Tucked inside of a small street food spot is a beautiful Taiwanese speakeasy. There's bar and lounge seating, as well as a back corner for a vinyl DJ on weekends. The vibe here is elegant and exclusive, yet somehow stays relaxed and comfortable. The greeter welcomed us warmly, and we were able to quickly catch a couple seats at the bar- otherwise the wait is about 45-60 min on weekend nights. Every dish was delicious and affordable- the fried chicken in the Fried Platter was crispy and juicy. They didn't skimp on seasoning or meat for the braised pork over rice. As for drinks, the menu is overwhelmingly extensive and creative. Cocktails are on the pricier side, but the bartenders are truly superb at their craft (see pic). Leslie's Sleepless Nights is a great coffee pick-me-up, although served in a rather small glass. They put just as much creativity and effort into their mocktails, as well, if you're doing a Dry January. Our favorite cocktail was the BKK-HKG which had an incredible blend of flavors. The thai tea and rum dominated at first sip, but the aftertaste gave way to the pistachio and citrus top notes. We will definitely be back for special occasions. read more

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I came back to enjoy cocktails with different friends visiting from out of town on a Thursday night, and would say the experience on a weekday night was even better. There was more attentive service and not as loud, that we could have an inclusive conversation. The cocktails we tried this time were even better too, so I'm updating my review to 5 stars! My favorites were the "sweet guilty pleasure", the "blueberry cheesecake", and the "not the melon you know". read more

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I usually don't go to the same speakeasy twice because there are so many bars on my list I have yet to visit, but I've been to 929 a couple times and really enjoyed my experience every time. I love their Mando/Canto pop theme, and their drinks are pretty creative as well. My favorite drinks from here were probably the Midnight Pretender and Remember Summer Days. Their popcorn chicken also hits! read more

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

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Awesome atmosphere and service. If you're lucky you can get a free shot on the way out

LOVELY Asian bar that has drinks inspired by canto/mando pop. Try to make a reservation if you want a table seat, but we walked in on a weekday and got nice seats at the bar! Service was also great, our drinks came out quickly (after we had the fun of seeing them get made), and as we ordered a good amount for 2 ppl the hostess gave us free sake shots that were SO FRIGGIN GOOD. Their braised beef was so so good like we just ate it in silence. Great spot for a date or for a nice night out with friends :) read more

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Great drinks and such a good vibe. Love the decor and attention to detail. All the drinks that they offer tips it's hot to Asian flavors and Hong Kong influence. Would definitely drop by again for a drink or two! read more

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

4.5 stars, but rounding it up to 5 since they have the best bar food. I honestly did not have any expectations about their food but everything we got was sooooo good. Note - if you order food from Gulp (outside the bar), you have to finish it outside. You can't bring it in. I think the portion size might be different for their fried platter, because the prices are higher inside the bar. I can't remember for sure what I got for my drink - probably The Last Emperor (50% chance based on the receipt) it was pretty good, but I love my friend's drink more LOL. I'd highly recommend Not the Melon You Know. It's so unique! I might be biased because I love winter melon, but it's so good! As for the food, they were out of a lot of things by the time we were seated (12am). Gulp was also out of a lot of things by 11:30pm (we ordered some food while waiting for our seats to be ready). From Gulp, we got the Fried Platter. It was great. Seasoning was perfect. The dough was not too thick. As for dining in, we got the sweet potato fries and the turnip cake. They were both soooooo good. Perfectly crispy. And no, it wasn't the alcohol talking. read more

Solid speakeasy in LIC serving innovative Asian drinks. I've gone here a couple of times and enjoyed my drink each time. It's a bit loud inside but the music is very aligned with the vibes (they play old Chinese music!). Outside the speakeasy, they also have a restaurant that serves really yummy Taiwanese fried chicken (restaurant is called Gulp). Would recommend for anyone looking for a cute spot for Asian inspired drinks in LIC! read more

Really interesting menu. Tried four different cocktails and they were all really good. Service was a little slow and you only have 90 min for each reservation. Nice ambience read more

A cocktail bar names its drinks after Chinese pop songs. Inside, posters and records of famous Chinese singers are displayed. On the walls, you'll find Sammi Cheng (鄭秀文), Faye Wong (王菲), Alan Tam (譚詠麟), Deanie Ip (葉德嫻), S.H.E, and others. Their menu is charmingly presented as a QR code on the cover of a cassette tape, featuring Anita Mui (梅艷芳). read more

