite funky. There's a way to get to it from another street or entrance, which is much easier. There's an extensive menu with bar snacks and drinks inside. The group got the Spicy Paloma, the Fallen Angel, and the Chandon Garden Spritz. I tasted each one, and I liked the spritz the best. But my coworker didn't like the spritz too much, and she wished it was sweeter. The crowd you can tell is an after work crowd. I thought it was a speakeasy, but I could be wrong. If you just want to go for some expensive drinks just go there. read more

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