I always tend to equate Verlaine with the 2010's, but my friend and I decided to go back for old times sake. Lychee martinis for the win! Food is ok bar food. It's hard to grab a table, but you're lucky if you do. Service is good. It is kinda dark inside, so it can be hard to read menus, etc. With the menus, it's all QR codes. At our table, all the codes were scratched and didn't work - we used the menus from the website. Also, they add a 20% tip to the bill automatically. I've seen this for big parties, but there were only three of us. So, it felt odd it was automatically added. Thank goodness my friend caught it. It can get kinda loud at night -but it's quieter earlier in the evening. read more

I went for their famous lychee martinis during Happy Hour. Look them up! It definitely gets crowded, so I'd recommend grabbing a seat at the bar if you're going solo or just want to mingle. The lychee martinis were a little on the pineapple-sweet side for me, but they definitely had a fair amount of alcohol in them. The more I sipped, the more I could taste the alcohol. They weren't my personal favorite, but I could tell the ladies around me were LOVING them! These three lovely ladies sitting next to me were ordering round after round of lychee martinis and also got the wings, which looked SO good. I'm not really a wing person, but when I go back, I'm definitely going to try them because they looked delicious. I also wanted something quick to eat just to hold me over, so I ordered the coconut rice with peanut sauce. I noticed they brought chopsticks. I'm not sure if they also provide forks or spoons. Personally, I only like to eat sushi with chopsticks. Overall, this seems like a cute spot for a little date, a solo date, or just to sit at the bar and mingle. I'd definitely go back to eat and try another drink. One last thing and this is purely my personal preference, if you have long hair and you're working as a server or bartender, I think it should be slicked back into a ponytail or secured neatly rather than worn in a messy bun with loose hair. It's not just about the look, no one wants to find a strand of hair in their food or drink. The bartender who had the messy bun was actually FAST and very efficient, so this isn't a knock on his service at all. Just get some gel or whatever works and make sure the hair is secured and not hanging loose. Other than that, I'll definitely be back! Oh, and the African bouncer? read more

Verlaine - Lychee Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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13 years later and somehow, Verlaine is still here. Came back for a friend's birthday and had one of those "wow... we're the older crowd now" moments. Funny how that happens. Back in the day, it was all about the drinks--but this was actually my first time trying the food, and I was genuinely surprised (in a good way) that it's Asian cuisine. Definitely not what I remembered, but it worked. And some things don't change: the lychee martinis are still really good. Nostalgic, a little humbling, but still a great time. read more

I haven't been here in a while, used to go here all the time for happy hour back in the day, glad it's still around. Place still looks the same. My friends and I ordered 7 lychee martinis, service was quick, and drinks were tasty and refreshing. Still a favorite spot in the LES. read more

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I love the vibes of this place. I came to try the $8 lychee martini they have during happy hour. It was on the sweeter side for me and it tasted more like pineapple but it is still a good deal nonetheless. We didn't have reservations but we sat at the bar and got our order very quickly. read more

Verlaine - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I feel like this place holds so many memories for me. It was nice being able to come back and enjoy myself, after not having stopped in for a few years. It's always a vibe. Still crowded as always. The service is super quick and the turnaround time for food was pretty short. Def get the lychee martini. Happy hour is from 5-10 Tuesday-Sunday and the lychee martinis are $8. I always love getting their wings. Such a great serving size and so flavorful. I always get the chicken lo mein as well. I always enjoy the lo mein and all of the vegetables in it. It's very filling. You can take some of the wings and lo mein home in case you can't finish them. My friend got the edamame, fries, and ginger chili shrimp. She enjoyed all of her food choices. The only thing is that it's hard to hold conversations since it's so loud. It does get very packed so if you're waiting for a table and waiting at the bar, just get comfortable quick with the fact that you're going to basically have zero personal space until you're sitting down at your table. They do reserve the lounge area in the very front. The music was great. When we left the line of people waiting to get in was pretty long. I look forward to returning back soon. Hopefully it won't take a few years to get back here. read more

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I had the greatest NYE experience ever, a few nights ago at Verlaine. There was no line or cover charge. The atmosphere inside was low lights and sexy vibes. There was a DJ spinning some super groovy, old disco tunes. The house was full but not packed. That was a real blessing because things outside were NYE chaotic! Servers took care of us right away. I ordered a Fleur du Mal cocktail. It's made with jalapeño infused vodka and topped with a thin slice of crispy cucumber. It was a glass of pure delight that I sipped slowly. As midnight drew near, all patrons were given noise makers and party hats. The ball drop festivities, played on a wall projector screen right above our table. We danced and sipped and enjoyed the music. Then, the countdown started. Everyone was on their feet. Once the clock struck 12, there was a confetti drop and joyful celebration all over Verlaine. We stayed for a long while after, sipping on Prosecco, doing shots and listening to the DJ float across different musical styles. I was born in the late 1970s but the entire night made me feel like I actually hung out in the 70s. This was only my second Verlaine experience but it was definitely best of the two. If you know anyone from outside of New York who wants to experience what a night out in the city should feel like, take them to Verlaine. read more