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I have genuinely never had a more delicious cocktail than here. The bartenders are talented and the waiters are very helpful. I came with three other friends and we tried the sweet potato fries between us while we tried a variety of their drinks. Each drink comes in a different cup which is a fun twist. I was trying to remember the amazing cocktails I had but on trying to remind myself through their menu, it looks like the place switches up their menu every season - that's genuinely a real feat. The bar area is quite small but there are some nice seats in the back. Somehow the bartenders looked absolutely effortless making cocktails, each in a different style cup, doing small flourishes with how they poured - but in the most natural way. I was really impressed - it was like they could make the drinks in their sleep if they wanted to! The music was spot on for my taste - I've been stuck in a city pop era for the past few years so it was really nice to just sit and listen to some alongside mando/canto pop. I really want to come back for the food in front of the entrance as well because it looks really good. This place has their branding down pat, their cocktails down pat, their staff down pat - genuinely I've spent the last 3 months since asking myself why I haven't been back yet - I bring it up almost every single weekend because it made that much of an impact on me. You know what? I'll make this weekend that weekend I go back. read more

This place is a hidden gem, a bar with good snacks, vibes in a pretty secretive location. I came first with my gf to get some food, but they actually had run out of a lot of food at night, so I got the last order of the fried mix (no picture for that sadly). It was pretty decent! We finished it really fast. The portion is a bit smaller than your favorite taiwanese boba store's snacks, but it wasn't too small either. The inside of the store has a vintage feel. There were some prop casettes. At the same time there was newer music playing in the back. The wait was something like 40 minutes to get into the bar section. All their drinks are asian themed as this is an asian themed bar. The drink I got in the picture was pretty good! All of our group's drinks were sweet but also potent so you can't go too wrong. Their taro cakes were really really good and I would definitely go for those if nothing else! read more

929 - Natsu No Breeze - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Intimate and cozy mando/canto bar with delicious drinks. This spot is located in LIC and has delicious drinks. I ordered the Cyndi's Summer which is a fruity and sweet mocktail, and would love to come back and try others. I had a party of 2 and went at 830 pm on a Saturday. The host let us know that it would be about a 1 hr and 45 min wait, but we ended up only waiting about 20-30 min. Reservations are available on Resy as well, and would highly recommend to do if you're in a time sensitive schedule! read more

929 - Inside (from the entrance) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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One of my favorite bars in the area. I've pretty much tried all their drinks at this point. The drinks are delicious and it's a really small and intimate bar, making it the perfect date night spot. It's also great for hanging out with friends. I love their mala fried and sweet potato fries with plum seasoning. read more

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

I came here with some friends on an early Saturday evening. We were able to stay for an hour and a half, but there was a reservation at 7:30p we had to leave before. An hour and a half was fine for us. They were blasting the fans, but it definitely felt a teeny bit sticky on one of the hottest summer days. Nothing that a few cool drinks couldn't help, though! This spot has some of the most innovative cocktails I've seen in a long time. I won't forget the sesame foam. Yum. Definitely a great cocktail bar for the adventurous. The music was great - different than you'd find other cocktail bars or speakeasies. They have real records, though the speakers/sound were nothing particularly special. Still, the nod to great music genres and appreciation of music and libations is always appreciated. I will definitely come back when I am next in this part of the city. read more

This is a new hidden gem in LIC and I absolutely loved the vibes and the cocktails!! It wasn't too busy for a last minute walk in for a group of 5. The vibe was good, loved the music, and our drinks came out pretty fast. I highly recommend The Most Familiar Stranger (it says savory but it is actually really good!!) and Not the Melon You Know mocktail. They happened to be out of the Midnight Pretender for the night so I will definitely come back to try it. There were still several tables available throughout the night so it might not be necessary to make a resy beforehand, which is nice b/c you can just hop over after dinner or just last minute while in the neighborhood! read more