Verlaine - Lychee martini's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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My favorite spot for affordable and delicious drinks!! The $8 lychee martinis are so delicious and strong as well. Everyone I've taken here so far has absolutely loved it. It is a very loud and place and can get very crowded but the bartenders are all so sweet and quick with our orders. Highly recommend!! read more

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

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Came right at opening for their happy hour on a weekend (5-10 pm) which was perfect to avoid the crowds and it being extremely loud as other reviewers have noted later in the evening. They check IDs at the door and 20% gratuity is added to all checks. The ambiance was lovely - it was dim with candles on the tables and the decor behind the bar was a nice touch. The servers were super attentive and drinks came quickly. The lychee martinis ($8) were strong and sweet - they were delicious but I don't think I could have more than two due to the sweetness becoming too much. The martinis came with a few lychees at the bottom too which were yummy. Overall, these were stellar drinks for the price and ambiance. Verlaine was a perfect spot to grab a few drinks before dinner/hopping to another bar. They do have food on their menu which I can't speak to, but I saw neighboring tables ordered food which looked nice to snack on with the drinks. read more

Verlaine - Lychee martinis - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I'll cut to the chase, the lychee martinis are great and is what they're known for. The steamed chicken dumplings were great (ended up getting a second round lol). The crown is always chill every time I've been here and the location is decent if you want to bar hop. Service is quick and friendly. The tables are super close to each other though, which is the only downside I can think of. read more

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

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truly one of my fav bars in terms of aesthetics and the happy hour which is everyday 5-10pm. $8 lychee martinis slap and are strong + comes with fresh lychees!! it does get really packed on weekends which is frustrating because you barely have space to stand and can't reserve tables unless it's for groups and even then there's a table minimum. service is ok- just fast trying to pump out drinks but again can be hard to get someone's attention. read more

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A HH from 5-10 is so clutch omg . The lychees are good as hell for $8. The apps aren't bad either. I tried the wings and dumplings. I don't like that they do not have ranch or blue cheese for the wings. Truly enjoyed the chicken dumplings. It does get packed but I like that there is a bathroom upstairs and downstairs. Despite the crowd picking up the waitress was very attentive. This place has been around for years so I hope it lasts many more. I loved all the pictures on the wall. read more

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Lychee martini and lychee martinis only! Lychees in their best form can be found here. $8 hh is an amazing deal. Good music in a dark setting. read more

Verlaine is known for their lychee martinis and let me tell you, they did not disappoint. $8 at happy hour. Perfectly balanced. What more could you ask for. The interior was gorgeous and the vibes were vibing. Can't wait to come back to try their food! read more

Verlaine - Lychee martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Nice cocktail bar that specializes in lychee martinis. Came with a couple friends around 9:30PM on a Saturday night and it was already pretty packed but they did have $10 lychee martini specials until 10:00. read more

Verlaine isa hidden gem serving $8 lychee martinis. The overall vibe is pretty cool with nice interior decorations. We only came to try the drinks as we were waiting for a table at a nearby restaurant and the lychee martini was decent, but we could only have one because it was very sweet. However, for eight dollars it wasn't a bad idea and deal. read more

Came here on a Saturday night. Sat at the bar to try some drinks. The decor is interesting, I'm not sure how it fits either the theme. We were able to find a seat at the bar, took probably 15 minutes to get an order in. Tried the lychee martini and rose and red sangrias. The lychee martini was good, but a little off, could be the vodka used, and very sweet. The sangrias were ok, but really could have used some fruit. For $8 it's a good hh price for nyc. It's very loud, so I wouldn't suggest it as a date night place. I woke up the next day with a raspy voice. read more

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Horrible experience due to the bartender having a bad odor!!! And had me nauseated due to the smell. Me and my best friend came years before, and was one of our favorite. My best friend was watching that he was using a half of oz of alcohol making three drinks.... We had one drink and left. I am so sad most places ain't the same! read more

My first review here was from 15+ years ago, and I recently went back to celebrate an occasion. The lychee martini is as fabulous as ever and inflation has not caused its price to go crazy. You can't beat $8 lychee martinis until 10pm. I made a table reservation for my party, which had a table minimum (worth it!), and we enjoyed all the drinks. My other favorite cocktail (used to be called Rimbaud in Tetla) is now just Rimbaud, and it was as delicious as I remembered. Long Live Verlaine - may you always serve fabulous cocktails, including your signature Lychee Martini. read more