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Love is like a bad cold 7.5/10 my friend said it tasted a bit weird and honestly a bit too small :/ Not the melon you know 9/10 believe all the good reviews on this drink! yummy and not too strong The concept is nostalgic and comforting, I love the interior design and decor incorporating the essence of the 80s and 90s of Chinese/canto pop music--brings back so many memories! Overall, a cute little place to reminisce memories and have a good time. Seating is a bit tight but service is quick and you wont really get distracted by others due to the extremely dim lighting LOL. read more

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Came in on a Friday night around 9:30pm. When I arrived with my friend, there was a short wait, maybe 10 minutes for a table. They limit each table to an hour and a half before they clear it. The place inside is quite small. The tables are all close together. The drinks are all unique, both name wise and ingredient wise. They're named after canto/mando pop songs. The drinks also use Asian ingredients. I got a Night Cruising, one of their seasonal specials. The drink was so strong considering the ingredients that were in it. It was on the more refreshing side, but the gin was the strongest flavor for me. It was good though, just not what I expected. The green tea was what I tasted next. Not too much plum, but there was shiso. The vibe is a very old-timey Chinese bar. There is a DJ that plays older canto/mando songs. It's little hard to hear since everyone is talking, but it's cool to get to hear canto/mando songs. They have food that they cook in the waiting area. The popcorn chicken smelled amazing, but since I ate beforehand, I ended up not ordering anything. read more

929 - Night Cruising - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This bar is fun and the drinks are so unique and delicious. My party of 4 showed up at 5:20PM on a saturday (they open at 5) and only bar seating was left. I was a bit hesitant as I wanted to chat but the bar was great. It's farther from the music so you can easily hear everything and you get to see the bartender make so many famous drinks! The drinks have asian flavors and are made with such care. They are inspired by oldies chinese bangers. My favorite were Fire and The Most Familiar Stranger (had sesame oil and soy sauce, so unique and delicious). The bartender also made us free shots for my brothers birthday! They said they release new drinks quite frequently since the bar is still relatively new. I highly recommend, this bar has such a fun speakeasy vibe. read more

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Great cocktails, and amazing atmosphere, staff was wonderful! Great cocktails, and amazing atmosphere, staff was wonderful!

Very intimate setting of a new mando / canto pop vinyl cocktail bar. Originally saw this on TikTok and immediately wanted to go. They don't take reservations and it's first come first serve. Luckily me and a friend were able to get seated right away. Cocktails are a little pricier on average ($18-20) but they're definitely inventive. Atmosphere is very dark and 80/90s retro with a cute vinyl setup. The menu includes dishes attached to Gulp which 929 is seated inside of. Definitely offers a unique blend of charm and modern vibes. read more

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

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Came here on 8pm on a Friday. We waited approximately 30 minutes to get seated. When we got inside I was surprised by how close all the tables and people were next to each other. We could hear a lot of loud noise from all across the room. It was quite loud so everyone was trying to be louder than their neighbors so they could hear each other - this was a bit awkward since the tables were so close so it was hard to chat within our own party. The drinks were the standard Manhattan price, however the drinks were TINY. They also didn't taste all that good, they were different indeed but felt like they were trying to copy Double Chicken Please but unable to make it taste as good. It was small in portion and it tastes like they put no alcohol in at all. Def not worth in terms of value. Because it was so loud, I also could barely hear the music so it was not the experience I was hoping for. All in all, probably wouldn't come back but it was not terrible. read more

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This place is a bit of a tight squeeze and has loud music. The drinks were good, I liked the decor. The radish cake was good too, the perfect little snack. read more

Visiting town for a few days and was brought to this unique listening bar dedicated to post-80s Chinese pop. The interior decor was on point, complete with an old school VHS player and vinyl record players. The drinks were very unique, supposedly named after Chinese pop songs, and clearly came with Asian inspired flavors. Natsu no Breeze was the most "familiar" drink, reminiscent of common tropical cocktails you can find elsewhere. Sweet Guilty Pleasure was true to its name in being the sweetest drink. Not the Melon You Know was the one to write home for me, as the tea undertones made this a very distinct drink fitting the bar's theme. The Most Familiar Stranger was the most divisive drink, as its incorporation of soy sauce and sesame oil was very apparent and not for everyone. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a different scene with uncommon drinks, but be prepared to be adventurous with some flavors. read more

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My friend hard vouched for us to try this asian bar, and it definitely blew my expectations out of the water. It's a cute vinyl record bar tucked behind a food shop, with nostalgic mando and canto pop songs playing in the background. I like my asian cocktails, but these were just next level. Their cocktails are all tea infused, and taste of nostalgic dishes you'd eat in your childhood! I first had the Not the Melon You Know cocktail, which tasted so much like wintermelon tea, I actually did a double take. But the favorite drink of the night has to be The Most Familiar Stranger You Know cocktail. It's based off of the drunken chicken dish (醉雞 for my mando people), and it actually tastes like it?? Which is insane?? And it tastes good??? I'll definitely be coming by here more often, mark my words! read more

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A cocktail bar tucked into the back of a takeout restaurant (where you can also order their food inside) serving Asian inspired drinks! Their cocktails are around $18, which I think is pretty typical for NYC these days. I'd recommend making a reservation if you can. We came with a group of 4 without one and waited about 15-20 mins to sit at the bar. It would've been nice to get a table so we could converse with each other, but it was cool to see all the drinks being prepared in front of you! The bartenders were so nice and helpful with drink recs. We got The Most Familiar Stranger (sesame oil infused), Not the melon you know (a little on the sweeter side, but I enjoyed this!), the last emperor (not a big fan), and my favorite was the Sweet guilty pleasure with early grey. We also got the fried platter, which comes with assorted fried bits like chicken, fish balls, tofu and the fried buns w/ condensed milk to much on. The food is a bit pricey for the quantity. read more

Came around 7pm on a Wed night and there was no wait! Al thought by the time we left around 9, there was definitely a short line forming. My friend and I were actually very surprised by how good the drinks were! Usually Asian inspired drinks don't really capture the flavors well but they did an incredible job here!! We got the winter melon and earl-grey drink! Botha drs very delicious and will definitely be back again read more

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

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a speakeasy-kinda spot hidden inside a Taiwanese restaurant! i've bookmarked this place for awhile and finally got to try it recently. the place had great ambience and they played a lot of Jolin Tsai and Jay Chou while i was there. the menu is fun in that the drinks are named after classic CPop songs. i got the "most familiar stranger" (because, shoutouts to Elva Hsiao!!!) and my companion tried "a smoking poet". my drink was complex and well balanced, the soy milk + soy sauce maple foam was DELICIOUS. it reminded me of the cream foam top in bobas. we also tried the sweet potato fries and plum powder and that was good too. overall, it was a well-executed concept and i had a great time. i'd love to come back! read more

My best friend and I came because it was a "taiwanese" chinese bar and it was so good! I thought it was a bit weird that there were no chopsticks for the snacks. Drinks were amazing, I am not the most adventurous but the two that I tried were good. The waitress definitely knew what to recommend. Ambiance is dark and intimate. Definitely a cool place to check out. Reservations are a must! read more

929 - drinks, tofu curd, beef, fried chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Good to see that there's a speakeasy bar in LIC featuring my cultural component from the scene to the drinks! The vinyl playing Cantonese and Mandarin pop music from 80's just flew me back to my childhood. I have visited here several times already. They use special Chinese/Taiwanese ingredients for craft cocktails, which makes it so unique. I specially love their cocktail " the most familiar stranger", which has a rich sesame-flavored foam that balances so well with the liquor. BKK --HKG is another one that impresses me a lot because the milk tea flavor is subtle and so easy to drink! Follow @whatsuprosienyc on Instagram to explore more! read more

929 - BKK (front), The Last Emperor (left), The most familiar stranger (back) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This was my second time going to this bar, and both times it was great. The drinks here are tasty and unique. My personal favorite was the not the melon you know! I also liked the braised beef shank and the fried platter. The music and the vibe are also great. The only downside is that they kick you out after the 90 minute period. read more

929 - Braised beef shank - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great drinks! Get the mango sticky rice. It really tasted like the dessert. They are very strict with the time limit though read more

ive been here twice now bc the first time i went the drink i got was the best cocktail ive had. very intimate date spot with dim lighting and great music. the food tasting menu is definitely pricey for the portions but theyre cute small samplers to share and the drinks are very unique. read more