Stopped by around 7 PM on a Tuesday night and the place was pretty full. No wait to be seated. Ordered the lo mein, chicken wings, and chicken satay. The food was very average. Both the chicken wings and chicken satay were not seasoned at all. Wings were crispy, but again no other flavor. It comes with soy sauce you can pour over which helps. The satay also the chicken itself was so bland, but the peanut sauce was good. It also came with coconut rice which was quite deliciois. The lo mein was the most flavorful dish we ordered, but it was a bit too salty for my liking. The lychee martini was very good. I like how they use the canned lychees and include them in the drink as well. The lychee flavor is strong and there. The rose sangria was good as well. The service is good. The server constantly checking in on us, etc. This is definitely a good place for drinks. The vibe is nice. Would come again for the drinks and maybe try other things on their menu. read more

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The best lychee martini happy hour deal in town. $8 for a strong martini with not one, but two lychees in it is a steal! Happy hour is also every day they're open (Tuesday-sunday) and lasts from 5-10 pm. If you order at the bar it's an auto 20% gratuity. Can get really packed, but it's a good pregame spot and the $8 martinis are worth the crowd. read more

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

We came as a group of 3 on a Saturday night for good eats and the daily happy hour deal. We were seated in the corner, directly in front of the staircase leading downstairs to the bathroom. It was a tight space; anyone sitting on the outside of the table had to watch their back for people needing to head downstairs. The ambiance and decor is very nice. It is quite loud, but that's to be expected on a Saturday night. By the time we left around 10pm, it was VERY crowded and difficult to walk through. The space is a bit tight to begin with, and I think everyone just rushed in to get the $8 martinis before it ended at 10. The $8 lychee martinis were the spotlight. Very strong and very good. We also had the short rib sliders which were great. Served on what seemed to be toasted Hawaiian buns so they had a touch of sweetness. We also had the honey wings and the sweet and spicy wings. They were fried hard and very crispy. Someone else had the kitchen sink tacos and said they were decent. What fell flat for me was the chicken curry. It appeared to have a coconut milk base, which I LOVE, but it tasted like they added an extra cup of sugar into the pot. Coconut milk lends a bit of sweetness to curry, but this was more than that. It was a bit sickening and difficult to eat. If it weren't for that, the flavor would've been good as it was seasoned well. The coconut rice was the perfect side. I was just disappointed that I couldn't finish my meal because the curry tasted like a dessert. Overall, I'd come back for a martini and wings early in the evening to beat the night crowd. The curry is HUGE no no. read more

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Best Martini place.! FYI I am not a martini person but I hav to say this is that best lychee martini by far. read more

I came here on a date years ago, it was a nice vibe and ambiance. The staff is really nice. I passed by last night (Sunday) and there was a salsa band, so refreshing to find latin music & real dancing in the city that doesn't feel performative. I did think the drinks were over priced. Me and friend ordered Tito's sprite & Casamigos Sprite = $40. It's not even a cocktail! Would I be back, maybe! read more

Came for the lychee martini and was not disappointed!! Was surprised to see that the whole restaurant was based off of their signature drink. They had lychees painted on the walls, merch, and their drink is now sold canned. What took me by surprise the most was that it was a pineapple lychee martini, even better!! Make sure you come during happy hour to get the $8 price. read more

Verlaine - pineapple lychee martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Known for its iconic happy hour with $8 sangrias or lychee martinis, which end up being about $10 after tip and tax - still a great deal. *Lychee Martini $10.31 (after tip + tax) | 6/10 : a light sweetness with a subtle bitterness and astringency from the vodka, which balances the sweetness perfectly The music isn't too loud, but the patrons definitely are. The space is lively with a fun, inviting atmosphere. Plenty of two-person seating perfect for first dates. Definitely a spot to return to with a group to kick off the night. read more

Verlaine - Lychee Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Date: Friday, January 12th, 2024 Time: around 6:15pm Party of: 3 What: Happy Hour (Tues to Sun, 5pm - 10pm) *Rose Sangria ($8) x2 *Lychee Martini ($8) *Balvenie 12 ($15) We had some time to kill before dinner, so decided to drop by Verlaine for HH. It was busy, but we managed to find 3 seats towards the back of the bar. Atmosphere was very bustling and the bartender was busy, so I quickly made up my mind to try the rose sangria. It was light and refreshing. I followed that up with the lychee martini since EVERYONE was ordering it. This was much better. I'm normally not a lychee martini fan, but this was nicely balanced and not too sweet. Everything above was part of the HH menu except for the balvenie. We didn't spend much time here since we needed to make a dinner reservation, but I wouldn't mind coming back to try their red sangria. read more

Verlaine - Happy Hour - Rose Sangria ($8) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here after seeing their $8 lychee martini deal on Instagram. My friends and I were impressed with the really cozy and attractive ambiance. This could make a perfect place for after-work drinks, and they're definitely unique in being able to offer their drink deal til 10PM. Their martinis were incredible, fruity and STRONG - I would get this over the Sangria, unless you love Sangria - there are two options to order and you get a soda-sized glass of it! We did order food to go along with it, and immediately noticed portions are pretty small. Our coconut curry did not have any protein in it if you picked vegetarian (no option for tofu), and tacos were also small. They do get points for being so understanding about our dietary restrictions at the table (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) and being able to accommodate them with transparency. Overall, four stars for their drink deal bringing people in the door, and I would probably stick to their drinks and return! read more

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Saeed got us a table for 5 quickly on a busy night and Shahyed took great care of us. Insane prices for NYC and the food was incredible in addition to the happy hour drinks. We'll be back! read more

It was really pretty and vibey in here. Staff was nice. Food wasn't bad, not my favorite ever. I really liked the fries though

Oooohhhhh, talk about a great concept late night happy hour (5-10pm) lychee martinis for $8, is a win in the city. PSSSSTTT..... and they're actually good, but don't expect to get a seat without reservations first, at least not on a Friday night. They was definitely a wait for a table, which we're turning fairly quickly and for what I can see & smell the food looked & smelled scrumptious. The decor was giving Asian vibes but it seems they support local artist so there were these beautiful immense photographs. They checked for ID at the door, the crowd gave mid twenties working class mostly woman at the bar, and yet still fairly easy to get a drink. We will be back to try the entrees. read more

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I went here to get drinks with some friends and the ambiance of this place is very nice. It is a little darker lighting with some hints of yellow. The bar area is in the front and we sat in the front very close to the bar area. We had reservations so were able to get seated almost immediately. I just want to say their Lychee drinks are oh so very delicious. You need to try it, dont leave without trying it. We also tried some of the food and it was also pretty good. Our waiter was attentive during the beginning but we did wait some time to get our check but we were drinking so it was okay in the moment. I would still go back and enjoy drinking and a good time with friends. read more

Verlaine - Lychee - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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terrible service, severely understaffed. the servers are overworked and can barley service the tables. we went for happy hour and got only two drinks each in two hours because the servers were nowhere to be found. waste of money and time read more

The lychee martinis have been a 10/10 since I started coming in 2011. Such a fun spot! read more

Verlaine - Lychee martinis - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The lychee martinis don't taste strong. I had three drinks and felt sober. I'm a 155 pound woman for reference. I ordered the salmon which came with a decent size filet and lots of veggies, minimal flavor though. They have a lot of two person tables and my friend and I were able to walk in at around 6:30. Pretty atmosphere, it is very loud though. Would come back, the drinks are tasty and good food portions. read more

It always packed when I come here. Lychee martinis are amazing!!!! My favorite thing here; they did change the menu: they used to have amazing spring rolls. Music is really good(but very loud) and ambiance is cozy. Great place to have dinner before a night out!! read more

Verlaine was the perfect spot for a fun girls' night out. The cute aesthetic and lively vibe made it such a fun place to hang, and the service was on point the whole night. Definitely a go-to for good drinks, good vibes, and a great time with friends. read more

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Came here for a drink after my birthday party with 10+ people and staff were accommodating and drinks came out fast. Friends ordered wings and fries and we even stepped out for ice cream and returned. Someone did spill a drink and the floor was sticky but we were only provided napkins. Greatly appreciate walking in with a big group and I loved the real plants. Surprised at the very young crowd, like someone said below this spot was popular way before but I guess times are changing and I'm glad the place is holding up for the new crowd. read more

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

The cutest bar ever! Went here for happy hour for their $8 lychee martinis and they were so good. Our party of 4 came without a reservation and had a standing table by the bar; it was crowded but not too crazy and a super fun vibe. The lighting in this space is super ambient and the bathrooms are clean too, overall a great space to start a night out in NYC. read more

Verlaine - lychee martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I will say this is the best place for happy hour because they have an actual happy hour that ends and starts at a reasonable hour which is 5 PM to 10 PM. Their lychee martinis are delicious. The customer service is pretty good. The ambience is very intimate but loud. This is a go to happy hour spot for me in the lower east side read more

Verlaine - Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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