929 - shes spicy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I absolutely loved this speakeasy. It's a little loud inside so maybe not the best for chatting but every two seater inside are seated right next to each other so if you're there for a first date, you can be close and intimate! The vibes inside are wonderful--you make your way past the kitchen in the front to a dimly lit speakeasy in the back adorned with bumping cantopop, mood lighting, and old vinyls on the wall. The drinks and food themselves were delicious. We got the fried food platter and ordered probably every drink on the menu. The drinks are inspired by Asian flavors so if you're not used to that, the drinks may come as a surprise to you. I personally loved the Sweet Guilty Pleasure and I ordered four of those that night. They have a rotational seasonal menu which is also so exciting. Overall, a great spot with great drinks and atmosphere! read more

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The Most Familiar Stranger (Scotch Whiskey, Ginger Honey, Pineapple Juice, Mandarin Juice, Lime Juice, Soy Milk + Soy Sauce Maple Foam, Sesame Oil) Leslie's Sleepless Night (Ceylon-Infused Scotch Whiskey, Coffee-Infused Sweet Vermouth, Condensed Milk Foam) Hard to choose which one was my fave but def want to return to try the rest of the menu read more

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

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929 is a small cocktail bar in LIC. It's super popular, and quite hard to get in on a weekend evening! I highly recommend getting a reservation, no matter when you plan to go. The cocktails here are about $18-22 each. It definitely adds up especially after tax and tip. They're definitely super interesting and creative, with complex flavors. I tried probably 6 different ones, and some of them are good, but some are maybe a bit too complex for me. It definitely makes you question its price tag a bit. Overall though, I like the vibe here a lot still. It's not too loud, super casual, and a nice place to hang out at. Seating is limited to 90 minutes during busy times. Food here has some delicious Taiwanese bites, all solid, but way pricier than they need to be too. I'll probably come back, as it's still one of the nicer cocktail bars in the area. read more

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Cute little speakeasy style Mando/Cantopop bar tucked past the main entrance. The food and drinks were yum but very overpriced for the size you get. I did enjoy the cozy and chill ambiance, and their wall decors were representative of the late 90s and early 2000s Chinese pop music. They also have this small corner of vinyls and box tv from the 90s. Overall, the experience wasn't spectacular but it's a nice place to hang with friends after work. read more

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

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I've been here twice now and will probably continue to come due to the ambiance, mando/canto pop, and proximity to my home, despite the hit or miss of the drinks. The interior is dimly lit with colored accent back lights, cute table decor, and nostalgic music. It's hard to get a reservation which makes it less ideal to come here on a whim. On weekdays, the last reservation is at 10 but you can stay till midnight, though it was pretty apparent they wished we would clear out sooner. The snacks are a little pricey but delicious and nostalgic. I would absolutely get the sweet potato fries every time, they sprinkle magic seasoning on them! A couple standout notes - Not the melon you know: easy to drink and enjoy - Leslie's Sleepless Nights: has a kick, does not give coffee cocktail if that's what you're hoping for - Midnight pretender: very very.. floral? Not for a beginner cocktail palate. Unfortunately I could not appreciate or enjoy it at all, and I asked them to dilute it with juice or anything to make it more palatable, but they refused... no one in our group was really able to enjoy it but since it was $18 we kind of just shoved it down. Next time I come back I'll definitely stick with the sweeter drinks or maybe beer and get the snacks! read more

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

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i would say come for the drinks!!! everything is made with unique & asian ingredients which i really liked the drinks: i got the faye's love life, the last emperor, and not the melon you know -- faye's wasn't my favorite, but the other two were amazingggggggg. i was SHOCKED at how delicious the winter melon one was, i will def be getting that again. i am also excited to try the most familiar stranger bc of it's soy sauce maple foam!!! the food: just got sweet potato fries - thought it was lil weird that it comes with no dipping sauce, but it's chill the space: it's pretty dark and packed (came on opening day). the only thing that made me kind of sad was that they didn't actually play any LP's this night?? despite being an... LP.... bar??????? read more

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

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This is a small cozy place with very nice decoration. Definitely need to make a reservation. I tried 3 drinks between my friend and I. They were all amazing. The place is kind of dim but they give the table light which is such a cute touch. We tried the beef, mixed fried and raffish cake. All the food is also amazing but kind of pricy for the portion of the food. Will def go back if I want to grab some drinks with friends. read more

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